Outmatched… and outnumbered?
This post introduces a very simple and rough process I have been employing in converting the statistic blocks of monsters and NPCs from the Pathfinder Roleplaying System or from Dungeons & Dragons in order to tell a story employing some elements from prepackaged modules of the same systems.
Really, short simple do-it-yourself (DIY) procedure for converting the relevant statistic blocks.
- Start with base attributes. Every 2 Str, Dex, Int, Con above and below 10 translates roughly to 1 above or below for ST, DX, IQ, and HT respectively.
- Move on to secondary attributes. Eyeball health by considering HT and corresponding HP of strongest player(s). Will is similarly +1 above IQ for every +2, modified by how mentally strong the DM wishes the creature. Every +5 in Perception on the creature translates to +1 Per above IQ. FP is up to the GM’s discretion.
- Handle speed by considering initiative and movement of the creature and move forward accordingly. 30ft speed roughly translates to 5-6 Move and a Basic Speed somewhere in that range. Combat Reflexes gives a very simple boost to this if the creature is martially trained or capable.
- SM should correspond directly. A Medium creature is SM +0, a Large creature is SM +1, and so on.
- Every 5 DR should correspond to Damage Resistance 1. Apply limitations as necessary. Resists should be modelled as a Limited Damage Resistance on top of any other DR to only those compounds or substances.
- Roughly every 10 SR should correspond to Magic Resistance 1-2, up to the GM’s discretion.
- Darkvision 60ft should correspond to Dark Vision. Low-Light Vision can roughly translate to Night Vision 4.
- Apply other advantages and disadvantages as necessary by considering what makes sense.
- Apply spells and skills as necessary by considering the skills and spell-like abilities of the creature.
An example of this procedure being applied can be seen with this monster. Look at both the original d20 SRD description and the given GURPS description.