I’m going to start running a Dark Sun campaign in around 2 months. I want this to feel like a true to form Dark sun campaign. Anyway, I purchased the original Dark sun Box set, and I’m loving it, but I’m not sure how to convert THATCO to 5e. Should I just compare the monsters/player class abilities/damage/to hit, to similar creatures in the 5e manual and go from there?
Also classes, should I just tell my players that only a four cleric Subclasses are available? Light domain(Fire) Tempest(air) Nature(earth) and Life(water)?
What about the other classes? I’m fine with banning paladins Scorcerers, and warlocks, also getting rid of Eldritch Knight etc. even though with Defilers etc I think maybe the UA Gaint Soul and storm soul etc could be cool if Sorcerers where included.
I’ve found a few premade conversions for the Dark sun MM do you all have any specific recommendations?
And lastly how should I handle the Psionic classes/traits?
Converting THAC0 is easy in theory. 0 THAC0 is 20 AC, +1 THAC0 is 19 AC, -1 THAC0 is 21 AC. However, it is true that AC has been condensed, so it's not always a one-to-one. The best thing to do is find comparable monsters, if you fight a Lich in 2nd edition, you fight a Lich in 5th edition. I've never DMed 2nd edition so I don't know if it uses CR, but if it does: use that to help figure out monsters that don't directly translate. Replace a 1 CR monster in 2nd edition with a similar 1 CR monster in 5th edition.
Pretty sure Dark Sun had Paladins, I know 2nd edition in general did. Eldritch Knights are just Fighter/Wizards, and sorcerers are just Wizards that aren't traditionally trained. I don't see why you would need to ban any classes or subclasses that are in the PHB, pretty sure you could logically have all of them in Dark Sun without problem. You might have to have the Alignment requirements back for Clerics (within 1 step of Deity), Paladins (LG for Devotion, CG for Avenger), and other ones that make sense. As for Psionic classes, if your doing this Pen and Paper use the UA Mystic Class to represent that.
2E definitely had paladins, I used to play them all the time.
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Started playing in the 80s, when 2nd Edition was just coming out. Been away for a while, but I'm looking to get back into it. I'd love an online game on the weekend, or an in-person if you're in Eugene.
WOTC put out this nifty guide for D&D Conversions. I've used it to convert some 2e and BECMI products that were for the most part playable and challenging.
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“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.” - Mark Twain - Innocents Abroad
2E definitely had paladins, I used to play them all the time.
The OP is over 2 years old, pretty sure they aren’t paying attention any more. And while 2e, and 1e for that matter, had paladins, Dark Sun did not. There were no gods in dark sun, and in that edition paladins unambiguously got their powers from gods. As opposed to now when it arguable.
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hey guys,
I’m going to start running a Dark Sun campaign in around 2 months. I want this to feel like a true to form Dark sun campaign. Anyway, I purchased the original Dark sun Box set, and I’m loving it, but I’m not sure how to convert THATCO to 5e. Should I just compare the monsters/player class abilities/damage/to hit, to similar creatures in the 5e manual and go from there?
Also classes, should I just tell my players that only a four cleric Subclasses are available? Light domain(Fire) Tempest(air) Nature(earth) and Life(water)?
What about the other classes? I’m fine with banning paladins Scorcerers, and warlocks, also getting rid of Eldritch Knight etc. even though with Defilers etc I think maybe the UA Gaint Soul and storm soul etc could be cool if Sorcerers where included.
I’ve found a few premade conversions for the Dark sun MM do you all have any specific recommendations?
And lastly how should I handle the Psionic classes/traits?
thanks!
Converting THAC0 is easy in theory. 0 THAC0 is 20 AC, +1 THAC0 is 19 AC, -1 THAC0 is 21 AC. However, it is true that AC has been condensed, so it's not always a one-to-one. The best thing to do is find comparable monsters, if you fight a Lich in 2nd edition, you fight a Lich in 5th edition. I've never DMed 2nd edition so I don't know if it uses CR, but if it does: use that to help figure out monsters that don't directly translate. Replace a 1 CR monster in 2nd edition with a similar 1 CR monster in 5th edition.
Pretty sure Dark Sun had Paladins, I know 2nd edition in general did. Eldritch Knights are just Fighter/Wizards, and sorcerers are just Wizards that aren't traditionally trained. I don't see why you would need to ban any classes or subclasses that are in the PHB, pretty sure you could logically have all of them in Dark Sun without problem. You might have to have the Alignment requirements back for Clerics (within 1 step of Deity), Paladins (LG for Devotion, CG for Avenger), and other ones that make sense. As for Psionic classes, if your doing this Pen and Paper use the UA Mystic Class to represent that.
2E definitely had paladins, I used to play them all the time.
Started playing in the 80s, when 2nd Edition was just coming out. Been away for a while, but I'm looking to get back into it. I'd love an online game on the weekend, or an in-person if you're in Eugene.
WOTC put out this nifty guide for D&D Conversions. I've used it to convert some 2e and BECMI products that were for the most part playable and challenging.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.” - Mark Twain - Innocents Abroad
The OP is over 2 years old, pretty sure they aren’t paying attention any more.
And while 2e, and 1e for that matter, had paladins, Dark Sun did not. There were no gods in dark sun, and in that edition paladins unambiguously got their powers from gods. As opposed to now when it arguable.