Adapting Scenarios for Home Play

  1. Determine the scenario's expected Average Party Level (APL). Most scenarios are written for PCs of a specific level.
  2. Determine where in Greyhawk to set the scenario. The most detailed regions are Greyhawk, Perrenland, and Sterich; less detailed regions include the Bright Sands and Eastfair. When choosing a region, keep in mind that some PCs have strong associations with particular regions and the players may prefer to play those PCs in that region.
  3. Determine the number of rounds by comparing the number of Encounter Levels (ELs) for the challenges to the APL. The maximum awards for one round are based on the assumptions that 1 round is about 4 hours long and that it is possible to complete three combats with an EL equal to APL+2.
  4. Review the challenges to see if they are appropriate. In general, challenges with an EL equal to APL+4 or higher are inappropriately difficult and dangerous: either the scenario's expected APL should be increased or the challenge should be scaled back to APL+3. Conversely, challenges with an EL equal to APL-3 or lower are inappropriately easy (with the exception of traps). As a rule of thumb, reduce XP awards to 50% for challenges with an EL of APL-3 or APL-4 and to 0% for challenges with an EL of APL-5 or lower.
  5. Review the GP rewards to see if they are appropriate for the APL and number of rounds. When calculating the GP rewards, divide the value of mundane and magical items by 12 and the value of coins, gems and art treasures by 6. If the rewards are less than the amount expected for the APL and number of rounds, increase the rewards until they match or exceed the minimum expected GP rewards. It's okay if the GP rewards exceed the amount expected.
  6. 20% of the XP rewards for the scenario are set aside for story awards and the discretionary roleplaying award. Determine if there are any story awards for the scenario, and what the PCs must do to earn the story awards.
  7. Determine the Adventure Consequences for the scenario. If the scenario is set in the Domain of Greyhawk, remember to specify if an Adventure Consequence includes affiliation points for PCs affiliated to a Greyhawk organisation.
  8. Detail any non-standard magic items that can be obtained during the scenario.
  9. Complete the adventure record template for the scenario.
  10. Circulate the scenario description to the group.

maintained by Gary Johnson (gwzjohnson at optusnet.com.au)
last updated 7 September 2008