Odd question on converting characters to 4th ed :)

While ago I made characters for my Spelljammer comic/graphic novel and gave them 3.5 ed stats. So, I want to update them to 4th ed.

WILDSPACE - Colour Sargeant Oakbrow
as example


4th ed is of course, different, and we don't have all the classes/races etc as yet, I particularly dislike a lack of nice framework for making Experts conversion, as in my games, they are a common class for PCs to have, as well as NPCs. :(
maybe just give them d6 hp, 6 skills, bonus of +2 to skilll checks as their "thing"? multiclass experts get an extra 2 skills?

For example, the first mate of a ship does not have to be a brilliant fighter, jeesh, but, a decent combatant (*) with skills is far more likely and useful, say a 4th fighter/4th expert (same for many military officers, it's their strategic skills that are vital, not combat ones).

(*) decent as in, an ok fighter for the role' he has, the first mate on a Spelljammer ship is gonna be one tough SOB, compared to the average Joe!

Likewise, levels seem a bit different. If a character is lvl 13 in 3.,5, should he stay that in 4th? Think they feel a bit different, maybe need extra level or 2 in 4th ed?
 

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Level conversion - A guesstimate might be 1.5 x 3E Level = 4E Level.
(From levels 1-20 to levels 1-30)

If not a combatant, you could just stat the character as a Minion and give him the trained skills you want.* Or just don't stat him at all.

If a combatant, pick a combat role for him. You might go easiest by using the DMG suggestions on creating an classed NPC. Leaders like Captains of ships might be Warlords (I am not sure, but I think that would be Soldier(Leader)) and the typical sailor or pirate might be a Skirmisher (Rogue or Ranger if you use a class.) It's not really important how many skills you give them, though the DMG gives suggestions.


*) Easier said then done, though, since the DMG does not contain guidelines for creating Minions. My suggestion would be to use a Skirmisher, Soldier or Brute as a baseline, drop all hit points and "minimize" the damage, e.g treat all damage dice as a 1.
 



This guy is clearly a Warlord, if you're building him using PC classes (or the NPC rules). I mean, he has levels in Marshal? That's clearly Warlord territory: Warlord will preserve the good fighting ability he gets from fighter, and allow him to grant allies bonuses and extra actions, just like Marshal (but without Marshal's suckiness).

Other officers with levels in expert could also be Warlords, particularly Tactical Warlords.
 

Thanks folks! :)

Mr Teapot,
well, he's a giff...marhsal to warlord is easy, but, giff have 4 racial HD, Large, strength con bonuses in 3.5 and ECL.
so for 4th remove racial HD, give Large Reach 1 (which is more balanced than 3.5 reach), +4 Str, +2 Con, no specials except they can use their head butt as a weapon for 1d6 damage?
 

I would seriously, seriously reconsider giving any PC race a +4 Str. +2 is fine, +4 is more than any PC-playable race has currently. Even minotaurs only have +2 Str. Though the fact that both racial bonuses are to Fort-related scores ameliorates things somewhat. If you look in the PHB, the races that have bonuses that apply to scores related to only one defense usually have a defenses-related benefit. You could maybe consider doing something like Dragonborn Heritage (?? The one that gives their Con mod as a bonus to surges) for the giff if you want to make them tough. Just be careful with giving more than +2 to any score, or bonuses to more than 2 scores. Things are heavily balanced around ability scores, so tipping that balance will have wide reaching effects.
 


I'm also curious why you gave it a headbutt natural weapon instead of a bite - I believe hippos are deadly because of their mouths, not their headbutts ;)
 

Thanks folks! :)

Mr Teapot,
well, he's a giff...marhsal to warlord is easy, but, giff have 4 racial HD, Large, strength con bonuses in 3.5 and ECL.
so for 4th remove racial HD, give Large Reach 1 (which is more balanced than 3.5 reach), +4 Str, +2 Con, no specials except they can use their head butt as a weapon for 1d6 damage?

The model in 4e is to make the (N)Pc writeup balanced against other Pc races. Look at the minotaur: in 3rd ed it had more monstrous HD than a Giff (and an LA), was Large and was a CR 4 monster. In 4e, it just gets bonuses to Str and Con and some racial abilities. So I'd think Giff wind up sort of similar: PC giff get +2 Str, +2 Con, some racial abilities, a bonus to 2 skills (History and Intimidate?), and a racial encounter power. Possibly access to gunpowder weapons somehow. And all Giffs written up as monsters can still be int he high Heroic/low Paragon tier.
 

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