Convert from 3.0 to 2ed... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Convert from 3.0 to 2ed... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Loucian the Druid
01-31-04, 10:07 AM This is going to sound bizarre but how would I go about converting the monster manual in 3.0 back into 2ed. I am involved in a 2ed planescape campaign but all I own are the 3ed books and I don't really want to buy all those 2ed books if I can help it. Can anyone give me an easy step by step on how to do it.

Thanks in advance
sandskimmer
01-31-04, 07:55 PM There really is no easy step-by-step process. Just keep some things in mind:

AC is reverse (goes down instead of up)
THAC0 is reverse of BAB (goes down instead of up)

In 2ed, all monsters got d8 for HP.
All monsters use a priest's THAC0.
No monsters get str or con bonuses, or have any abilities except a INT score.

Hope that helps.
AmericanSaint
01-31-04, 10:09 PM I'm impressed sandskimmer,
I couldn't remember 2nd ed. if I tried. I've blocked out the long years of THAC0.
The Abominable Darkling
02-01-04, 04:05 AM Originally posted by Loucian the Druid
This is going to sound bizarre but how would I go about converting the monster manual in 3.0 back into 2ed. I am involved in a 2ed planescape campaign but all I own are the 3ed books and I don't really want to buy all those 2ed books if I can help it. Can anyone give me an easy step by step on how to do it.

Thanks in advance Unfortunately this isn't really possible. 2nd Edition monsters had all sorts of quirks that were lost in the translation into 3rd Edition. In general, I recommend just keeping the hit dice total the same and giving the creatures abilities similar to what you see in the 3.0 Monster Manual. They won't be the same as the 2nd Edition versions, but your players won't know the difference.

Here are some pointers: Saving throws are generally the same as a fighter of the same level (though monsters that are "closer" to some other class use that class's saves instead).
THAC0 = 20 - 3/4×HD
AC = 20 - 3.0 AC; though beware of AC's above 30. Very few 2nd Edition monsters had an AC below 0.
Damage reduction X/+Y becomes immunity to weapons of less than +Y enchantment.
Magic resistance = (SR - CR) × 5%; but note that the magic resistance of many monsters was changed in 3.0. For example, in 2nd edition a dragon's magic resistance increased as it aged, but in 3.0 it decreases.
Incorporeal creatures are simply immune to weapons of less than +1 enchantment.
Hope that helps. Also, Sandskimmer's info is bang on.
Raymond_Luxury_Yacht
02-01-04, 10:44 PM THAC0 is 20-hit dice, normally caps out at 5, although there are a few exceptions.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Loucian the Druid 01-31-04, 10:07 AM	This is going to sound bizarre but how would I go about converting the monster manual in 3.0 back into 2ed. I am involved in a 2ed planescape campaign but all I own are the 3ed books and I don't really want to buy all those 2ed books if I can help it. Can anyone give me an easy step by step on how to do it. Thanks in advance
sandskimmer 01-31-04, 07:55 PM	There really is no easy step-by-step process. Just keep some things in mind: AC is reverse (goes down instead of up) THAC0 is reverse of BAB (goes down instead of up) In 2ed, all monsters got d8 for HP. All monsters use a priest's THAC0. No monsters get str or con bonuses, or have any abilities except a INT score. Hope that helps.
AmericanSaint 01-31-04, 10:09 PM	I'm impressed sandskimmer, I couldn't remember 2nd ed. if I tried. I've blocked out the long years of THAC0.
The Abominable Darkling 02-01-04, 04:05 AM	Originally posted by Loucian the Druid This is going to sound bizarre but how would I go about converting the monster manual in 3.0 back into 2ed. I am involved in a 2ed planescape campaign but all I own are the 3ed books and I don't really want to buy all those 2ed books if I can help it. Can anyone give me an easy step by step on how to do it. Thanks in advance Unfortunately this isn't really possible. 2nd Edition monsters had all sorts of quirks that were lost in the translation into 3rd Edition. In general, I recommend just keeping the hit dice total the same and giving the creatures abilities similar to what you see in the 3.0 Monster Manual. They won't be the same as the 2nd Edition versions, but your players won't know the difference. Here are some pointers: Saving throws are generally the same as a fighter of the same level (though monsters that are "closer" to some other class use that class's saves instead). THAC0 = 20 - 3/4×HD AC = 20 - 3.0 AC; though beware of AC's above 30. Very few 2nd Edition monsters had an AC below 0. Damage reduction X/+Y becomes immunity to weapons of less than +Y enchantment. Magic resistance = (SR - CR) × 5%; but note that the magic resistance of many monsters was changed in 3.0. For example, in 2nd edition a dragon's magic resistance increased as it aged, but in 3.0 it decreases. Incorporeal creatures are simply immune to weapons of less than +1 enchantment. Hope that helps. Also, Sandskimmer's info is bang on.
Raymond_Luxury_Yacht 02-01-04, 10:44 PM	THAC0 is 20-hit dice, normally caps out at 5, although there are a few exceptions.