D&D 5E BECMI 5E Modules All of It?

[Zardnaar]

With Goodman Games redoing B1 and B2 I was thinking of going through and doing a brief read through of the BECMI adventure line (B1,B2, X1,X2 etc) and share my thoughts on the modules and how easy they would be to convert to 5E. They would not be read cover to cover more, pick them up/read PDF, see if they appeal (have a hook), and have a look at the maps, layout, descriptions etc, and get a rough feel as to how easy they would be to convert to 5E. The modules will get a free pass on things like 80's art and being B/W and well erm basic perhaps. Basically it will be does this module look good/fun to play and how easy would it to be to convert to 5E?

I played a few back in the day and a few more over the last 5 years. They were all B/X though as I have not played anything from the CMI part of the line.

For the newer players what is BECMI? it stands for Basic, Expert, Companion, Master and Immortal and it was the other D&D that existed around the same time as 1E and 2E. There have been 7 main editions of D&D and several sub versions (Holmes, Moldvay, 3.5 etc). BECM took you from level 1-36, the "I" part was more or less playing as demigods (I don't think anyone actually used this RAW if at all). It was one of the biggest D&Ds of all time but died out as 1E more or less gobbled up the players in the late 80's (Dragonlance and FR may have had something to do with it not 100% sure).

So good idea/bad idea?

 

[Ath-kethin]

You can spend your time as you like; I don't know why anybody would care to stop you. But what is your goal here?

From the ad copy, it seems that the Goodman conversions have largely been just swapping in 5e statistics for the creatures in the modules. That doesn't seem like your plan, exactly (which makes sense, because it's a stretch of imagination to call that approach a "conversion" at all).

It also doesn't sound like you plan on doing the conversions anyway, just making a judgement on how "easy" it would be.

So go to town if you want, but I'm confused as to the intent of your post.

 

[Zardnaar]

You can spend your time as you like; I don't know why anybody would care to stop you. But what is your goal here?

From the ad copy, it seems that the Goodman conversions have largely been just swapping in 5e statistics for the creatures in the modules. That doesn't seem like your plan, exactly (which makes sense, because it's a stretch of imagination to call that approach a "conversion" at all).

It also doesn't sound like you plan on doing the conversions anyway, just making a judgement on how "easy" it would be.

So go to town if you want, but I'm confused as to the intent of your post.

Just a topic of conversation.

 

[dave2008]

... the "I" part was more or less playing as demigods (I don't think anyone actually used this RAW if at all).

Zard, you clearly never played "I" - it allowed you to play GODS! Not mere demigods. Please. I think the important point in excluding it from BECM is that it really was a different rule set and less of a continuation of BECM.

So good idea/bad idea?

Good idea

 

[JonnyP71]

I've run X2, X4 and X5 with mixed levels of success using 5E rules.

X2 took a long time to convert, but hell was it worth it - my players loved it, with its wacky pseudo-french theme. It's very very long though, as battles tend to take a little longer to resolve in 5E than they did in B/X. Averoigne could do with a little more fleshing out.

X4 was also a hit, the set piece nature of the events worked well with 5E. It's as far for the 6-8 encounter day as can be imaginable, but it still works, due to the big battles being very big. Thus it was no problem for with the PCs going all out with everything they had. The Abbey at the end is brilliant.

X5 was a bit more troublesome, it took me a long time to decide what I wanted The Master to be. It all ended with near TPK, my players enjoyed it, but it was hard work behind the scenes for me.

Had they been successful in X5 we would have continued to X10 - now THAT would have been a challenge!

I'd love to give B4 a go using 5E rules, that's my favourite in the B series.

 

[Sacrosanct]

With Goodman Games redoing B1 and B2 I was thinking of going through and doing a brief read through of the BECMI adventure line (B1,B2, X1,X2 etc) and share my thoughts on the modules and how easy they would be to convert to 5E. They would not be read cover to cover more, pick them up/read PDF, see if they appeal (have a hook), and have a look at the maps, layout, descriptions etc, and get a rough feel as to how easy they would be to convert to 5E. The modules will get a free pass on things like 80's art and being B/W and well erm basic perhaps. Basically it will be does this module look good/fun to play and how easy would it to be to convert to 5E?

I played a few back in the day and a few more over the last 5 years. They were all B/X though as I have not played anything from the CMI part of the line.

For the newer players what is BECMI? it stands for Basic, Expert, Companion, Master and Immortal and it was the other D&D that existed around the same time as 1E and 2E. There have been 7 main editions of D&D and several sub versions (Holmes, Moldvay, 3.5 etc). BECM took you from level 1-36, the "I" part was more or less playing as demigods (I don't think anyone actually used this RAW if at all). It was one of the biggest D&Ds of all time but died out as 1E more or less gobbled up the players in the late 80's (Dragonlance and FR may have had something to do with it not 100% sure).

So good idea/bad idea?

Some points of correction. BECMI didn’t die out in the late 80s because 1e took the players. TSR didn’t end basic until the mid nineties, well into 2es run. The Rules Cylcopedia was hugely popular and that didn’t come out until 1991. The only reason basic stopped was because TSR screwed themselves into dire financial straits by the mid to late 90s.

 

[Ancalagon]

And speaking of the Rules Cyclopedia, isn't it being re-released in a print on demand form?

Anyway, back to the OP

1: This is a neat idea. Some old modules are great fun in almost any editions - and it's nice to know which one those are

2: Converting to 5e is in general easy BUT there is a challenge I've been finding: Mooks. Cannon Fodder in 5e is just not the same as in lower editions. Those 3 goblins on a ledge during the fight shooting arrows at the party? In old editions they had a thaco of 20 (ie +0 to hit). In 5e they have +4. And higher level cannon hodder has *much more* hp. An ogre in 2nd ed had about 20 hp. Now it's about 60!

 

[Shiroiken]

I have already used several modified versions of Basic and 1E adventures, and am just about to introduce Isle of Dread. I don't simply convert to 5E, however, preferring to use the general ideas (and maps if available) modified to my campaign.

 

[Jester David]

With Goodman Games redoing B1 and B2 I was thinking of going through and doing a brief read through of the BECMI adventure line (B1,B2, X1,X2 etc) and share my thoughts on the modules and how easy they would be to convert to 5E. They would not be read cover to cover more, pick them up/read PDF, see if they appeal (have a hook), and have a look at the maps, layout, descriptions etc, and get a rough feel as to how easy they would be to convert to 5E. The modules will get a free pass on things like 80's art and being B/W and well erm basic perhaps. Basically it will be does this module look good/fun to play and how easy would it to be to convert to 5E?

I played a few back in the day and a few more over the last 5 years. They were all B/X though as I have not played anything from the CMI part of the line.

For the newer players what is BECMI? it stands for Basic, Expert, Companion, Master and Immortal and it was the other D&D that existed around the same time as 1E and 2E. There have been 7 main editions of D&D and several sub versions (Holmes, Moldvay, 3.5 etc). BECM took you from level 1-36, the "I" part was more or less playing as demigods (I don't think anyone actually used this RAW if at all). It was one of the biggest D&Ds of all time but died out as 1E more or less gobbled up the players in the late 80's (Dragonlance and FR may have had something to do with it not 100% sure).

So good idea/bad idea?

Seems more like a blog idea than a Message Board idea. Do a review/ conversion thoughts blog for each and invite commenters to talk about their thoughts and conversion attempts.

 

[Jer]

So good idea/bad idea?

I think this is a decent idea to start a conversation, but I don't think you have to commit to doing them all. I think a nice conversation could be had about different people's philosophies on converting old adventures (one that is already starting in this thread) and using the old B/X modules as a starting point could provide some interesting conversation.

I would also suggest not trying to tackle them in order - B1 and B2 are both very different beasts than the rest of the B series or the X series in many ways (plus Goodman is already doing them). I might skip those and go right into either X1 or X2 or B3 or B4 as a starting point.