I am very, very happy with my world of OSR and B/X so I set out to convert BoL over to B/X D&D. I also quickly discovered that a one-to-one conversion is not always the best idea.
Barbarians of Lemuria: Mythic Edition is a low-magic, and dare I even say low-powered game. Even the main antagonist would not really convert to a very high level given most of the advice I have seen online.
I went into Barbarians of Lemuria with two goals. First, I want to get some more information on Lemuria for my own games and add this feel to my current "Second Campaign" game. Secondly, I want to convert the main antagonist, Methyn Sarr, into something I can use for my "War of the Witch Queens" game. I'll detail the first as it happens, but I can talk about the second now.
Barbarians of Lemuria, along with Crypts & Things, share an ethos and a feel with another favorite game of mine, Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea. In my mind, all three can be combined to make a Pulp-fantastic, old-school D&D like-game worthy of any mighty thewed barbarian or crafty sorcerer. Mix in a little DCC or Lamentations of the Flame Princess and you have a heady brew. There is a lot to love here, I just wish I had the time to do all of these games the justice they deserve.
Of course, the antagonist, Methyn Sarr, caught my eye. She is described as "the Witch Queen of the Fire Coast" and the devoted agent of Zaggath, Lord of Fire. She is fierce, cruel, beautiful and deadly. Everything I love about an evil witch. A direct conversion didn't feel right. No one is afraid of a 3rd level witch*. (*the suggestion that 1 HD = 5 LB has been thrown out on the internet. So her 12 LB would be 2.4 HD).
Instead, I looked at her Arcane Power (16) and her careers. She can cast Third Magnitude spells which I figure are about 6th-8th level for witches. Since I was looking at AS&SH that puts her 11th level (or 12th). I wanted something a little more impressive, so I also looked at my own Witch stats for 13th level.
Methyn Sarr, Witch Queen of the Fire Coast
Methyn Sarr, Witch Queen of the Fire Coast
Female Witch 11th level (Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea, +Jeff Talanian)
Chaotic Evil
Race: Human
Secondary Skill: Torturer
Abilities
Strength: 10
Dexterity: 12
Constitution: 10
Intelligence: 18
Wisdom: 16
Charisma: 17
Casting Ability: 11
Fighting Ability: 5
Hit Points: 24
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
AC: 5 (battle harness)
Powers
1st level: Brew Potions, Familiar
3rd level: Brew Philtre
5th level: Dance of Beguilement, Effigy
7th level: Animate Broom
9th level: Witch's Apprentice
Spells (due to her connection to Zaggath she may also cast Pyromancer spells)
First: (5) Burning Hands, Charm Person, Influence Normal Fires, Shocking Grasp, Sleep
Second: (5) Cause Blindness, Flame Blade, Flaming Sphere, Infernal Tongues, Ray of Enfeeblement
Third: (4) Black Cloud, Explosive Runes, Fireball, Witch Fire
Fourth: (3) Fire Shield, Mirror Mirror, Transfer Wounds
Fifth: (2) Magic Jar, Produce Bonfire
Sixth: (1) Disintegrate
Magic Items
Battle Harness (provides AC 5)
Blood Dagger of Zaggath (adds +1d6 damage due to dripping fire blood)
Methyn Sarr, Witch Queen of the Fire Coast
Female Witch, Malefic Tradition 13th level (The Witch)
Chaotic
Abilities
Strength: 10
Dexterity: 12
Constitution: 10
Intelligence: 17
Wisdom: 16
Charisma: 18
Hit Points: 29
AC: 5 (battle harness)
Occult Powers
Familiar: Raven
7th level: Evil's Touch
13th level: Devil's Tongue
Spells
Cantrips: Black Flame, Daze, Detect Curse, Object Reading, Open, Palm
First: Cause Fear, Fey Sight, Ghostly Slashing, Increase Sex Appeal, Sleep
Second: Agony, Blast Shield, Death Armor, Evil Eye
Third: Feral Spirit, Clairaudience/Clairvoyance, Tongues
Fourth: Dance Macabre, Intangible Cloak of Shadows, Phantom Lacerations
Fifth: Death Curse, Dreadful Bloodletting
Sixth: Death Blade, Mass Agony
Seventh: Wave of Mutilation
Magic Items
Battle Harness (provides AC 5)
Blood Dagger of Zaggath (adds +1d6 damage due to dripping fire blood)
So not exact conversions by any stretch, but certainly workable ones.
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