Do you have any view on if there's a quick-and-easy DC conversion? (Translating any PF1 DC to PF2)
I realise it's early days, but that's something I use all the time running PF modules in other systems. If I can't convert DCs on the fly, I don't usually bother.
I thought it was easy, but I'll let you know.
One of the main problems is we're not comparing apples to apples. Example: A PF1 skeleton has a +2 attack and a PF2 skeleton has a +6 attack. Obviously a HUGE difference without any other rule changes.
I have no idea why they did this, one of the design tenets should have been backwards compatibility, at least to a certain point.
Also, NPC building in PF2 looks like it does NOT follow the same rules you use when creating PCs. They have more hit points and other small changes, especially when it comes to level 0 creatures. I'll write a post on this later.
Then there are DCs. You would think these would be OK, and they mostly are in level 1-3 (so far, although PF2 ironically wants to make the DCs higher than I typically see in a tier 1-5 scenario), but I'm not sure about levels 5-10 when everyone has at least +5-10 in each skill.
Playtesting converted Silent Tide tonight...
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The developers were able to convert several PF1 adventures on the fly, but then again they're developers and did admit they had monster stats on hand. One dev, when the PCs went sideways, had to improvise a monster and said it only took a few minutes using monster basics & included a unique ability too.
Once we have access to the mechanics or enough sample monsters to make a good baseline, we should be fine.
Most of the monsters look like they can translate directly to their new versions, but a few did change CRs/levels so watch out for that.
One way to translate DCs is to get hold of the easy, medium, hard DC chart that is used in some PFS mods & specials. Then match up with the DC chart in PF2 to get equivalents. Ex., if the DC is a Hard 7 in PF1, look at what a Hard 7 is on the PF2 chart.
Or you could wing it, noting that item bonuses are about 1/2 of what was available in PF1 and class bonuses are lower too. And in later levels, stat bonuses are lower too.
Looking at how monster DCs have shifted can be a good indicator too. Just remember that +1/level will skew things a lot!
So a Medusa (7) is DC 21 in PF2. Taking out the 7, we get 14.
Compare to Medusa (CR 7) in PF1, DC 16, so about two higher.
So in those level ranges maybe add level-2 to convert the DC. I would recalculate for anything over +/-2 levels from that as these aren't linear.
ETA: Though not all are, NPCs can be made directly from making a PC. They aren't -1 CR, so you have to decide if you want to convert that level 7 Fighter/CR 6 to a level 7 threat in PF2 or a level 6 one.
And they get the same equipment.
Some sample NPCs seem to have stats that match what they'd have with that equipment. Despite not having that equipment.
Thanks very much for the thoughts on DCs.
Do you have any view on if there's a quick-and-easy DC conversion? (Translating any PF1 DC to PF2)
I realise it's early days, but that's something I use all the time running PF modules in other systems. If I can't convert DCs on the fly, I don't usually bother.
I'll see what I can do before bed tonight (it's midday where I am).
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Under the definition that a HIGH check is something you should be able to do with high skill proficiency but low ability score bonus, here's my DC conversion:
PF1e DC = PF2e DC
15 = 12
16 = 14
17 = 15
18 = 17
19 = 19
20 = 21
21 = 22
22 = 23
23 = 24
24 = 26
25 = 27
26 = 28
27 = 30
28 = 32
29 = 33
30 = 35
31 = 36
32 = 38
33 = 39
34 = 40
35 = 41
36 = 45
37 = 47
38 = 49
The above assumes max skill ranks, but a low ability score (and no skill focus feats).