Looking for help converting 2e characters to 4e

[Spatula]

My inclination is to start them out at the high heroic level as well. The counterargument (which comes from the player of the cleric/thief and other multiclass characters) is that paragon multiclassing (and the levels required to do it) is necessary for an adequate conversion.

I would tend to doubt that, but it's hard to say without knowing a lot more, really. Maybe you can post the 2e details and what the player considers important to the concept over in the 4e rules forum. I would be inclined to simply bend the rules here and there (e.g. allow the player to swap in an at-will attack from the 2nd class), or use the playtest hybrid rules from the recent Dragon article.

With respect to the magic items, I agree that the rules leave a lot of design room for us to do what we want. My main concern, which I didn't express very artfully, is with game balance. I don't want to give them something that will unbalance encounters, which something like a 4e-style staff of power or staff of the magi may do. I'll see if I can find the Dragon article on intelligent items, and if someone can direct me to a 4e conversion of a staff of power, it would be much appreciated.

The staff of power is actually in the PHB I believe, but it's pretty lackluster. But an item with a lot of powers is not inherently overpowered, as there's a limit on the number of item powers one can activate per day. So if the staff had 5 daily spells stored in it - the player could only use 1 per day (+1 per milestone). If it instead had encounter-level spells stored in it, that would be much more powerful, as I don't think there's a limit on that.

 

[mach1.9pants]

I would be wary of starting at anything but 1st to 3rd, 4E is very different to previous editions and takes a bit of getting used to. However if you have done enough one shots to get a bit of speed on, go ahead.

And yep hybrid classes will make your life a bit easier just remember that they are BETA and they only cover PHB1 classes.

Good luck

 

[qstor]

I would be wary of starting at anything but 1st to 3rd, 4E is very different to previous editions and takes a bit of getting used to. However if you have done enough one shots to get a bit of speed on, go ahead.

That's one of the things that I really dislike about 4e. How hard it is to convert from other editions. Granted I've been playing LFR RPGA games cause its the 900 pound gorillla now and I don't have a 3e home game. Grumble Grumble anyways good luck

Mike

 

[Imaginary Number]

Jack99, you were not confusing; my response was. My concern, which I did not express very artfully, was that the versatility granted by access to a vastly expanded suite of daily powers through a magic item in itself might be unbalancing. 4e takes great care to ensure that a single character does not have enough abilities to find an optimal response to any given problem unaided. That seems very sensible to me, and expanding a list of daily powers with a magic item permits a creative player to do a lot more things in a tough situation than a similarly situated player without the same magic item. I think that your suggestion does a nice job of capturing the feel of the original item, however, and I intend to use it. I'll let you know if it causes any significant problems.

To those who suggested that 2e characters are not convertible to 4e, I respectfully disagree. As I mentioned earlier, none of my players had any difficulty finding finding a way to build their character concept under the 4e rules. And in addition they're very pleased that the polearm fighter, for example, is different mechanically than the greatsword fighter. The faceman/skillmonkey who was an oddball thief in 2e actually is better actualized as a 4e bard. The mage who likes to blow things up is still trying to figure out whether a 4e wizard, warlock, or sorcerer would best suit him, but any one of them would be in keeping with his vision. We have a few details to resolve, but none of them will be deal-breakers, and I'm pretty sure the result ultimately will be successful.

 

[mach1.9pants]

If he is a blaster go sorcerer, I have been a complete Wiz fan.. to the extent of having sorcerer as an NPC only class in one house rule (to give magic powers to monsters). But I love the flavour of the Sor in 4E, and I really rec him as a blaster