D&D General From Another Edition

[John Quixote]

What are some old edition things you brought into your game (or for that matter, for those playing older editions, what are some new edition things you brought into your older edition game)? How did it go?

My edition of choice is BECMI/Cyclopedia, but with a few major house rules pulled from earlier editions (or their retro clones) and two important bits that are at least partially borrowed from later editions (2nd and 3rd).

From various LBB/Oe clones like Swords & Wizardry and White Box FMAG, I borrow the ability score modifier table that only goes up to ±1 (rather than the BXcetera standard that goes to ±3). Because I prefer to cut down on the power creep.

From 1st Edition, I borrow a scaled-down version of the all-important rules for training to level up, which are very necessary to an old-school campaign if you want players developing whole stables of player characters over time. This, in conjunction with the 1:1 time rules outlined in both Oe and 1e.

From 2nd Edition, I take the idea behind my version of the monk class, which is a divine caster. Monks were fully a sub-class of clerics in Oe, but they're always this weird thiefy martial artist weird power-user class in their every incarnation (Oe Blackmoor, 1e PHB and OA and Dragon Magazine, 2e Scarlet Brotherhood, everything 3e and later except for 4e where they're kinda psionic) — except for the 2e priest kit and the priest-type monk from Players Option Spells & Magic. I like that priestly spellcaster monk vibe, so I use it.

From 3rd Edition (or rather, 3e-based games like Pulp Heroes and d20 Past), I get the mechanics for my tinker/engineer class.

 

[Xenolith234]

I do wonder what all I can port from previous editions into 5e - monster abilities, rules, etc. I think the internet commenters would rebel, but I feel it’s not entirely unlikely that people are already doing such things and just don’t post/debate about them online.

 

[cbwjm]

One thing I pulled into 5e was things triggering when someone is bloodied, technically already in 5e, high level champions regenerated when bloodied, I think life cleric's domain abilities could heal up people who were bloodied and restore them to no more than half health.

I also brought in the idea of elites from 4e, I'm not sure if it fully followed the elites of 4e but it made them more of a threat by giving them advantage on certain saves so that they couldn't as easily be taken out and also granted additional bonuses depending on their tier. I wonder if I still have my notes...

 

[doctorbadwolf]

One thing I pulled into 5e was things triggering when someone is bloodied, technically already in 5e, high level champions regenerated when bloodied, I think life cleric's domain abilities could heal up people who were bloodied and restore them to no more than half health.

I also brought in the idea of elites from 4e, I'm not sure if it fully followed the elites of 4e but it made them more of a threat by giving them advantage on certain saves so that they couldn't as easily be taken out and also granted additional bonuses depending on their tier. I wonder if I still have my notes...

Bloodied is such a great status to hang things off of.

I use that, too, as well as sometimes grabbing monsters from late 4e, amd magic thrown weapons returning, other odds and ends. I have considered using 4e weapon properties but i want more time with weapon mastery before i mess with weapons again.

And of course skill challenges!

 

[Gorg]

I do this all the time, including using adventures written for past editions.

Some of my most recent pulls:

Minotaur Lizards. (1E)

I also had to pull stats for Elite and chieftain Troglodytes out of my butt, because nobody at WOTC bothered, nor did Troll Lord games (my favorite non WOTC monster books)

Giant Bombardier Beetles. AD&D- I statted them out, then remembered to check teh Googles, lol. Sure enough, someone already had, lol.

Magic items, such as the AD&D Wand of Fire- which has several spells it can cast. It fits with the new 7 charge system nicely- you just have to consider carefully, when you use it to cast a spell that uses multiple charges. And, frankly, the spam fireball schtick is long played out...

I also semi-created a monster to fill the shoes of a made just for this module! monster that's the "capstone" of the first level. It is a variant Drake. The OG was part dragon, part huge snake, with formiddable offensive capability. Nothing I found even came close...

I eventually gave up on the constrict ability, and just modded 2 existing monsters, and a 1 for 1 swap with another. So 3 different versions: A modded Young Green Dragon CR9, A modded Drakon (Tome of Beasts), and a young Cave Dragon (also ToB) Then ran encounters against each with a group of characters I had laying around. All have an acid gas cloud breath weapon, all have a poisonous bite, and all have a 4x multi attack. claw/claw/bite/tail. The Drakon also has a gaze attack, while the dragons have spells.

All in all, the modded Drakon was my favorite to run, and got the nod. For best results, get the jump on initiative!!!! No 6th or 7th level party is going to withstand multiple breath weapons... ( the module is for 6-8 level characters. 5-7 of them) This thing is mean, and deadly- like a BBEG should be. AND has a tactical advantage per the module. It has a sweet hoard, for those who can defeat it.

 

[Brendan Byrd]

Purchased Acquisitions Inc. as material to backport into 3.x/d20.

 

[GrimCo]

Once, when i finally move my lazy ass, i'll port stance/maneuver system from 3.5 Bo9S into 5e. I have some rough outlines, but i need to finish going trough all of them, see what's plug&play, what needs tweaking and what's worthless.