D&D 3E/3.5 Converting 3.0 Adventures to 3.5

[ve4grm]

As stated in my other thread, I have the task of running a high-level 3.5 adventure for my group.

I have access to two adventures that look like just what I want and are by authors I like (Lord of the Iron Fortress, and Bastion of Broken Souls), but they are written for 3.0.

Can anybody provide a solid guide for converting 3.0 adventures to 3.5? Especially monster stats, DR, and the like. I won't really need to worry about spells, as I'll just use the 3.5 equivalents.


Or if someone has already done the work of converting these two, please let me know!

 

[Shin Okada]

Most monsters are almost equal in 3.0e and 3.5e. Just use 3.5e version. Still, some monsters are indeed changed. Check if CR of the same monster is changed between 3.0e and 3.5e. Fiends (Demons and Devils) have been changed a lot. If you just use the same-named demon in 3.5e, the encounters tend to become much difficult as many of the fiends were made stronger in 3.5e.

The most important thing is to use the monsters of appropriate CR. You don't need to stick to the monsters originally shown in the 3.0e adventure module. You can always replace them with different but same-themed monsters (say, devil) of appropriate CR.

Also, be careful about the face(3.0e)/space(3.5e) differences. The most significant one is large standing monster. They occupy 1 square x 1 square in 3.0e but 2 squares by 2 squares in 3.5e. That is a big difference. Unless you expand the rooms or change the monsters, the rooms may be too crowded for monsters to move effectively in combat encounters.

Lastly, check if the 3.5e version of the monster still has a certain ability which is important in the adventure. For example, you need some monster which can create Symbol spell (various Symbol of XX) for putting magical traps in the Iron Fortress. But Pit Fiend lost the ability to use Symbol SLA in 3.5e. And you may likely to replace the fiend with the other monster anyway, because of CR change (CR 16 to CR 20).

In my case, I made Lydzin into Horned Devil (Cornugon). And totally changed the Lord Imperagon. My version of Imperagon was half-red dragon half-Efreeti (advanced to huge) and thus could grant Wish to the others and mimic Symbol spells. There would be various other ways to solve this problem. Just replacing Symbol traps with other traps of the same CR may work, too.

 

[ve4grm]

Gotcha. I don't suppose you have your conversion notes still?

 

[Shin Okada]

Gotcha. I don't suppose you have your conversion notes still?

I have. But that is a largely modified one. And written in Japanese.

 

[ve4grm]

Right, that's... less helpful.

I should have checked your location first, I guess. No worries.