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I see there have been other posts on converting this adventure, but I never saw a completed conversion. So, I did it. My conversion document for Expedition to the Barrier Peaks to Pathfinder is completed (pending a playtest and some balancing) but am concerned about the legality of posting it. I don't want to violate any forum rules.
I've stripped down the document to only include only rules and flavor changes, no re-printed descriptions or images and as little content from the original adventure as possible. So much so that it should be unplayable without the original adventure book.
Additionally, there are a few creatures that are WotC IP, which I converted. I am fairly sure I can't include those, correct? I've prepared alternate creature suggestions for these encounters.
Any advice is appreciated. If all goes well I'll post this within a day or two.
UPDATE:
Okay, here's the conversion: Pathfinder Conversion Booklet
You'll need the original adventure to use the conversion. It shouldn't be too hard to find.
Thanks! I love the old modules. I have converted The Temple of elemental Evil and the party just started in Hommlet last week.
Zuggtomy is going to be a challenge!
...the audacity (and large number of new items/monsters) of Expedition to the Barrier Peaks prevented me from ever attempting this one*.
I tried to model the effects of equipment after spells when possible. The weapons and equipment were the big problem. Used Paizo firearms rules for the weapons in general, but had to add a ton of special rules for each to keep their power level and effects similar to the original adventure. Went back and forth on different ideas half a dozen times. A majority of the creatures had already been converted by Paizo or a third party publisher, so I really only had to do the robots.
** This was back in the days when it was reasonably assumed that there would be some kind of wristwatches in the space-future.
Yeah, a lot of material in the Barrier Peaks is based on an out-dated view of the future. I updated a little of it, but decided to leave it mostly untouched for the nostalgia. Heck, even the size of the ship feels wrong! 10 and 20 foot wide hallways everywhere? Whoever built this ship was not concerned with using space efficiently.
Really nicely done! Couple of thoughts:
- The police robots are *deadly*; Three of those could spell a Bad Day for the intrepid PCs. I know that's the way they were in the module, but I might drop their hardness to 5 for 7th level PCs.
- It would be nice to have a little more backstory on the intellect devourer. If it possesses a PC, what are its motives, how should it act, etc. It's a key encounter given the lack of roleplaying opportunities.
- Ah, the froghemoth. Maybe its a "young" specimen? Otherwise, it most definitely would be a Bad Day for the slowest PC.
- It might be nice to add a thing or two to the module to "liven it up" a bit with some roleplaying opportunities - Maybe a computer that has figured out how to communicate with the PCs. Lots of directions could open up with something like that. Also, something to get the PCs moving along a little quicker (radiation leakage, the engine is a ticking bomb, etc.). The original was very well done, but having been through it a few times, it did get a monotonous without roleplaying opportunities (although disintegrating stuff [like fellow PCs] with ray guns was nice).
Again, great job on this - really usable. I do notice the PDF (when downloaded) comes across with some problems around cut-and-paste - not sure if its something I did (or didn't do) when I downloaded.
~D
- The police robots are *deadly*; Three of those could spell a Bad Day for the intrepid PCs. I know that's the way they were in the module, but I might drop their hardness to 5 for 7th level PCs.
Only 25% of them will use lethal force per the adventure. Meaning even a mixed group is likely to have those in it that will only grapple, pin, and manacle. Also, possession (and understanding) or the right color card basically removes them as a threat.
- It would be nice to have a little more backstory on the intellect devourer. If it possesses a PC, what are its motives, how should it act, etc. It's a key encounter given the lack of roleplaying opportunities.
The adventure gives a lot on its backstory. But, good point. Here's an idea: If it was able to infiltrate the party I it will try to work with them to escape, only trying to kill the rest of them after it was free and when they were in a bad position (sleeping). If it shadows them to level IV it might even try to take a Baboonoid body and join the party that way.
- Ah, the froghemoth. Maybe its a "young" specimen? Otherwise, it most definitely would be a Bad Day for the slowest PC.
That's certainly a viable option. It not pursuing PCs much beyond the lake edge (and its slow speed) helps, but it's grab and swallow whole means someone will likely die. I'm running it with a 6 player party right now, so I think they'll do alright. Biggest worry is players that jump straight to the more dangerous lower levels before attaining equipment and knowledge from the higher ones.
- It might be nice to add a thing or two to the module to "liven it up" a bit with some roleplaying opportunities - Maybe a computer that has figured out how to communicate with the PCs. Lots of directions could open up with something like that. Also, something to get the PCs moving along a little quicker (radiation leakage, the engine is a ticking bomb, etc.). The original was very well done, but having been through it a few times, it did get a monotonous without roleplaying opportunities (although disintegrating stuff [like fellow PCs] with ray guns was nice).
Yeah, it's a bit bland. I'm ad-libbing many of the creatures to have more robust interactions, basically anything with intelligence and a language can be reasoned with. I thought of expanding the central computer menu and such, but wanted to avoid injecting too much of my own ideas into the conversion.
Thanks for your input. I'll look into the copy-paste as well. I tested it a little and it looked good, but I didn't give it a full look-over.
This is fantastic. One of my earliest adventurers a DM ran for me was this actually (converted to 3rd edition). Ever since I plucked at it a little, wanting to convert it myself so I could run it for others but time and obligations always got in the way.
Thank you so much for doing this! You are amazing!
Love the doc. However i can't download it. Can you provide a downloadable link to the pdf?
Also what is the Font you used? It's the old TSR font isn't it?
Looked into the copy/paste issues and I'm not quite sure why it's so messed up. I tried encoding a new PDF, same results. I'll look into finding a new program for the job and see if it does better.
Love the doc. However i can't download it. Can you provide a downloadable link to the pdf?
While viewing it, you should be able to choose "File" -> "Download" to download a copy. If you mean the original TSR adventure, I'm not sure there is an official link.
Also what is the Font you used? It's the old TSR font isn't it?
Font is Century Gothic.
Very happy to see this.
About the size of the corridors: I always thought this was a multi-generation ship, and therefore the crew and colonists would expect to spend decades or even centuries on it. You're supposed to have a lot more room if you're going to be spending your whole life in a tin can.
This is outstanding! Thank you for sharing your hard work! I'll be running my Pathfinder group through this module soon =)
I might have to sandwich this into Iron Gods somehow! That or do a retro module marathon (since I've grabbed PF conversions of Tomb of Horrors and Temple of Elemental Evil as well.) I'm ready for tons of death!
WE ARE NOT WORTHY!
WE ARE NOT WORTHY!
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I am going to be using this for my Pathfinder group soon. Thank you for the conversion. I have to assume that the Technology Guide was not yet out when this was done, which doesnt diminish its awesomeness in any way. The only thing I might do that you havent done, is go through the Technology Guide and see if I can update anything.
Again, thanks for this. I had been wanting to run this adventure and I appreciate all the hard work you have done in the conversion.:D
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Noticed a lot of people trying to access this reccently, but Google changed their link system. Posting this new link in hopes it will help people:
Barrier Peaks Conversion Booklet
Keep in mind this is a conversion booklet, not the full adventure. You need a copy of the original to run it. I did this for copyright reasons.
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Good to have an updated link to your PF1e conversion of Expedition to the Barrier Peaks, A Foolish Moon. :)
Figured that even if you don't have the original adventure, parts of this conversion could come in handy to include for an Iron Gods Adventure Path or Blackmoor's City of the Gods game. ;)