D&D -> D20M Urban Arcana... - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

D&D -> D20M Urban Arcana...

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
mearrin69
Apr 04, 2009 11:59:31 Hi all,
Looks like there are still some folks around playing D20 Modern Hopefully someone can help me out with character conversion.

I've had the books for ages but never run anything. Now we're planning a little one-shot where the characters start off in a D&D world but get transported to the modern world described in Urban Arcana.

The UA conversion notes say that a D&D character should get "three levels of an appropriate base class and one class of an analog" to their D&D class. I take that to mean that, to convert say a D&D Wizard 1, you'd give them three levels of the Smart class and one level of Mage. Is that correct?

What about a Wizard 3? Smart 3/Mage 3? I wanted to start the characters off at higher than 1st level but want to get the conversion correct after we cross over. Any advice? Thanks!
M
#2
TheRealOrion
Apr 04, 2009 13:20:19 Why not just bring them in with their D&D class features, but then given them the option to either progress in their current (D&D) class or progress in d20M classes? (i.e., no multiclassing into other D&D classes)

That way, they don't have to learn any new rules right away, but there is a sense that the d20M rules are "rubbing off" on them.
#3
mearrin69
Apr 04, 2009 13:45:35 Hi,
Thanks. Have you tried this? Is it balanced enough that some of the players can choose to convert and some can stay the same? I don't want to develop too much disparity in abilities. Also, I should still cap max spell level and spell list, right?
M
#4
TheRealOrion
Apr 05, 2009 2:24:25 I have not tried it, no. It's just an idea. Yes, you could still put a level cap on the spells, though, by just saying "that's not available in this world."
#5
TheRealOrion
Apr 06, 2009 11:55:58 You know what, this might be a better idea: let them keep their current class and stats when they shift over to the modern world, but then force them to take Modern classes after that, because the world is changing them. The one thing you'll have to sort out is prerequisites for Advanced classes from D&D Core classes. It's not really fair to make them go through the Base classes if they already have 8 levels of Rogue (or what have you).
#6
Wolfen_Fenrison
Apr 06, 2009 18:11:09 Hope this helps for converting D&D characters to d20 Modern

Barbarian: Tough/Thrasher (UA)/Enforcer (MPC)

Bard: Charismatic/Glamourist (UA)/Personality

Cleric: Dedicated/Acolyte (UA)/Ecclesiarch (UA)

Druid: Dedicated/Acolyte/Ecclesiarch (UA)

Fighter: Strong/Archaic Weaponmaster (UA)/Soldier

Monk: Strong/Martial Artist/Martial Arts Master (MPC)

Paladin: Strong/Archaic Weaponmaster (UA)/Holy Knight (UA)

Ranger: Tough/Wildlord (UA)/Survivalist (MPC)

Rogue: Fast/Infiltrator/Silent Intruder (MPC)

Sorcerer: Charismatic/Adept (MPC)/Archamge (UA)

Wizard: Smart/Mage/Archmage (UA)

Psion: Charismatic/Psychic/Mentalist (MPC)

Psychic Warrior: Strong/Battle Mind/Psionic Assassin (MPC)

Artificer: Smart/Techno Mage (UA)/Artificer (UA)

Mystic: Dedicated/Mystic (UA)/Ecclesiarch (UA)

Marshal: Charismatic/Field Marshal (d20F)/Commander (MPC)

Swashbuckler: Fast/Swashbuckler (UA)/Muskeetier (d20P)

Warlock: Charismatic/Sorcerer (d20P)/Diabolist (D*M)

Key: d20P (d20 Past), d20F (d20 Future), UA (Urban Arcana), D*M (Dark*Matter), MPC (Modern Player's Companion)
#7
mearrin69
Apr 07, 2009 14:29:37 Hey, thanks for that. I'm copying it to my notes.
M
#8
layla_minogue
Apr 07, 2009 14:51:42 I've done this kind of class-mixing before and I didn't have any problems. The difference is that I've been building modern characters who take D&D classes from level 1, so they didn't actually "cross over." I take away automatic armor proficiencies and swap them for an appropriate class bonus to Defense (eg Fighter gets the best bonus to compensate for the loss of the Heavy Armor Proficiency feat.) Some skills get dropped for their Modern analogues (Knowledge Arcana -> Arcane Lore.) Plus the D&D characters get a starting occupation at first level, like modern; I see occupations as an add-on system for Modern, and I didn't have any game-breaking issues. D&D classes take other bennies as well like Reputation and Action Points, and everyone gets Profession as a class skill.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 mearrin69 Apr 04, 2009 11:59:31	Hi all, Looks like there are still some folks around playing D20 Modern Hopefully someone can help me out with character conversion. I've had the books for ages but never run anything. Now we're planning a little one-shot where the characters start off in a D&D world but get transported to the modern world described in Urban Arcana. The UA conversion notes say that a D&D character should get "three levels of an appropriate base class and one class of an analog" to their D&D class. I take that to mean that, to convert say a D&D Wizard 1, you'd give them three levels of the Smart class and one level of Mage. Is that correct? What about a Wizard 3? Smart 3/Mage 3? I wanted to start the characters off at higher than 1st level but want to get the conversion correct after we cross over. Any advice? Thanks! M
#2 TheRealOrion Apr 04, 2009 13:20:19	Why not just bring them in with their D&D class features, but then given them the option to either progress in their current (D&D) class or progress in d20M classes? (i.e., no multiclassing into other D&D classes) That way, they don't have to learn any new rules right away, but there is a sense that the d20M rules are "rubbing off" on them.
#3 mearrin69 Apr 04, 2009 13:45:35	Hi, Thanks. Have you tried this? Is it balanced enough that some of the players can choose to convert and some can stay the same? I don't want to develop too much disparity in abilities. Also, I should still cap max spell level and spell list, right? M
#4 TheRealOrion Apr 05, 2009 2:24:25	I have not tried it, no. It's just an idea. Yes, you could still put a level cap on the spells, though, by just saying "that's not available in this world."
#5 TheRealOrion Apr 06, 2009 11:55:58	You know what, this might be a better idea: let them keep their current class and stats when they shift over to the modern world, but then force them to take Modern classes after that, because the world is changing them. The one thing you'll have to sort out is prerequisites for Advanced classes from D&D Core classes. It's not really fair to make them go through the Base classes if they already have 8 levels of Rogue (or what have you).
#6 Wolfen_Fenrison Apr 06, 2009 18:11:09	Hope this helps for converting D&D characters to d20 Modern Barbarian: Tough/Thrasher (UA)/Enforcer (MPC) Bard: Charismatic/Glamourist (UA)/Personality Cleric: Dedicated/Acolyte (UA)/Ecclesiarch (UA) Druid: Dedicated/Acolyte/Ecclesiarch (UA) Fighter: Strong/Archaic Weaponmaster (UA)/Soldier Monk: Strong/Martial Artist/Martial Arts Master (MPC) Paladin: Strong/Archaic Weaponmaster (UA)/Holy Knight (UA) Ranger: Tough/Wildlord (UA)/Survivalist (MPC) Rogue: Fast/Infiltrator/Silent Intruder (MPC) Sorcerer: Charismatic/Adept (MPC)/Archamge (UA) Wizard: Smart/Mage/Archmage (UA) Psion: Charismatic/Psychic/Mentalist (MPC) Psychic Warrior: Strong/Battle Mind/Psionic Assassin (MPC) Artificer: Smart/Techno Mage (UA)/Artificer (UA) Mystic: Dedicated/Mystic (UA)/Ecclesiarch (UA) Marshal: Charismatic/Field Marshal (d20F)/Commander (MPC) Swashbuckler: Fast/Swashbuckler (UA)/Muskeetier (d20P) Warlock: Charismatic/Sorcerer (d20P)/Diabolist (DM) Key: d20P (d20 Past), d20F (d20 Future), UA (Urban Arcana), DM (Dark*Matter), MPC (Modern Player's Companion)
#7 mearrin69 Apr 07, 2009 14:29:37	Hey, thanks for that. I'm copying it to my notes. M
#8 layla_minogue Apr 07, 2009 14:51:42	I've done this kind of class-mixing before and I didn't have any problems. The difference is that I've been building modern characters who take D&D classes from level 1, so they didn't actually "cross over." I take away automatic armor proficiencies and swap them for an appropriate class bonus to Defense (eg Fighter gets the best bonus to compensate for the loss of the Heavy Armor Proficiency feat.) Some skills get dropped for their Modern analogues (Knowledge Arcana -> Arcane Lore.) Plus the D&D characters get a starting occupation at first level, like modern; I see occupations as an add-on system for Modern, and I didn't have any game-breaking issues. D&D classes take other bennies as well like Reputation and Action Points, and everyone gets Profession as a class skill.