Translating the Dragonlance Modules to 4E - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Translating the Dragonlance Modules to 4E

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
thecasualoblivion
Mar 02, 2008 11:43:49 Looking at the original DL Modules(which I'm playing through right now), its interesting to speculate on translating the characters to 4E. Looking at the original team:

1. Tanis--Tough, you could go with Fighter, Fighter/Ranger, Fighter/Warlord, or Warlord/Ranger. I would lean towards Fighter/Ranger.
2. Caramon--Fighter
3. Raistlin--Wizard
4. Goldmoon--Cleric
5. Flint--Fighter
6. Tasselhoff--Rogue
7. Riverwind--Ranger
8. Sturm--Fighter, but takes Paladin training later on
9. Tika--Fighter with Rogue training
10. Gilthanas--Wizard/Fighter multiclass, team B needs a controller or I'd go Swordmage
11. Laurana--Warlord all the way. She was made for this class.
#2
HalfVictor
Mar 04, 2008 19:22:27
Snip

While I like what I see, as far as your ideas are concerned. However, before I completely agree with you I would like to better associate myself with my rules.
#3
thecasualoblivion
Mar 04, 2008 20:48:28 Really need to see the multiclassing rules to judge how to deal with Tanis, Sturm, Tika, and Gilthanas.

We haven't seen the Warlord, but whatever it is, Laurana is definitely one of them.
#4
cam_banks
Mar 04, 2008 21:59:53 I'd make Tanis a warlord, also. He's far less a ranger than people tend to think. He doesn't display many of the traits a ranger possesses, other than being good with a bow and wearing leather armor at the start. His most famous item is a magic sword, and he wound up wearing heavy armor near the end of the Chronicles, so I think warlord with fighter training makes more sense.

I'll be throwing together some 4e versions of the Heroes of the Lance as part of my 4e Dragonlance conversion documents for the Dragonlance Nexus. It will be interesting to see what else folks come up with.

Cheers,
Cam
#5
thecasualoblivion
Mar 07, 2008 19:08:02 Another point in the translation would be that given the nature of the changes to power levels in 4E, I would be very tempted to start the Dragonlance modules at level 1.
#6
jaerys
Mar 08, 2008 22:40:31 One of the claims of 4th ed is that monsters lower level than the party don't become obsolete as quickly. If that is true, then the types of encounters in the 3rd edition modules may still be appropriate. I think that the original modules started at a lower level. I want to say 3rd. That may be a fair comprimise.
#7
ryndwhyr
Mar 11, 2008 1:42:17 In original modules, Raistlin started at L3, with Sturm and Caramon at L6. Others were in between. For 4E, closer together might be more reasonable.
Continuing the original idea from this post, what to do with other primary characters and NPCs in later modules?
Elistan is obviously a cleric.
Derek might be similar to Sturm, except that his hubris probably makes it difficult for him to reach Paladin status.
Aaron is clearly all about the bow, but Ranger still doesn't quite sound right. Ranger/Fighter is probably best.
Silvara/Silvart is really tough. The Kagonesti are somehow more "rural" than the Silvanesti/Qualinesti elves. She could be played as a Rogue/Fighter, but also see Waylorn.
Alhana probably should replicate Laurana - an elven princess, used to leading, if warlord fits Laurana, then it should also work for Alhana.
Waylorn may be problematical. So far, no sign of a druid has appeared. I like to play the modules with him as the hidden Huma, so the disparity in roles and alignment between Waylorn and Huma should be dramatic. For lack of anything better, I'd make him an unaligned cleric with as much focus on nature powers as possible.
Kronn wants to be a "hero", so, unlikely as it first seems, he might be a "brutal scoundrel" rogue.
Serinda can most likely duplicate Gilthanas, including the potential to be a swordmage (perhaps in Krynn that is unique to the elves). Otherwise could also consider a fighter/warlock.
Berem, since he is locked at 5th level, might as well be as effective as possible at that level. A 2-weapon Ranger or a very specialized Fighter.
Maq and her pirate crew could even pose some challenges, although variants of Rogues would likely do for most, with Maq needing some Leadership attributes - probably warlord.
#8
stormonu
Mar 14, 2008 0:31:55 Why Sturm was never made a paladin, I'll never understand.
#9
cam_banks
Mar 14, 2008 10:12:16
Why Sturm was never made a paladin, I'll never understand.

Brian Donner, the Sword Knight who accompanied the Heroes to Icereach and whose story is told in Dragons of a Highlord Skies, fit the role a lot better. I made him a paladin (albeit initially without powers) in Dragons of Winter.

Sturm, on the other hand, had a different destiny. He has some paladin-like traits, but those are the kinds of things that were absorbed into the Knights of Solamnia later.

Cheers,
Cam

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 thecasualoblivion Mar 02, 2008 11:43:49	Looking at the original DL Modules(which I'm playing through right now), its interesting to speculate on translating the characters to 4E. Looking at the original team: 1. Tanis--Tough, you could go with Fighter, Fighter/Ranger, Fighter/Warlord, or Warlord/Ranger. I would lean towards Fighter/Ranger. 2. Caramon--Fighter 3. Raistlin--Wizard 4. Goldmoon--Cleric 5. Flint--Fighter 6. Tasselhoff--Rogue 7. Riverwind--Ranger 8. Sturm--Fighter, but takes Paladin training later on 9. Tika--Fighter with Rogue training 10. Gilthanas--Wizard/Fighter multiclass, team B needs a controller or I'd go Swordmage 11. Laurana--Warlord all the way. She was made for this class.
#2 HalfVictor Mar 04, 2008 19:22:27	Snip While I like what I see, as far as your ideas are concerned. However, before I completely agree with you I would like to better associate myself with my rules.
#3 thecasualoblivion Mar 04, 2008 20:48:28	Really need to see the multiclassing rules to judge how to deal with Tanis, Sturm, Tika, and Gilthanas. We haven't seen the Warlord, but whatever it is, Laurana is definitely one of them.
#4 cam_banks Mar 04, 2008 21:59:53	I'd make Tanis a warlord, also. He's far less a ranger than people tend to think. He doesn't display many of the traits a ranger possesses, other than being good with a bow and wearing leather armor at the start. His most famous item is a magic sword, and he wound up wearing heavy armor near the end of the Chronicles, so I think warlord with fighter training makes more sense. I'll be throwing together some 4e versions of the Heroes of the Lance as part of my 4e Dragonlance conversion documents for the Dragonlance Nexus. It will be interesting to see what else folks come up with. Cheers, Cam
#5 thecasualoblivion Mar 07, 2008 19:08:02	Another point in the translation would be that given the nature of the changes to power levels in 4E, I would be very tempted to start the Dragonlance modules at level 1.
#6 jaerys Mar 08, 2008 22:40:31	One of the claims of 4th ed is that monsters lower level than the party don't become obsolete as quickly. If that is true, then the types of encounters in the 3rd edition modules may still be appropriate. I think that the original modules started at a lower level. I want to say 3rd. That may be a fair comprimise.
#7 ryndwhyr Mar 11, 2008 1:42:17	In original modules, Raistlin started at L3, with Sturm and Caramon at L6. Others were in between. For 4E, closer together might be more reasonable. Continuing the original idea from this post, what to do with other primary characters and NPCs in later modules? Elistan is obviously a cleric. Derek might be similar to Sturm, except that his hubris probably makes it difficult for him to reach Paladin status. Aaron is clearly all about the bow, but Ranger still doesn't quite sound right. Ranger/Fighter is probably best. Silvara/Silvart is really tough. The Kagonesti are somehow more "rural" than the Silvanesti/Qualinesti elves. She could be played as a Rogue/Fighter, but also see Waylorn. Alhana probably should replicate Laurana - an elven princess, used to leading, if warlord fits Laurana, then it should also work for Alhana. Waylorn may be problematical. So far, no sign of a druid has appeared. I like to play the modules with him as the hidden Huma, so the disparity in roles and alignment between Waylorn and Huma should be dramatic. For lack of anything better, I'd make him an unaligned cleric with as much focus on nature powers as possible. Kronn wants to be a "hero", so, unlikely as it first seems, he might be a "brutal scoundrel" rogue. Serinda can most likely duplicate Gilthanas, including the potential to be a swordmage (perhaps in Krynn that is unique to the elves). Otherwise could also consider a fighter/warlock. Berem, since he is locked at 5th level, might as well be as effective as possible at that level. A 2-weapon Ranger or a very specialized Fighter. Maq and her pirate crew could even pose some challenges, although variants of Rogues would likely do for most, with Maq needing some Leadership attributes - probably warlord.
#8 stormonu Mar 14, 2008 0:31:55	Why Sturm was never made a paladin, I'll never understand.
#9 cam_banks Mar 14, 2008 10:12:16	Why Sturm was never made a paladin, I'll never understand. Brian Donner, the Sword Knight who accompanied the Heroes to Icereach and whose story is told in Dragons of a Highlord Skies, fit the role a lot better. I made him a paladin (albeit initially without powers) in Dragons of Winter. Sturm, on the other hand, had a different destiny. He has some paladin-like traits, but those are the kinds of things that were absorbed into the Knights of Solamnia later. Cheers, Cam