Is this feasible? Or is there a need to convert because something might be off with the stats for a monster bought in to Pathfinder?
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Power attack works differently, some feat prereqs change and CMB/D don't exist in D&D 3.5. There's a bunch of differences for some monster types (immunities mainly but undead/Cha use is significant). The basic numbers should add up mostly though.
some states might be a lot different (grapple in 3.5 was +\- 4 per size category instead of 1.)
if i recall correctly, using monsters with natural attacks you need to mind that high bab allowed more attacks even with natural attacks in 3.5 (pathfinder changed it to only be with weapons\unarmed) so full attack might be different. and of course feats being gained at every odd level(hd) in pathfinder instead of every 3 levels (hd) in 3.5. etc
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I picked a few creatures randomly, and compared them to reference values:
Flesh golem: A tad fragile and low damage for CR 7
Otygh: Durability ok, but damage is low for CR 4
Displacer beast: Durability and damage above average for CR 4
Harpy archer: Quite fragile, damage rather low for CR 11
Truly horrid umber hulk: Durability solid (high HP, low AC), damage a bit above average for CR 14
So the basic values seem more or less fine. I'd probably count their CR as 1 point lower, but this doesn't change much.
When it comes to mechanical differences: You can respect them, but this means a lot of work for very limited benefit. Personally I'd ignore most of them. Few players care where the monster's damage or grapple bonus comes from. They often don't care about the numbers at all. It's about the play experience, and Monster Manual monsters look like they can contribute to a good one. The numbers there seem within line enough to avoid frustration or boredom most of the time.
Still, you might want to add CMD (as mentioned by avr) if at least one player uses combat maneuvers. I'd stick with 10 + base attack bonus + Strength modifier + Dexterity modifier, that's precise enough for a few encounters with oldschool monsters.
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some states might be a lot different (grapple in 3.5 was +\- 4 per size category instead of 1.)
if i recall correctly, using monsters with natural attacks you need to mind that high bab allowed more attacks even with natural attacks in 3.5 (pathfinder changed it to only be with weapons\unarmed) so full attack might be different. and of course feats being gained at every odd level(hd) in pathfinder instead of every 3 levels (hd) in 3.5. etc
Nope. 3.5 natural attacks still didn't get more attacks based on BAB, but there were feats for it
I have yet to find a 3.5 Monster that we typically encounter that does not have a PF1 equivalent...
That being said, on the rare occurrence it happens, it's probably ok just to use it as is for the time being.
This is a resource I have used for a while now and he does a fantastic job of researching the monsters and converting them to PF1E for play. I will tweak them on occasion if I need to but it is a great reference site and a great starting point on conversions.
Was formally called:
The Chronicles go back to 2012.
The Codex go back to 2016.
Tons of great conversions and new monsters as he is avid reader of monster mythology, folklore and such.
If you do a search for the [monster name] AND Creature Codex AND Tumblr or [monster name] and Creature Chronicles AND Tumblr you can go to the page directly you are looking for.
Jack
This is a resource I have used for a while now and he does a fantastic job of researching the monsters and converting them to PF1E for play. I will tweak them on occasion if I need to but it is a great reference site and a great starting point on conversions.
Was formally called:
The Chronicles go back to 2012.
The Codex go back to 2016.Tons of great conversions and new monsters as he is avid reader of monster mythology, folklore and such.
If you do a search for the [monster name] AND Creature Codex AND Tumblr or [monster name] and Creature Chronicles AND Tumblr you can go to the page directly you are looking for.
Jack
EDIT - let me correct myself-. Codex is owned and maintained by dmiurge1138 and Chronicles (which is no longer updated was owned and maintained by filbypott. Both are nice resources for old 3.5/3.0 and even the older ones that never got ported over to the newer versions plus some cool creations of their own.
This is a resource I have used for a while now and he does a fantastic job of researching the monsters and converting them to PF1E for play. I will tweak them on occasion if I need to but it is a great reference site and a great starting point on conversions.
Was formally called:
The Chronicles go back to 2012.
The Codex go back to 2016.Tons of great conversions and new monsters as he is avid reader of monster mythology, folklore and such.
If you do a search for the [monster name] AND Creature Codex AND Tumblr or [monster name] and Creature Chronicles AND Tumblr you can go to the page directly you are looking for.
Jack
EDIT - let me correct myself-. Codex is owned and maintained by dmiurge1138 and Chronicles (which is no longer updated was owned and maintained by filbypott. Both are nice resources for old 3.5/3.0 and even the older ones that never got ported over to the newer versions plus some cool creations of their own.
A friend of mine linked me to this thread. Thanks for the kind words! The Codex and Chronicle are indeed separate projects, though Demiurge is a friend of mine and has my full blessing.
Incidentally, both blogs are named after the EN World Creature Catalog, which similarly converted AD&D 1st and 2nd Edition monsters to 3.5.
This is a resource I have used for a while now and he does a fantastic job of researching the monsters and converting them to PF1E for play. I will tweak them on occasion if I need to but it is a great reference site and a great starting point on conversions.
Was formally called:
The Chronicles go back to 2012.
The Codex go back to 2016.Tons of great conversions and new monsters as he is avid reader of monster mythology, folklore and such.
If you do a search for the [monster name] AND Creature Codex AND Tumblr or [monster name] and Creature Chronicles AND Tumblr you can go to the page directly you are looking for.
Jack
EDIT - let me correct myself-. Codex is owned and maintained by dmiurge1138 and Chronicles (which is no longer updated was owned and maintained by filbypott. Both are nice resources for old 3.5/3.0 and even the older ones that never got ported over to the newer versions plus some cool creations of their own.
A friend of mine linked me to this thread. Thanks for the kind words! The Codex and Chronicle are indeed separate projects, though Demiurge is a friend of mine and has my full blessing.
Incidentally, both blogs are named after the EN World Creature Catalog, which similarly converted AD&D 1st and 2nd Edition monsters to 3.5.
The EN Word Creature Catalog was a great resource for that as well. I have enjoyed many of your conversions on the Chronicle site. I have used both of them for so long that they kind of ran together for me :)
Jack
I know about the Codex and Chronicle. I got some nice Lupin stats off one of them! No love for Gemstone Dragons though. Now I can't even find 3.5 stats for them now that I think about it.
Filby, thanks for the builds. I have populated my Mystara with quite a few of your builds.
Really depends on who you're borrowing from. Some 3ed party developers are notorious for inappropriate CR's...
Oh, like Paizo? :p
Not sure if the company existed but many of the individuals did.
Is this feasible? Or is there a need to convert because something might be off with the stats for a monster bought in to Pathfinder?
You need to convert. SR works differently, so a 3.5 critter will have a much higher SR. Feats are acquired at different rates, so 3.5 critters will have too few feats. Many feats work differently. Some feats that appear in 3.5 do not appear in PF. CR is calculated differently. The list goes on and on.
You need to convert. SR works differently, so a 3.5 critter will have a much higher SR.Can you explain how it was different, because my recollection is that it was a caster level check vs the SR value just like in PF1. Also, how is CR calculated differently (especially since CR is not really "calculated" at all, so much as derived form observation and testing).
Feats are acquired at different rates, so 3.5 critters will have too few feats. Many feats work differently. Some feats that appear in 3.5 do not appear in PF.These are all true. They also do not matter in the slightest. You do need to calculate CMB and CMD for 3.5 monsters (at least if anyone is likely to try to use combat manoeuvres or tumble past them), but that is about it.
I ran Age of Worms in Pathfinder, and for most of the encounters I ran them as was and everything was fine (I did obviously use the PF1 version from the Bestiary if available, and I rebuilt the major villains to Pathfinder specs, but there were still a lot of encounters that I used straight out of the book).
_
glass.
Mechanically SR works the same; it is the calculation that is different. SR in 3.5 is based of hit dice, so it will be much higher for the CR than PF.
Critters having fewer feats than they should makes no difference? Then why is the fighter's big thing lots of feats?
Critters having fewer feats than they should makes no difference? Then why is the fighter's big thing lots of feats?
Basically because feats were overrated. This is especially true for monsters with their default feats - a 10 HD monster having 4 feats instead of 5 is something that few will notice even if they see the stat block.
Here's a cloud giant's feat list in PF: Awesome Blow, Cleave, Great Cleave, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Overrun, Intimidating Prowess, Iron Will, Power Attack. And in 3.5: Awesome Blow, Cleave, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Overrun, Iron Will, Power Attack. Does the difference matter that much?