Voadam
Legend
I'd say reconstruct to the new edition with the same character concept.
My ranger/monk/wizard/loremaster went to a ranger/wizard/eldritch knight with Improved unarmed strike when we switched to 3.5. The mechanics matched the viking warrior turned mage who studied under a martial arts master along the way history/concept better. He started out as a 2e character who switched classes and picked up 1e martial arts in game, then made it into a homebrew 1e system, then into a 3e then 3.5 game. Same character, slightly different mechanics each time, same history and roleplay.
He's even been used as an NPC in a modern vampire game recreated with the rules for that system.
My ranger/monk/wizard/loremaster went to a ranger/wizard/eldritch knight with Improved unarmed strike when we switched to 3.5. The mechanics matched the viking warrior turned mage who studied under a martial arts master along the way history/concept better. He started out as a 2e character who switched classes and picked up 1e martial arts in game, then made it into a homebrew 1e system, then into a 3e then 3.5 game. Same character, slightly different mechanics each time, same history and roleplay.
He's even been used as an NPC in a modern vampire game recreated with the rules for that system.