D&D General Let's Share Our Alternate Lore

[Voadam]

I like to expand on the aboleth with numerous variants including parasites, hybrids, and slave races.

Cool collection. There are a few other variants you might want to check out Lazy GM One Shots: Aboleths, Weekly Wonders - Advanced Aboleths, Lords of Madness, and Sunken Empires each have some.

 

[Tonguez]

Here are some more lores from my mind palace:

I watched Tensei Slime and got inspired to have monsters "evolve" into other monsters like Pokemon. For example: rot grub > carrion crawler > carrion moth > carrion dragon, or tenebrous worm > gloomwing > shadow dragon.

I like to expand on the aboleth with numerous variants including parasites, hybrids, and slave races.

I do like the rot grub-carrion crawler-moth link, thats rather cool bit of ecology there. .
(I’m not sure how I feel about grubs evolving into Dragons though
)

 

[VelvetViolet]

Cool collection. There are a few other variants you might want to check out Lazy GM One Shots: Aboleths, Weekly Wonders - Advanced Aboleths, Lords of Madness, and Sunken Empires each have some.

I prefer OGC.

Anyway, does anybody here know how to convert 3.x statistics to 5e? I have a copy of Slavelords of Cydonia but it’s from 2004. The new aboleth variants in the appendix are cool, but I haven’t seen them reprinted and they’re not compatible with 5e.

For reference, these are the new aboleths or “lethid” in the book:

• Mohldaleth: small parasites that burrow into a humanoid host and influence their mind. (Comparable to puppeteers)
• Nihileth: flying octopuses that engulf a victim’s head and controls their body. (Comparable to mind flayers)
• Rgleth: flying octopuses that attach to larger animals and manipulate their behavior.
• Shibboleth: giant aboleth that control swarms of small animals for use as spies.
• True Aboleth: giant aboleth whose infectious slime turns their victims into living zombies under their control.

 

[VelvetViolet]

I do like the rot grub-carrion crawler-moth link, thats rather cool bit of ecology there. .
(I’m not sure how I feel about grubs evolving into Dragons though
)

Chinese dragons are known to evolve from carp that jump the Dragon’s Gate. Serbian dragons are known to evolve from fish, birds, and serpents that reach the age of one hundred.

 

[Voadam]

I prefer OGC.

So only check out the three out of the four that are OGC

Anyway, does anybody here know how to convert 3.x statistics to 5e?

Quick and dirty would be to change the stats to 5e ranges. Use their total hp as a guide for CR or assign a desired one and give them appropriate hp for it, then use the new stats and CR to recalculate their attack and save bonuses as well as their save DCs. Eyeball how tough their 3e AC is for the CR then try to place it at a similar toughness to hit in the bound 5e range. Ignore minor things like most feats and just translate important abilities and powers. That covers most of what's relevant, how tough it is to get to their bag of hp, and how good they are at getting at your PCs' bag of hps.

For a lot of stuff just apply 5e rules to the 3e descriptions so monster casters still have to concentrate but they can multiattack without being restricted to five foot stepping.

 

[Matrix Sorcica]

I prefer OGC.

Anyway, does anybody here know how to convert 3.x statistics to 5e? I have a copy of Slavelords of Cydonia but it’s from 2004. The new aboleth variants in the appendix are cool, but I haven’t seen them reprinted and they’re not compatible with 5e.

For reference, these are the new aboleths or “lethid” in the book:

• Mohldaleth: small parasites that burrow into a humanoid host and influence their mind. (Comparable to puppeteers)
• Nihileth: flying octopuses that engulf a victim’s head and controls their body. (Comparable to mind flayers)
• Rgleth: flying octopuses that attach to larger animals and manipulate their behavior.
• Shibboleth: giant aboleth that control swarms of small animals for use as spies.
• True Aboleth: giant aboleth whose infectious slime turns their victims into living zombies under their control.

@S'mon has some experience and advice. This is some examples from other posts of how he goes about it:

"The general rule if in doubt is "divide number above 10 by 2" - so AC 25 becomes AC 17 (or 18 if that looks better). Use attribute bonus for saves, only give Proficiency if it looks really necessary. Hit Points should normally be increased +50%. Damage is trickier, but +50% generally seems to work likewise. Abilities that disable PCs for the duration should generally become save-each-round. Recalculate Attack Bonus based on Profiency (derived from CR), and Attribute bonus. "

"Converting damage and hit points - I started off doing roughly x1.5 damage and x1.5 hit points (while attack bonus is calculated off stat bonus + Proficiency bonus). This worked for a long time, but at very high levels gives excessive hit point totals, especially where AC is good, so for double-digit CR monsters it is often best to keep the PF hit points as listed."

 

[S'mon]

@S'mon has some experience and advice. This is some examples from other posts of how he goes about it:

"The general rule if in doubt is "divide number above 10 by 2" - so AC 25 becomes AC 17 (or 18 if that looks better). Use attribute bonus for saves, only give Proficiency if it looks really necessary. Hit Points should normally be increased +50%. Damage is trickier, but +50% generally seems to work likewise. Abilities that disable PCs for the duration should generally become save-each-round. Recalculate Attack Bonus based on Profiency (derived from CR), and Attribute bonus. "

"Converting damage and hit points - I started off doing roughly x1.5 damage and x1.5 hit points (while attack bonus is calculated off stat bonus + Proficiency bonus). This worked for a long time, but at very high levels gives excessive hit point totals, especially where AC is good, so for double-digit CR monsters it is often best to keep the PF hit points as listed."

Yup, that's about it. I'm currently running PF Spires of Xin-Shalast converted to 5e and the above still works at level 20, though as I said I normally used the listed PF hp at this level, not x1.5.

AC & DCs are always divide by 2 then add 5 (same formula as above). Cap at 30.
Damage around x1.5, though at very high level listed damage is pretty much ok.
Attributes over 20 divide by 2 then add 10, capping at 30, eg STR 25 > STR 12.5+10 = 22 or 23.
Calculate Attack Bonus off attribute bonus + proficiency bonus.

Lose all the fiddly bits, keep 1-2 cool/thematic powers and calculate as above.

 

[VelvetViolet]

So only check out the three out of the four that are OGC



Quick and dirty would be to change the stats to 5e ranges. Use their total hp as a guide for CR or assign a desired one and give them appropriate hp for it, then use the new stats and CR to recalculate their attack and save bonuses as well as their save DCs. Eyeball how tough their 3e AC is for the CR then try to place it at a similar toughness to hit in the bound 5e range. Ignore minor things like most feats and just translate important abilities and powers. That covers most of what's relevant, how tough it is to get to their bag of hp, and how good they are at getting at your PCs' bag of hps.

For a lot of stuff just apply 5e rules to the 3e descriptions so monster casters still have to concentrate but they can multiattack without being restricted to five foot stepping.

@S'mon has some experience and advice. This is some examples from other posts of how he goes about it:

"The general rule if in doubt is "divide number above 10 by 2" - so AC 25 becomes AC 17 (or 18 if that looks better). Use attribute bonus for saves, only give Proficiency if it looks really necessary. Hit Points should normally be increased +50%. Damage is trickier, but +50% generally seems to work likewise. Abilities that disable PCs for the duration should generally become save-each-round. Recalculate Attack Bonus based on Profiency (derived from CR), and Attribute bonus. "

"Converting damage and hit points - I started off doing roughly x1.5 damage and x1.5 hit points (while attack bonus is calculated off stat bonus + Proficiency bonus). This worked for a long time, but at very high levels gives excessive hit point totals, especially where AC is good, so for double-digit CR monsters it is often best to keep the PF hit points as listed."

Yup, that's about it. I'm currently running PF Spires of Xin-Shalast converted to 5e and the above still works at level 20, though as I said I normally used the listed PF hp at this level, not x1.5.

AC & DCs are always divide by 2 then add 5 (same formula as above). Cap at 30.
Damage around x1.5, though at very high level listed damage is pretty much ok.
Attributes over 20 divide by 2 then add 10, capping at 30, eg STR 25 > STR 12.5+10 = 22 or 23.
Calculate Attack Bonus off attribute bonus + proficiency bonus.

Lose all the fiddly bits, keep 1-2 cool/thematic powers and calculate as above.

At the moment, I'm super lazy and more interested in Mythras Classic Fantasy. If anybody wants to convert statistics, I'm posting them in their own thread. First one was the aboleth subraces from Grim Tales and Slavelords of Cydonia.

 

[Ash Mantle]

This is an excellent thread!

Some Mirrorverse Deities.
Vecna (CG): The bubbly, always cheerful, happy-go-lucky Vecna is the deity of knowledge used for the benefit of all irrespective of consequences. To those hurt by hidden or destructive secrets, he shelters and cares for; to those undone by intrigue, he creates illusions and realities that serve no other purpose but to lift the spirits of those wronged.
He teaches that happiness is sacred, that violence and force, no matter how necessary is an option that must only be used as a last resort.
His puissance is equality, and will never willingly harm another, even when so forced.
He is the Free Spirit, the Friend Between.


Boccob (N/CN): The deity of strength without focus; the drooling, babbling Boccob ranks among the most obtuse and mentally deficient of all deities. There is no clarity to his purpose, no foresight to his actions; he lives for the moment and woe betide those who gets in his way. His singular focus is near mindless; his actions as a repeating track, always looping upon itself.
He despises arcana in all forms, a near psychotic hatred that manifests itself in a null arcane field that renders all forms of magic impotent.
He is the meddler, the intruder, his petty intrigues the blind, stumbling steps of an asinine fool.
BOCCOB SMASH!!!


Corellon Larethian (LE): The oppressive Corellon organises brutal genocides against all who are not elves. Only he may command the elves to their crushing victory against Creation; only his dicta is accepted as the One, True Reality. There can be no free thought, no free actions, no free will in his infinite reign as doing so will only open the door to chaos; that which is offensive and redundant, and must be purged with violent and extreme prejudice. Such is the ineffable fate of chaos.
To Corellon, suffering is the natural state of existence, and to this end, he seeks to return Creation to this Truth by any means; manipulating both physical and spiritual matter to cause agony unending.

 

[SkidAce]

I had a race of psionic based ancients, I kept revising their stats through the different editions. But I am better at tweaking than balancing.

So now I use Kalashtar stats and some fluff. My Alyn race were human(ish) and were immortal unless killed on the Astral. So, much of the spirit lore fits, and the stuff that doesn't is specific to the ones in Eberron.

This makes my race the progenitors of the Kalashtar, thanks for the assist Keith!