D20 Conversion to C&C; the magic part

[Snoring Rock]

While it is true that converting D20 to C&C is fairly simple for HD, AC, and damage; some special abilities do not convert all that well. What does not convert, are spells and magic items. Ok, before anyone jumps out of their arm chair and gets their feathers ruffled, I mean specifically things like “staff of striking” or “bull’s strength", "foxes cunning”, and the like. There are several 1st-3rd level spells like "flame strike" and "flaming sphere" type spells that are somewhat bothersome to me. These pesky spells do not convert to some ready equivalent in C&C.

As of late, I have been converting my DCC’s for use in my Wilderland’s campaign. These things have a certain flavor and were written with those D20 spells and magical items in mind. Most of the time you can easily switch out “knock” for “open” and such on the fly. But some of the bane weapons and staves placed in the modules are there for specific reasons and were not hold-overs from 1 ed. Those items do not have ready equivalents in C&C.

Mind you, I do not place all of them in the my games as D20 material tends to run high fantasy, in that there are magic items in every cache and most monsters roam about using masterwork items and such. I find that while converting, I must also tone it down a notch as well. I find that the actual conversion process does not just entail finding equivalents in C&C but also creating things to take their place or eliminating elements that may overpower or throw off the balance in my game. I do not like having one thing have such a different flavor as to throw off the flavor of my game.

I want the flavor but by the time you convert, the flavor of the adventure changes. I struggle with this a lot. Does anyone here have a method they use for converting spells and items that is effective? I have the conversion of AC, damage, and mechanics down easy. It is the magic conversion that is tricky.

[Arduin]

While it is true that converting D20 to C&C is fairly simple for HD, AC, and damage; some special abilities do not convert all that well. What does not convert, are spells and magic items. Ok, before anyone jumps out of their arm chair and gets their feathers ruffled, I mean specifically things like “staff of striking” or “bull’s strength", "foxes cunning”, and the like.

Correct. "3.x" went bananas with the Buff magic. Just keep it out along with Prestige classes, Feats, et al.

[Peter]

Bull's Strength, foxes cunning, etc. are covered by the spell enhance attribute.

[Snoring Rock]

Ah...true that.