I've decided to run the "Tower of the Stargazer" module, created for Lamentations of the Flame Princess RPG. It is a highly lethal adventure, though it has almost no combat encounters and being written for 'retroclone' systems (compatible with OSCRIC, Labyrinth Lord, Swords & Wizardry) depends largely on players skill, not that of their characters.
My players are only familiar with 5e and even though LoTFP qualifies perfectly for a pick-up game, especially for the first level characters, I think its saving throws and some other aspects would be seen as awkward and non-intuitive by people who are used to unified resolution system based on d20. So I've made a few tweaks to 5e that should cover old-school feel more or less:
- Rolling stats 3d6, using LoTFP modifiers charts
- Avaliable classes are fighter, cleric, rogue, wizard. Races are limited to human, dwarf, elf, halfling.
- Starting HP is maximum, but it's tuned down a bit (d8 for fighter, d6 for cleric and rogue, d4 for wizard)
- The only character who has skills is rogue, he can choose any three (i'm keeping the LoTFP skill list for Specialist class) and he will use proficiency bonus for them. Proficiency bonus would also be used by fighters for their attacks and by casters for casting a spell and determining a DC for saving throw. It's also applied to saving throws class is proficient with.
- Backgrounds and races give you advantage on some checks (elves get it when they search for something, dwarves get it when they study some constructions). I don't intend to use race stat bonuses.
- No personality traits, ideals, flaws or bonds.
My question is, would it be enough to just 'strip down' 5e to the needs of a 'retroclone' module given the fact that it is a one-shot and it isn't really much about combat, where most of the conversion confusion lies?