from CRPG to RPG

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

healingaura

Sep 22, 2009 15:59:47

Hello, I'm thinking of having my next 4E D&D adventure in a world that resembles the world of the CRPG "Arcanum of Steamworks & Magick Obscura". I was wondering if anybody ever played an RPG in an adventure world from a CRPG. Also, have anyone tried converting the world of a computer role playing game into D&D 4E or older editions.


If someone thinks he successfully created a homebrew world for D&D 4E, I would appreciate his opinion about things like what I should focus on.

#2

Joseph_Silver

Sep 22, 2009 16:11:43

Converting Arcanum literally to 4E would take a lot of work.


Instead, I'd suggest making the campaign a struggle between different types of magic (non-Martial power sources), since there aren't any rules for high technology yet in 4E.  This would capture the theme of conflicting ideologies in Arcanum.


Perhaps the Arcane power source would take the place of Science in the game, with the other types of magic representing Magick (with a K!).


Thus, Tarant would be an Arcane state, with Cumbria being a Divine kingdom (since it doesn't really feel Primal to me).  Caladon would be the maverick state where Science (Arcane magic) and Magick (everything else) work in harmony with one another.

#3

healingaura

Sep 22, 2009 17:03:03


Converting Arcanum literally to 4E would take a lot of work.


Instead, I'd suggest making the campaign a struggle between different types of magic (non-Martial power sources), since there aren't any rules for high technology yet in 4E.  This would capture the theme of conflicting ideologies in Arcanum.


Perhaps the Arcane power source would take the place of Science in the game, with the other types of magic representing Magick (with a K!).


Thus, Tarant would be an Arcane state, with Cumbria being a Divine kingdom (since it doesn't really feel Primal to me).  Caladon would be the maverick state where Science (Arcane magic) and Magick (everything else) work in harmony with one another.



Thanks for the help :D

We decided that some classes can add to their class skills list a new skill "Technolog" (INT based). My DM for a Forgotten Realms adventure wanted each class that starts with the Ritual Caster feat to be able to make technological items instead, but we canceled it when we got the D&D insider (too much content). I'm more interested in changing the concept than making bazillion new technology "rituals". Some items from Arcanum can be converted to 4E by using keywords like item groups and item properties:


for exmple, making Sharp Shooter's Pistol a superior one-handed ranged weapon with the load minor property and counts as the crossbow group.


Some races in D&D 4E already exist in Arcanum, so I don't have to worry about Dwarves, Humans, Gnomes, Half-Elves, Drows, and such. I think the Elven society can be a combination of Eladrins and Elves. Warforged are just a must have as humanoid automatons. Also, I think I'll convert Half-Ogres/Ogres into 4E Goliaths, and Lizardmen into Dragonborns. Not sure what to do about other races like Genasi. I think I'll just restrict some of the races.