I'm still trudging along with my converting the Lands of the Diamond Throne/Arcana Evolved into 4th Edition. It's a very slow process but one I am enjoying. (Still in the process of finishing the Akashic but I have cheated a bit there). One of my design goals is to use as much existing material as I can. I thought I would share some of my ideas.
With the coming of Dark Sun, Character Themes was introduced. After reading through them boy was I excited! They gave me plenty of ideas and material to work with.
Evolved Levels
I loved this idea in Arcana Evolved. It was flavourful and I thought, very exciting. I couldn't figure out however, how to represent evolved levels in 4E. Ding! Character themes! Each race now has an evolved aspect using the character theme mechanics. I still haven't decided to allow evolved characters to take another character theme (an actual theme like dune traders etc.) and vice versa via a feat. I don't think this would be broken because besides the granted power, all a theme is doing is giving access to different powers to choose from.
Some of the evolved races I'm just using a refluffed dark sun character theme that isn't appropriate for the diamond throne setting but suits the evolved race. For example an evolved verrik uses the attack powers of the noble adept theme but the utility powers of the veiled alliance theme. The loresong faen uses a completely re-fluffed templar theme. I'm not sure if I will do an evolved giant yet, but if I do it will be a re-fluffed dune trader.
Classes
Some classes in AE don't really need to be represented in the 4E version because of existing classes. Character themes allow you to still embrace the idea of a particular class of AE while still using the 4E classes. For example I plan on making the unfettered, ritual warrior, warmain and champion into character themes.
So thanks now to the mechanic of character themes I am making huge progress and loving the conversion process! If you haven't checked out character themes in the dark sun campaign setting, I suggest you take a look!
I however will probably not be able to post most of my stuff here because some things I have directly ripped out of AE or 4E books.
For those interested here is some of what I have done for my conversion.
The divine power source and classes that use it don't exist.
Akashic: I built a class with the idea of it using encounter powers from other classes as its own. It is still a skill monkey and also a leader (so has a healing power). Because I felt that the Ardent didn't really suit AE, I have ripped out quite a few of their powers and used them as the akashic's daily/utility powers.
Runethane: I just made the runepriest the runethane and have it use the arcane power source instead.
Magister, Mage Blade, Oathsworn, Greenbond: Just renamed wizard, swordmage, monk, and worldspeaker shaman and changed the flavour where appropriate.
Totem Warrior: I actually decided to make the druid the totem warrior, with a bit of fluff change. I know this gives the totem warrior a bit more of a nature spellcaster feel, but most would(should) focus on the beast form aspect of the class.
Races - most races use existing races as a model with some slight alterations, most of which are different skill bonuses and ability score bonuses. All ability score bonuses are setup like PHB3 races. Some ability scores might seem odd, but they are also the favoured ability scores of the races favoured classes (+2 Cha for verriks for example)
Humans are as is. Verrik are a combination of shardminds and kalashtars (+2 Int, +2 Cha or +2 Wis) . Loresong faen are gnomes (+2 Int, +2 Cha or +2 Dex), quickling faens are halflings (+2 Dex, +2 Cha or +2 Int). Sibeccai are muls from dark sun (+2 Con, +2 Dex or +2 Wis). Mojh are githzerai (+2 Int, +2 Wis or +2 Con). Dracha are dragonborn (+2 Str, +2 Cha or +2 Con). Giants are goliaths (+2 Str, +2 Con or +2 Wis). Litorians are razorclaw shifters (+2 Dex, +2 Str or +2 Wis). No idea how to deal with sprytes. At the moment I have them pegged as a faen paragon path.
That's where I am so far.
With the coming of Dark Sun, Character Themes was introduced. After reading through them boy was I excited! They gave me plenty of ideas and material to work with.
Evolved Levels
I loved this idea in Arcana Evolved. It was flavourful and I thought, very exciting. I couldn't figure out however, how to represent evolved levels in 4E. Ding! Character themes! Each race now has an evolved aspect using the character theme mechanics. I still haven't decided to allow evolved characters to take another character theme (an actual theme like dune traders etc.) and vice versa via a feat. I don't think this would be broken because besides the granted power, all a theme is doing is giving access to different powers to choose from.
Some of the evolved races I'm just using a refluffed dark sun character theme that isn't appropriate for the diamond throne setting but suits the evolved race. For example an evolved verrik uses the attack powers of the noble adept theme but the utility powers of the veiled alliance theme. The loresong faen uses a completely re-fluffed templar theme. I'm not sure if I will do an evolved giant yet, but if I do it will be a re-fluffed dune trader.
Classes
Some classes in AE don't really need to be represented in the 4E version because of existing classes. Character themes allow you to still embrace the idea of a particular class of AE while still using the 4E classes. For example I plan on making the unfettered, ritual warrior, warmain and champion into character themes.
So thanks now to the mechanic of character themes I am making huge progress and loving the conversion process! If you haven't checked out character themes in the dark sun campaign setting, I suggest you take a look!
I however will probably not be able to post most of my stuff here because some things I have directly ripped out of AE or 4E books.
For those interested here is some of what I have done for my conversion.
The divine power source and classes that use it don't exist.
Akashic: I built a class with the idea of it using encounter powers from other classes as its own. It is still a skill monkey and also a leader (so has a healing power). Because I felt that the Ardent didn't really suit AE, I have ripped out quite a few of their powers and used them as the akashic's daily/utility powers.
Runethane: I just made the runepriest the runethane and have it use the arcane power source instead.
Magister, Mage Blade, Oathsworn, Greenbond: Just renamed wizard, swordmage, monk, and worldspeaker shaman and changed the flavour where appropriate.
Totem Warrior: I actually decided to make the druid the totem warrior, with a bit of fluff change. I know this gives the totem warrior a bit more of a nature spellcaster feel, but most would(should) focus on the beast form aspect of the class.
Races - most races use existing races as a model with some slight alterations, most of which are different skill bonuses and ability score bonuses. All ability score bonuses are setup like PHB3 races. Some ability scores might seem odd, but they are also the favoured ability scores of the races favoured classes (+2 Cha for verriks for example)
Humans are as is. Verrik are a combination of shardminds and kalashtars (+2 Int, +2 Cha or +2 Wis) . Loresong faen are gnomes (+2 Int, +2 Cha or +2 Dex), quickling faens are halflings (+2 Dex, +2 Cha or +2 Int). Sibeccai are muls from dark sun (+2 Con, +2 Dex or +2 Wis). Mojh are githzerai (+2 Int, +2 Wis or +2 Con). Dracha are dragonborn (+2 Str, +2 Cha or +2 Con). Giants are goliaths (+2 Str, +2 Con or +2 Wis). Litorians are razorclaw shifters (+2 Dex, +2 Str or +2 Wis). No idea how to deal with sprytes. At the moment I have them pegged as a faen paragon path.
That's where I am so far.
