D&D 5E What are you hoping to see in the conversion documents?

[delericho]

Wotc should never have promised anything. The only value of that promise was to deflect criticism at a sensitive time, ie the launch. Better to take the flak now, when only the diehards care any more...

That sounds like a good trade-off to me - avoid mass protest early by accepting lesser protest later. Especially since they can dilute that protest still further by making sure that they do eventually produce those documents - even if they are just "~15 pages of take your best guess".

 

[Iosue]

Actually, what I want to see is guidelines for converting 5e material into classic editions. I mean, most of the time, if I come across a monster in a 1e module, I can just switch it with the 5e version. But what if I'm playing Lost Mine of Phandelver with B/X? What do I do for the Nothic, Grick, and Drow? So some guidelines for taking 5e monsters and converting them into old editions would be awesome.

 

[KidSnide]

There are a few things where a general conversion guideline would be useful. For example, it would be nice to have a conversion table for replacing 3e or 4e DCs with DCs appropriate for 5e. But overall, I agree that conversions depend more on "use good judgment" than anything else.

What would be vastly more useful than a general guideline is a community space for sharing conversions of adventures, monsters, spells, and magic items. It would be great if WotC (or a third party) put together a database of monsters, spells and magic items along with community conversion documents for published adventures that referenced those databases.

I'm sure there are plenty of groups that have used (or want to use) adventures like Sunless Citadel or Red Hand of Doom with 5e (...and maybe even more that want to some of the Paizo adventure paths). A lot of these aren't that hard to convert, but there is a fair amount of scut work associated with re-creating the unique monsters to these adventures and re-allocating treasure with a 5e aesthetic. There is also a lesser amount of work converting traps and adjusting DCs. I'm sure the experienced DMs attempting these conversions would benefit from sharing efforts with others performing the same tasks and I'm sure there are newer DMs who probably need that kind of help.

-KS

 

[vandaexpress]

Oh, and an emphasis on high-level stuff would be much appreciated as well, especially in the 3e->5e and 4e->5e documents - because of the much flatter power-curve in 5e, those conversions will be particularly difficult to achieve, so more help would be appreciated.

This. I'm not holding my breath but I would love some guidance on translating an epic level NPC from 3e/4e into 5e, like Szass Tam or Manshoon. I am aware of epic boons, etc but figuring out how many of them each character would have... I don't know. I should probably just create a high CR monster using the DMG and call it Szass Tam. Or take a Lich and beef it up. Right now all I know is that Tiamat is a god and is CR 30, trying to figure out where on the power curve these characters are is a little tough for me, I suppose. I guess I need to spend some more time in Deities and Demigods and trying to approximate 3e->5e challenge rating conversions, along with the Epic Level Handbook CRs.

But some official guidance would be nice. Especially given their recent pattern of not including many NPC stats in their campaign setting for the realms.

 

[Tormyr]

There are a few things where a general conversion guideline would be useful. For example, it would be nice to have a conversion table for replacing 3e or 4e DCs with DCs appropriate for 5e. But overall, I agree that conversions depend more on "use good judgment" than anything else.

If the DC is not based on an ability score from a creature (such as spell caster save DC), then it will often be close enough to take a number that is 75% of the 3e/3.5 DC. 3.5 DC ran up to 40 and 5e DCs go up to 30. So a DC 24 check to open a lock becomes a DC 18 Dexterity (Thieves' Tools) check.

It is not perfect, but it will be close enough in situations where there is not a compelling reason for it to be a certain number such as saving throws based off of ability scores.

 

[KidSnide]

If the DC is not based on an ability score from a creature (such as spell caster save DC), then it will often be close enough to take a number that is 75% of the 3e/3.5 DC. 3.5 DC ran up to 40 and 5e DCs go up to 30. So a DC 24 check to open a lock becomes a DC 18 Dexterity (Thieves' Tools) check.

It is not perfect, but it will be close enough in situations where there is not a compelling reason for it to be a certain number such as saving throws based off of ability scores.

I don't claim to have given any particularly deep thought into this, but this partial Rise of the Rulelords conversion adopts a 5e DC = (3e DC - 5) × 0.75 + 5 formula. I'm not sure the difference really matters, but this is the type of thing where it would be convenient if WotC provided some thought-through guidance.

-KS

 

[Jester David]

I want to see advice on conversion, with advice on what to do, what not to do, and why. Basically more advice on how to design content and update adventures with the design goals of 5e in mind.

 

[CapnZapp]

5e DCs are particularly easy:

DC 10 is Easy, DC 15 is Medium, DC 20 is Hard.

Use these figures regardless of what previous number or edition you came from.

 

[fjw70]

I

5e DCs are particularly easy:

DC 10 is Easy, DC 15 is Medium, DC 20 is Hard.

Use these figures regardless of what previous number or edition you came from.

That is what I do.

 

[fjw70]

Actually, what I want to see is guidelines for converting 5e material into classic editions. I mean, most of the time, if I come across a monster in a 1e module, I can just switch it with the 5e version. But what if I'm playing Lost Mine of Phandelver with B/X? What do I do for the Nothic, Grick, and Drow? So some guidelines for taking 5e monsters and converting them into old editions would be awesome.

I hadn't considered converting 5e material back to older editions.