TEXT: Berin Kinsman 
  Page 1 
  Converting D20 to Conan 
  Converting D20 Creatures to Conan 
  An alternate take on using other D20 material with Conan the Roleplaying Game 
  By Berin Kinsman of UncleBear.com 
   
  The wealth of D20 and OGL material that exists offers a wealth of adventure ideas for games 
  masters of the Conan RPG. Converting that material to accommodate the rules differences, 
  however, is a potentially time consuming process. The following outlines a method for quick-
  and-dirty conversion that GMs can use on the fly.  
   
  When converting creatures from other D20 and OGL-based games into Conan, most stats can be 
  retained as-is. The only items that require your attention are Defence Value, Damage Resistance, 
  Initiative, and (in some cases) Magical Attacks.  
   
  Defence Value 
  One of the major differences between standard D20 and 
  the Conan RPG is the substitution of Defense Values and 
  Damage Resistance for Armor Class. This can be calculated 
  using the table at right and the formula below.  
   
  10 + Base DV + Dex bonus + Size Modifier = Total DV 
   
  Damage Resistance 
  In most D20 games, Damage Resistance factors in the 
  existence of magic weapons and commonplace 
  Spellcasting, things that are far from common in Hyborea. 
  To compensate, listed Damage Resistance should be 
  divided by 5. If the creature is wearing armor, use that 
  armor’s AC bonus as its DR. Add in Natural Armor 
  bonuses as well.  
   
  (DR ÷ 5)  + Armor 
   
  For example, an OGL creature is listed as have DR 40 and 
  Natural Armor of 7. This would be a DR of 15 in Conan 
  (DR 40 ÷ 5 = 8, +7 = 15).  
   
  Many creatures have conditions listed with the DR rating. 
  Ignore anything with a “+” after the slash, such as DR 
  15/+1, indicating that a +1 or better weapon is required. 
  Any conditions that can be met in the world of Hyborea 
  can be retained, such as DR 20/silver (damage reduction is 
  ineffective against silver weapons) or DR 15/bludgeoning (ignore Dr on damage done by 
  bludgeoning weapons).  
   
  Initiative 
  Most D20 and OGL games do not include Reflex Save as part of the Initiative bonus. Just add that 
  in, otherwise the odds are high the player characters will always go first. We have to make it fair 
  for the monsters to keep the battle interesting.
  Defence Value Table 
  Level/HD 
  Poor DV 
  Good DV 
  1 
  0 
  0 
  2 
  0 
  1 
  3 
  1 
  2 
  4 
  1 
  3 
  5 
  1 
  3 
  6 
  2 
  4 
  7 
  2 
  5 
  8 
  3 
  6 
  9 
  3 
  6 
  10 
  3 
  7 
  11 
  4 
  8 
  12 
  4 
  9 
  13 
  4 
  9 
  14 
  5 
  10 
  15 
  5 
  11 
  16 
  6 
  12 
  17 
  6 
  12 
  18 
  6 
  13 
  19 
  7 
  14 
  20 
  7 
  15 
  
  Berin Kinsman 
  Page 2 
  Converting D20 to Conan 
   
  Spell-like Abilities 
  Many D20 creatures have the ability to cast spells or use spell-like 
  abilities. To account for the fact that magic isn’t so simple and 
  effortless in the Conan RPG, creatures should have to make 
  Magic Attack rolls.  
   
  Base Magic Attack + Charisma Bonus = Magic Attack Bonus 
   
  If a caster level is indicated, find that level on the Magic Attack 
  chart and use the values for Good Magic Attack. If no caster level 
  is indicated, use the creatures Hit Dice and the information for 
  Poor Magic Attack. 
   
  For saves against spells and spell-like abilities, use the creature’s 
  Magic Attack roll in place of any listed DC. 
   
  Conversion Example 
  Let’s tale a look at the gynosphinx as listed in the OGL and see how it would convert for use in 
  the Conan RPG: 
   
  Gynopsphinx (OGL Version) 
  Large Magical Creature 
  Hit Dice: 
  8d10+8 (52 hp) 
  Initiative: 
  +5 
  Speed: 
  40 ft. (8 squares), fly 60 ft. (poor) 
  Armor Class: 
  21 (–1 size, +1 Dex, +11 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 20 
  Base Attack/Grapple: 
  +8/+16 
  Attack: 
  Claw +11 melee (1d6+4) 
  Full Attack: 
  2 claws +11 melee (1d6+4) 
  Space/Reach: 
  10 ft./5 ft. 
  Special Attacks: 
  Pounce, rake 1d6+2, spell-like abilities 
  Special Qualities: 
  Darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision 
  Saves: 
  Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +8 
  Abilities: 
  Str 19, Dex 12, Con 13, Int 18, Wis 19, Cha 19 
  Skills: 
  Bluff +15, Concentration +12, Diplomacy +8, Disguise +4 (+6 
  acting), Intimidate +13, Listen +17, Sense Motive +15, Spot +17 
  Feats: 
  Combat Casting, Improved Initiative, Iron Will 
   
  In close combat, gynosphinxes use their powerful claws to flay the flesh from their enemies. 
  Despite their deadly nature, they prefer to avoid combat whenever possible. 
   
  Rake (Ex): Attack bonus +11 melee, damage 1d6+2. 
  Spell-Like Abilities: 3/day—clairaudience/clairvoyance, detect magic, read magic, see invisibility; 
  1/day—comprehend languages, locate object, dispel magic, remove curse (DC 18), legend lore. Caster 
  level 14th. The save DC is Charisma-based. 
  Once per week a gynosphinx can create a symbol of death, a symbol of fear, a symbol of insanity, a 
  symbol of pain, a symbol of persuasion, a symbol of sleep, and a symbol of stunning as the spells (caster 
  Magic Attack Table 
  Level/HD 
  Poor 
  Magic  
  Good 
  Magic  
  1 
  0 
  0 
  2-3 
  0 
  1 
  4-5 
  1 
  2 
  6-7 
  1 
  3 
  8-9 
  2 
  4 
  10-11 
  2 
  5 
  12-13 
  3 
  6 
  14-15 
  3 
  7 
  16-17 
  4 
  8 
  18-19 
  4 
  9 
  20 
  5 
  10 
  
  Berin Kinsman 
  Page 3 
  Converting D20 to Conan 
  level 18th), except that all save DCs are 22 and each symbol remains a maximum of one week 
  once scribed. The save DCs are Charisma-based. 
   
  To convert this creature, we do the following: 
  • 
  The Gynosphinx has a Poor Reflex Save (it’s not the best save listed). Consulting the DV 
  table, an 8HD creature has a Base DV of 3. It gets a +1 bonus for Dex, and a -1 for size 
  (large), for a total DV of 13. 
  • 
  No DR value is listed, but the gynosphinx has natural armor of 11, so the DR value is 11.  
  • 
  The listed Initiative bonus is +5. Add the listed Reflex save of +7, for a total Init of +12. 
  • 
  The text indicates that the gynosphinx uses spells and spell-like abilities as an 18th level 
  caster. With a Charisma bonus of +5 (Cha 19), this gives the gynosphinx a Magic Attack 
  Bonus of +14. If this had not been listed, we would use the creatures HD and Poor Magic 
  Attack Values, for a Magic Attack Bonus of +7.  
  • 
  The Save DC for various spells and spell-like abilities are the Magic Attack Roll the 
  gynosphinx made when using the ability.  
   
  The Conan version of the creature would thus look like this: 
   
  Gynosphinx (Conan Version) 
  Large Magical Creature 
  Hit Dice: 
  8d10+8 (52 hp) 
  Initiative: 
  +12 
  Speed: 
  40 ft. (8 squares), fly 60 ft. (poor) 
  Defence Value: 
  13 
  Damage Resistance: 
  11 
  Base Attack/Grapple: 
  +8/+16 
  Attack: 
  Claw +11 melee (1d6+4) 
  Full Attack: 
  2 claws +11 melee (1d6+4) 
  Space/Reach: 
  10 ft./5 ft. 
  Special Attacks: 
  Pounce, rake 1d6+2, spell-like abilities 
  Special Qualities: 
  Darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision 
  Saves: 
  Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +8 
  Abilities: 
  Str 19, Dex 12, Con 13, Int 18, Wis 19, Cha 19 
  Skills: 
  Bluff +15, Concentration +12, Diplomacy +8, Disguise +4 (+6 
  acting), Intimidate +13, Listen +17, Sense Motive +15, Spot +17 
  Feats: 
  Combat Casting, Improved Initiative, Iron Will 
   
  Legal 
  Conan the Roleplaying Game is ©2003 Conan Properties International LLC. CONAN®, CONAN 
  THE BARBARIAN® and related logos, characters, names and distinctive licenses thereof are 
  trademarks of Conan Properties International LLC unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. 
  Mongoose Publishing Ltd. Authorized User. 
   
   
  
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