It has been a while, but the character creation examples for Conan: The Hyborian Age are back. The next Origin we are working with is From the Steppes, horsemen from the vast open lands, the mot famous of them being the Hykanians from the east.
Characters with this Origin get +1 ranged damage (one of the few ways to get it), as well as the Born in the Saddle skill, which allows them to fire from horseback without penalty, and even with a bonus if against unmounted opponents, as well and mid range lifepoints.
The archetypical character from this origin is a horse archer who excels at keeping their distance on horseback while unleashing arrows at their foes.
For stats, a 4633 range is good – 4 in Might, 6 in Edge and 3 in Grit and Wits. Despite your skill with the bow, you are still going to need to use melee at times.
That gives a physical defense of 8, a sorcery defense of 5, 32 lifepoints and 3 stamina.
For skills you start with Born in the Saddle, and to this add Eagle-Eyed (+1 damage to ranged attacks) and Of the Shadows (+1 to Edge checks involving stealth or detecting others). You’ll be among the best with a bow around whether mounted or on foot, can hide with the best of them and very sharp of eye.
Gear wise, light armour won’t impede you too much and hopefully you won’t need more than that, and for gear, a saber and a short bow fit the arcehtype,
Tubal; Might: 4, Edge: 6, Grit: 3, Wits: 3.
Lifepoints: 32
Stamina: 3
Flex: D10
Physical Defence: 8
Sorcery Defence: 5
Skills: Born in the Saddle, Eagle-Eyed, Of the Shadows
Armour: Light (3 Armour Rating)
Shortbow: +6; 1D6+3, Range: Long
Sabre: +4; 1D8+4
I admit that trying to find an alternative to the archetype for the origin was a bit tricky at first, given that their bonuses don’t really help anything but mounted archers. In the end, I went with trying to make a Shemite Asshuri, the armoured warriors of the meadow cities of western Shem.
For stats, I went with a 5443 build, 5 in Might, 4 in Edge and Grit and 3 in Wits. Strong and a little slow of thought and personality, but not noticeable so. That gives them 6 PD, 5 SD, 34 lifepoints and 4 stamina.
Skills wise, I went with Charge (1 Stamina, 1 action, make 2 move actions followed by a melee attack action), Hit and Run (1 Stamina, make a Melee Attack Action, followed by 2 Move Actions, counts as only 1 Action), and Iron Hide (increase maximum lifepoitns by 3), giving them a little bit more health as well as some options to move about the battle field.
For gear, go with medium armour, as the Asshuri were noted for wearing scale armour, as well as a shield (increasing PD by 1) and a scimitar to start with. Things like bows, mounts, lances and the like can be used as needed, but he starts out as a decent and tough warrior on foot.
Hakam; Might: 5, Edge: 4, Grit: 4, Wits: 3.
Lifepoints: 37
Stamina: 4
Flex: D10
Physical Defence: 7
Sorcery Defence: 5
Skills: Born in the Saddle, Iron Hide, Charge, Hit and Run
Armour: Medium (5 Armour Rating)
Scimitar: +5; 1D8+5
