SOOO we finally have the monster and hazard rules from the Gamemastery Guide, guys!! WOOT WOOT! (Thank you designers!! You're the best!)
Which means I have officially no more excuses not to convert old APs.
So, RotR initially doesn't require a lot of conversion - goblins, goblins, goblins... a goblin dog... we have the stats for all of these guys... BUT I really wanted to stat up one of my favorite characters ever, good old Ameiko.
It wasn't as straightforward as I expected - if you follow the roadmap very closely you lose a bit of the "rake" swordswoman flavor, and she has peculiar stats for a P2 bard of course... that said, I think this stat block could work. Use, modify or toss into the trash as you prefer. Also advice is always welcome!
AMEIKO KAIJITSU
CG TIAN-MIN MAESTRO MUSE BARD RAKE 4TH
Perception +11
Str +2, Dex +5, Con +4, Int +4, Wis +2, Cha +5
Languages Taldane, Minkaian, Tien, Varisian
Acrobatics +10, Athletics +8, Deception +12, Diplomacy +12, Bardic Lore +10, Cooking Lore +10, Occultism +10, Performance +12 (singing +13, strings +13), Religion +8, Society +10, Stealth +8
Gear - leather armor, rapier, 3 daggers, belt pouch, gold signet ring, shamisen, silver holy symbol of Shelyn, minor healing potion
AC 20, Fort +10, Ref +12, Will +11
HP 48
Speed 25 ft
Rapier +11, 1d6+5 piercing (Disarm, Deadly d6), Sneak Attack +1d4
Dagger +11, 1d4+5 piercing or slashing, Sneak Attack +1d4
Thrown dagger +11, 1d4+5 piercing or slashing (range interval 10 ft), Sneak Attack +1d4
Occult spells (DC 21, Spell Attack +13) - 2nd: Blur, Calm Emotions, Charm (signature) - 1st: Magic Weapon, Soothe (signature), True Strike, Unseen Servant – Cantrips: Detect Magic, Light, Mage Hand, Prestidigitation, Shield
Focus Points: 1, Focus Spells – 1st: Counter Performance, Lingering Composition
I also converted Father Abstalar Zantus, not that the players will likely fight him, but he's a rather central quest-giver and potential supporter for them, so I decided to make him a little more concrete than just a couple notes. I didn't give him his leather armor though because I think a town priest is better suited as a cloistered cleric.
Father Abstalar Zantus
CG Taldan cloistered cleric of Desna 4th
Perception+11
Str+2 Dex+3 Con+3 Int+3 Wis+5 Cha+3
Languages Taldane, Varisian
Diplomacy+12 (Group Impression skill feat), Medicine+12, Performance+10, Religion+12
Gear starknife, silver holy symbol of Desna, healer's kit, lesser antiplague
AC 18, Fort+8, Ref+11, Will+14
HP 45
Speed 25 ft
Starknife +10 1d4+3 P/S
Thrown starknife +10 1d4+3 P/S
Divine Spells (DC 21, Attack+13) - 2nd Heal x5 (Holy Castigation cleric feat), Augury, Calm Emotions, Create Food - 1st Sleep, Mending, Sanctuary – Cantrips – Daze, Detect Magic, Guidance, Light, Stabilize
Focus pts 1 – Focus Spells – Sweet Dreams
Rituals – Consecrate, Atone
Right, so I started converting the actual gameplay.
The shopkeep's daughter: I give Shayliss perception+7 and will+10 for deception and diplomacy attempts. Her father starts out Hostile, you can use deception or make his disposition better (at least neutral), or else most townsfolk will have a reaction 1 step worse towards the pc embroiled with Shayliss.
I also converted Ven Vinder. He's CR 2, so the stat block I came up with is:
Ven Vinder, LN Taldan merchant 2nd
str+4, dex+1, con+3, int+3, wis+1, cha+4
perception+5
languages Taldane
skills athletics+8, merchant lore+7, intimidation+8
ac 15, fort+11, ref+5, will+5
hp 38
spd 25ft
large & meaty fists - +11 agile nonlethal 1d4+6b (crit: DC16 fort save or slowed 1 till end next turn)
Then I statted Shalelu. She won't really be needed until later usually, but why not. Her CR is 5, so I made her a level 5 creature even though her PC levels work out at 6.
Shalelu Andosana, cg elf huntress 5
str+4 dex+5 con+5 int+4 wis+4 cha+2
perception+15, low-light vision
languages Taldane, Elven, Goblin
acrobatics+13, athletics+12, goblin lore+13, nature+10, stealth+13, survival+12
gear composite longbow, studded leather, short sword, dagger, adventurer's pack, caltrops, chalk, climbing kit, compass, grappling hook, healer's tools, soap, wooden symbol of Desna, minor healing potion
ac22, fort+15, ref+12, will+9
hp75
spd10m
composite longbow+15 1d8+4
short sword+13 1d6+3
hunt prey, hunter's edge: precision, monster hunter, hunter's aim, far shot
And finally we have Tsuto. He's a monk2/rogue2, so there isn't a main class for him. I used mostly the monk roadmap, but adjusted a couple things to make him a little more roguelike. I also switched his bad flute skill for a mediocre drawing skill and his bow for darts. He still runs around like crazy and stuns casters, so, mission accomplished? Also, like Shalelu, his levels total 1 more than his CR, but I still gave him a level equal to his CR, because as I understand that's how you do it? Can someone please confirm/deny?
Tsuto Kaijitsu
le half-elf monk 3
str+3 dex+4 con+3 int+3 wis+3 cha+1
perception+12 low-light vision
languages Taldane, Elven, Goblin
skills acrobatics+13, athletics+13, craft+5 (artistry+6), deception+13, diplomacy+5, intimidate+7, thievery+13
gear satchel, thieves' tools, flute, journal, pouches of gold & silver (value to be determined)
ac19, fort+6, ref+12, will+6
hp45
spd 30ft
fist+10 1d6+8
dart+10 1d4+5
flurry of blows, ki rush, stunning fist
focus pts 1 (occult)
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How have you come up with the numbers for the NPCs? Have you used the new guide? Because their stats are all amazing especially Ameiko
They put the PCs to shame quite significantly
I think key ally NPCs should use player rules but the enemy combatant ones should use the recent guide / align with bestiary to match the challenge requirement
I don’t think Ven should be built to a CR2 threat since he never really was in the original. His AC, saves and attack was all very poor for a CR2 in 1E. I can only assume his original CR2 was assuming a one on one fight , potentially with an unarmored PC (although unlikely) with enough HP that he might have got a lucky crit in and dropped a low level PC
Your build would be a fairly tricky challenge for a level 1 party altogether which I don’t think is the point of the encounter
That damage output seems out of proportion for a shop keeper even under the new standards . But that is just me
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Also, like Shalelu, his levels total 1 more than his CR, but I still gave him a level equal to his CR, because as I understand that's how you do it? Can someone please confirm/deny?
Yep, more or less. CR converts directly to Level as far as the monster rules are concerned, with the PF1 CR being 1 less than the PF1 level because NPCs get a lot less gold to spend on items.
How have you come up with the numbers for the NPCs? Have you used the new guide? Because their stats are all amazing especially Ameiko
They put the PCs to shame quite significantly
Ameiko's stats don't seem too out of line for a 4th level character, with the exception of the ability score modifiers, but those don't actually do anything for most purposes and so aren't really a big deal.
Yeah, I'm using the new guide. The stat bonuses come from there. They are indeed very high... essentially I think you can either build the npc practically like a pc (there are a few tips for that too) or as a creature, and in that case a lot of details are just summarized as bigger numbers. I do like giving Shalelu slightly lower damage than usual for a creature her level and compensate with precision hunter's edge, but sometimes nothing would apply, so... the npc just deals the damage they deal.
Ven Vinder... eh. He's a tricky one. I mean, the old version is... really something. He's CR2, with very low AC and saves, but 31 hps and power attack. Still... I dunno. You might be right, Lanathar - maybe he shouldn't be a 2nd level enemy. I need to think this through... I gotta say old characters were weaker too, though... mmm, what to do, what to do...
So it's the smaller amount of gold that makes the npcs lower CR?... Huh. Okay... let me think. Okay, the intended CR is still the one in the old stat block, so they need to be that level or they would be a slightly too high challenge compared to the original (which could work... at least in some occasions, I guess?).
Oh, and regarding the ability mods again... I did read our Paizo friends don't use them as they are, iirc... gotta dig that post out, it's on the blog - gotta check it out asap...
(In the meantime, thank you guys).
Okay, found out why the stat bonuses are so high: they need to work for untrained skills as well and npcs almost never have magical items enhancing those.
At least I think that's the rationale. I was looking for an official answer but it was to a different question than I remembered, damn.
Anyways, in the meantime I distributed the level 1 treasure around (I'm using the milestones method - you level up when the advancement track and the GM say so, too much work otherwise).
The goblin warchanter has a minor healing potion and 5 gps. The goblin commando has a +1 horsechopper and another potion. Savah will give the party a flask of oil of potency as soon as they go to her armory in thanks. Ameiko will gift a lesser bravo's brew to the pcs if they side with her against her father.
... Gresgurt wears a simple lock around his neck as an amulet... (I needed a permanent level 1 item and just couldn't find anything... maybe I should stop doing this after work when I'm exhausted? Or maybe I should read the guidelines more carefully and apply a bit of common sense).
And finally Tsuto has +1 handwraps of mighty blows, silver earrings worth 3 gps, another healing potion (I just don't like low level talismans!), an everburning torch, 6 pouches of gold dust worth 4 gps each and 6 of silver dust worth 1 each, and a belt pouch with 20 silvers.
Mmm, I think before I start running this puppy I'll need to make some major adjustments. There's more than a few things bothering me about the current results.
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Looks pretty good. Perhaps more work than needed, but practice is important, I did a lot of unneeded work when I started (or maybe I just got lazier over time).
I have the Catacombs and Erylium ready, if you want a hand :)
Looks pretty good. Perhaps more work than needed, but practice is important, I did a lot of unneeded work when I started (or maybe I just got lazier over time).
I have the Catacombs and Erylium ready, if you want a hand :)
Thank you Ed... yes, I know I statted out whole npcs who would actually be fine with just a couple notes, but as you say, I wanted to try my hand and get a sense for the process (and since I'm running Age of Ashes I haven't had the chance to do npc/monster math till now).
And yes I'd definitely love to see what you've done with the next section! Where can I check your notes?
Trying to lower the NPCs' stats down to PC levels:
Ameiko: Str0 Dex+3 Con+1 Int+1 Wis-1 Cha+4
Father Zantus: Str0 Dex+1 Con+1 Int+1 Wis+4 Cha+2
Shalelu: Str+1 Dex+4 Con+3 Int+2 Wis+2 Cha+0
Tsuto: Str+1 Dex+4 Con+1 Int+1 Wis+2 Cha-1
(Shalelu being 5th level can have 4 extra boosts imo).
Ven Vinder (really, everytime I talk about him I almost have to call him Wim Wenders...) should probably be combat level 1 at most, even though we could make him higher level at a couple skills. If I can come up with some shopkeep-themed special ability that'd be the dog's b~&%@@#s... coming soon.
Leave opinions, advice and anything else if you feel like, thanks!
Right, so, 2nd version of Ven Vinders, level 1 (level 5 as a merchant) - see if it feels less outrageous, try it on for size, if anyone feels like giving me pointers I'm all ears.
Ven Vinder, LN Taldan shopkeep 1st (level 5 as a merchant)
str+2, dex-1, con+1, int+1, wis0, cha+2
perception+4
languages Taldane
skills athletics+7, merchant lore+12, intimidation+7
ac 13, fort+10, ref+4, will+4
hp 26
spd 25ft
- large & meaty fists +7 agile nonlethal 1d4+3b
- professional expertise: if Vinder rolls a fumble on a merchant lore check, treat it as a normal failure
- well-liked man in town: most Lawful citizens in Sandpoint start with an attitude of Friendly towards Vinder
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It’s the first dungeon in the most baseline AP, so it made good material for my conversion guide.
It’s the first dungeon in the most baseline AP, so it made good material for my conversion guide.
Damn, I didn't know about that guide! I downloaded it and will peruse it asap, Ed - thank you for posting it! With the experience you gathered it will surely help a lot!
(Hahahah, "Wololo"!).