Troll Lord Games

So, I have this large library of 3.x and Pathfinder adventures. I have some great AD&D stuff that converts on the fly to C&C. But, what about the other stuff? Where an adventure calls for an orc, I can plug one in. If it calls for a 5th level fighter, I can do that easy enough. But how about an orc barbarian5 or a human warrior4 / sorcerer6?

Any experience using Dungeon Crawl Classics?

For the orc, I'd just give it 5 HD. For multi-class characters I'd either just go with the primary class or possibly "split" the character in two - a 6th level wizard and a 4th level fighter minion.

Also, see this thread regarding conversion in general on the Goodman Games forums and at the bottom of this page you will find fan conversions of several DCCs to C&C (just 1) and 1e (close enough).

I hope that is helpful.

I've been running Castle Whiterock for my group over the last year. [They are About to enter the Immense Cavern] My advice is to sit down with each level of the module are do a short write up of all the monsters you want to keep. [Don't be afraid to get rid of things that do not fit or are to hard to convert.] DCC's have that Encounter Table which is nice. Just go through that and make your own stat sheet for the game... At this point I have 15 sheets done, here are some example stats from Level 2

[24] Orcs: HD 1 Hp: 7 AC: 14 [Scalemail ac:4]
Two-handed Morning Star [+2 to hit 1d10 + 2 damage]
Heavy Crossbow [+1 to hit 1d10 damage]
2d4gp

Minus Pygmy Minotaur: HD 6 Hp: 40 Ac: 15 [base ac15]
Longspear [+8 to hit 1d8 +4 Damage]
Charge Attack [+9 to hit 2d4 + 3 damage]
Key to door 2-3
.
.
.
Chu-thuk Orc Shaman 2nd Level: [Prime Ch, In] St: 15 In: 11 Wi: 10 Cn: 14 Dx: 10 Ch: 14
Ac: 12 [Orc hide +1 Amulet] Hp: 14
Mace [+2 to hit 1d8 + 1 damage]
Heavy Crossbow [+1 to hit 1d10 damage]
Amulet of Natural Armor +1
Spells: Detect Magic, Remove Fear, Calm Animals, Cure Light Wounds [x2], Neutralize Poison [9]
Burning Hands [x2], Light, Jump, Detect Thoughts, Scare, Shield, Fear, Fog Cloud [15]

-Mike

The only issue I have with splitting the multi-class NPC is now you have doubled the threat since both can act in the same round. I would just use the character levels as-is, converting to the most appropriate class and using the 4th print rules for armor, weapons, HD and so. Such that sorcerer = wizard.

If you want to use something similar to the sorcerer, allow the character to cast 3/4 the number of spells (round up) as a wizard of equal level, with Cha bonus thrown in (Cha would be prime). Number of spells known could be 1/3 (or 1/2) the number of spells castable (round up) at that level, plus their Cha bonus.

For non-PHB races, check the examples in the CKG, they shouldn't be to hard to build on an as needed basis.

I could add that since I don't allow multi-class at all I just pick the best single class representation of the NPC/Monster and go with that. I happily change stuff like Aristocrat to a real class that fits the NPC's position and or Alignment. [The Thane of Norborg is an Assassin in my game.] Add or subtract levels as needed since 3-3.5 Ed XP charts are pretty shallow.

-Mike

I think that the secret is that if you try for an "exact" conversion you'll go insane. Too many differences, too many details.

I look for the essence of the character or monster and go from there. Most D&D-like games have many elements in common -- AC, hit points, etc -- and if the numbers aren't exactly the same at least the concept applies.

Also, I find that if my conversion is a little off, no one cares. I use AD&D monsters in my C&C game all the time and don't worry much about type of hit dice or total hit points. If the monster is +/- a point or two in AC, who cares.

The point is to convert and move on to the fun part...

Demiurge, I checked out both of your links and I must thank you! Both of them were quite enlightening. I have to say that I like the idea mgtremaine has, of listing the encounters and making the conversions. And the encounter lists in the DCC's will go a long way in helping with that.

I am wondering, and I know that flavor can not always translate from system to system, but has anyone found that some aspects are too challenging? For instance, after reading an adventure path (PF by Paizo) I am not sure that even converting it will work. Any one have experience playing a converted Paizo adventure path? Did it work out? I use them as modules, I hate guided adventures, and dislike event-based campaigns. I prefer site-based material.

How about treasure? For magic items I assume I will just scale back a bit. And since the items dont all convert, I am just leaving out the items that dont convert or that seem too powerful. There are a lot of things in 3.x that add to ability scores, which can really throw off a C&C game I would think. But gold? In PF/3.x there is a lot of gold just laying around compared to the C&C type hoards. Any ideas on this?

I usually ask one question to myself: "what does it do?" Not how does it do it... that is too rules-heavy. Then, once I understand what its intended to do, I make it fit with how.

For example, an orc fighter-assassin would be something that is likely intended to be a nasty loot ninja but capable of going toe-to-toe if it needs to. That's great. I can take an orc and give him the stuff he needs. I don't have to make him a classed character. I can just say... this is an orc who fights at 4th level ability (+4 BtH, not +1) and can sneak and death attack.

Rules limit what you can do.

I like your approach; keep it simple; and I will take your advise on first figuring out what, then how. I like it.

Thanks very much everyone for the advice. I'm just starting out with C & C and I too have a lot of modules collected, ranging from OSRIC to 3.5 and 4e. Continuing our Castle Whiterock campaign with converted PCs is high on my list. The links are also very handy thanks.