JoeGKushner said:
I don't think that their generic format helped them sell lots of product whereas the D20 logo sure seems to help a whole lotta publishers.
Sadly that shows the sad state of affairs in the industry currently.
If you can slap the d20 logo on it you can sell almost anything, good or otherwise.
These books are excellent IMNSHO and shouldn't need the d20 logo to sell.
As to converting.... The only part of the books that really would require d20 stats are the NPC's themselves, and a quick use of Jamis Buck's online generator can give you a usable stat block real quick like, and when E-Tools ever finally hit's the shelves you won't even need that
As an example let us take Korbos' Transport from book 1
Korbo is an expert so I decided he would be lvl 5 for my game....a quick generation and I get
Gedrin Korbo, male human Exp5: CR 4; Size M (5 ft., 8 in. tall); HD 5d6+10; hp 30; Init +4 (+4 Dex); Spd 30 ft.; AC 14 (+4 Dex); Attack +4 melee, or +7 ranged; SV Fort +3, Ref +5, Will +8; AL NG; Str 12, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 17, Wis 18, Cha 14.
Languages Spoken: Aquan, Common, Halfling, Sylvan.
Skill points: Exp 80
Skills and feats: Animal empathy +10, Appraise +11, Handle animal +12, Hide +4, Innuendo +10, Intimidate +10, Listen +12, Move silently +6, Perform +9, , Search +10, Spot +10, Use rope +6, Wilderness lore +12; Endurance, Expertise, Skill focus (handle animal).
Even though he hates horses that doesn't mean he doesn't know them inside and out.
Then there is "Crazy" Ool,
From his description I'd say he has at least one level of Barbarian and a few of fighter so:
Crazy Ool, male human Bbn2/Ftr3: CR 5; Size M (6 ft., 2 in. tall); HD 2d12+6 + 3d10+9; hp 37; Init +8 (+4 Dex, +4 Improved initiative); Spd 40 ft.; AC 14 (+4 Dex); Attack +9 melee, or +9 ranged; SV Fort +9, Ref +7, Will +2; AL NG; Str 18, Dex 18, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 18.
Languages Spoken: Common, Undercommon.
Skill points: Bbn 30, Ftr 12
Skills and feats: Climb +10, Craft +2, Handle animal +9, Heal +3.5, Hide +4, Intimidate +8, Intuit direction +6, Jump +5, Listen +1, Move silently +4, Ride +10, Spot +1, Swim +10, Wilderness lore +5; Cleave, Improved bull rush, Improved initiative, Lightning reflexes, Power attack.
Total time for this.....5 minutes or so.....take another 15 and really narrow them down to what you want.
Next Question?