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D&D 1E Multi class issue for original D&D to 2nd ed question.
- Thread starter santosud37
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santosud37
Villager
santosud37
Villager
How do I calculate the XP for these races/classes now? I am wonderin if I can still make them multiclass still as well?
Thanks in Advance!
GreyLord
Legend
My interpretation...
The old Grandfather Rules basically said anything from AD&D (or older, in this case) use those rules, but integrated into 2e.
For example, let's say I had a 1e version of the AD&D Monk (1e PHB version, not the OA version). I would basically transfer the entire class (including XP table) into my 1e game. However, I would try to use as much of 2e in it as well (so, probably use the 2e THAC0 table if one could...but that would leave the question whether to use the Rogue or Priests THAC0...in theory, using the old to Hit table would work as well, including the THAC0 connected to it's calculations instead).
Basically, it said anything from 1e that you were already using could be ported over to 2e.
However, it would not matter which TSR version or edition you were using, if the PC's were a different race than a Human and were single class previously, they would not be able to be multi-class after the initial character creation. The only exception to adding a class after Character creation was the 1e Bard.
The only version which allowed Multi or Dual classing after the fact for Elves, Dwarves, Gnomes, Halflings or Half Orcs (And other races beyond Human) later would be 3.X editions and later.
That doesn't prevent you from going ahead and making them multiclass if you feel that fits the character ideas better, but there aren't really any rules for that (and hence you would need to make your own house rules, which is something many would say D&D is all about anyways) and so you would be the one who would need to decide how that was done.
If I decided to do something like that (I normally would not), I'd probably take the XP that the PC's had previously, take the two (or three) classes they wanted it applied to in 2e, and split it accordingly as I would with any other PC in 2e. That would redefine what levels they were at (and accordingly, be restricted as per 2e level limits) due to how the XP would work at that point in relation to their new classes. This would probably also mean they would be reduced in their Thief class levels, but they would also gain new abilities in a new class as well). (Most likely 16 would be the new Maximum Level limit for a Thief if they had a 19 DEX, though with the new class and XP split, for the 17th level Thief this may already be the case anyways. For the 20th level Thief, they probably would lose some of their thief levels, but would gain some power otherwise. I would suggest they have their second class as a Mage or Ranger as those have the highest level limits and for the 20th level character, may have the biggest benefit for them...as long as they had the pre-requisites for such a change).
The other way I might imagine to do it is if I use the optional idea of doing away with level limits, in which case the suggestion is requiring 2x - 4x as much XP per level to increase a level. I'd probably require 3x the amount of XP per level (starting at level 1) which means that the characters would probably lose a few levels if we utilized that method for a multi-class character, but the abilities gained from being multiclassed probably would outweight what they lost in power as a singular class.
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cbwjm
Legend
2e never had gender based ability score differences, that was 1e only.
rabindranath72
Adventurer
Right. Then my other answer applies for using the other optional rule in the DMG: keep the characters as they are, but they will require x2 to x4 XP to advance, subject to DM approval. For the female elf thief, you might want to increase the level as the limits don't exist in 2e anymore.
Converting from BECMI/OD&D is a bit trickier as the XP tables are vastly different from name level onward; and thieves aren't as skilled as they are in AD&D, so you may want to factor that as well. In general, BECMI/OD&D characters will be higher level than AD&D ones for the same level of "skill".
James Gasik
We don't talk about Pun-Pun
That's not what my PHB says.
So the maximum Dexterity for any High Elf in Second Edition AD&D is 19. For further reference, this excerpt from the Complete Book of Elves:
James Gasik
We don't talk about Pun-Pun
Man in the Funny Hat
Hero
There never was a formal conversion document. If you are playing 1E, use the 1E rules. If you are importing PC's into a 1E game that exceed 1E limits, reduce the PC's to those limits, or with the permission of the DM consider them to be exceptions. If you are playing 2E, use the 2E rules. If you are importing PC's into a 2E game that exceed the 2E limits, reduce the PC's to those limits, or with permission of the DM consider them to be exceptions.
If you are playing a game that mixes 1E and 2E rules (AND OD&D?) well then you're really on your own as to what converts and how. 2E intentionally retained a LOT of 1E rules only to maintain backward compatibility, although the list of TWEAKS to the game is really, really long. 2E also dropped a lot of things from 1E only to bring them back later in some form as 2E rules supplements came along.
If you're not the DM then none of it is up to you. You ask the DM of the game you're in if you'll even be permitted to import your PC's from other games and especially from other editions because THEY will have to then have their own policies or formal procedures for letting that happen. The close similarities between 1E and 2E were intended to make moving between editions and different campaigns possible - but that doesn't mean that it automatically had to be allowed for any reason. While mixing OD&D with any other edition is also possible, it was hardly ever even considered that people would want to do that - it's strictly house rule territory.
My advice to a DM would be to pick ONE edition to base your game on. Import SELECTIVE pieces from elsewhere if you must but otherwise convert everything to that chosen edition's rules and mechanics. If you choose to base your game on 1E then there are still rules that you want to change or IGNORE from that edition, not the least of which is ridiculous notions it had about different stat limits for male and female PC's. It's indefensible with modern attitudes and served no point in the first place. As for importing PLAYER characters, I'd say it rarely works out as well as anybody wants it to. Don't cling to past glories - MAKE NEW PC's and give THEM new tales of adventure and glory to remember instead.
Let PC's retire with the campaigns that made them what they were. Importing them to a new game only means changing what world they are in, what foes they have faced and WILL face, what companions they had or will have, etc. One thing I've found consistent with players trying to import their old PC's is that they only want to import the ones that already dominated the games they USED to be in, never any kind of PC that struggled before and the player wants them to have new opportunities. Nope it's always a desire to CONTINUE the outrageous amounts and power of magic items, excessive levels, histories that seldom have ANY basis in the history of the new game setting, and so on. Worst of all is if their imported PC simply doesn't live up to the player's fantasies of domination of yet another game setting because the DM doesn't want to just HAND THAT OVER without anyone having even rolled one die in THIER campaign. Make NEW PC's that don't need complicated conversions. Make NEW memories of fun gaming. Create a PC that is a product of THIS game world - not a shadow of a previous one that others at the current game table never even knew.
santosud37
Villager
Not according to the 2e DMG pg 15 optional rules.
