Grim and gritty or Sunswords and somersaults?
Within the genre of Swords & Sorcery there are varying types. Among them are the grim and gritty tales of Frank Frazetta’s “Death Dealer”, the action packed and sometimes campy tales of television’s “Xena: Warrior Princess”, or the techno-sorcery post apocalyptic world of the “Thundarr the Barbarian” cartoon. All of these variations of the genre are equally enjoyable in their own rights, but there is the possibility that when the GM says “I’m going to run a Sword & Sorcery adventure”, he may be thinking- King Kull while the players are thinking “Army of Darkness”. So before getting started on the character sheets, make sure that everyone playing is on the same page regarding the tone of the game.
Sword & Sorcery doesn't always have to mean "Barbarian"
When people mention Sword & Sorcery the first image that usually pops into ones head is the brawny bare-chested barbarian carrying a great big axe or sword. The fact is that while the barbarian warrior is the most popular character type in the Sword & Sorcery genre it’s not the only one. Heroes in Sword & Sorcery tales include kings, thieves, sailors, soldiers, farmers, and sorcerers. For example in Ray Harryhausen’s Sinbad trilogy, the hero is a merchant sailor who travels the known world on epic quests. In the Lankhmar stories of Fritz Leiber, The Grey Mouser is a city-bred thief with a thirst for adventure and a love of the good life. Jirel of Joiry, by C.L. Moore, is a warrior queen who faces off against supernatural foes that threaten her kingdom. When you are creating characters for Legends of Steel, try to think “outside of the box” in terms of Sword & Sorcery characters. Don’t limit yourself to the barbarian warrior stereotype. The advantages and skills presented in LoS allow for an endless combination of character types. By exploring all the options and combinations found in the genre, your gaming experience with LoS will be truly memorable.
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