Dungeons and Dragons has always had aging effects for characters. Races have different lifespans and reach middle or old age after differing numbers of years. These figures have changed, from 1e to 2e to V3. That makes things complicated in a campaign like Dargas where the oldest characters were created using 1e rules and have been converted successively to 2e and finally to V3: when the lifespan and age categories of a character's race change from version to version, just how old is a character?

Here is a table showing the aging effects for all the races and all the versions of D&D.

Race	Version	Adulthood	Middle Age	Old Age	Venerable	Variance	Maximum Age
Human	1e	21	41	61	91		120
	2e	15	45	60	90	+2d20	130
	V3	15	35	53	70	+2d20	110
Dwarf	1e	51	151	251	351		450
	2e	40	125	167	250	+2d100	450
	V3	40	125	188	250	+2d100	450
Elf	1e (Drow)	101	401	601	801		1000
	1e (High)	176	551	876	1201		1600
	2e	100	175	233	350	+4d100	750
	V3	110	175	263	350	+4d100	750
Gnome	1e	91	301	451	601		750
	2e	60	100	133	200	+3d100	500
	V3	40	100	150	200	+3d100	500
Half-elf	1e	41	101	176	251		325
	2e	15	62	83	125	+3d20	185
	V3	20	62	93	125	+3d20	185
Half-orc	1e	16	31	46	61		80
	2e
	V3	14	30	45	60	+2d10	80
Halfling	1e	34	69	102	145		199
	2e	20	50	67	100	+1d100	200
	V3	20	50	75	100	+5d20	200

From this table, I make the following observations:

1. In 1e, the transitions between age categories for each race were ad hoc.
2. In 2e, the transition to Middle Age comes at 1/2 Venerable and the transition to Old Age comes at 2/3 Venerable.
3. In V3, the transition to Middle Age comes at 1/2 Venerable and the transition to Old Age comes at 3/4 Venerable.
4. The maximum lifespan of humans actually rose going from 1e to 2e, but was cut back drastically going from 2e to V3.
5. The maximum lifespan of dwarves and halflings remains the same in all three versions, although all of the age categories are higher in 1e.
6. The maximum lifespan for elves, half-elves, and gnomes was cut back substantially going from 2e to 2e, but stayed the same going from 2e to V3.

And from these observations, I draw the following conclusions:

1. Non-human characters that were generated in 2e and converted to V3 basically have no issues: their maximum ages are identical, their transition into middle age has not changed, and their transition into old age comes later. Depending on the race, a new V3 character might have started adventuring earlier or later, but it hardly seems worth worrying about.
2. Human characters generated in 1e could expect to reach middle age at 40. When they were converted to 2e, they were thrilled that the advent of middle age moved back to 45. With the arrival of V3, they were crushed to find not only that the dreaded middle age arrives at age 35, but that their maximum lifespan had been cut back drastically.

   Since Anthony believes that the V3 age categories are simply wrong, Dargas has a house rule retaining the 2e age categories.

   My opinion: I think something in between is more realistic: say, 80 for Venerable, with a maximum lifespan of 120 years old.

3. A 1e Dwarf started adventuring in adulthood somewhere between age 50 and 150. In 2e or V3, that Dwarf would have started adventuring between the ages of 40 and 125.
4. A 1e Drow Elf started adventuring in adulthood somewhere between the age of 100 and 400. In 2e or V3, that Drow would have started adventuring between the ages of 100 and 175.
5. A 1e Half-Elf started adventuring in adulthood somewhere between the age of 40 and 100. In 2e, that Half-Elf would have started adventuring between the ages of 15 and 62.
6. A 1e Halfling started adventuring in adulthood somewhere between the age of 34 and 69. In 2e or V3, that Halfling would have started adventuring between the ages of 20 and 50.

Here is a table of early 1e-created non-human characters and suggested adjustments to bring them into 2e/V3 lifespans.

Name	Race	Birth Date	First	Date	Age	Comment
Alphonzo	Halfling	2920.1.3.3.7	A1	2967.1.2.1.5	46	As a 1e character, Alphonzo started adventuring 34% of the way towards middle age. In 2e, the equivalent age would have been 30.
Elvira	Drow	2535.3.3.3.4	A19	2967.3.1.3.6	431	As a 1e character, Elvira started adventuring in middle age, 16% of the way towards old age. In 2e, the equivalent age would have been 184.
Nute	Half-elf	2920.1.1.3.5	A37	2968.1.2.3.7	48	As a 1e character, Nute started adventuring 13% of the way towards middle age. In 2e, the equivalent age would have been 21.

If I make the above suggested adjustments, we have:

Name	Race	Birth Date	First	Date	Age	Current Age	Category
Alphonzo	Halfling	2936.1.3.3.7	A1	2967.1.2.1.5	30	57	Middle Aged
Elvira	Drow	2782.3.3.3.4	A19	2967.3.1.3.6	184	211	Middle Aged
Nute	Half-elf	2947.1.1.3.5	A37	2968.1.2.3.7	21	46	Adulthood