(Hello, everyone. I’m sorry it’s been so long since last we spoke. I’ve just been so busy – spells to create, potions to mix up, people to turn into newts - you know how it is. I’d probably still be hard at work too if I hadn’t just realized that it’s been almost a year since I paid ol’ Thomkin Ballyforth a visit. How could I have been so thoughtless? He’s probably completely out of cherry beer and popcorn by now. And besides, I’ve gone far too long without giving the little guy a hard time. He’s such a lethargic little bastard if you don’t keep him on his hairy toes. Speaking of keeping him on his toes. I wonder whatever happened with that adventure he took with Jaime and Scrounger. Well, I’ll just have to pop right over there and ask him. Care to join me? Well, too bad, you’re coming anyway. This is no fun for me at all without an audience. Hold on to your maguppies people, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.)
(Ta da. Looks like we’ve made it, give or take a few stray body parts. Calm down, madam. No matter what anyone tells you, your liver is not a vital body organ. You can make it several hours without it. Now shush while I look for Thom. Ah, there he is, on his usual stool with his feet up on the bar, sound asleep. Doesn’t he look disgustingly peaceful? Well, we’ll soon fix THAT!)
(Thomkin.)
(OH THOOOOOOMKIN.)
(Thomkin?)
(THOMKIN!!!)
HUH? WHAAAAT, DAMN IT!!! Oh hell, it’s you.
(Hello Thomkin.)
Hello witch.
(Thought I was gone, didn’t you, hmmm?)
I could only have hoped.
(Now wait a minute, Thom. Let me look at you. You know something, Thom? You don’t look right.)
Of course I don’t. You just woke me out of a sound sleep!
(That’s not what I mean. You’re still a fat, dumpy little 2nd Edition halfling.)
What else should I be?
(A small, sleek 3rd Edition halfling)
What the hell are you talking about?! I’m a person, not a book! I don’t have EDITIONS!
(And I bet you don’t have any feats either.)
Sure I do. Two of em.
(You still have a THAC0 too, don’t you.)
Hrrrrr?
(Come here Thom. You have to be converted.)
To what? Buddhism?
(No, to the land of D20s. Come HERE, Thom.)
No! Hey, what are you doing! Put me down! NOOOOOOOO!!! AAAAAAAEEEEEEEEAAAAAAGH!!
Thomkin Ballyforth III, converted to 3rd Edition
Neutral Good, 5th Level Fighter
Male Halfling, 38 years old
3’3”, 47 lbs. (used to be 3’8” and 115 lbs. - nobody’s gonna recognize him! Hee hee!)
Str 15 Int 14 Dex 15 Wis 12 Con 12 Cha 13 AC 14 HP 24
Base Att. Bonus: +5
Saving Throws:
| Fortitude | 5 |
| Reflex | 3 |
| Will | 2 |
Weapon Proficiencies: Short Sword (Specialize), Sling, Hand Axe
Feats: Dodge, Mobility, Improved Initiative, Weapon Focus (Short Sword), Weapon Specialization (Short Sword)
Skills and modifiers:
| Appraise | 4 |
| Climb | 6 |
| Craft: Brewing | 6 |
| Handle Animals | 5 |
| Intuit Direction | 3 |
| Jump | 6 |
| Knowledge (Local) | 4 |
| Ride | 2 |
| Swim | 2 |
| Wilderness Lore | 3 |
Languages: Common, Halfling, Dwarven, Elven
Traveling Equipment: Leather armor, short sword, hand axe, backpack, tan-colored tunic, light brown-colored breeches, soft boots, belt, small belt pouch, cap, cloak, 1 week of rations, 1 quart of red wine, 2 qts. of water, flint and steel, 2 flasks of lamp oil, hooded lantern, 50’ silk rope, money pouch with 25 gold and 3 silver
(Well, there you have it. I tried to stay as true to the original character as possible while converting him. I don’t believe that the 3rd Edition conversion process means you should suddenly become a munchkin and load up you old characters with skills and feats that are min/max powerful but nothing like the proficiencies they had before. I thought the idea of this process was to recreate the character as faithfully as possible. Well, at least that’s how I see it anyway. I know there are others who feel differently. I’ve met them at conventions. I just want my characters to “feel” the same when I play them as they did before the conversion, if you know what I mean. Otherwise, it would be like I was playing a whole new character, and if I wanted that, I’d have gone ahead and created a new one, dadgumit.
Special thanks Dan Cunningham (sending psychic telegram to Valhalla). This was originally one of his characters, and the first character in fact to be described in Traveler’s Rest. After the initial Traveler’s article, Dan allowed me to take over and run with the concept. It’s important to give him part credit, since so much of what I retained of the original character, especially weapons and equipment, was originally Dan’s.)
(c) 2001 by Erica Woollums