I was curious how much OSR stuff is out there that's compatible with 5E. It seems like most of it isn't except the rare find. Any ideas? Feel free to drop any links. I am looking for as much material as I can find.
Well, I don't think it's possible, since AC and hp are basically on completely different scales. And because of how things works, some things that are easy for OSR parties are tough for 5e parties. (basically fighting a large number of low level opponents)
With that said, stuff for LofP will give AC as the name of the armor it is equivalent to, not a number. OTOH, LofP is probably not really compatible with most OSR stuff, because it assumes a party is completely incompetent at combat (as per the LoFP rules)
And the stuff by Venger Satanis claims to be both, but that's because his stat blocks are mostly incoherent, not making sense in any system.
Well, in the most basic sense a lot of OSR material is compatible with 5th ed. due to the simplicity of systems used by OSR. Hit Dice are Hit Dice, Attacks are Attacks, Damage is measured in the same types of dice, Saves can be easily translated most of the time etc.
If you are not too particular about some monster having to be tweaked a bit and others coming out slightly weird then there shouldn't be a problem most of the time. The biggest difference might be to add a few hit dice to most base monsters, 5th ed. really infaltes Hit Points and Hit Dice.
Quote from: JeremyR;835639And the stuff by Venger Satanis claims to be both, but that's because his stat blocks are mostly incoherent, not making sense in any system.
Heh - I've been using VS's stat blocks very easily in my 5e game, I guess we're on the same wavelength or something...
His AC & Attack Bonus figures work in 5e without modification.
Hit Points can either be used as-is in 5e, or doubled for major bad guys.
His damage numbers work for the dice in 5e but need an attribute bonus added on, eg a greater spawn of Cthulu listed as doing 2d6, I would make 2d6+5 to include a STR 20 (+5) bonus. Spell-effect damage can be doubled.
I can derive an appropriate damage bonus from looking at the listed attack bonus, splitting it into Proficiency (2+) and Attribute (usually 1+), and adding the Attribute element to damage.
Quote from: Battle Mad Ronin;835642Well, in the most basic sense a lot of OSR material is compatible with 5th ed. due to the simplicity of systems used by OSR. Hit Dice are Hit Dice, Attacks are Attacks, Damage is measured in the same types of dice, Saves can be easily translated most of the time etc.
If you are not too particular about some monster having to be tweaked a bit and others coming out slightly weird then there shouldn't be a problem most of the time. The biggest difference might be to add a few hit dice to most base monsters, 5th ed. really infaltes Hit Points and Hit Dice.
Yes, that's my experience. You generally don't need to worry about hit dice in 5e though, they don't seem to be used for anything. You mostly just need AC, Hit Points, Attack Bonus, and Damage. Converting OSR to 5e generally means doubling hit points & damage if you want to maintain an equivalent threat level, while listed ascending AC & attack bonus (per eg BFRPG or S&W) can be used as-is.
At very high levels an OSR AC & attack bonus may outstrip the 5e equivalent, and at low level a 5e attack bonus is rarely below +3, but anything up to AC 20 and ca +3 to +10 Attack can be used as-is.
Here, I worked out some conversion mechanics that might help...I've been mostly (almost exclusively) using OSR content with my 5E games for several months now.
The first conversion notes I did are here:
The initial OSR/1E conversion discussion (http://realmsofchirak.blogspot.com/2015/04/converting-ad-1st-edition-monsters-such.html)
That was more of a chatty "let's see if we can do this" article.
My quick and dirty standard rules that I use on-the-fly with S&W books (but works with any 0E/1E/BX retroclone pretty much) is here:
The S&W to 5E conversion Rules (http://realmsofchirak.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-even-dirtier-simpler-monster.html)
I had been taking a "convert Pathfinder/3.X" approach initially*, until I realized it was much, much easier to convert older edition content. I am currently using Creature Compendium and Teratic Tome content in my game, as well as module content for S&W Complete across several sources. Piece of cake, and easy to do on the fly once you have the formula down. I'm also prepping to use Yoon Suin although debating whether to play it straight with S&W Complete or use 5E.
*I did a Pathfinder to 5E conversion (http://realmsofchirak.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-super-quick-and-dirty-pathfinder.html) that gets some very accurate conversions, but not easy to do on the fly.
A lot of Sine Nomine's excellent material would slot in nicely. The domain managment tools from Red Tide, for instance.
Quote from: camazotz;835710Here, I worked out some conversion mechanics that might help...I've been mostly (almost exclusively) using OSR content with my 5E games for several months now.
The first conversion notes I did are here:
The initial OSR/1E conversion discussion (http://realmsofchirak.blogspot.com/2015/04/converting-ad-1st-edition-monsters-such.html)
That was more of a chatty "let's see if we can do this" article.
My quick and dirty standard rules that I use on-the-fly with S&W books (but works with any 0E/1E/BX retroclone pretty much) is here:
The S&W to 5E conversion Rules (http://realmsofchirak.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-even-dirtier-simpler-monster.html)
I had been taking a "convert Pathfinder/3.X" approach initially*, until I realized it was much, much easier to convert older edition content. I am currently using Creature Compendium and Teratic Tome content in my game, as well as module content for S&W Complete across several sources. Piece of cake, and easy to do on the fly once you have the formula down. I'm also prepping to use Yoon Suin although debating whether to play it straight with S&W Complete or use 5E.
*I did a Pathfinder to 5E conversion (http://realmsofchirak.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-super-quick-and-dirty-pathfinder.html) that gets some very accurate conversions, but not easy to do on the fly.
Thanks! How accurate would you say they are to the original when you convert? Like does it feel the same, does it have the same amount of challenge, etc?
A great blog article from Realms of Chirak on how to convert monsters from OSR games such as Labyrinth Lord into 5e:
http://realmsofchirak.blogspot.ca/2015/04/converting-ad-1st-edition-monsters-such.html
I don't think adjusting hit points is all that hard.
Quote from: Necrozius;835723A great blog article from Realms of Chirak on how to convert monsters from OSR games such as Labyrinth Lord into 5e:
http://realmsofchirak.blogspot.ca/2015/04/converting-ad-1st-edition-monsters-such.html
I don't think "turn the hit dice into a CR" is good advice for 5e - you'll get completely different results, like CR 2 gnolls, which you'd then need to build pretty much from the ground up, and it'll look nothing like the existing 5e equivalents. There is a narrow range of critters in the 6-10 hd range with major special abilities, eg dragons, where this might work out.
I find 3e, BX etc stats very easy to convert straight over to 5e, this seems to have been intentional, so I'm not really sure what the problem is. 4e is a different issue, but 4e adventures are rarely worth converting.