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From rpg.net:
I love Pathfinder.
I also love a lot of 3.5 books, like the Malhavoc Event books (Wrath of Angels, Requiem for a God etc.) and the Book of Vile Darkness.
How compatible are old 3.5 (and 3.0 for that matter) books with Pathfinder? Have you run into any problems integrating material like PrC's into Pathfinder games?
Could someone answer his post? I replied with a link to the conversion doc but am bolting out the door for Comic Con as we speak. Thanks!
Pathfinder and 3.5 are practically fully compatible. 3.0 is debateably compatible with 3.5, etc.
Though I would say PHB II material is the most compatible without minor tweaks.
On the most basic level, 3.5 and 3.PF are compatable. But everything needs to be looked over and run by the PF Design Philosophy. For instance, "I win" spells aren't really around these days. Your hit die is directly tied to your base attack bonus (usually), prestige classes have a nerfed saving throw progression to match the natural progression of base classes, skill points function differently, several mechanics (rage, bardic performance, turn undead, etc) have undergone heavy changes, etc. etc.
Generally, pretty compatible. With splats and 3pps you are always going to have to playtest a little to make sure things work right--but that's true even when you're NOT converting, in my experience.
One thing to bear in mind is that core races and classes were made more powerful specifically so they would be more on par with splat/3pp classes and races. So converted splat/pp classes/races shouldn't be added to or taken from--they should be largely fine as is.
These are the things to look at (off the top of my head, so I may forget something):
Class Conversion:
- HD and BAB are now linked; full BAB=1d10, 3/4BAB=1d8, etc. No one has a 1d4 HD any more. Normally I would lower HD to match BAB rather than raise BAB to match HD but do what makes the most sense for the class.
- Take note of skill consolidations, and give people appropriate class skill from there. One thing that irks me about PFRPG is that core classes that had Jump but not Tumble or Balance DON'T get Acrobatics as a class skill, which borks compatibility a bit. This one is a judgment call when converting class.
- For PRCs, note new save advancements. I would copy off existing core PrCs.
- Check class abilities related to skills and feats to make sure skills and feats still exist, etc.
Monster Conversion:
- Take out Grapple stat and calculate new CMB and CMD (pretty easy)
- Adjust skills. While this isn't too hard, a LOT of monsters have Listen and Spot, and Hide and Move Silently. When consolidating to Stealth and Perception, make sure you count how many skill points you have left over properly. This isn't too hard, just something to pay attention to.
- Give extra feats depending on how many HD they have. Often, easy choices are Improved Initiative and Power Attack, or take feats that branch off of feats they already have.
- You may need to adjust CR up or down depending on how you feel it works with PF.
Race Conversion:
- Most LA +1 races have no level adjustments (and powerful races are just loosely classified as that, with no strictly defined LA).
- Adjust, if you feel it necessary, to have two +2s to an ability score and a -2 to an ability score (normally one +2 to Str, Dex, or Con, and one +2 to Int, Wis, or Cha, and the -2 to Str, Dex, or Con).
Guidelines in the GMG, conversion guide, and Bestiary are also helpful.