Character Conversion to 3.5

[Herzog]

Ok, here's the deal:

I have, over a very long period, DM'ed an OD&D campaign.
Now, after a very long hiatus, I am planning to revive the campaign. Using 3.5 rules.

Most of the characters can be converted without too much problems.

Except for the Elf.

for those who don't know: in OD&D the elf was a fighter/wizard. (always)
His inherent multiclassing was 'balanced' by the fact that his XP chart was slower (in effect, he was always approximately one level behind) and that his spellcasting progression stopped at lvl 9 (when he had just gained access to 5th level spells).
Also, they were able to cast in medium armor.

Any suggestions on how to convert such a character to 3.5?
A Fighter/Wizard or Fighter/Sorcerer would mean he can't cast in armor and loses several levels of spell access.

Herzog

 

[Cam Banks]

If you can get a copy of Player's Handbook II, there's a class in there that's essentially the OD&D elf - the duskblade. It's controversial, because there are folks who consider it unbalanced, but I don't think it really is. It's also exactly the kind of thing you need to convert old OD&D elf characters to 3.5.

And PHB2 is just such a cool book anyway, it's a win win!

Cheers,
Cam

 

[Herzog]

Yes, i remember now.

The Duskblade is also one of the classes I examined.
The main differences with the OD&D elf are:
1. Casting progression is spread out over all 20 levels, which means that he'll lose several levels of spell access.
2. Duskblade has several 'special' abilities, which are not really appropriate for the character.
3. Duskblade casts spontaneous.

I considered making it a Fighter 1/Wizard 7 (did I mention it's a lvl 8 character?).
However, I used the Weapon Mastery optional rules in OD&D, and I'd like to re-introduce that in some way in 3.5. Best option so far is Weapon Specialization, but that requires fighter levels.....

Herzog

 

[Darklone]

Go towards Eldritch Knight with a Ftr1/Wiz5 approach and houserule that he might take WS at level 4.

Simply use the bard class with the sorcerer/wizard spelllist with the feat Battlecasting that allows him to cast not only in light but medium armor.

Which weapons does he like to use? Going for the daggermage class or Arcane trickster would be another nice idea.

 

[GQuail]

Yes, i remember now.

The Duskblade is also one of the classes I examined.
The main differences with the OD&D elf are:
1. Casting progression is spread out over all 20 levels, which means that he'll lose several levels of spell access.
2. Duskblade has several 'special' abilities, which are not really appropriate for the character.
3. Duskblade casts spontaneous.

I considered making it a Fighter 1/Wizard 7 (did I mention it's a lvl 8 character?).
However, I used the Weapon Mastery optional rules in OD&D, and I'd like to re-introduce that in some way in 3.5. Best option so far is Weapon Specialization, but that requires fighter levels.....

Herzog

The Duskblade is pretty much specifically designed to emulate the pre-AD&D style Elf, IMHO - whereas other spellcasting base classses have 4, 6 or 9 spell levels, he's the only one I know of with 5, for example, and the flavour specifically calls out Elves within. I really think going with that despite the differences would be worth it. COnsidering the differences in rules between the two editions, you're going to have to accept that it won't match up exactly.

Of course, Fighter/Wizard/Eldritch Knight is just as valid a plan, especially if you start at level 8 - there's no awkward "level without spells and fighting at same time" then, and you can give him the broader Wizard spell selection you want. And as mentioned, house-ruling him access to Weapon Specialization is probably alright.

I don't know if the player knows or would be interested in reading some of these options and seeing which he prefers. There might be part of one that he finds a real boon or an utter turn-off, and that would make your decision easier.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

I can only assent to the suggestions about the Duskblade.

Beyond that, there's a number of PrCs that grant armoured casting capability: Spellsword and Bladesinger are 2 I can think of right now: Spellsword can ignore more and more spell failure chance as he progresses in level, and the bladesinger gets to cast in light armour (and there's a feat that improves armoured casting by one step. I'm not quite sure whether it supports the bladesinger by the rules as written, but you're the DM, you can easily houserule it).

 

[Delta]

for those who don't know: in OD&D the elf was a fighter/wizard. (always)
His inherent multiclassing was 'balanced' by the fact that his XP chart was slower (in effect, he was always approximately one level behind) and that his spellcasting progression stopped at lvl 9 (when he had just gained access to 5th level spells).
Also, they were able to cast in medium armor.

The official 3E Conversion Booklet (bottom here: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/er/20030221a) says you need to take one level, add a third of the other, then distribute between classes as the player likes. When I do this I try to keep the wizard level the same, to match spellcasting ability. Example: Elf fighter/wizard 9/9 --> add levels 9+3 = 12 --> distribute 3E levels Ftr 3/Wiz 9.

The fact that there is arcane spell failure in 3E is just something you'll need to suck up. Get a mithril chain shirt or the like.

 

[Herzog]

I suggested the Duskblade to the player, and to my own amazement he actually liked it!

(he had been talking about creating a new character because of the conversion-problems)

I am very curious how this is going to play out (since he'll have to replace a lot of his spells)

@Delta:

That is a 2nd->3rd edition conversion.

We're talking original D&D here.... (where there was no distinction between race and class, and most classes had a progression of 36 levels)

If I remember correctly, conversion for levels lower than 9 is 1 on 1, while higher levels are on a 3 for 1 basis.
But, I could be wrong...

Herzog

 

[Voadam]

Differences should be minor.

Spontaneous casting so no spellbook and limited spells known, which might change his magic capabilities a little.

A few duskblade abilities, channeling spells into weapon strikes.

The spell levels known will be a little different but is pretty balanced for 3e of his level.

The weapon mastery is tough to emulate, you could port those in as feats directly, I haven't tried it out though so I'm not sure of their balance. Or simply take 3e feats that are similar (point blank shot chain for archery ones, power attack for heavy melee, weapon focus, improved crit for specific weapons, etc.)

 

[Voadam]

The big key IMO is to just get a similar feel for the character, not to translate exactly.