Coversion through editions by role playing. Languages, alignment and other - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Coversion through editions by role playing. Languages, alignment and other

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
oaklock
Nov 12, 2005 20:56:43 I have played mostly 1st edition rules and have begun to experiment with having a smaller party move to 2nd edition rules, ( we play once or twice a year) all in the World of Greyhawk. I have also started DM'ing in Living Greyhawk this past summer.

I noticed that in 1st edition, alignment languages are probably the most common ones outside of common, and that many creatures have their own creature specific languages and know none or few others. Such as Frost Giants know frost giant and Chaotic Evil and Fire Giants know fire Giant and Lawful Evil. It's amazing that they can ever communicate with each other.

In second and future editions, alignment languages are eliminated. Also, in version 3.5, the languages are more clearly dilineated and limited to more generic languages, like Giant.

Since some game activities, especially in 1st edition, such as Charm Monster spell are heavily affected by languages, I was wondering how others have handled this as I am now converting one of my parties to 2nd edition with the idea of converting them version 3.5.

Other background, I am planning to send the 4th and 5th level party toward the Sea Princes and have them end up in the future (??) to play in a 3.5 world(??). (playing the UK2, UK3 and UK1 modules )

Any ideas or suggestions how to deal with their alignment languages or languages in general.

I thought of having them role play the conversion to 3.5.

I also have my high level party(7th to 10th) doing the GDQ modules and will decide what to do with them after they finish, if ever.

Any ideas.
#2
Amaril
Nov 12, 2005 23:45:30 I'm not exactly sure what your concern is with languages. I'm assuming it's an issue of consistency, which should be an issue that extends beyond just languages.

If you just convert, you're going to have to exhibit a certain amount of suspension of disbelief. The least stressful method is to "reboot," allowing the players to recreate the same characters using v3.5 rules, disregard issues of consistency, and play on as if nothing changed.
#3
ripvanwormer
Nov 13, 2005 0:13:21 The languages of various outer planar beings - Celestial, Abyssal, and Infernal - are alignment languages of a sort. A fire giant who spoke Lawful Evil in 1st edition AD&D would speak Infernal in version 3.5. The frost giant would speak Abyssal.
#4
lord_olmac
Nov 13, 2005 23:43:59
I'm not exactly sure what your concern is with languages. I'm assuming it's an issue of consistency, which should be an issue that extends beyond just languages.

If you just convert, you're going to have to exhibit a certain amount of suspension of disbelief. The least stressful method is to "reboot," allowing the players to recreate the same characters using v3.5 rules, disregard issues of consistency, and play on as if nothing changed.

What I did when I changed editions (three times now) was develope a world changing event (war, disaster or some such thing), and then have it end with the gods stepping in and basicly putting an end to and correcting the issues created by the event. When the gods did this, some of the "natural' rules of the universe changed over night, thus giving reason to convert the characters and match the world to the new edition. The whole event built over a several months and then when I was ready, the gods clamped down.

Worked smoothly and the players never griped about what they lost.
#5
samwise
Nov 14, 2005 20:38:50 That's why comprehend languages and tongues were such important spells in 1st ed.
As for converting, just let players rechoose the languages they know, and move on from there. You could never learn other alignment languages in 1st ed, so it just makes things easier on the players overall. Not many should get upset about that.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 oaklock Nov 12, 2005 20:56:43	I have played mostly 1st edition rules and have begun to experiment with having a smaller party move to 2nd edition rules, ( we play once or twice a year) all in the World of Greyhawk. I have also started DM'ing in Living Greyhawk this past summer. I noticed that in 1st edition, alignment languages are probably the most common ones outside of common, and that many creatures have their own creature specific languages and know none or few others. Such as Frost Giants know frost giant and Chaotic Evil and Fire Giants know fire Giant and Lawful Evil. It's amazing that they can ever communicate with each other. In second and future editions, alignment languages are eliminated. Also, in version 3.5, the languages are more clearly dilineated and limited to more generic languages, like Giant. Since some game activities, especially in 1st edition, such as Charm Monster spell are heavily affected by languages, I was wondering how others have handled this as I am now converting one of my parties to 2nd edition with the idea of converting them version 3.5. Other background, I am planning to send the 4th and 5th level party toward the Sea Princes and have them end up in the future (??) to play in a 3.5 world(??). (playing the UK2, UK3 and UK1 modules ) Any ideas or suggestions how to deal with their alignment languages or languages in general. I thought of having them role play the conversion to 3.5. I also have my high level party(7th to 10th) doing the GDQ modules and will decide what to do with them after they finish, if ever. Any ideas.
#2 Amaril Nov 12, 2005 23:45:30	I'm not exactly sure what your concern is with languages. I'm assuming it's an issue of consistency, which should be an issue that extends beyond just languages. If you just convert, you're going to have to exhibit a certain amount of suspension of disbelief. The least stressful method is to "reboot," allowing the players to recreate the same characters using v3.5 rules, disregard issues of consistency, and play on as if nothing changed.
#3 ripvanwormer Nov 13, 2005 0:13:21	The languages of various outer planar beings - Celestial, Abyssal, and Infernal - are alignment languages of a sort. A fire giant who spoke Lawful Evil in 1st edition AD&D would speak Infernal in version 3.5. The frost giant would speak Abyssal.
#4 lord_olmac Nov 13, 2005 23:43:59	I'm not exactly sure what your concern is with languages. I'm assuming it's an issue of consistency, which should be an issue that extends beyond just languages. If you just convert, you're going to have to exhibit a certain amount of suspension of disbelief. The least stressful method is to "reboot," allowing the players to recreate the same characters using v3.5 rules, disregard issues of consistency, and play on as if nothing changed. What I did when I changed editions (three times now) was develope a world changing event (war, disaster or some such thing), and then have it end with the gods stepping in and basicly putting an end to and correcting the issues created by the event. When the gods did this, some of the "natural' rules of the universe changed over night, thus giving reason to convert the characters and match the world to the new edition. The whole event built over a several months and then when I was ready, the gods clamped down. Worked smoothly and the players never griped about what they lost.
#5 samwise Nov 14, 2005 20:38:50	That's why comprehend languages and tongues were such important spells in 1st ed. As for converting, just let players rechoose the languages they know, and move on from there. You could never learn other alignment languages in 1st ed, so it just makes things easier on the players overall. Not many should get upset about that.