Conan the Barbarian, B/X Thief

One of the books I picked up at the used bookstore this weekend was the Gregory Manchess illustrated Conquering Sword of Conan, the third volume in a collection of un-edited Howard writings, apparently compiled by Patrice Louinet. Yes, I realize I should probably be reading Sallinger before I dive straight into the “fun” literature of Conan…sue me.

This particular collection showcases Howard’s works in the order that he published them, culminating in his (recently reviewed) masterpiece, Red Nails…which I have never read, by the way. I’m looking forward to it.

Anyway, as I read ol’ REH’s wonderful description concerning his most well-known protagonist, I can’t help but come to the conclusion: in B/X terms, Conan is a thief.

Not a fighter. Certainly not a demi-human or spell-user. But a thief.

I know I mentioned this (briefly) before, but it was more an off-the-cuff remark (I have a tendency to make those a lot). But I am totally 100% in bed with the idea now. If I was modeling a character after Conan for B/X play, the Cimmerian barbarian (rolls off the tongue, don’t it?) would totally be a D4 hit dice thief.

Of course, he’d be a D4 hit dice thief with an 18 constitution; that much is clear. Everything in Howard’s writing details how healthy and wholesome (and ironed stamina) Conan’s constitution is compared to civilized folk and men of lesser stature. He out-lasts and out-paces everyone…that is the mark of a solid 18 in Constitution. And with +3 hit points per die, he’ll have a better hit point average than a standard fighter (5.5 per level as opposed to 4.5). Once he hits name level, of course, his hit points increase just as any other fighter (+2 points per level).

In fighting ability, being a thief doesn’t make Conan much less than a fighter in the hand-to-hand department. In B/X play, a fighter’s chance to hit increases by 10% every three levels, a thief’s increases 10% every four levels. A name (9th) level fighter and a name level thief have the exact same chance to hit. After 10th level, the hit differential is separated by at least 10%. However, I’d argue the strength of Howard’s Conan is at least 16 (forget Schwarzenegger for the moment) which provides a +10% bonus to hit, allowing our thief to keep pace up until level 22.

Of course, if one looks at the opponent’s Conan fights, one doesn’t see many of particularly potent armor class anyway…if all you’re fighting are dudes in standard armor, a high level thief will need the same to hit in melee (“2”) as a fighter.

Conan uses any and all weapons, just as does a B/X thief. Contrary to his film depictions, he generally goes clothed (often wearing a shirt), though he is more likely to wear little or no armor when adventuring (in warfare he wears mail and carries a shield). This latter IS a bit of a sticky point as B/X thieves are not allowed to wear any armor other than leather. However, I don’t have references to Conan using any of his thief skills while "armored up"…perhaps in his DM’s home-brew the price one pays for violating class restrictions is an inability to use special class abilities? This makes a bit of sense when you figure anyone can “wear” a chain shirt (but you’ll end up a D4 hit dice fighter with neither thief nor magical abilities).

And Conan DOES exhibit thief abilities. Sure, he bludgeons his way out of prison in the story Rogues in the House, but that’s only because he was jailed without lock-picks! In The Servants of Bin-Yatkin he shows his ability to climb sheer surfaces and read languages as a high level thief (in fact, the description of the latter ability perfectly jibes with its explanation in the Cook/Marsh Expert set). If Conan doesn’t “pick pockets” it’s only because he’s a character more prone to the “direct approach” (I know the feeling!). Even so, he still moves with cat-like stealth and often ambushes opponents from the shadows.

His attitude is certainly one of the opportunist and adventurer, not the fighter. Howard’s Conan isn’t motivated by honor, duty, or loyalty (except to his men…see below). In general, he is motivated by sheer greed and looking for an easy score. Even though he eventually becomes king of Aquilonia, it is through assassination and usurpation, rather than carving out a dominion and building a castle (the way for a B/X fighter to obtain a baronial title). More often than not, Conan is a thief, outlaw, pirate, highwayman, and bandit lord. The dude is a thief.

Let’s talk about his other abilities. He is certainly literate (Intelligence of 9+) but speaks only a smattering of many languages, not being necessarily fluent (depending on how one runs a campaign with multiple human/”Common” tongues). Wisdom he does not possess in bulk, except for the wisdom of experience. This he gains quickly which would indicate a high Dexterity (the Prime Requisite of the thief class). As Howard most often describes Conan as panther-like in grace, movement, and reflexes (as well as possessing the speed of a striking cobra), I think it safe to assume he possesses a 16+ in this attribute.

As a leader of men, Conan is described as having a very magnetic personality…a high Charisma, able to inspire his followers by his own deeds and actions, if not any particularly flowery speeches. This and his usually favorable reaction from the lady-folk indicate that he has at least a 13+ in Charisma and quite possibly 16-18. There is, of course, no requirement of being a fighter in order to lead mercenaries in B/X play (oh, and though Conan never creates a “thieves guild” there are instances from the stories that might be considered the establishment of “hide-outs” and the attraction of 1st level thieves, i.e. “bandits”).

Personally, I can’t think of any other genuine way to model Conan in B/X play other than as a thief. At least not given the rules as written (I mean, one could house-rule a bunch of “barbarian abilities” but this simply pre-empts the thief…you know, the way the cavalier class one-upped the fighter in AD&D?). The more I read of his exploits in Howard’s original literature, the more convinced I become. To me, it simply exemplifies how versatile the B/X rule system is…not every thief has to be some glib-tongued con-man a la the Grey Mouser. A brawny, taciturn Hillman from the North makes a fine thief as well!