3.5: Dolphins and conversions [Archive] - Wizards Community

3.5: Dolphins and conversions [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Sarelle
07-29-03, 06:34 AM I am quite happy with my new 3.5 core rulebooks and am in the process of, for the first time, learning every nook and cranny of the rules. I am also slowly accepting some of the changes (gnome's favoured class from illusionist to bard, etc.).

However I am shocked at two things -

1. There arn't any dolphins in the 3.5 Monster Manual? :OMG! I don't get it! There is a porpoise, but not a dolphin (and I can't use a porpoise straight off - they arn't the same as dolphins). Weren't there dolhins in the 3.0 Monster Manual? (I'm sure there were... but I COULD be wrong).

2. I flicked throught the 3.5 DMG, PH and MM and could find neither a conversion guide for 2nd edition to 3.5 edition, nor a conversion guide for 3rd edition to 3.5 edition - what's with that? Is there one, I've missed? If not - why? I really need a conversion guide for 2E to 3.5, so if anyone could help I'd be really grateful. Also I need a guide for converting 3.0 monster stat blocks to 3.5 (I could work out how to do it myself, but I'm lazy :D )

Edit: I know this is FR unrelated, but I don't know anyone in the 3.5 boards.
kedi
07-29-03, 07:26 AM Well, there are some big changes, of course. I see that you were using 2E, THAC0, and things are familiar to you, I can not help you to convert 2E to 3,5, but I can help you with converting to 3E(which is very similar)

First of all, there is no THAC0 :) There are base attack bonuses for each class as described, and the AC is changed a little. A person with nothing has an AC of 10 but with more bonuses to armor (like +1 for elves which has +2 dexterity) doesn''t have an AC of 9, instead 11. (simple, isn't it :) )
When attacking, d20+BAB vs AC in this case, if d20+BAB is bigger than AC, Character get hit.
There are many useless (!) skills in new editions. There are class skills and cross class skils. A fighter has a 2 skill point+int modifier (x4 for first level) etc. You pay 1 point for your class skills(like ride for fighters) or 2 points for cross class skills(like spellcraft for fighters) Learn the skills from the book.
There are some new classes like rogue which was thief and sorcerer. Spell descriptions changed a little, and some major spells are the same (like MAGIC MISSILE!!! :D ) Classes changed, nor major but neither minor changes.

As you can see, the system changed a little, but don't need to be panicked. There are no convertions simple because its not too far from the 3E and no convertions for 1E or 2E because they simple didn't thought that there would be players using them. I hope i helped you and anwered your some questions, if u have anything isn't clear, go on and ask me :)
Another Gnome
07-29-03, 08:55 AM Sarelle:

1. There never were dolphins in 3.0 MM. Porpoise stats refer to any marine mammal of that size.

2. The conversion guides are found here:

2E to 3E (http://www.wizards.com/dnd/DnD_CYC_intro.asp)

3.0 to 3.5 (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/20030718a)
Sarelle
07-29-03, 02:16 PM Thanks, both of you.

But kedi - I actually came into D&D at 3.0, so I know those rules better than 2nd edition. I wanted to convert material, like NPCs and monsters, to 3.5. But thanks anyway, and I should have made that clearer in my post.

Thanks for the info on conversion from 2nd edition to 3rd edition, Another Gnome. Is the conversion manual still in print, and still free?
And thanks for the info on the dolphin being the porpoise, though I still think taht doesn't make sense. Firstly, the porpoise has no Jump skill, and secondly it has animal intelligence (which, I guess 3.0 dolphins would have anyway, though).
And finally thanks for the 3.0 to 3.5 refernce - I've already downloaded it, so I have no idea why I didn't bother to check.
Thanks.
Another Gnome
07-29-03, 05:14 PM Is the conversion manual still in print, and still free?

I doubt WotC has printed those for a good while now, but the online version is available for free just the same (there is a link to the PDF in case you missed it).
kedi
07-30-03, 02:46 AM well, that's a shame :( :( :fight!: :king: :fight!:

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Sarelle 07-29-03, 06:34 AM	I am quite happy with my new 3.5 core rulebooks and am in the process of, for the first time, learning every nook and cranny of the rules. I am also slowly accepting some of the changes (gnome's favoured class from illusionist to bard, etc.). However I am shocked at two things - 1. There arn't any dolphins in the 3.5 Monster Manual? :OMG! I don't get it! There is a porpoise, but not a dolphin (and I can't use a porpoise straight off - they arn't the same as dolphins). Weren't there dolhins in the 3.0 Monster Manual? (I'm sure there were... but I COULD be wrong). 2. I flicked throught the 3.5 DMG, PH and MM and could find neither a conversion guide for 2nd edition to 3.5 edition, nor a conversion guide for 3rd edition to 3.5 edition - what's with that? Is there one, I've missed? If not - why? I really need a conversion guide for 2E to 3.5, so if anyone could help I'd be really grateful. Also I need a guide for converting 3.0 monster stat blocks to 3.5 (I could work out how to do it myself, but I'm lazy :D ) Edit: I know this is FR unrelated, but I don't know anyone in the 3.5 boards.
kedi 07-29-03, 07:26 AM	Well, there are some big changes, of course. I see that you were using 2E, THAC0, and things are familiar to you, I can not help you to convert 2E to 3,5, but I can help you with converting to 3E(which is very similar) First of all, there is no THAC0 :) There are base attack bonuses for each class as described, and the AC is changed a little. A person with nothing has an AC of 10 but with more bonuses to armor (like +1 for elves which has +2 dexterity) doesn''t have an AC of 9, instead 11. (simple, isn't it :) ) When attacking, d20+BAB vs AC in this case, if d20+BAB is bigger than AC, Character get hit. There are many useless (!) skills in new editions. There are class skills and cross class skils. A fighter has a 2 skill point+int modifier (x4 for first level) etc. You pay 1 point for your class skills(like ride for fighters) or 2 points for cross class skills(like spellcraft for fighters) Learn the skills from the book. There are some new classes like rogue which was thief and sorcerer. Spell descriptions changed a little, and some major spells are the same (like MAGIC MISSILE!!! :D ) Classes changed, nor major but neither minor changes. As you can see, the system changed a little, but don't need to be panicked. There are no convertions simple because its not too far from the 3E and no convertions for 1E or 2E because they simple didn't thought that there would be players using them. I hope i helped you and anwered your some questions, if u have anything isn't clear, go on and ask me :)
Another Gnome 07-29-03, 08:55 AM	Sarelle: 1. There never were dolphins in 3.0 MM. Porpoise stats refer to any marine mammal of that size. 2. The conversion guides are found here: 2E to 3E (http://www.wizards.com/dnd/DnD_CYC_intro.asp) 3.0 to 3.5 (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/20030718a)
Sarelle 07-29-03, 02:16 PM	Thanks, both of you. But kedi - I actually came into D&D at 3.0, so I know those rules better than 2nd edition. I wanted to convert material, like NPCs and monsters, to 3.5. But thanks anyway, and I should have made that clearer in my post. Thanks for the info on conversion from 2nd edition to 3rd edition, Another Gnome. Is the conversion manual still in print, and still free? And thanks for the info on the dolphin being the porpoise, though I still think taht doesn't make sense. Firstly, the porpoise has no Jump skill, and secondly it has animal intelligence (which, I guess 3.0 dolphins would have anyway, though). And finally thanks for the 3.0 to 3.5 refernce - I've already downloaded it, so I have no idea why I didn't bother to check. Thanks.
Another Gnome 07-29-03, 05:14 PM	Is the conversion manual still in print, and still free? I doubt WotC has printed those for a good while now, but the online version is available for free just the same (there is a link to the PDF in case you missed it).
kedi 07-30-03, 02:46 AM	well, that's a shame :( :( :fight!: :king: :fight!: