Sometimes, a great concept is all a TTRPG needs to ignite players’ imaginations. The Too Many Conans Public Domain Time Heist Squad is a great example of this, as the TTRPG combines a memorably surreal concept with solid mechanics to create a game that’s sure to be an instant hit at any party.
In The Too Many Conans Public Domain Time Heist Squad TTRPG, each player takes control of a famous Conan and is tasked with heading back in time to plant copyrighted material in the distant past so that they become public domain properties in the modern day.
A TTRPG Time Trip (With Added Conan)
The game begins with each player rolling to discover which Conan character they will be controlling during the TTRPG, with options ranging from Saint Conan to the beloved manga character Conan Edogawa, each with a specific set of skills. After learning who they will control, each player makes a list of five items their character is carrying on their mission to the past.
After this, the players roll three more times on three more tables to set up their adventure. These rolls decide what copyrighted work the Conan team will try to force into the public domain (covering everything from Donald Duck to D&D), the people trying to stop them from doing this (which includes everyone from the Disney corporation to a future version of yourself), and the period of history you’re taking the selected copyrighted work to.
After this, the main flow of the game begins. The GM lays out the situation and takes control of the NPCs, while the players focus on their specific Conans, describing what they do as they move through the scenes.
Should the Conans attempt an action with uncertain consequences or one that has the potential for negative outcomes, they must roll a single six-sided die. Rolls above a certain number lead to the action being successful, while those falling under it are considered failures or successes with a cost if the GM allows it.
However, if a Conan thinks one of their skills would help them perform the task, they can roll an additional six-sided die and add the result to their total.
Concentrated Silliness Stays On Theme
The Too Many Conans Public Domain Time Heist Squad is a delightfully chaotic and comical rules-lite TTRPG. It is instantly clear that the designer knew what made this concept funny and made sure to lean into it in every way possible, from the bizarre selection of playable Conans to the odd list of playable locations. Leading to a game that always leaves players in fits of uproarious laughter.
One of my favourite elements of The Too Many Conans Public Domain Time Heist Squad is the skills system. Each character’s skills are esoteric and vaguely written (for example, Conan the Barbarian has both Oily Muscles and Sword as skills). However, the game directly encourages players to argue and negotiate with the referee if they believe a skill could aid them in performing the task.
While this may not work in most TTRPGs, in something as silly and comedic as The Too Many Conans Public Domain Time Heist Squad, it works perfectly, leading to some of the game’s funniest moments while also encouraging players to tackle obstacles in new and unexpected ways. Not only does this lead to amusing moments within each game, but it also means that each game feels unique, giving The Too Many Conans Public Domain Time Heist Squad a lot of replay value.
I’m also a big fan of the game’s decision to use a single six-sided die for all of its actions. Due to its lack of character creation and rules-lite setup, this game is clearly designed for zero prep, spur-of-the-moment game nights, so using the most commonly available die makes total sense.
My only slight complaint about The Too Many Conans Public Domain Time Heist Squad is the paper texture background. While it complements the game’s doodle-like drawings, this background makes the text difficult to read when printed out, which is a shame, as a physical copy of this game would make it perfect for screentime-free game nights or carrying on off-the-grid vacations. However, this isn’t a massive issue as it can be easily fixed in a future release.
The Too Many Conans Public Domain Time Heist Squad is a very fun rules-lite TTRPG. What makes The Too Many Conans Public Domain Time Heist Squad stand out from other rules-lite TTRPG games is its laser focus on creating a specific gameplay experience. The Too Many Conans Public Domain Time Heist Squad is clearly designed from the ground up to encourage players to ignore the rules of traditional storytelling and approach everything in the most chaotic way possible. Because of this, a game of The Too Many Conans Public Domain Time Heist Squad actually feels like a TTRPG version of a classic Conan O’Brien skit.
