Converting

D&D3.5Monstersto
5e
OnTheFly

<BacktoFitz'sRoleplayingStuff

Introduction
Sothisisntperfect,butitshouldget
Thiscomesfrom
youveryclosetobeingabletouseany
jamesmanhattanonthe
Pathfinderor3.5monstersinD&D5e.
EnWorldD&D5eforums.
Itshouldevenallowyoutoruna3.5
orPathfinderadventureonthefly,
includingNPCs.Thisdocumenttriesto
keepittoaverysmallamountof
adjustments,whichyoucanmentallydoandpencilin.Forallthe
calculationsinhererounddown.
IwentandgottheentiredatabaseofPathfindermonstersfromtheweb.
IgroupedthembyChallengeRatingandcalculatedMedianHitPoints,
MedianDamage,MedianACetc.
Youshouldbeabletogotowww.d20srd.orgorwww.d20pfsrd.com
andgetmonsters.Youcantryonyourownbydownloadingtherawdata
ofallofPathfindersmonstershere:
www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/tools/monsterfilter

Step1:SubtractCRfromAC
SubtracttheCR(ChallengeRating)fromtheArmorClasstogettheD&D
5eappropriateAC.
Forexample:AnIronGolemhasanACof30andaChallengeRatingof
13.ItsD&D5eACshouldbe3013=AC:17
Note:PathfinderhasanIronGolemsACas28,whilethe3.5systemhas
theACat30.

Step2:AttackbonusforallattacksisCR/2+3
Contents
Introduction.
Step1:SubtractCRfromAC.
Step2:Attackbonusforallattacksis
CR/2+3.
Step3:LeaveDamageasis.Leave
Multiattacksatfullattackbonusfrom
Step2.
Step4:SaveDCtakethelisted
monsterabilityDC,halvethepart
above10,andadditbackto10.
Step5:HitPoints,leaveasis.
Step6:AbilityStatScores,STR,DEX,
etc,(youdontneedthem,seeStep
7).
Step7:FormonsterSavingThrows,
andAbilityChecks,usethe
Fort/Ref/Willsavebonusesdividedby
two.
Step8:Forskillsusehalfthe
Fort/Ref/Willsavebonusasthebase
ability,add+5forbeingtrained.

TofigureoutamonstersAttackBonusformeleeandrangedattacksvs
AC.CuttheChallengeRatinginhalfandadd3tothatnumber.Usually
youshouldrounddown,butifthemonsterhasanextremelyhigh
Strengthscoreyoumaywanttorounduporevenadd1.
Forexample:ACR:7FleshGolemshouldhaveameleeattackthatis+6
vsAC.Thatshalfof7(roundeddown)+3.

Step3:KeepDamageasis.MakeMultiattacksat
fullattackbonusfromStep2.
Leavethedamagejustaslistedonthestatblock.Ifamonstergets
multipleattackswithdecliningattackbonuses,keepthemallatthesame
AttackBonuscalculatedinStep2above,withthedamageaslisted.
Forexample:TheChallengeRating:20Balorattacklinesays:
+1vorpalunholylongsword+31/+26/+21/+16(2d6+13),
+1vorpalflamingwhip+30/+25/+20(1d4+7plus1d6fireandentangle)
Thiswouldbe4longswordattacksat+13vsACfor2d6+13damage
each,plus3attackswiththeflamingwhipat+13vsACfor1d4+7+1d6
damage.Thatsanaveragedamageof119perround.
ThatsagoodtargetforaCR:20D&D5ecreature.Youllnoticeitsalittle
higherthantheBalorintheD&D5eBestiary,butthatsbecausethisis
CR:20andtheBestiaryhastheBaloratLevel16.Wearentmakinglevel

Step9:Initiativebonus,leaveasis.
Step10:Lastremainingbits.
EncounterBuildingGuidelines
(ChallengeRatings)
ExperiencePoints.

adjustments.IfyouareconvertingaPathfinderadventurethatcallsfora
DC:20Balor,wewanttomakesureitstaysaschallengingasthe
adventurecallsfor,nothowD&D5ethinksitshouldbeinthePantheon.
AllowmonsterstokeeptheirextendedCritRanges,butmakecriticalhits
domaxdamageformonstersinsteadofdouble.Dontrolltoconfirm
criticalhits,assumetheyalwaysconfirm.
Ifyouwanttodoublethedamage,andmakefewerattacks,feelfreeto
doso.Forinstanceyoucouldmake2longswordattacks,eachfordouble
damage.Itstoughtodothatifyouhaveamonsterthatmakesanodd
numberofattacks.

Step4:SaveDCstakethelistedmonsterability
DC,halvethepartabove10,andadditbackto10.
Tofigureoutwhatthecharactersneedtorolltomakeasavingthrow
againstsomethingthemonsterdoestothemTaketheSaveDCsof
monsterattacksortrapthatislisted,subtract10fromit,dividethat
numberinhalf,andadditbackto10.Forexample:AnAdultSilver
DragonhasabreathweaponthatrequiresaDC:23savingthrow.Take
2310=13.Dividethe13inhalftobecome6,andaddthatbackto10,
sothesavingthrowDCbecomes16.

Step5:HitPoints,leaveasis.
Note:Yes,thesemonsterswillhavemoreHPthantheonesinthe
Bestiary.AmajorcomplaintIvebeenseeingontheforumsismonsters
dietooeasily.IfyougraphdamageoutputoftheplayersforD&D5eside
bysidewithPathfinderitisspotonathigherlevels.
IalsocheckedfordifferencesinHitPointsbetweenthe3.5srdand
d20srd,andsurprisinglytheMediansforHPareallthesame!Pathfinder
onlyshiftedthings,likeincreasingOutsiderstoad10HitDiefromad8,
buttheyreducedOozeHitDiedowntod8fromd10.Alltheadjustments
musthavebeeninparallel.ForeveryHitDiesizePathfinderincreased
over3.5srd,theymusthavedecreasedanotherone.

Step6:AbilityStatScores,STR,DEX,etc,(youdont
needthem,seeStep7)
IfyouusehalftheFort,Ref,Willsavebonusesforeverythingitwillsave
aLOTofcalculation.

Contents
Introduction.
Step1:SubtractCRfromAC.
Step2:Attackbonusforallattacksis
CR/2+3.

Step7:FormonsterSavingThrows,andAbility
Checks,usetheFort/Ref/Willsavebonusesdivided
bytwo.

Step3:LeaveDamageasis.Leave
Multiattacksatfullattackbonusfrom
Step2.

Forexample:ACR:6GirallonhasFort+9,Ref+8,Will+5.Ifithasto
makeaDEXsavingthrowitwouldgethalftheRefsaveof+4.Ifithad
tomakeaSTRchecktoescapebeinggrabbed,itwouldusehalftheFort
saveof+4.

Step4:SaveDCtakethelisted
monsterabilityDC,halvethepart
above10,andadditbackto10.

EvenifD&D5ecallsforSTRoraCONsave,youcanusehalfthelisted
Fortitudesavebonusforboth.Ifthecreaturehasanegativesave,dont
divideitintwo,leaveitasanegative.

Step5:HitPoints,leaveasis.

Youmaythinkthischeatstheplayersabit.Ifyoustarttodigyoull
noticeafewthings.

Step6:AbilityStatScores,STR,DEX,
etc,(youdontneedthem,seeStep
7).
Step7:FormonsterSavingThrows,
andAbilityChecks,usethe
Fort/Ref/Willsavebonusesdividedby
two.
Step8:Forskillsusehalfthe
Fort/Ref/Willsavebonusasthebase
ability,add+5forbeingtrained.

TherearenospellsthatcallforanINTsavingthrow.
ItsalsoextremelyrareforamonstertoeverneedtomakeanINT
check.
AnythingthatcallsforDEXsavingthrow,simplyusehalfthelistedReflex
savebonus.
TherearenospellsthatcallforaSTRsavingthrow.STRusuallyonly
comesintoplaywhengrappling,escaping,disarmingorother
maneuvers.UsuallySTRandCONareeitherbothhighorbothlow,soits

Step9:Initiativebonus,leaveasis.
Step10:Lastremainingbits.
EncounterBuildingGuidelines
(ChallengeRatings)
ExperiencePoints.

oktousehalftheFortitudesavebonusforboth,evenresisting
maneuversorescaping.ThereareveryrarecasesofextremelylowSTR
combinedwithhighCONthoseareallincorporeal,swarms,orformless
creaturesandplayerswontbedisarmingorgrapplingwiththemanyway.
ThereareonlyatinyhandfulofspellsthatrequireaCharismasaving
throw.Thesearemostlycharmspells,orbanishingspells.Ithinkit'sok
tolumpCharismaandWisdomsavestogetherintoWillsave.
AlsousehalftheWillsavebonustodetecthiddencreatures,todetect
liesetc.

Step8:Forskills,usehalftheFort/Ref/Willsave
bonusasthebaseability,add+5forbeingtrained.
Ifamonsterneedstouseaskill,simplyusehalftherelevantFort,Ref,
orWillsaveasthebaseabilitymodifier,andifthemonsterhastheskill
listedintheirstatblockgivethema+5forbeingtrained.Forexample:
ACloakerhasFort+6,Ref+5,Will+7andhastheskillslistedofDisguise,
Perception,Stealth.IfitneedstomakeaDisguiseCheck,usehalfthe
Willsavebonusof+7/2=+3andadd+5forbeingtrained.Soatotalof
3+5=+8forDisguisechecks.

Step9:Initiativebonus,leaveasis.
MostoftheinitiativebonusesareverysmallinPathfinder,theonesthat
arentareusuallybecausethemonsterhastheImprovedInitiativefeat.
Thisisnormallybecausegoingfirstisimportanttothemonsterandhelps
definehowthemonsterplays.

Step10:Lastremainingbits,trytokeepthings
feelinglikeD&D5e.
MonstersthatcanSneakAttack,cangetAdvantageifanyoftheirallies
isadjacenttothetarget,andthengiveuptheAdvantagetotakeaSneak
Attack(justlikeaRogue).TheyalsohaveAdvantageonanyonethey
beatinInitiative,andwhenhidden,targetisprone,etc.
Dependingonyourknowledgeoffeats,youcouldallowmonsterswith
SpringAttacktobeabletomove10ft.withoutprovokinganopportunity
attack.Youshouldgiveoutothergeneralfeatabilitieslikethat,butdont
worryaboutfeatstoomuch,ignoremostofthem.
LevelDrain:5tomaxHP,1toalld20rolls,1toSpellDC's

Contents
Introduction.

AbilityDamage:Keepthesamedice(i.e.aShadowdoes1d6STR
damage)Eachnumbergetstranslatedstraighttothebelow.1d6hours
duration.

Step1:SubtractCRfromAC.

STRdmg:penaltytodamagerollsskillchecks/Saves

Step2:Attackbonusforallattacksis
CR/2+3.

CONdmg:penaltytomaxHPskillchecks/Saves

Step3:LeaveDamageasis.Leave
Multiattacksatfullattackbonusfrom
Step2.
Step4:SaveDCtakethelisted
monsterabilityDC,halvethepart
above10,andadditbackto10.
Step5:HitPoints,leaveasis.
Step6:AbilityStatScores,STR,DEX,
etc,(youdontneedthem,seeStep
7).
Step7:FormonsterSavingThrows,
andAbilityChecks,usethe
Fort/Ref/Willsavebonusesdividedby
two.
Step8:Forskillsusehalfthe
Fort/Ref/Willsavebonusasthebase
ability,add+5forbeingtrained.

DEXdmg:penaltytoAC,andskillchecks/Saves
INTdmg:penaltytoSpellDCsskillchecks/Saves
WISdmg:penaltytoSpellDCsandSkillChecks/Saves
CHAdmg:penaltytoSpellDCsandSkillChecks/Saves
Foranyparalyze/stun/frighteneffectaplayercanmakeasavingthrowif
theyspendanActiontodoso.
IfacreaturehasMagicResistance,simplyletthemrolltwiceonall
SavingThrowsvs.Spells.
IfacreaturehasDamageReduction,simplyletthemtakehalfdamage
fromthatsource:ResistanceasitscalledinD&D5eterms.
Anydurationsthatarelistedin1d4+3roundsorsomesuch,simply
changeto1minute.Also,giveallplayersandmonstertheabilitytoget
anotherSavingThrowiftheyspendanActiontodoso.
BreathWeapon,saysitrechargesevery1d4rounds,simplyrollad6
everyroundandrechargeon5ora6,thesameas4theditionrecharges.

Step9:Initiativebonus,leaveasis.
Step10:Lastremainingbits.
EncounterBuildingGuidelines
(ChallengeRatings)
ExperiencePoints.

AnyPetrify,isrestrainedforthefirstround,andiftheydontspendan
Actiontosaveagainst,itbecomesPetrified.
AnySaveorDiesimplydoesCasterLevel*d8indamage,saveforhalf.
AnyCharmedorDominatedpersongetsanothersavingthrowiftheytake
anydamage,oriftheyareforcedtodosomethingthatwouldcause
themselvesharm.
MostPoisonyoucanchangeintoflatdamage,insteadofAbilityDamage.
Anydamagetoequipment,suchasBlackPuddingdamagingarmorand
weapons,simplystack1penaltiestodamageorAC.
grab=wheneveryouseeanattackthat"grabs"thetargetmustmakea
DCof(1/2monster'sFortsave)STRcheckorbecome"grabbed".The
monsterwouldgetAdvantageonallfutureattacksvsthattarget.The
grabbedtargetmustspendanActiontomakeSTRorDEXcheckto
escape.
Ifacreaturehasconstrictthentheyimmediatelydothatextradamage
listedwhenthegrabsucceeds.Theyalsogettoautomaticallyinflictthe
constrictdamageeveryroundwhentheyact.
rend=ifbothhit,doanextraXdamage(itslisted)
trip=simplymakeaquickopposedSTRorDEXcheck,playerschoice,
orbeknockedprone.
pounce=asanActionthecreaturecanmoveitsspeedandmakeafull
attack.ThismeanstheycanMove,andthenspendanActiontoMoveand
Attack,essentiallydoublemoving(likeacharge).
rake=considerthisfreeautomaticdamagethathappenstograbbedfoes
atthestartofcreaturesturn.
Tryyourbestonspells,someworkjustthesame.

EncounterBuildingGuidelines(ChallengeRatings)
InoldereditionsofD&D(before4E)astandardencounterwastargeted
tobe50%ofthepartysstrength.Ifyouhadapartyofsixplayerswitha
totalof18classlevelsbetweenthemall,astandardencounterwouldbe
around9totalHitDiceofmonsters.AToughencountercouldbe100%
ofthepartysstrength,andasuperduperhardcouldevenbeupto
200%.(Source:FrankMentzerDragon#101)

Contents
Introduction.
Step1:SubtractCRfromAC.
Step2:Attackbonusforallattacksis
CR/2+3.
Step3:LeaveDamageasis.Leave
Multiattacksatfullattackbonusfrom
Step2.
Step4:SaveDCtakethelisted
monsterabilityDC,halvethepart
above10,andadditbackto10.
Step5:HitPoints,leaveasis.
Step6:AbilityStatScores,STR,DEX,
etc,(youdontneedthem,seeStep
7).
Step7:FormonsterSavingThrows,
andAbilityChecks,usethe
Fort/Ref/Willsavebonusesdividedby
two.
Step8:Forskillsusehalfthe
Fort/Ref/Willsavebonusasthebase
ability,add+5forbeingtrained.

ThefollowingisSpeculation:WhattheydidwithChallengeRatingis
say:amonsterwiththisChallengeRatingisastandarddifficulty
encounterforapartyof4playersofalevelequaltothatChallenge
Rating.Remember,standarddifficultymeans:50%ofthestrengthof4
players.Whatdoesthattellyou?Thatmeansthatamonsterofagiven
ChallengeRatingisroughlyequalto2players.Ishouldsaythatagain,
becauseifitstrue,itmakesthinkingofcreatingencountersveryeasy!A
monsterofagivenChallengeRatingisroughlyequalto2players.
PickanysinglemonsterofaChallengeRating,anditisequalto50%of
thestrengthof4playersofthatlevel.ItwillhavetheHitPointsand
damageoutputof2players.SothiswasmyEurekamoment.Sayyou
wanttofigureoutwhatthedamageoutputandHPofasingleplayeris
expectedtobe.IfyoudividetheHPanddamageoutputofamonsterin
half,youwillgettheaverageexpecteddamageandhitpointsofasingle
characterofthelevelequaltoitsChallengeRating.DontassumeFighter
isthebaselineFightershaveimmenseadvantagestodamageandHP.
ThesenumbersaremeanttobetheaverageofthepartywhereFighters
doalotofdamage,Clericsswingtheir1d8mace,ThievesdontgetDex
bonustodamage,wizardsdo1d6+0mostrounds.Also,thesenumbers
representtheaveragehohumparty,notthesuperoptimized,all18sin
theirprimarystats,typeparty.
OnemoreChallengeRatingfacttoremember:ifyouevercombine2
monstersofthesameChallengeRating,theChallengeRatingofthe
entireencounterbecomes2higher.Combining2monstersof50%
difficultycreatesanencounterof100%difficulty.Thereforeifyouever
seeaChallengeRating2higher,itmeansthisencounteris100%ofthe
strengthoftheparty.

ExperiencePoints(usingpacket10/14/13)

Step9:Initiativebonus,leaveasis.
Step10:Lastremainingbits.
EncounterBuildingGuidelines
(ChallengeRatings)
ExperiencePoints.

ThisassumeswhattheycallaStandardencounteris50%ofthepartys
strength,andaToughEncounteris100%ofthepartysstrengthandthat
ChallengeRatingisroughly2lowerthantheequivalentD&D5eLevel.
Challenge
Rating

D&D
5e
XP

(1/8)0.125

(1/6)0.1667

10

()0.25

20

(1/3)0.3333

30

()0.5

40

80

160

240

520

1,000

Challenge
Rating

D&D
5eXP

Challenge
Rating

D&D
5eXP

1,200

16

24,000

1,400

17

28,000

2,200

18

30,000

2,800

19

33,000

10

3,600

20

36,000

11

5,200

21

42,000

12

8,400

22

48,000

13

10,400

23

56,000

14

12,000

24

60,000

15

22,000

25

70,000

<BacktoFitz'sRoleplayingStuff

Contents
Introduction.
Step1:SubtractCRfromAC.
Step2:Attackbonusforallattacksis
CR/2+3.
Step3:LeaveDamageasis.Leave
Multiattacksatfullattackbonusfrom
Step2.
Step4:SaveDCtakethelisted
monsterabilityDC,halvethepart
above10,andadditbackto10.
Step5:HitPoints,leaveasis.
Step6:AbilityStatScores,STR,DEX,
etc,(youdontneedthem,seeStep
7).
Step7:FormonsterSavingThrows,
andAbilityChecks,usethe
Fort/Ref/Willsavebonusesdividedby
two.
Step8:Forskillsusehalfthe
Fort/Ref/Willsavebonusasthebase
ability,add+5forbeingtrained.