Roolz

An expansion created by @Arzok, with a little help from yours truly and a few others, and @Renand for the layout.

The keen eye will notice that the "additional proofreading" on the credits page is blank, so an additional check by an English native speaker is welcome.

The Way of the Overlord

“It was useless to call on Crom, because he was a gloomy, savage god, and he hated weaklings.”

By what vile means did the wicked sorcerers and bloodthirsty warlords of the past so easily extend their sway over vast territories? This is the question that Publius, King Conan's high advisor, asked a handful of venerable scholars from the royal court. Shakily exploring the palace's forbidden archives, they unearthed half-moldy parchments and ancient, faded tablets, written in languages banned since eons past. They recorded their findings in a leather-bound booklet, which they placed in a box engraved with protective symbols, before handing it over to Publius. The latter was undecided. Should he give the box to the king, or keep it to himself to acquire the dark secrets it conceals?

The Way of the Overlord is a fan-made expansion that enables you to play some of the Adventure mode scenarios solo, as an Overlord. Heroes are played automatically by a few simple rules very similar to the official Solo/Coop mode (Heroes against a non-player Overlord). This will allow you to discover the subtleties of the Overlord's play and gain a better understanding of its specifics.

This booklet requires the Conan core box. Some scenarios require the Stygia and Khitai expansion boxes, the Barbarian Pledge stretch goal box, and the King Pledge. The Conqueror expansion box is optional.

We are providing this expansion booklet in three formats: 

1. Web: This is a single PDF file that you can use digitally. The images have been compressed.

CONAN_THE_WAY_OF_THE_OVERLORD_EN_Web.pdf

2. Self-Print: This is a single PDF file that you can print at home or your local print shop. 

CONAN_THE_WAY_OF_THE_OVERLORD_EN_Self-print.pdf

3. Softcover (Magazine): This is two PDF files, one for the cover and the second for the interior content that you can send to a print-on-demand service for a stitched booklet. You'll find hereunder step-by-step instructions on how to use Lulu, if you choose them as your print-on-demand service.

CONAN_THE_WAY_OF_THE_OVERLORD_EN_Lulu_Cover_Softcover.pdf

CONAN_THE_WAY_OF_THE_OVERLORD_EN_Lulu_Interior.pdf

Magazine Printing Instructions for Lulu

Since this is a free, fan-made book, we are not morally or legally allowed to set up a print on demand distribution. Which means you will need to set up an account with a print on demand company and upload files for printing (for personal use only). The directions listed below are for the company Lulu, but you are free to use any print on demand company you choose. 

1.       Go to lulu.com and create an account.

2.       Under the CREATE tab, click the MAGAZINES option.

3.       Click the button START YOUR MAGAZINE.

4.       Enter your login credentials (if you’re not already logged).

5.       In the START YOUR PROJECT section, choose MAGAZINE.

6.       In the SELECT YOUR GOAL section, choose PRINT YOUR MAGAZINE (DO NOT select Publish your Magazine. You will get sued 🙂 .)

7.       In the MAGAZINE DETAILS section, enter a project title of your choice. We recommend “The Way of the Overlord”. Enter a LANGUAGE and a CATEGORY, which are required. We recommend “English” and “Games”.

8.       Click the DESIGN YOUR PROJECT button at the bottom of the page to proceed to the Design page.

9.       In the INTERIOR FILE UPLOAD section, upload the file named “CONAN_THE_WAY_OF_THE_OVERLORD_EN_Lulu_Interior.pdf”

10.   Wait for the file to upload and normalize. This can take a few minutes. Be patient and get yourself a cold beverage.

11.   When the upload finishes, you will see some warnings. Like most warnings in life, feel free to ignore these.

12.   In the BOOK SPECIFICATIONS section, the BOOK SIZE AND PAGE COUNT should already be pre-filled.

13.   In the INTERIOR COLOR section, choose PREMIUM COLOR.

14.   In the PAPER TYPE section, select 70# COATED WHITE (there’s no other choice).

15.   In the BINDING TYPE section, select PAPERBACK SADDLED STITCH (there’s no other choice).

16.   In the COVER FINISH section, choose GLOSSY or MATTE, your choice. 

17.   Wait a moment for the PRINT COST to load. This is a printing fee for Lulu, and we do not receive a penny of this, nor does Monolith.

18.   In the MAGAZINE COVER DESIGN section, make sure the UPLOAD YOUR COVER option is selected.

19.   Upload the file named “CONAN_THE_WAY_OF_THE_OVERLORD_EN_Lulu_Cover_Softcover.pdf”

20.   After a minute, the PREVIEW will load. This preview will give you a basic idea of what the booklet will be like, but it is just a preview and not super-high quality.

21.   When you are ready, click the REVIEW MAGAZINE link at the bottom.

22.   This brings you to a page where you can review the final specifications. Click CONFIRM AND PUBLISH.

23.   Click the ADD TO CART button when it becomes enabled.

24.   Click the CHECKOUT button and make the purchase. The shipping will vary depending where you are located (also keep an eye out for discount codes on the home page.)

Feel free to print a copy for yourself or your friends, but DO NOT PRINT COPIES FOR SALE.
Note: The softcover magazine you receive from Lulu will not be perfect. There might be alignment issues with the binding, scratches, the interior margins might be tight, etc. That being said, it will still kick ass!

No official way.

There's a fan-made Solo/Coop mode draft/WIP on the French side there:

https://the-overlord.com/index.php?/topic/4826-mode-solocoop-dante-20/

It looks good but unfortunately I never found time to play/test it.

So if you're willing to translate it, just give it a go. The linked zip contains several files but only one (16-page pdf in the root folder) is necessary.

Basically if a dude can reach/attack the Target Hero, he will do it. 

Menu -> Games -> Conan -> The companion 

I’d say adding the values is the most logical. 

On 6/5/2024 at 7:08 AM, springbringer said:

We have reached scenario 7. Are there supposed to be 7 Pirates with a blue base? This also adds up to 22 Pirates being used in total, while there are only 20 available.

I believe it's a mistake. It's the same in the FR version.

I think there should be only 5 blue pirates but I can't tell how they're supposed to be distributed in the areas.

I'd try by putting 3 in the area with the chest and only 2 in the other (instead of 4).

If you have any questions about rules regarding the Docks and/or Warehouse map, ask them here.

If you have any questions about rules regarding the Zeppelin map (upper & lower level), ask them here.

Typically: Scenarios with leap areas have leap icons (with difficulty) on the setup diagram. Dudes with Leap skill can leap over these areas if they beat the difficulty. Others can’t. 

There are a few scenarios (IIRC), where dudes without Leap skill can also leap over leap areas but it’s explicit in the scenario. 
 

If you have Protected skill, you’re protected by friendly units in your area. So enemies cannot attack you. 
Friends do not protect you from area attacks (explosions etc). They don’t have a magic shield/dome. 
2 units with Protected skill cannot protect each other. It would make them almost invincible. So you can only be protected by a friend without Protected skill. 

Not a translation error, it's the same in the FR version.

So probably just because 🙂

https://conan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Monolith_TOTE_Rules.pdf

Review: Reusable membranes for Wet Palette (Redgrass Creative)

RedGrass Creative (the new name for RedGrass Games) has been offering dedicated tools for miniature artists and painters for several years now. The "Everlasting Wet Palettes", a handle for miniatures, brushes, and lots of other nice things: cutting pliers, cutting mat, glass palette, lamp (see the RedGrass website).

For the release of their new "V2" range of wet pallets, RedGrass have developed new reusable membranes. It's already been a while (2022). At the time, they graciously sent me a pack of these reusable membranes (thanks!), and I've been testing them ever since. This review comes a little late, but better late than never, and what's interesting is that it's not a hot-off-the-press feedback, but after about 1 year of use.

Disclaimer: The following is my point of view and therefore does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the rest of the universe.

Preamble:

Their 1st range of wet palettes ("V1") came with disposable membranes. That is, once the membrane is full of paint and you need to switch to another color scheme, you just throw it away and replace it with a new one. RedGrass disposable membranes are super practical, pre-cut to the right size, with good porosity, they're the only ones I use.

With its "V2" range of pallets, RedGrass has come out with reusable membranes. That is, the membrane can be washed and reused a number of times (at least 4 uses, according to RedGrass).

Unpacking the stuff:

The packaging is the same as for disposable membranes (a resealable bag), except that it's marked "reusable" on it. There are 15 membranes per pack.

Reusable membranes are a little whiter and more matt than disposable membranes. They also have a specific direction of use (see below).

Perceived quality is fine. It's in line with RedGrass standards.

Note: There are several membrane sizes, corresponding to the various sizes of existing RedGrass pallets. The package I received was for a pallet slightly larger than mine, so I have to cut the membranes to fit. But that doesn't change anything in the test below.

Using the stuff:

Set-up is almost identical to that of a disposable membrane. Almost, because you just have to be careful to place the membrane correctly, there's a direction of use: the coating that makes it reusable is on one side only. Easy, the direction is printed on the membrane. The printed side is placed on the sponge side, with the blank white side on the paint side.

In practice, it works well.

Porosity is virtually identical to that of disposable membranes. So, in terms of dilution, it's the same. As with disposable membranes, the water diffuses constantly (slowly but surely), so you need to reload a little with paint between sessions to keep the same dilution ratio.

Reusable membranes have a whiter color than disposables, so visually the paint hues stand out a little better on the palette. It's not life-changing when you're used to painting, but it can help a little for those who find it hard to tell the difference between very similar hues.

Once the job is done, you run the membrane under water (taking care not to fold it). It takes 30 seconds, the paint is washed off and you're ready to go again. Possibly, you can gently wipe the membrane with a kitchen sponge (but gently, see below). Sometimes the membrane remains slightly stained in places (depending on the pigment), but that's no problem at all.

And now you'll say "OK, but how many times can you use it?”

RedGrass say "at least 4 times". My experience after about 1 year of use tells me this is true. My minimum use is 2 times; when I combined two “don'ts” (see below). My maximum use is 6 times, but it's certainly possible to push it further, by being more careful. [edit: 10 times is doable]

Because reusing the membrane "quite a few times" requires following the instructions (on the back of the pouch). It goes without saying, but it's better when you say it.

In particular, if the paint is left to dry completely in the pallet, it will stick to the membrane, of course (this may take days or even weeks or months, but it's possible). You can still remove the paint, but you'll have to rub quite hard, and this will damage the coating on the white side. Likewise, if you stir the paint like a brute on the palette, it can also damage the membrane (with a stiff drybrush and some rough handling, it's also possible). In short, it's exactly the same as with a disposable membrane, except that the idea here is not to throw it away each time.

Where the membrane coating is damaged, porosity is affected: paint will migrate to the sponge underneath, and water will migrate faster to the paint side. This is inevitable over time, as only diamonds are eternal. This doesn't pose a major problem as long as it's limited/localized, but when the membrane is well worn all over, it's time to throw it away.

So just follow the instructions. Don't forget to add water to the palette from time to time when you're not using it, so that the paint never dries out. Considering that reusable membrane pouches are almost the same price as disposable ones, but there are fewer in them, a quick calculation shows that if you use each membrane less than 4 times, it's more cost-effective to use disposable membranes. If you're a bit careful, reusable membranes quickly become cost-effective, even very cost-effective. I won't go into environmental impact considerations, as it's impossible to say which option is "greener" than the other without life-cycle analysis data (which I don't have).

Photo of the thing at the end of a painting session (the membrane has already been used & washed 2 or 3 times, I can't remember). You'll note the immaculate workspace, a testament to the meticulous care I take with my gear:

Photo of the same thing just after I've washed it one more time. If you look closely, you can see that the fluorescent orange of the last few sessions has left a slight stain, and you can also see a few dark gray areas where the coating has worn over time. It still looks good enough:

Conclusion:

RedGrass reusable membranes work very well.

The plus side is that they're very white and opaque.

The downside (so to speak) is that you need to properly care for your material (mostly, maintain humidity) if you want to reuse them enough times. In this case, it can be very cost-effective, especially if you paint a lot.

Thanks for your time.

Roolz

New version (V2) uploaded.

Mostly, some parts reworded for clarity's sake.

Expansion for the Conan boardgame, themed around Red Nails. Being written. Conan RPG themed around.... Conan. Being written.

Nesh-Shogta has not logged for a while so I'll try to answer, since I helped proofreading the 1st French version. It was a long time ago (almost 3 years) so take my answers with a grain of salt (at the end of the day, use your best judgement 🙂 ).

On 4/16/2023 at 2:08 PM, Thorg said:

Scenario 2: I assume all non-scorpion units are undead, and killing the warlock is also required to win. 

Almost. Aesir and Vanir are undead, Scorpions and Warlock are not. Heroes have to kill the Warlock as well.

On 4/16/2023 at 2:08 PM, Thorg said:

The murderous rock doesn't really activate the warlock I suppose, (getting movement, casting spells, attacking) and this is more for flavor explaining how the rock is rolling?

Yes, I think so. Overlord just chooses the target/path and rolls for damage.

On 4/16/2023 at 2:08 PM, Thorg said:

The rolling rock/damage starts at 1 zone away from the warlock? (Not zone 0) 

Yes. The mention of the warlock's area is just to help determining the rock's path, damage starts 1 area away.

On 4/16/2023 at 2:08 PM, Thorg said:

Quicksands: if read literally, when targeted at a hero's zone during the overlord turn, the hero needs to spend already 3 extra movement points during his turn. I assume only the heroes turns count for this, and the first hero turn would only be 2 extra. 

Yes. Quicksand effects start on next Heroes' turn (as soon as the Hero tries to move).

On 4/16/2023 at 2:08 PM, Thorg said:

Mission 4: 

Kerim Shah and his guards attack the Picts and not the heroes I suppose? 

Yes.

When all the picts & Thak are dead, Kerim & the Guards will attack the Heroes.

Though, you might rule ("hard mode") that the OL gets full control of Kerim & Guards as soon as all Heroes are free.

On 4/16/2023 at 2:08 PM, Thorg said:

Until this point, all heroes still have their starting equipment. Only Balthus thus keeps wearing his breastplate, and all other weapons are given to the guards/chests.

 

Counting the weight of all weapons, they have an encumbrance value of exactly 10. Thus what is the point of the 10 encumbrance limit of the chest?

I believe it comes from an early draft of this campaign. Seems useless here, indeed.

On 4/16/2023 at 2:08 PM, Thorg said:

Escape: I assume the second manipulation roll also has a difficulty of 1. 

Yes. Same as the 1st Complex Manipulation.

On 4/16/2023 at 2:08 PM, Thorg said:

Weapons of the guards: (3 life points, difficulty 2) does this mean kerim Shah has 3 life points, and, without the key, the chest has a manipulation difficulty of 2. I assume that the key makes it so that this chest becomes a simple manipulation. 

Yes, I think so.

On 4/16/2023 at 2:08 PM, Thorg said:

What is the interaction between the Lockpick of Belit and this chest? 

The Lockpick gives an extra Gem for lock-picking, so if a Guard drops it, it can be used to help opening the chest without the Key  (complex manipulation difficulty 2).

On 4/16/2023 at 2:08 PM, Thorg said:

I believe that the first player opening the chest can choose one weapon, and all the other ones would go into the zone where they can be picked up with a simple manipulation.

Yes, I think so.

A question about:

- Tome of Skelos, from Conan's Conqueror expansion?

- Shadow Kingdom?

- Tales of the Red Brotherhood?

An error or typo spotted in a scenario?

Post & ask hereunder!