D&D 5.0 v Pathfinder 2 v DDRPG

[Corsair]

Okay folks need some opinions. I guess I will spend some $ on a new RPG. ;I played @haldir's excellent D&D at Reapercon and had a good run here for a PbP here with Pathfinder 1, and of course there is Reaper's own game to consider. I will probably only get to play every few months, so which is better financially, user support, etc? Thanks

[vpoirier000]

if you missed reaper's dungeon dweller kickstarter, pathfinder's rules are free on archives of nethys so you can try it for free
and while i don't really love 5e, its the one you're most likely that you'll have someone with the books

[haldir]

I will say no matter what rules you look into, the game comes down to the GM/DM*. I've played in some stinker of systems, but I still had a good time due to the guy behind the screen.

 

 

 

As far as between the 3, first off I can't really comment on DDRPG, as I played in a long demo at RCon in '22. The GM (Chris Lewis) was doing great, but since the players were all new, we took forever in the first encounter with a bunch of rats. I had to leave that one to set up my game, but when I left we had acquired like 4 more people for that demo. I thought some of the aspects of the game were interesting, the different die rolls for weapons when it came to initiative was one thing I remember the most. That reminded me of weapon speed optional rules from 2e. I mainly backed the Kickstarter to support Joseph's work & I am a fan of Reaper's products as well. It might not be as strong as was like a few years ago, but I still am a fan.

 

As far as P2 & 5e. I think it comes down to one is a bit more open-minded then the other (that one being P2, as you'll find more inclusive things with that one, but Paizo is known for being more open-minded then Wizards). P2 does have allot more options & more crunch as far as rules & character creation, but 5e is made that way, as it a simpler system, which in turns allow more people to just sit down & play without knowing too much of the game. Good example is my home group I run for on Weds. Tbh, & this is not taking anything away from the guy, but the guy with mental problems, I don't think could effectively play a P2 character, maybe a fighter or barbarian but with simple tactics, ie I move up to attack. For my games, his main character (ie the Saltmarsh campaign) he is playing a high elf paladin. Ok, but most  of the time he sitting back & using firebolt cantrip (due to being a high elf he gets a free arcane cantrip), as he doesn't want to get hit in combat (even thou he has close to 100 hps & a high AC, 19 or 20). He rarely ever uses his spell slots to say smite (At 2nd level, paladins can sub-out spell slot for an extra d8 per level subbed (ie smite is 2d8 for a 1st level slot, but a 2nd level spell sacked would make it 4d8 smite damage on top of your weapon damage. Plus, extra for undead or demon/devil, so it's quite a bit of damage per attack). Instead he is just rolling his morningstar (d8+Str bonus, if he hits (up to 2) per round. He does use Lay on Hands to heal people first before himself. He also remembers his immune to charm radius for others as well. Now he does forget about his morningstar of warning allot (takes him a few combats per night to remember that (it gives him 2d20s at the start of combat & choose the higher one for initiative ) & since he's high enough level he tends to forget about his extra radiant damage die due to being a paladin (an extra d8 radiant damage). Are these gamebreakers? not really but it does kinda put him behind as far as what he can do compared to the others in the group.

 

In my holiday adventures (Halloween/Christmas) he is playin a centaur cleric. He's not ready for clerical spells - plain & simple. About the only thing he is doing is casting sacred flame (a cantrip) that he can cast every round. Again the whole not wanting to get hit thing). He is a Life cleric (ie healing masters in 5e), so I had to remind him about his extra numbers + the numbers he gets to himself for casting healing spells.

 

Luckily the adventure is only going to be 5th level & 6th level, so not too many class abilities to remember. I've tried to help him out by printing off a cheat sheet I found for class stuff, but it pretty much gets ignored & we are back to firebolt & sacred flame cantrips.

 

We started a bi-weekly P2 game & he is playing a catfolk cleric. We did a small combat & due to the make-up of the group, he really is the only front line fighter (gunslinger, sorcerer & cleric). He didn't use his weapon, but relied on his claws. Oh boy. I think after awhile he is gonna struggle with the character & sadly the rest of the group may suffer for that. (ie healing & other cleric abilities).

 

I've played in a few P2 games, I've played as halfling rogue (standard Bilbo Baggins character) & I'm currently playing a one-trick pony goblin sorcerer (burn baby burn!). I played the rogue as part of Society & the sorc I've barely have touched, so I can't really comment on the magic, but I kinda like the action in combat sequence a bit better in P2 then 5e. In P2, you get 3 actions per round. If you attack with those 3 actions, you'll suffer a penalty after the first action. Each system has it's set of rules for combat, but since they both come from the same source, you'll find allot of similarities (Opportunity Attacks, Dodging, To hit, damage, etc etc.

 

Now remember due to the "sheep"storm last winter with WotC, Paizo is moving away from OGL rules & is/has come out with their version of Pathfinder (Core I think is what it's called). So if you go the Pathfinder route, just remember there is a new set of rules on the horizon.

 

I'm a D&D fan, I have been since I was 9 years old, playing in my best friends (from grade school time) basement with an adult neighborhood friend as our DM. I will always go with D&D as my preferred ruleset. That being said, will I change to DD One or 6th ed or 5.5 or whatever the F they wanna call it? Probably not, with the current environment with D&D & such, I think I'm gonna just stop at what I have now & forgo anything rule-wise that comes out next year. I like my orcs & drow the way they already are & if wanna change 'em, I'll change 'em myself. I don't need the PC police telling how to do it. Also, as long a WotC allows me keep using my current bought products on D&D Beyond, I'll be happy.

 

*Well I will say there was a game of D&D 4e that was ok, but the DM wasn't the best, but I think it was problem with that system. He glossed over the rpg aspects of the game. Encounter with the guards at the gate, eh skill check, pass? You're in! + the whole "BEAT the DRAGON!" thing at RCon made for a very unpleasant experience for 4e.

 

Played a game of Savage Worlds at RCon as well one year & while I didn't really care too much for the rules, the GM running really had a thought out setting & some really good characters (Sci-Fi stuff), so it was enjoyable.

[haldir]

I talked to my FLGS owner today & he explained the difference between P2 & 5e pretty well:

 

5e is like Apple phones where they are simple to use, but have a low ceiling.

 

P2 is Android, a little more difficult to start with but has a higher ceiling.

 

 

[Corsair]

Thank you both, @haldir your observation about a good GM making all the difference is so right. And thank you, folks if you ever have the opportunity to play in one of Haldir's games, do not miss out, he is a superb GM. I did get the DDRPG KS, so I guess that between that and my PF1 stuff, I will stumble along.