Last Emperor: Creatures
This is a the Last Emperor guide to converting D20 Dragonstar characters to the NWoD/Storytelling/Mage system used for the new game. This article discusses coverting the D20 races and monsters, with the Dragonstar additions, to ST.
Contents
General rules
Each race that can become a character in D20 is given a set of racial traits. Monsters are given a larger set of racial attibutes.
Attribute bonuses
Many races get an attribute bonus (e.g. +2 Dexterity). In ST this gives two bonuses, first the character gets a one dot bonus to the one or two attibutes that match the conversion attributes. Second it raises the maximum value the the attribute can have. At character creation time, buying a fifth and sixth dot in any attribute costs two points.
To balance this, many races also have a attibute penalty. In ST, this causes the corresponding attributes to have their maximum reduced by 1 point.
For example, Dwarves get a +2 Constitution bonus and a -2 Charisma penalty. For Consitiution, this gives a 1 dot bonus to either Stamina or Resolve, and allows a maximum of six dots in both. It also mean the maximum for Presence or Manipulation is now 4 dots.
Size
| Creature Weight | ST Size |
|---|---|
| 25-40 lbs. | 3 |
| 40-90 lbs. | 4 |
| 90-250 lbs. | 5 |
| 250-500 lbs. | 6 |
| 500-1000 lbs. | 7 |
Most creatures are Medium Size, though some PC races are small or large. There is no exact translation into the ST size system. A creatures size is based (mostly) on their weight: Size 5 is normal human size (about 90 to 250 lbs).
Skill Bonuses
Many races are given bonuses to various skills or applications of skills. These bonuses can usually be assigned as skill specializations (a +1 bonus to a specific skill) with similar descriptions. See Skill conversion list to decide which skills get their specializations.
Specific Creatures
Using the guidelines above, this is the list of specific modifications for the various D&D PC capable races.
Dwarves
- 1 dot bonus to Resolve or Stamina, maximum of 6 for Resolve and Stamina
- Maximum 4 dots in Presence and Manipulation
- Automatic merit: Darkvision
- Automatic skill specialization: Craft (Stonework)
- Automatic skill specialization: Academics (Appraise) for stone or metal work
- Automatic skill specialization: Investigation (Stonework)
- Automatic skill specialization: Weaponry (Orcs & Goblins)
- +1 die to Stamina + Resolve (fortitude saves) rolls to resist poisons.
- +1 die to Stamina + Resolve (fortitude saves) rolls to resist magic
Elves
- 1 dot bonus to Dexterity or Wits, maximum of 6 for Dexterity and Wits
- Maximum 4 dots in Stamina and Resolve
- Automatic merit: Low-light vision
- +1 die to Composure + Resolve (Will saves) rolls to resist Mind magic.
- Immunity to sleep magic Mind spells.
- Automatic skill specialization: Investigation (searches)
- Automatic skill specialization: Weaponry (one handed sword)
- Automatic skill specialization: Weaponry (bows)
- Automatic skill specialization: Atheletics (freefall) => Dragonstar
- Automatic skill specialization: Academics (biology) => Dragonstar
