Roleplaying in Gor runs the gambit from strict to casual. We are a BtB "By the Book" server which means we fall in the strict category. However, like any fiction spanning 30+ books opinions on what is and isn't by the book vary significantly. As a server it is our intention to establish both the bare minimums as well as help role-players adapt to any differences between the main land of Gor and this remote land of New Sardar.

About

Gorean Roleplay as it directly relates to Barbarians of Gor.

1. This wiki will not teach you how to role-play within Gor, however we have put together some general points you may very well wish to consider before you dive in. <Read More>
2. This wiki will not seek to define what is or is not "By The Book", as individual opinions vary significantly. We feel that any discrepancies in interpretation can be handled in character or within individual clans and towns.
3. This wiki however will define the barest minimums expected for all players as well as any necessary adjustments because of the game environment.

Bond-Maids

A bond-maid in Torvaldsland is the most common term for a slave. Bond-maids typically wear their hair long and are dressed in a kirtle of thin, white wool that is split to the belly. They engage in hard work, such as churning butter, weaving, carrying bundles of wood or buckets of water, and gathering verr dung for the sul patches. Bond-maids often derogatorily refer to southern slaves as "silk girls," believing them to be spoiled and coddled. Men in Torvaldsland generally prefer their slaves to have large breasts and hips, sometimes referred to as a "love cradle." Bond-maids can be given descriptive names or retain their names from when they were free. <Read More>

Character Tropes on Gor

Choosing a character to role-play on Gor can pose challenges for newcomers due to the absence of direct parallels between character tropes found in other medieval fantasy settings. Moreover, some roles demand a deeper familiarity with the fiction to be portrayed convincingly.

Please follow the link to read the full article on Character Tropes from popular medieval fantasy and the Gorean Novels. <Read Me>

Most challenging for someone new to Gor to play

1. Assassin: Assassins on Gor follow a strict code of conduct and operate within a highly dangerous and secretive profession. Understanding the nuances of this code, the methods of assassination, and the ethical dilemmas involved requires deep knowledge of Gorean customs and the Assassin Caste's rules.
2. Initiate: Initiates are religious figures dedicated to the Priest-Kings and the rituals of Gor. This role requires an in-depth understanding of religious practices, beliefs, and the political influence of the Initiate Caste. Navigating the complex spiritual and political landscapes can be daunting for new players.
3. Slaver: As traders and trainers of slaves, slavers need to understand the intricate dynamics of slavery on Gor, including training methods, market values, and cultural norms around ownership. This role requires knowledge of the social and economic systems related to slavery.
4. Rune Priest: Rune priests are mystical figures with a deep understanding of runes, rituals, and prophecies. New players might struggle with the spiritual and mystical aspects, including interpreting runes and performing rituals, which require specific lore and cultural context.
5. Haruspex: Haruspexes are seers who interpret omens and perform divinations. This role demands a deep understanding of Gorean superstition, rituals, and the cultural significance of their predictions, making it complex for new players to portray accurately.
6. Clan of Torturers: Members of the Clan of Torturers engage in practices that require a thorough understanding of Gorean law, punishment, and the ethical boundaries within their society. This role involves navigating the dark and morally complex aspects of Gorean justice.
7. Priest-King Agent: Agents of the Priest-Kings operate in secrecy and often engage in covert activities to maintain the balance of power on Gor. This role requires knowledge of the Priest-Kings' goals, methods, and the delicate political landscape they navigate, which can be challenging for new players.
8. Kur Agent: Kur agents are involved in the secretive and often violent machinations of the Kurii. Understanding the Kurii's motives, tactics, and the complex interplay between Kurii and humans on Gor requires deep lore knowledge and strategic thinking.
9. Contract Woman of the Pani: Contract women of the Pani are bound by specific cultural practices and obligations unique to the Pani, a group with distinct traditions and societal roles. This role demands an understanding of these unique cultural aspects and how they differ from mainstream Gorean society.
10. Exotic Bred Slave: Exotic bred slaves have unique characteristics and training that set them apart from typical slaves. This role requires knowledge of specific breeding practices, training methods, and the social dynamics of how these slaves are perceived and treated.
11. Panther/Taluna: Panthers are fierce, independent women who live in the wilderness and reject traditional roles. This role involves understanding the survivalist lifestyle, combat skills, and the rebellious spirit that defines panthers, which can be complex for new players.
12. She-Urt: She-urts are low-status women who survive on the streets, often through theft or scavenging. This role requires an understanding of the gritty, survivalist aspects of Gorean urban life and the social stigma associated with being a she-urt, making it challenging for new players to portray authentically.

Conflict Progression and Resolution

This article will serve to act as a “good practice” article that combines both generally agreed upon practices as well as how those practices are implemented on Barbarians of Gor. <Read Me>

Home Stone, Law and Outlaws

How do we handle Home Stones? What are laws versus codes, rights and tradition? What does it mean to be an outlaw? What are Local Laws and how do they differ in Season Four from Civic laws? <Read Me>

In Character Restrictions

Updated 6/13/24 Chainmail has been restricted. There are codified rules on how you must dress and act on Gor. Many of these are actual laws in some of the cities and can be enforced in character with a wide variety of punishments. These minimum restrictions apply to all characters regardless of their background -- Hyborians are not exempt from these rules. These standards are much more flexible than the books and is intended to be a compromise between the ideal and the reality of role-play. Do not ignore this list, we will enforce it if necessary. <Read Me>

Medicine, Gor

Medicine on Gor is surprisingly advanced for the setting, especially in the bigger cities. Most of that medicine is available on this island. However there does seem to be some rather advanced herbalism and alchemistry; it is probably very unfamiliar to most main land physicians, but should be easy enough to learn. (Torvaldsland and other barbarian tribe "healers" would pick it up just as fast.) <Read Me>

Population

For most things, including population, we follow the rule of WYSIWYG which means "What you see is what you get". Consequently, the population of World's End is directly related to the number of hostile NPCs, NPC thralls and players found in the game world. All players may count their fictional clan size to include themselves, their actual player clan members, and the maximum thrall count on the clan screen. <Read Me>

Races

Our server offers three "races" for players to choose from; Gorean, Hyborian and Earthling. (These races are less actual races and more references to geographical locations like we might say Asian or European.)

• Goreans are those characters who were born on the mainland of Gor which includes the large continent and surrounding islands represented in the book series by John Norman.
• Hyborians are those characters who were also born on the planet of Gor but specifically from an unknown region of the planet generally referred to as World's End by the Gorean mainlanders. These Hyborians are the descendants of humans taken from Earth's far history, more then 10,000 years ago.
• Earthlings are those characters taken from modern day earth to be brought to Gor primarily to become slaves.

Further information for those new to the fiction can be found here: <Read Me>

Slavery is a Sliding Scale

The transition of a free woman to slave is not like a light switch where one moment she is a free woman the next she is a slave. There are a series of actions and decisions that drive a free women in to the generally irreversible position of slave. This article is a general concept document for new to Gor players. <Read More>

Slaves, Roleplay Options

Every server/sim has a slightly different set of rules as to how a player can go about playing their slave role. This article will seek to address the most commonly asked questions, such as who do I get an owner, how do I change owners, can I use weapons, where can I go, what should I do? <Read Me>

WYSIWYG

Every server/sim has a slightly different set of rules as to how a player can go about playing their slave role. This article will seek to address the most commonly asked questions, such as who do I get an owner, how do I change owners, can I use weapons, where can I go, what should I do? <Read Me>

General Appearance

All avatars must meet the minimum standards, no exceptions. Admins reserve the right to make changes to your avatar to meet this minimum level of immersion. Repeat offenses will result in loss of white list status and or possible banning.

• Adult (sexually mature) avatars are required. Character must be 18+.
• Human looking avatars with naturally occurring body, hair, eyes and skin are required. (Albinos, or similarly rare genetic disorders, require special permission.)
• Grossly disproportionate avatar shapes are not allowed.
• Regardless of item availability medieval clothing is required. (Short shorts are not acceptable)
• Less than full platemail regardless of item availability. More on this below.
• No use of undead pets/mounts or anything that is not plausible to the Gorean universe. Dogs and wolves are fine, flaming undead dogs are not.

By the Book

It is our intention to create a game environment that is suitable for By the Book Gorean role-players. We have carefully curated our selection of mods and scripts with this in mind, and intend to continue doing so. However, there are limits on what we are willing to enforce. <Read Me>

In Character Restrictions

Updated 6/13/24 Chainmail has been restricted. There are codified rules on how you must dress and act on Gor. Many of these are actual laws in some of the cities and can be enforced in character with a wide variety of punishments. These minimum restrictions apply to all characters regardless of their background -- Hyborians are not exempt from these rules. These standards are much more flexible than the books and is intended to be a compromise between the ideal and the reality of role-play. Do not ignore this list, we will enforce it if necessary. <Read Me>

Thralls

Conan Exiles has functioning combat NPCs called Thralls. These thralls can be used in almost any fictional way a player can imagine including a free man of their clan, a free woman of their clan, a guard protecting them, an owner, a free companion, a slave, etc. We encourage free women and slaves to make use of these thralls as their primary mode of combat using what is known as an "authority build", in which the thralls fight for you allowing you to maintain the fiction of being non-combative. These thralls also allow free women and slaves the freedom to travel with the fiction that they are either "with their guards" or "in the company of their owner/clan free men". However, please note that the IC restrictions for woman and weapons still applies -- a "slave thrall" walking around with a two handed sword is not by the book.

Note

The word "Thrall" in Conan Exiles refers to the the mechanical NPC of any gender and is not the same as the Gorean thrall of Torvaldsland.

Best Practices

Home Stone, Law and Outlaws

How do we handle Home Stones? What are laws versus codes, rights and tradition? What does it mean to be an outlaw? What are Local Laws and how do they differ in Season Four from Civic laws? <Read Me>

By the Book

It is our intention to create a game environment that is suitable for By the Book Gorean role-players. We have carefully curated our selection of mods and scripts with this in mind, and intend to continue doing so. However, there are limits on what we are willing to enforce. <Read Me>

In Character Restrictions

Updated 6/13/24 Chainmail has been restricted. There are codified rules on how you must dress and act on Gor. Many of these are actual laws in some of the cities and can be enforced in character with a wide variety of punishments. These minimum restrictions apply to all characters regardless of their background -- Hyborians are not exempt from these rules. These standards are much more flexible than the books and is intended to be a compromise between the ideal and the reality of role-play. Do not ignore this list, we will enforce it if necessary. <Read Me>

Medicine

Medicine on Gor is surprisingly advanced for the setting, especially in the bigger cities. Most of that medicine is available on this island. However there does seem to be some rather advanced herbalism and alchemistry; it is probably very unfamiliar to most main land physicians, but should be easy enough to learn. (Torvaldsland and other barbarian tribe "healers" would pick it up just as fast.) <Read Me>

Slavery is a Sliding Scale

The transition of a free woman to slave is not like a light switch where one moment she is a free woman the next she is a slave. There are a series of actions and decisions that drive a free women in to the generally irreversible position of slave. This article is a general concept document for new to Gor players. <Read More>

Thralls

Conan Exiles has functioning combat NPCs called Thralls. These thralls can be used in almost any fictional way a player can imagine including a free man of their clan, a free woman of their clan, a guard protecting them, an owner, a free companion, a slave, etc. We encourage free women and slaves to make use of these thralls as their primary mode of combat using what is known as an "authority build", in which the thralls fight for you allowing you to maintain the fiction of being non-combative. These thralls also allow free women and slaves the freedom to travel with the fiction that they are either "with their guards" or "in the company of their owner/clan free men". However, please note that the IC restrictions for women and weapons still apply -- a "slave thrall" walking around with a two-handed sword is not by the book.

Note

The word "Thrall" in Conan Exiles refers to the mechanical NPC of any gender and is not the same as the Gorean thrall of Torvaldsland.

Conflict Progression and Resolution

This article will serve to act as a “good practice” article that combines both generally agreed upon practices as well as how those practices are implemented on Barbarians of Gor. <Read Me>

Season Four

Season Four has began. We are in the process of upgrading our educational offerings, streamlining the application process, and onboarding new players. As always the wiki is a work in progress. As of Jul 9th, a significant re-organization was made.