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Over at the Mystara 3E Conversion Project work is being done to bring the Mystara rules up to the D&D 3.5 and D&D 3.75/Pathfinder rule sets.

As I lack the extensive library of Mystara reference materials and extensive knowledge of the setting that many people have here, I have a few questions for all members of this forum:

-What if the designers of the Mystara setting would have created their campaign world and all its elements using the D&D 3.5 rule set instead of Basic D&D?

-What do you believe game development team would have done differently if they would have had access to all the races, classes, feats, skills, equipment, spells, magic, treasure, monsters, encounter design options and whatnot from the 3.5 rules and all its expansions?

I am interested in reading about members thoughts on this subject. I have seen bits and pieces of ideas and conversations in this forum, and unless I missed it with the search feature, I have yet to find a single post that specifically covers this subject.

I am hoping to open debate and learn new things that can help me and Roger in our 3E conversion work.

Race and Class Options

by Giorgio

Here is one thing I am working on that relates to the questions above, specifically the class options available to PCs. Back when Mystara was written the available class options where but a small handful. Nowadays there are over a dozen good classes for a player to create a PC to his liking.

I will use as a reference the first draft of Pathfinder Mystara Races for racial traits and modifiers, along with the Pathfinder SRD, four of the “Complete” books, and the Miniatures Handbook as a base. Here are some of the races and classes available as starting options for a D&D 3.5/3.75 Mystara Campaign:

Mystara Racial Ability Score Modifiers
Race________________Ability Bonus
Dwarf, Modrigswerg___+2 Constitution, +2 Wisdom, –2 Charisma
Dwarf, Rockborn______+2 Constitution, +2 Wisdom, –2 Charisma
Elf, Belcadiz__________+2 Dexterity, +2 Intelligence, –2 Constitution
Elf, Drow____________+2 Dexterity, +2 Charisma, –2 Constitution
Elf, Forest___________+2 Dexterity, +2 Intelligence, –2 Constitution
Elf, Sea_____________+2 Constitution, +2 Dexterity, –2 Intelligence
Elf, Shadow__________+2 Dexterity, +2 Intelligence, –2 Constitution
Elf, Shiye____________+2 Dexterity, +2 Intelligence, –2 Constitution
Elf, Water____________+2 Dexterity, +2 Intelligence, –2 Constitution
Elf, Wood____________ +2 Dexterity, +2 Intelligence, –2 Constitution
Gnome, Earth_________+2 Constitution, +2 Charisma, –2 Strength
Gnome, Sky__________+2 Dexterity, +2 Charisma, –2 Strength
Half Elf______________+2 to One Ability Score
Half Orc_____________+2 to One Ability Score
Halfling______________+2 Dexterity, +2 Charisma, –2 Strength
Human______________+2 to One Ability Score
Hutaaka_____________+2 Intelligence, +2 Wisdom, –2 Strength
Lupin_______________+2 Constitution, +2 Strength, –2 Wisdom
Rakasta_____________Pending

Core Class ___________Primary Abilities
Barbarian_____________STR, CON, DEX
Bard_________________CHA, DEX, INT
Cleric________________WIS, CHA, CON
Druid________________WIS, DEX, CON
Fighter_______________STR, DEX, CON
Monk________________WIS, DEX, STR
Paladin_______________CHA, STR, WIS
Ranger_______________DEX, STR, WIS
Rogue________________DEX, INT, WIS
Sorcerer______________CHA, DEX, CON
Wizard_______________INT, DEX, CON

D&D 3.5 PHB II________Primary Abilities
Beguiler______________INT, CHA, DEX
Dragon Shaman_______STR, CON, CHA
Duskblade____________INT, STR, CON
Knight_______________CHA, CON, STR

Advance Players Guide_Primary Abilities
Alchemist_____________INT, DEX, CON
Cavalier______________STR, CON, DEX
Inquisitor_____________WIS, CHA, INT
Oracle_______________CHA, INT, CON
Summoner____________CHA, DEX, CON
Witch________________INT, DEX, CON

Complete Adventurer__Primary Abilities
Ninja_________________DEX, WIS, CHA
Scout________________DEX, WIS, CON
Spellthief_____________CHA, DEX, CON

Complete Arcane______Primary Abilities
Warlock______________CHA, DEX, CON
Warmage_____________CHA, INT, DEX
Wu Jen_______________INT, DEX, CON

Complete Divine_______Primary Abilities
Favored Soul__________CHA, WIS, DEX
Shugenja_____________CHA, DEX, CON
Spirit Shaman_________WIS, CHA, DEX

Complete Warrior_____Primary Abilities
Hexblade_____________CHA, STR, CON
Samurai______________STR, CON, CHA
Swashbuckler_________DEX, INT, CHA

Miniatures Handbook__Primary Abilities
Healer_______________WIS, CHA, CON
Marshal______________CHA, CON, INT

For example using this first draft of a Pathfinder Lupin, I can see that with their bonus to constitution and strength, their heightened senses, and their inborn abilities as hunters, lupins make great candidates for martial classes.

Using the primary ability table above combined with the lupin racial traits, I can see that the following options seem like good choices for Lupins: Barbarian, Fighter, Ranger, Cavalier, Hexblade, and Samurai. These options then would need to be compared to the cultural, historical and social aspects of the lupin race to see which options work well and not.

I would like to ask now for feedback on which classes do you think are good/natural fits for Mystara races, using the information above as a guide?