4E Conversion Organization Thread

I'm a little disappointed about the Manual of the Planes Table of Contents look, had hoped for more of the classic planes to be featured in the book. I see Sigil, the Abyss, Pandemonium, Celestia, The Nine Hells, Arvandor (probably effectively the same as Arborea now), the Far Realm, the Plane of Dreams, the City of Brass. Also had hoped for more classic monsters back. Some of the classics might've gone through name changes, though, I don't know.

I'll venture a guess that many of the missing links are due to the Feywild and Shadowfell taking up a significant part of the book.

For our part, I think that implies we should start thinking about working out Mechanus, the Grey Waste, and the other remaining usual suspects. There might be mechanics in the Feywild section of the book we can use for the Beastlands, just like the mechanics for influencing an unstable plane seems perfectly suited for Limbo.

EDIT:

Hmm, I'm guessing Acheron also is in but renamed to Chernoggar, and the Gray Wastes but focused around Pluton, based on this. Also, apparently the Great Wheel does get some attention.

It seems the standard 4E cosmology is properly refered to as the World Axis cosmos, rather then the Points of Light cosmos.

i just got my copy of the book.

Questions? 

I got a copy as well now and have had time to skim it through, at least. A few additional missing links:

While Acheron is roughly equivalent to Chernoggar in the book, it isn't given as a collection of iron cubes. We would need that in the "old cosmos with 4E rules approach", with the respective objective gravity rules for being drawn towards a cube side.

In the same vein, Gehenna might be somewhat represented by Tytherion, but its given as maze of canyons rather than steep volcanic mountains. If I recall correctly, there used to be rules for slipping and tumbling down the mountain-side which we might think about reinstating.

This sounds great! I love planescape and I have loved it for a long time..just recently found your site though. Is there anything I can do to help? Im one hell of an artist when it comes to computer art...

Well, I spent a few hours doing some test drawings, and I decided to finally draw my most favorite Planescape character... It is a Rogue Modron fighter / part time custodian for the Civic Fest Hall that they call "Bob" (because he bobs up and down and sounds like a scratched record sometimes when he is talking) Any ways, here is the linky: http://jesuschristarcade.com/index.php?topic=124.0 Of course, anything that I make for this project is 100% royalty free. Please be honest about my art work and any suggestions will be considered. Please also notice that this picture I am showing you, as of 12,21,08, is still being worked on (I have to give it some kind of background).. perhaps if you give me an idea of what the books background will look like I can integrate it into all of my pics I donate to the cause.

Perhaps my next image should be of the Planescape cosmos 4.0 - but I must admit, I dont even have 4.0 yet, (I just finally got caught up with 3.5) but I have read quite a bit about it on WIZARDSotC site...did they lump the abyss into the same sections as the elemental planes? Because it sure looks that way to me.

Perhaps I go out and buy a 4.0 manual of the planes to help me out.

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/4ex/20081117a

Here is the OFFICIAL view on planescape 4E (or the planes, if you like).

Is this what we have to work with? They have snatched damn near everything from us in the name of "make it simple!"

If you read the first post of this thread you will see that the course for this project has already been set: We're making 4E Planescape for both the old cosmos and the new cosmos.

For "original Planescape cosmos with 4E rules" there's no need adressing the flavor in the new MotP at all - just the crunch. The multiverse is still organized as the Great Wheel, there are still 9 alignments, the Abyss is still an Outer Plane, and demons are still exemplars of Chaotic Evil. Things are like they used to be, just with updated rules.

For "new cosmos with Planescape flavor" the point is to suggest how the 4E World Axis cosmos can be fitted to Planescape style. The multiverse is organized as the new World Axis cosmos, there are 5 alignments, the Abyss is a realm in the Elemental Chaos, and demons are corrupted elementals. The foundation is pretty much the new MotP I would think, but adjusted for a Planescape feel.

Why use these 2 different approaches?

Because the former approach appeals more to us old Planescape fans who like the setting as is but like the new ruleset, while the latter approach appeals more to new D&D players who play the current edition but want to learn about why Planescape is a great setting.

I'm not sure why I haven't thought or read of this before, but wouldn't it be a workable conversion to make the Rogue Modron player race be mechanically equivalent to warforged? Perhaps changing Str bonus to Int (Con bonus seems fine) and Intimidate bonus to Perception (Endurance bonus seems fine)?

Dragon 364, which is freely available, provides a full writeup for warforged which might thus be used for modrons. When I read about the Armbow and Shoulderbow in the article, I couldn't help thinking of Nordom from Torment.

I'm late to the party, having taken a couple years away from D&D in general and having only recently been introduced to 4e. After my initial shock, I've settled into it okay. It's weird but then again I think it's the way it is.

I suppose I would be more interested in the "make Planescape work in 4e" approach, rather  than the "make 4e work for Planescape" approach, though I acknowledge the good intentions of both approaches. I've always been more of a "go with the flow" type of gamer, so my tendency is to embrace 4e and try to find ways to squoosh Planescape into the frame. Manual of the Planes helped.

Having read the Forgotten Realms update, I agree with Wyrmwood-- a similar catastrophe would be very useful for Planescape. We advance the timeline and get the luxury to explain things with a broad pen: there used to be a place called the Outlands, but now it's gone. Why? The <INSERT BIG EVENT> destroyed it, or the Lady may have to protect her city from the <INSERT BIG EVENT>. Either way, Sigil now occupies it's own plane. The Great Road and the Gate-towns persist, but they are not what they once were.

I've also noticed a lot of "power creep" in some threads here, presumably because to maintain what a faction/race/etc was, they've been given more power than normal 4e stuff seems to have.

Anyway, I'm poking around and finding my feet, but I may chime in here and again.

Thanks!

Yes, it's all just a draft version. I'm waiting for any suggestions and corredges about the factions stuff.

Whoa, the potential final endpoint of that Prince of Hell epic destiny is some serious business!

I suppose something similar might be done for other exemplar servants: For instance, how about a Master of Balance that can take on rilmani-like qualities and perhaps eventually become a powerful lord of Neutrality? Including feature(s) or power(s) that deal damage you take or conditions you suffer back in equal amount to your foes?

I do keep my content in Word documents, but I think I've updated the respective threads when I had something to correct (Spirelight, Planes of Law, Planes of Chaos, and Planar Dangers). You're more than welcome to copies through email if you'd like but it should pretty much be the same as I've posted.

Now, I should really get around to finishing that Planes of Conflict project I've had half-finished for ages...

Hey all,

I've been chatting with Clueless a bit, and thought I'd get involved with this 4e conversion.  I helped work on the 3e PSCS years ago, but only recently got back into D&D when 4e came out.

I'm still reading through/digesting what's been done already in these threads, but I'll be diving into the conversation as soon as I get my bearings a bit.

:)