D&D 3E/3.5 Converting 4E Classes to 3E

[TarionzCousin]

Some of the 4E classes weren't around in 3E per se. What would be a good 3E match/combo/build for these 4E classes?

• Ardent (Ardent from Complete Psion?)
• Avenger
• Battlemind
• Invoker
• Runepriest
• Seeker
• Warden

and/or any others I have missed.

Note: I'm mostly interested in the Avenger. Rolling two d20's vs. one target is a mechanic I don't remember seeing in 3E.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

This seems like a great idea for an OGL or Pathfinder product.

 

[kaomera]

Note: I'm mostly interested in the Avenger. Rolling two d20's vs. one target is a mechanic I don't remember seeing in 3E.

IIRC there was some sort of Holy Slayer in 3.x, you might start there. Role-wise the striker is similar to the thief... I mean rogue... You'd trade sneak attack for the re-roll and a bigger / fancier weapon (in general), you might need to add some sort of "smite" effect at higher levels to keep things balanced. You'd also want to tweak the skills list a bit. I haven't played 3.x in a long time, or seen an Avenger in play for a while, but IIRC at all the rogue has some movement abilities that would seem to be right up the Avenger's alley.

It seems to me that, at least in some ways, you get a much wider variety of results from 4e characters than from 3.x; and in any case dealing with every power available is going to be a pain. I'd suggest picking the ones that seem most "iconic" to you and trying to see how many of them are appropriate to model, rather than trying to tackle everything...

 

[GreyLord]

Some of the 4E classes weren't around in 3E per se. What would be a good 3E match/combo/build for these 4E classes?

• Ardent (Ardent from Complete Psion?)
• Avenger
• Battlemind
• Invoker
• Runepriest
• Seeker
• Warden

and/or any others I have missed.

Note: I'm mostly interested in the Avenger. Rolling two d20's vs. one target is a mechanic I don't remember seeing in 3E.

Overall, I think you could transfer most of them with their special abilities and a few powers and be fine with 3e. The HD would have to go with what seems most appropriate.

However, for classes that are more specific and are already in 3e...

I'd say the Battle mind mixes well with Psychic Warrior.

Ardent may do for Ardent?

Invoker would be something like a Cleric of Magic or some such perhaps, Perhaps you could use the DL campaign mystic changed a wee bit to match the flavor.

Warden may be able to use some of the ideas from natures Warrior (Complete Warrior)?

 

[Dice4Hire]

I'd be very wary of multiclassing in 3.x

The avenger's power is nice, but if it is available at any low level, it would be gold to cherry pick.

One advantage of 4E multiclassing is the inability to do these kinds of tricks at all, or more than once an encounter.

 

[666Sinner666]

I'd be very wary of multiclassing in 3.x

The avenger's power is nice, but if it is available at any low level, it would be gold to cherry pick.

One advantage of 4E multiclassing is the inability to do these kinds of tricks at all, or more than once an encounter.

Maybe make the avenger roll twice ability only work for the first attack so higher level characters able to make more than one attack can not abuse it. Have it as a level 5+ class feature so it requires more of an investment to get. With that at least a multi-class character could not pick it up till 10 or so.

 

[DEFCON 1]

I had a cleric/rogue multiclass into the Shadowbane Stalker prestige class (from Complete Adventurer) for an ENWorld PbP game, and his essence was pretty much replicated when the Avenger got released for 4E. That's what I'd do if I wanted a 3.5 Avenger.

 

[TarionzCousin]

As far as the actual use of these classes is, the characters will be at about 15th level in 4E. We use a rotating DM system, and one of the DM's and I talked about his turn being a trek back in time--and converting all the characters to 3.5E characters without notifying the other players. He plans to hand out character sheets to everyone when they are transported back in history.

 

[Dice4Hire]

Hope the players go along with that. Not sure I would.

 

[TarionzCousin]

Hope the players go along with that. Not sure I would.

I think they will. They all played 3E and enjoyed it. Plus, they're a pretty open-minded group.

If not, it will only be 4 or 5 sessions before we revert to 4E.