Quick and Dirty Conversions from Previous Editions Help - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Quick and Dirty Conversions from Previous Editions Help

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
JoshuaGoudreau
Dec 25, 2014 22:02:02
Hello all, it has been some time since I have been active on these forums but with my new found love of 5e I am back.

I created a wide open sandbox for my new 5e campaign and populating my world I drew on my large catalog of previous editions. I have material spanning the gaumut from 1E all the way through 4E and some Pathfinder material. We have only played a single game so far and it has been a blast. We are all loving the new system and eagerly look forward to seeing where it goes.

So here is my question for you. Since I have a wide variety of material out thereit is not always possible to do a full conversion of rules to the new edition. Especially if the party goes off in a random and unexpected direction. Right now the party is hooked on the material in Lost Mine of Phandelver but I don't know how long they will spend following those threads before heading off elsewhere. it is a big world out there, after all. I cannot always jump to a monster in the Monster Manual, especially if it's something obscure. So what I need is a quick and dirty conversion I can do at the table that will make the encounter fit with the power curve of 5e

What do you all reccomend? Quick adjustments to HP, proficency, damage, etc. I don't care how accurate this is from a conversion standpoint. This is why I say quick and dirty. If I had the time to convert everything I would just do that but again, that's not always an option. I want something I can run on the fly and still works.

#2
Cooperjera
Dec 26, 2014 5:57:08
If you have the DMG then reference P274 for a CR value. Assign HP per the table. Adjust the AC to match the table. Then do the same for the offensive values. I don't have any previous versions to pull data from, but this table would be a good starting point. You may have to run a few encounters to get a good feel if pulling directly from the table will be too hard to too easy for the party.

#3
JoshuaGoudreau
Dec 26, 2014 16:21:15
That's a good idea for a starting point. I got a DMG for the holiday so I'll take a look and give it a shot.

#4
CCS
Dec 27, 2014 21:35:47 What I do: open previous - non-4e - editions monster book. Run monster as is. Or as close to as possible, making up whatever details I need to cover/aproximate things the current rules I'm using don't support. The most work I ever put in is converting AC from - to + between AD&D and 3x plus.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 JoshuaGoudreau Dec 25, 2014 22:02:02	Hello all, it has been some time since I have been active on these forums but with my new found love of 5e I am back. I created a wide open sandbox for my new 5e campaign and populating my world I drew on my large catalog of previous editions. I have material spanning the gaumut from 1E all the way through 4E and some Pathfinder material. We have only played a single game so far and it has been a blast. We are all loving the new system and eagerly look forward to seeing where it goes. So here is my question for you. Since I have a wide variety of material out thereit is not always possible to do a full conversion of rules to the new edition. Especially if the party goes off in a random and unexpected direction. Right now the party is hooked on the material in Lost Mine of Phandelver but I don't know how long they will spend following those threads before heading off elsewhere. it is a big world out there, after all. I cannot always jump to a monster in the Monster Manual, especially if it's something obscure. So what I need is a quick and dirty conversion I can do at the table that will make the encounter fit with the power curve of 5e What do you all reccomend? Quick adjustments to HP, proficency, damage, etc. I don't care how accurate this is from a conversion standpoint. This is why I say quick and dirty. If I had the time to convert everything I would just do that but again, that's not always an option. I want something I can run on the fly and still works.
#2 Cooperjera Dec 26, 2014 5:57:08	If you have the DMG then reference P274 for a CR value. Assign HP per the table. Adjust the AC to match the table. Then do the same for the offensive values. I don't have any previous versions to pull data from, but this table would be a good starting point. You may have to run a few encounters to get a good feel if pulling directly from the table will be too hard to too easy for the party.
#3 JoshuaGoudreau Dec 26, 2014 16:21:15	That's a good idea for a starting point. I got a DMG for the holiday so I'll take a look and give it a shot.
#4 CCS Dec 27, 2014 21:35:47	What I do: open previous - non-4e - editions monster book. Run monster as is. Or as close to as possible, making up whatever details I need to cover/aproximate things the current rules I'm using don't support. The most work I ever put in is converting AC from - to + between AD&D and 3x plus.