PF2e: My Thoughts and Ideas on the Conversion (Early Look)

Hello Everyone,

We are only 25 days into the new year and it already feels like an entire year has gone by. With WotC plans up in the air, I still have no idea what my very first steps will be for 5e content. I do know that I will be able to continue making hunts and updating my guide to monster hunting as a separate PDF until I can convert the system over to a 5e adjacent game. So content will still continue for all of you 5e or otherwise. 

Now the point of this post. I have mentioned it before, but I plan to diversify my work into PF2e, but as an inspired by version of monster hunter (new art, new names, stat block based on my 5e MHMM for every single creature). So for the last 2-3 weeks I have been digging my head into the system to learn it as fast as possible.

Initial thoughts of the system

I am a fan. The system itself is 100% front loaded compared to 5e, but the game runs smoothly and is a bit more tactical. I feel like its combat will fit a MH style game fairly well. 

For DMs: 

• A system for balancing encounters that is actually easy to use.
• The amount of available content for free is incredible.
• Combat where you can actually move your monsters around, because you don't have to fear attacks of opportunity from every single PC or creature.
• Prices for magical stuff!
• Rules for basically everything. You will be doing a lot less googling to find a correct answer.

For PCs

• A fairly versatile character creation system (Though it may seem overwhelming at first)
• The amount of available content for free is incredible.
• Skills actually have actions you gain by increasing their ranks, and ones that you can use even if you aren't proficient with them (trained in PF2e)! 
• A variety of weapons with all sorts of different effects (before I even introduce my weapons)
• Crafting Rules!
• Healing is actually useful.
• and more

Converting Monster Hunter to PF2e

When I first created my MH monsters for 5e, I already had 3-4 years of experience with the system. With PF2e, I have my experience of being a content creator, but also having to learn an entire new system and figure out how I am going to fit my work into it. Here is what I think I am going to do:

1. Keep the material system from 5e in PF2e (sort of). - My plan is to keep the fundamental runes in PF2e, but move the property runes, invested items, and other non-consumable magic items into materials.
    a. I will need to figure out how many material slots you should get as your weapon ranks up with fundamental runes. 

2. Remove the Upgrade system currently in place in 5e. - With the fundamental rune system already in place, a new upgrade system isn't needed. So my plans for Bone and Mineral resources is to use them to create base materials for weapons (like adamantine or silver in PF2e already).

3. Reorder Some Monsters and make them all - There are a few monsters that always come up about being the wrong CR. Seregios is one of them since it is suppose to match a rathalos. Dire miralis also comes up, but I intend to keep a lower level version of that creature for DMs who want an epic boss for campaigns that end around level 10.

I believe this stat block follows all the rules and is an appropriate level. I have done play testing vs this creature already as well.

4. Weapon & Free Archetypes - weapons are a more complicated issue. PF2e doesn't play well with the style of magic weapons I made in 5e. The weapons are too powerful and even their magical effects are too strong to put on Invested items (kind of the attuned items in 5e).
    a.. Due to this, I am planning on making use of the "free archetype" variant rule. Basically with this rule, you will get feats every 2 levels that are monster hunter related. My plan is that you need to take weapon feats every other feat with this setup and then you have access to other Monster Hunter general feats for the other.

This is an example of the Hunter Dedication and feats you could get with it. I still need to confirm balance and fix it to proper wording for PF2e.

    b. Some weapons will be different. The greatsword is a prime example. In PF2e, you don't really see a static 1d6 extra damage (on top of the fundamental runes) until level 8 and it doesn't really increase ever. So something like charge slash does not work. Instead I have looked into adding weapon moves like strongarm stance. You can see my idea for the Great Swords feats in the free archetype setup below:

This is a rough version for wording and it will need to be cleaned up and double checked for balance.

Conclusion

This is where I am at so far. I am still figuring everything out, but I think I know the direction I want to go. Would I would like from any of you who are familiar with PF2e is to please give me feedback as I work. I will continue to provide updates to those who have access to my early access work and I will start producing some monsters to the entire patreon whenever the monthly posts come out for PF2e monsters in addition to the subspecies that is voted on. I have a ton to do and I plan to do it as fast as possible. I thank you all for your support!