Co-mingling Dungeons & Dragons and Castles & Crusades

A week or so back my giant order from Troll Lord Games showed up, which included a number of books I had not previously owned: Codex Nordica, Rune Lords, Haunted Highlands, Bluffside and Town of Kalas among others.

The modules are a piece of cake to adapt to Dungeons & Dragons 5E, and the mechanical process I use for other OSR titles (namely Swords & Wizardry Complete) would work just fine here. What's interesting is that I realized that using some of the other C&C content --including classes, spells and other concepts distinct to the game-- might actually be fairly easy to borrow or adapt as well. At the core, both systems are very similar, with D&D and its bounded accuracy mechanic, whereas C&C operates with it's SIEGE mechanic, which distinguishes between good (prime) and bad (secondary) stats, that set different difficulty values accordingly. C&C uses level to boost class abilities, and D&D uses level to boost proficient abilities. C&C sets primes by class and race; D&D sets saves with proficiency by class (though some special traits may dictate from race). The similarities are thick.

Because of this, converting C&C material in to D&D looks pretty basic. For example: take the assassin class. Anytime you have a SIEGE-based mechanical use in the class, just convert it to proficiency. Anytime you have bonuses, just use the rule of thumb and convert the bonuses either directly or (if they seem too large) turn them in to advantage. When converting C&C primes, just turn them in to proficient saves for the class in D&D. You won't get a hard conversion....most class options in C&C have fewer options than 5E classes do, but they'll be more than playable. Also, extend the hit dice of the C&C class to level 20 instead of the C&C method which locks hit dice in around 9th-10th level.

You probably won't want to do this for more than quick on-the-fly NPC conversion, as virtually all of the C&C class options have D&D analogs. Some of the C&C stuff, such as Rune Lore, the Book of Familiars and the Codex Nordica setting include unique character options that might be worth considering for conversion....I'll have to look more closely at them, and think a bit on how one would do it.

You might also ask: why not use C&C as the base system and modify D&D 5E content to fit? Ironically, the answer is because 5E's core mechanic is simpler but with more features....C&C lacks a bit of the nuance that 5E has with skills, backgrounds and its general proficiency mechanic, but actually figuring out a save or check in 5E takes less effort (in fact no effort) to explain to a player, and is very consistent. Not, mind you, that C&C is that complex, as it really isn't; but the 5E system's inherent advantages due to the bounded accuracy concept make it more appealing....to me, at least.

Anyway, if you would like a list of five C&C books that are out right now which you would find are great enhancers with minimal conversion effort to your D&D 5E campaigns, check out the following:
Engineering Dungeons (a great resource for designing dungeons; may be redundant with the 5E DMG which also has great rules for such, but I think the two will compliment)
Engineering Castles (does for castles what the prior book does for dungeons, and will be more useful for this reason since the 5E DMG doesn't talk about that as much; secondarily useful for fleshing out castle projects your PCs might invest in)
The Castle Keeper's Guide to the Haunted Highlands (one of the best module series for C&C now turned into a full-blown campaign region)
Town of Kalas Adventure (very well written town setting, full of flavor and useful stuff)
Codex Nordica (classes will require work, but use my OSR creature conversion rules for the monsters, and the rest is just exceptionally interesting Norse/Scandinavian mytho-historic setting material)

Obligatory Peter Bradly cheesecake art; C&C....last bastion of the +5 chainmail bikini

Tales from the Watchers of the Sullen Vigil: The Pathfinder Conversion

For various reasons that are best saved for some existentialist rant in the future I had this idea of providing a set of conversion notes for use with Sarvaelen as a setting powered by Pathfinder. What follows is the fruit of that effort...

Pathfinder Conversion Notes for the World of Sarvaelen

Races of Sarvaelen

Humans are the sole default race of the setting. There are a few racial variations by ethnic or cultural origin, and a few optional non-human races. 

Official Nonhuman Races: in prior entries Ghuls and Naga have been provided as racial options. While primarily intended as a way for GMs to roll up detailed NPCs of these two types, both are certainly possible as PC races if so desired. I'll provide additional stats for each in another blog entry (soon, hopefully), or at least point out which resources in Pathfinder work for them (there are ghoul feats, for example).

Optional Non-Human Races: tiefling, dhampir, nagaji, and vishkanya are four permissible races. Aasimar might ber permissible in the form of humans touched by the divine will of Nevereth. By contrast, a tiefling would reflect a cursed bloodline from Camrinal of a certain nature. Dhampir and nagaji would be permissible as presented. Nagaji would be a remote race from the south, in the region of Yakhal and Sammar. I may provide more detailed entries on how each of these four races would specifically fit in to Sarvaelen in the future.

Random Racial Origin Table:

D100                Racial Origin

1-94                 human ; roll for homeland below

95                     ghul (sane)

96                     Naga; (1-3) expatriot or (4-6) traveler of Nagapuram 

97                     dhampir; roll for homeland below

98                     tiefling (1-3) or aasimar (4-6); roll for homeland below

99                     nagaji from either Yakhal (1-4), Sammar (5) or Neremune (6)

00                     vishkanya from either yakhal (1-7), Sammar (8-9) Shul (10) or Nagapuram (11-12)

Random Homeland Generation Table for Pathfinder             

D100                Homeland            (Special Subtables & Suggested Stat Bonuses)

01-25               Aeronost               Possible Camrinal bloodline**; any

26-32               Esrenor                  Possible Camrinal bloodline**; +2 CON

33-40               Iandei                     Mixed Homelands*; +2 DEX or CHA

41-45               Mandrelavas         None; any

46-55               Thaerinal               Possible Camrinal bloodline**; +2 CON or WIS

56-70               Atlenar                   Possible Camrinal bloodline**; +2 STR or CON

71-75               Neremune             none; +2 CHA or INT

76-80               Yakhal                     none; +2 CON or DEX

81-85               Emon***               Elemental Taint***; +2 INT, WIS or CHA

86-90               Viskar Steppes      none; +2 DEX or STR

91-95               Katari                      Possible Camrinal bloodline**; +2 DEX or CON

96-00               Sammar                 none; any

*Mixed Homelands: The iandei roll a second time to establish their local origin. If Iandei or Sammar comes up, then the iandei is a pureblood of Shul.

**Camrinal Bloodline: There is a chance equal to a INT or WIS check on DC 22 that an adventurer from this land has some heritage from the old empire. If the character starts as a spell caster then he is automatically considered pureblood. Purebloods are prone to attracting special attention from demons, old gods, spirits and other malevolent beings.

***Elemental Taint: Emoniae revere the elemental old gods, and still worship them. There is a chance equal to WIS check DC 22 that an emoniae has some elemental heritage in her or her bloodline. The immediate effect is an innate basic understanding of that elemental tongue (starting language) and an affinity for that element, which means that they tend to be regarded favorably by elementals of like type that they meet and should schools or domains as appropriate.

The Emoniae

Most emoniae have a talent for magic, and usually choose +2 to INT, WIS or CHA according to preferred magical heritage. Emoniae are, like pureblooded of Camrinal, prone to attracting the attention and interest of demons, spirits, elementals, old gods and other beings from the Elemental Realms.

Magic In Sarvaelen

   The following spells are unavailable in Sarvaelen: all detection spells, all alignment-affecting spells. Resurrection spells of any type are permitted but have a potent cost and a good chance of restoring the target as an undead creature (target must make a DC 30 CON check to avoid becoming an undead when any resurrection spell is deployed). Magic beyond level 6 in Sarvaelen is “lost magic” and known only to be found in ancient Camrinal grimoires.

Character Advancement

   All characters in Sarvaelen advance on the slow experience track. Sarvaelen’s heroes rarely get past level 10-12, even after decades of adventure.

Classes of Sarvaelen

   The following classes are permitted in the world of Sarvaelen:

Core Rulebook: barbarian bard, cleric, druid, fighter, ranger, rogue, sorcerer, wizard

Other Books: cavalier, inquisitor, magus, oracle, witch

Core Prestige Classes: assassin, dragon disciple, duelist, eldritch knight, loremaster, mystic theurge

Other Prestige Classes: battle herald, master spy, nature warden, rage prophet, stalwart defender.

Druids are rare, but can be found among the barbarian tribes 

Sorcerer Bloodlines in Sarvaelen

   The following bloodlines are considered most suited to Sarvaelen: Aberrant, Abyssal, Arcane, Celestial, Destined, Draconic, Elemental, Infernal, Undead; APG: Dreamspun, Protean, Serpentine; UM: Accursed, Djinni, Efreeti, Marid, Rakshasa, Shaitan.                                                          

Domains of the Known Gods of Sarvaelen:

Deity Name  (Alignment, Domains)

Contemporary Gods

Nevereth                       

LG                community, good, law, healing, protection, nobility

Padmavati                     

NE               evil, law, magic, knowledge, weather, magic, nobility

Agharda                         

NE               evil, charm, strength, war, trickery, destruction

Wishara                          

CG               chaos, luck, travel, trickery

Matrigias                       

CN               chaos, destruction, strength, animal, madness

Dragon Cults                

any chaotic  usually chaos, destruction, evil, war, fire, rune

The Sun Dragon            

LN               sun, plant, law, glory, protector, fire

The Black Hag              

CE               death, evil, chaos, magic, trickery, knowledge, rune

Old Gods

Shamanza’gadhal         

NE              death, destruction, nobility, magic, darkness

Satarnas                          

TN              earth, repose, rune, strength, weather

Eshraggol                        

CE               evil, madness, animal, rune, war, destruction

Roeghast                         

CE               chaos, knowledge, magic, rune, trickery

Gaol                                  

CE               chaos, death, evil, destruction, war, darkness

Yaramas                          

NG              glory, good, healing, sun

Vitru’Forazh                   

CG                fire, strength, knowledge, trickery

Kadellan                          

TN              darkness, weather, magic, liberation

Grotares                          

LN               community, law, plant, animal, luck

Traldreggor                    

CE                charm, madness, trickery, evil

Formos                            

CN               madness, trickery, weather, magic, death, earth

Graeehn                         

TN                animal, strength, repose, destruction

Valos                                

LE                death, magic, war, law, glory

Elemental Gods (pagan deities from Yakhal and Neremune)

Erasak                              

NE                fire, glory, sun, war

Sylverune                        

NG               water, weather, plant, travel

Aisherus                          

TN                air, weather, knowledge, destruction

Grome                             

TN                earth, protection, rune, strength

Magic Items in Sarvaelen

   Magic is exceedingly rare in this land. While magic items exist, they are regarded with a certain measure of fear and wonder. Most items bear a great gift and also a curse. While it is certainly possible to sell magic items, very few are in any position to barter for the sale of such goods, and almost no one has the proficiency or skill with which to manufacture magical goods.

   All magic weapons in Savraelen are relics of Camrinal and the old era, with few modern forgers able to craft such weapons. Magical enchantments in Sarvaelen tend to fade after only a few decades in all but the most potent artifacts, so most surviving enchanted weaponry today are actually much older and more powerful relics which have since degraded with time. 

   As a rule of thumb any horde or treasure in standard Pathfinder terms should be worth 1/10^th of its listed value as listed on the Slow Track treasure awards chart (table 12-5 pg. 299). Thus a typical award at level 1 for an encounter is roughly 17 gold pieces, while a level 5 reward would be roughly 100 gold.

   This does not apply to magic items, which can be awarded according to the list value; but the coin value is always reduced. Ex: a 5^th level treasure parcel is worth approximately 1,000 GP, of which 100 may be gold, and the other 900 is a “budget” to spend on magic items stowed by the monsters.

Economy of Sarvaelen

   Gold is precious and rare; most currency is exchanged as silver or copper. All characters start with their normal gold value in goods at level 1, but after that they start with coin to buy gear equivalent to 1/10^th the listed value on page  399, table 12-4. So an adventurer starting at level 5 begins with 1050 GP instead of 10,500. The character may roll their starting coin for level 1 and add it to this total.