|
While I completely understand that Pathfinder is going to be compatible with 3.5 books, and that I could easily drop a monster from my 3.5 books into combat with PC's using Pathfinder rules, there are going to be plenty of options in those 3.5 books that my PC's are going to use, not least feats and PRC's. This is especially a problem when I look at all my Forgotten Realms books.
So basically, I was wondering if we'd get a conversion document giving DM's some advice as to how to convert between 3.5 and Pathfinder, and when we might hope to see one?
So basically, I was wondering if we'd get a conversion document giving DM's some advice as to how to convert between 3.5 and Pathfinder, and when we might hope to see one?
I am going to take a small gamble here..
Jason Bulmahn had an interview in KQ #10, which he addressed this..
I'd encourage you to buy this great magazine and enjoy the entire PF RPG article and all the other great stuff inside...
But this one paragraph will answer your question:
To make things even easier, Paizo will release a free PDF that provides simple guidelines for making these conversions. This PDF will include rules for converting a wide variety of elements, from feats and spells to monsters and prestige classes. This guide will include step-by-step instructions for PCs, along with general guidelines for GMs converting other materials, from adventures to sourcebooks.
Its up on August 13th with the rules. Citing the Bulmahn himself from an interveiw.
|
I'm wondering what the approach is going to be here. I'm not sure that Paizo can refer to specifics on splatbook feats, spells, etc and offer conversion suggestions (or could they?). So maybe we'll see a general guide suggesting how to translate the basic building blocks of those things to newer versions?
So, as with the Beta, they might point out that prestige class entry requirements should be tweaked to replace old skills with new ones, and skill ranks requirements be lowered by 3 to reflect the new max ranks rules. Spells can be converted by correlating them to other changes made to SRD spells, etc.
Did Jason offer any hints on that level of detail? (Or might he offer such right here??? <g>)
It'll be fairly general, 18 odd pages and all the broad things to account for with updates. There may be some obscure splat that doesn't update as easily somewhere, but the game is pretty damned compatible so overall with this document (it'll be free pdf I gather) you won't have any trouble converting.
Creative Director
|
I'm wondering what the approach is going to be here. I'm not sure that Paizo can refer to specifics on splatbook feats, spells, etc and offer conversion suggestions (or could they?). So maybe we'll see a general guide suggesting how to translate the basic building blocks of those things to newer versions?
So, as with the Beta, they might point out that prestige class entry requirements should be tweaked to replace old skills with new ones, and skill ranks requirements be lowered by 3 to reflect the new max ranks rules. Spells can be converted by correlating them to other changes made to SRD spells, etc.
Did Jason offer any hints on that level of detail? (Or might he offer such right here??? <g>)
True story; we can't offer advice on how to convert warlocks and scouts and order of the bow initiate goliaths. But the advice we do give in the conversion booklet should be more than enough to teach folks how to take the conversions and run with them. And on top of that... the conversions are light enough that, I suspect, if you play a githyanki psion or a warforged artificer in a PFRPG game, they'll work just fine. You'll basically just need to keep some skill name changes in mind (the Conversion Booklet lists a table that shows how all the skills changed) and you'll need to determine your character's CMB and CMD (which the booklet also provides rules for).
Advice for how to handle prestige classes is certainly part of the conversion document.
More detailed work, like how a binder or a raptoran would work if it were redesigned from the ground up using the PFRPG game design philosophy (which is what happened with all the SRD stuff like elves and gnomes and wizards and clerics, etc.) is not the goal of the conversion booklet, and not something we'd be able to do anyway.
I'm wondering what the approach is going to be here. I'm not sure that Paizo can refer to specifics on splatbook feats, spells, etc and offer conversion suggestions (or could they?). So maybe we'll see a general guide suggesting how to translate the basic building blocks of those things to newer versions?
So, as with the Beta, they might point out that prestige class entry requirements should be tweaked to replace old skills with new ones, and skill ranks requirements be lowered by 3 to reflect the new max ranks rules. Spells can be converted by correlating them to other changes made to SRD spells, etc.
Did Jason offer any hints on that level of detail? (Or might he offer such right here??? <g>)
True story; we can't offer advice on how to convert warlocks and scouts and order of the bow initiate goliaths. But the advice we do give in the conversion booklet should be more than enough to teach folks how to take the conversions and run with them. And on top of that... the conversions are light enough that, I suspect, if you play a githyanki psion or a warforged artificer in a PFRPG game, they'll work just fine. You'll basically just need to keep some skill name changes in mind (the Conversion Booklet lists a table that shows how all the skills changed) and you'll need to determine your character's CMB and CMD (which the booklet also provides rules for).
Advice for how to handle prestige classes is certainly part of the conversion document.
More detailed work, like how a binder or a raptoran would work if it were redesigned from the ground up using the PFRPG game design philosophy (which is what happened with all the SRD stuff like elves and gnomes and wizards and clerics, etc.) is not the goal of the conversion booklet, and not something we'd be able to do anyway.
Cool.
Can you tell us if PrCs still have modified save progression or if they went back to 3.5 PrC save progression?
I suspect you are going to say wait for next weeks preview, but I'm giving it a shot anyway. ;)
|
Cool.
Can you tell us if PrCs still have modified save progression or if they went back to 3.5 PrC save progression?
I suspect you are going to say wait for next...
The preview in KQ 10 of the finished Shadowdancer still uses the modified progression for its Reflex save, so I would strongly suspect it's that way for all of them in the final book.
|
|
True story; we can't offer advice on how to convert warlocks and scouts and order of the bow initiate goliaths. But the advice we do give in the conversion booklet should be more than enough to teach folks how to take the conversions and run with them.
The following may have been answered elsewhere, but will we be able to post said conversions on the boards?
Wait for it. Even if we don't say in the preview next week, we're only a few weeks away from the book being released.
"Stay on target...stay on target..."
I can't shake 'em!!!
Paizo - The Force is strong with this one...
|
Creative Director
|
I've played 14 sessions of my campaign using the PFRPG Beta. Will there be a conversion manual or FAQ for this as well? (I sure hope so.)
There won't be a conversion guide from the beta to the final. The Beta was never intended to be a standalone system that would be supported beyond the playtest stage, and continuing to support it would only confuse the issue as to "which version" Paizo preferred or so on.
When the final book arrives, I would suggest letting the PCs rebuild their characters from the ground up using the PFRPG, though. It'll be similar enough to the beta that, in game, the transition should be pretty seamless.