Basic D20 to D&D - Ability Score, Hit Points, and Saving Throw Conversion

Oct 5, 2026

Upload by Jasmine

Basic D20 is a simplified d20 system designed for faster character generation and easier play. The guide explains how a Basic d20 character can be converted to older Dungeons & Dragons modules and adventures, focusing on three core conversions. It provides tables to translate Basic d20 ability score modifiers into D&D ability scores, convert hit points using Toughness ranks and feats across editions, and determine saving throws from Fortitude, Reflex, and Will ranks.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryTechnology

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time30 min

AccessFree to download

Ability Score Conversion

Hit Point Conversion

Hit Points for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (1st and 2nd Editions)

Hit Points for Dungeons & Dragons (B/X/C/M)

Hit Points for Dungeons & Dragons (3/3.5/3.75)

Saving Throw Conversion

BASIC D20 TO D&D Basic d20 is a simplified version of the d20 system suitable for use in any d20-based campaign. This system has been designed for quick character generation and ease of play. The focus is to make it simpler for players. The GM, however, must be well-versed in the d20 system to make use of this set of rules. The system cannot be used with older forms of Dungeons & Dragons without conversion, however. This document explains how to convert your Basic d20 character for use in older D&D modules and adventures. ABILITY SCORE CONVERSION Convert your Basic d20 ability score modifiers to D&D ability scores according to the table below. | If you have this | | | Then you have this Ability Score in forms of D&D | | | | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Ability Score in Basic d20 | | | D&D
B/X/C/M
AD&DStr
AD&DInt
AD&DWis
AD&DDex
AD&DCon
AD&DCha
D&D
3/3.5/3.75 | | | | | | | | | -4 | | 3 | | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | | -3 | | 3 | | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4-5 | | -2 | | 4-5 | | 4-5 | 3-4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3-4 | 6-7 | | -1 | | 6-8 | | 6-7 | 5-7 | 5-7 | 6 | 4-6 | 5-6 | 8-9 | | +0 | | 9-12 | | 8-15 | 8-10 | 8-14 | 7-14 | 7-14 | 7-13 | 10-11 | | +1 | | 13-15 | | 16-17 | 11-12 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14-15 | 12-13 | | +2 | | 16-17 | | 18-18/50 | 13-14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 14-15 | | +3 | | 18 | | 18/51-18/90 | 15-16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16-17 | | +4 | | 18 | | 18/91-18/99 | 17-18 | 18-19 | 18-20 | 18 | 18-20 | 18-19 | | +5 | | 18 | | 18/00-19 | 19-20 | 20-21 | 21-23 | 19-20 | 21-22 | 20-21 | | +6 | | | | 20 | 21-22 | 22-23 | 24-25 | 21-23 | 23-24 | 22-23 | | +7 | | | | 21-22 | 23-24 | 24-25 | | 24-25 | 25 | 24-25 | | +8 | | | | 23 | 25 | | | | | 26-27 | | +9 | | | | 24 | | | | | | 28-29 | | +10 | | | | 25 | | | | | | 30-31 | To use the table, simply take your Basic d20 ability score modifiers and read across until you find the appropriate ability score in the D&D system of your choosing. If a range is given, the GM can assign a number or make the player roll to see exactly what ability score the character has. For example, the GM decides to run module T1 from AD&D. One character has Str +2, Dex +2, Con +3, Int +0, Wis-1, and Cha +2 . These scores become Str 18 to 18/50, Dex 16, Con 17, Int 8 to 10, Wis 5 to 7, and Cha 16. Since Strength, Intelligence, and Wisdom show a range of values, the fiendish GM makes the player roll 1d100 divided by two to find exceptional Strength, 1d3 + 7 for Intelligence, and 1d3 + 4 for Wisdom. HIT POINT CONVERSION Find your character’s hit points based on his Toughness skill ranks and number of Toughness feats. | Hit Points for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (1st and 2nd Editions) | | | | --- | --- | --- | | Toughness Skill
Ranks Hit Points
Toughness
Feats
Extra Hit Points
Toughness
Feats
Extra Hit Points | | | | 0 1d2 | 0 +0 | 21 +61 | | 1 1d4 | 1 +3 | 22 +62 | | 2 2d4 | 2 +6 | 23 +63 | | 3 3d4 | 3 +9 | 24 +64 | | 4 4d4 | 4 +12 | 25 +65 | | 5 5d4 | 5 +15 | 26 +66 | | 6 6d4 | 6 +18 | 27 +67 | | 7 7d4 | 7 +21 | 28 +68 | | 8 8d4 | 8 +24 | 29 +69 | | 9 9d4 | 9 +27 | 30 +70 | | 10 10d4 | 10 +30 | 31 +71 | | 11 10d4+1 | 11 +33 | 32 +72 | | 12 10d4+2 | 12 +36 | 33 +73 | | 13 10d4+3 | 13 +39 | 34 +74 | | 14 10d4+4 | 14 +42 | 35 +75 | | 15 10d4+5 | 15 +45 | 36 +76 | | 16 10d4+6 | 16 +48 | 37 +77 | | 17 10d4+7 | 17 +51 | 38 +78 | | 18 10d4+8 | 18 +54 | 39 +79 | | 19 10d4+9 | 19 +57 | 40 +80 | | 20 10d4+10 | 20 +60 | | | Hit Points from Toughness Ranks for Dungeons & Dragons (B/X/C/M) | | | | --- | --- | --- | | Toughness Skill Ranks
Hit Points
Toughness Skill Ranks
Hit Points
Toughness
Skill Ranks Hit Points | | | | 0 1d2 | 8 8d4 | 16 9d4+15 | | 1 1d4 | 9 9d4 | 17 9d4+18 | | 2 2d4 | 10 9d4+1 | 18 9d4+21 | | 3 3d4 | 11 9d4+2 | 19 9d4+24 | | 4 4d4 | 12 9d4+3 | 20 9d4+27 | | 5 5d4 | 13 9d4+6 | | | 6 6d4 | 14 9d4+9 | | | 7 7

FAQs

What is Basic d20 used for in a d20 campaign?

Basic d20 is a simplified version of the d20 system made for quick character generation and easier play, focusing on simplifying how players run characters in any d20-based campaign.

How do you convert Basic d20 ability scores to D&D ability scores?

Use the ability score conversion table by matching the Basic d20 ability score modifier to the corresponding ability score values in the target D&D system. If a range is provided, the GM can assign a specific value or have the player roll.

How are hit points and saving throws converted?

Hit points are determined from Toughness skill ranks and the number of Toughness feats using the provided tables for different D&D editions. Saving throws are determined from ranks in Fortitude, Reflex, and Will using the saving throw conversion table.

Oct 5, 2026

Upload by Jasmine