INTRODUCTION

Overview

Character Basics

• Some classes have changed to be more like their pre-3rd versions. Rogue "sneak attack" is weaker than by standard rules.
• A character can improve by study without going up a level, and can get some experience points without risk (by practice).
• Short people move faster than standard (speed 25').
• There are many feats available beyond those in the PHB, and I'm open to suggestions for any feat that fits your character but isn't listed.
• Multi-classing is restricted by the difficulty of picking up a new class, not by experience penalties.
• The timing and order of spending feat "slots" or skill points does not matter. They need not be used immediately upon gaining a level and have (almost) the same effect no matter when you use them.
• The racial traits of non-humans are substantially different than the 3rd Ed norm.

Combat

• By default, characters get weapon proficiencies somewhat like they did in earlier editions of D&D. You have the option of taking fewer weapons and having more skill points for other purposes, or vice-versa.
• While the standard 3rd Edition Weapon Focus and Weapon Specialization feats are available for improved use of a favored weapon, Fivtoria-style weapon specialization is also ported to 3rd Ed as the Weapon Group Focus feat.
• Brute-force means of attack (Power Attack, high Strength, charging) work better with big weapons or against heavy targets, and less well with small weapons or against light-weight targets.
• Body hits and windup shots are ported to 3rd Ed, and the 3rd Ed coup de grace rule is completely replaced (all of which are special effects for special circumstances).
• Changed Cleave and Great Cleave.
• Two-weapon fighting is a little different than standard, in line with the Fivtorian norm, but still close to standard.
• A creature may hold off on an attack to give it the potential for an additional attack of opportunity.
• Reach weapons are more useful (the wielder can change grip).
• Sundering (breaking weapons) is harder, and disarming is a little less effective in some circumstances.
• Shields give an AC bonus in line with the Fivtorian norm.
• Close combat and fend-offs are ported to 3rd Ed.
• When knocked to a slightly negative HP total (up to its level or hit dice), a creature is generally disabled and dying, but (in conflict with standard rules) still conscious and able to act. Creatures that go down stay down much longer, even with magical healing.
• The "Massive Damage" threshold is generally lower than the 50 hit points of the standard rules, but instead of killing the recipient the damage may knock him down and perhaps stun him for 1 round.
• Giants are weakened to fit better with Fivtoria. Think of every new troll as 2 of the old trolls, combined.
• I've completely replaced the ballista to be vaguely compatible with the 1st Edition version.

Magic

• Magical things the characters could do before are pretty much the same now, though some spells are updated for 3rd Ed mechanics.
• Curing magic does more than in earlier rules, but cures fewer hit points than standard in 3rd Ed.
• Spells cannot be cast defensively, but low-level or otherwise fast spells might be cast successfully in melee.
• Item creation is difficult, as in pre-3rd Ed D&D, and items are rarer than the 3rd Ed system designers expected.
• Divine casters get limited use of all metamagic feats. Witches get full use of all metamagic feats. A Wizard with Spell Mastery gets full use of metamagic feats for one spell.
• Fivorian MR ("magic" or "mana" resistance) is ported to 3rd Ed, in addition to the standard SR. (Creatures have SR. Spells are more likely to give MR.)
• Specialist casters get spells of their specialty at -1 spell level (as with pre-3rd Fivtoria). There are no clerical domains, but Clerics may specialize.
• The optional spell point system is available as in pre-3rd Fivtoria.
• Area-damage spells have the damage vary within the spell's area, as in pre-3rd Fivtoria.
• Dispelling works somewhat differently.

Objectives and Constraints

1. start using better mechanics
2. keep the world and the characters consistent

Hopefully, while playing with a 3rd Edition rules base, we'll be able to keep things more fair and balanced just because the rules are better in that way. But there will be initial inequities resulting from some features having been too easy (or at least easier) to get in the old rules.

I've come to believe that only one roll should be made to determine the outcome of a compound action. For example, a Rogue (thief) trying to Move Silently and Hide while walking past a door should make only one stealth roll per unit time and/or distance. Requiring multiple rolls unreasonably decreases the chance that he will succeed, since even if both skills have a 50% chance of success in that situation, the combination would result in a 25% chance of avoiding detection.

Taken from the other perspective, when a party is travelling down a road and there's a chance that one of them will notice an ambush they are about to walk in to, their Spot rolls should all be taken as 10. Twice as many eyes does little (if anything) to increase the chance of spotting the ambush. The greatest weakness of the ambush should be that one Hide roll must be made per ambusher. The more people in the ambush, the more likely it is that one has hidden poorly (or failed to be quiet).

I've written some sample character conversions which will hopefully help. (May need to be updated.)

References

The D&D core rules, as published in the Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide and Monster Manual (as well as other books), are the property of Wizards of the Coast.

Chapters of the Player's Handbook

Abilities (PHB chapter 1)

New Characters

Races (PHB chapter 2)