There’s a dozen other RPGs I could have used as well, but Pathfinder is the meme one.
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Reading about it actually makes me think id like it better but I would have to play the variant that removes the linear stat increases so low-level enemies arent trivial.
If you’re running high fantasy, try it RAW. It actually feels pretty natural in setting.
If you’re playing low fantasy, then yeah proficiency without level works, but i’d probably also really limit access to magic and slow down level progression.
Can you link me to these rules? Sounds interesting. I’m writing a campaign for my group, and I’d like a way to have typical bandits still be an issue throughout the game.
https://2e.aonprd.com/Rules.aspx?ID=2762
Proficiency without Level
This variant removes a character’s level from their proficiency bonus, scaling it differently for a style of game that’s outside the norm. This is a significant change to the system. The proficiency rank progression in Player Core is designed for heroic fantasy games where heroes rise from humble origins to world-shattering strength. For some games, this narrative arc doesn’t fit. Such games are about hedging bets in an uncertain and gritty world, in which even the world’s best fighter can’t guarantee a win against a large group of moderately skilled brigands.
My old boss at WotC said his game group played Pathfinder because it was better than D&D.
That’s because it is 3.5 DnD, and 3.5 dnd was the best DnD.
Symbaroum, not the D&D version, is awesome.
I don’t understand how everyone doesn’t just invent or cobble together their own system. It’s so fun! And with cool players, you can build up the rules over time.
This 100%.
Used to play a drinkingish game where someone would just randomly start by saying “so who are you?” And you’d come up with some insane thing; a divorced dad, a bucket with sentience, god, and the confused new person would always say themselves. Ask what they’re good at and you have a character.
I’m a dog wearing two left shoes, I’m good at sniffing, dancing and people like me.
Then just grab a coin and use it to decide the fate of things. It’s last like 15-20 mins tops before it got ridiculous and you’d just kill everyone off and laugh. Maybe if you’re fancy you’d ask for someone to chug their drink as a CON save or death save or something. My dog is good at fighting because people like him and he’s good at dancing. My dog can find the invisible monster cause of his sniffing skills.
It’s literally that easy. I’ve done this game in the car with kids too they love it. If you find a license plate with your initials or birthday on it or something you get a free success or something.
Rules are there so everyone knows what we’re doing. That’s all they needed for. We’re just playing pretend gang.
Come to Lancer! We have crunchy combat and are anti fascist!
Play anything that isn’t WotC.
Loved Pathfinder when it came out, currently into Draw Steel.
I know it’s not a serious RPG but I’m replaying Ni No Kuni 2. I never played it much since my buddies were like what are you doing come play this dumb game with us–tarkov–overwatch; I’m surprised how relaxed and fun it is. I like a decent grind, but can’t do the Lineage 2 or other old mmorpg grinds anymore but lighter stuff is fine.
I mean, Pathfinder is literally D&D with a few changes.
Specifically, it’s DND 3.5e with some changes.
So, you have the best full version of DND (3.0) with all the changes made to make the system function the way it was intended and be much more balanced (3.5), with another total revision to balance, the introduction of many new mechanics, over a decade of new content, and an active publisher who makes massive use of the OGL (PF 1.0).
That’s Pathfinder 1e though. Pathfinder 2e is even better in my opinion because it takes what was good from 1e (the world, the customization options, …) and simplifies play enormously for both the GM and the players to be much more beginner friendly.
I never played DnD 4e but afaik, some of the greatest changes of PF2e have been in DND 4e before and didn’t make it to DnD 5e.
PF2.0 isn’t for me or my tables, with a few exceptions. We want the crunch. I really appreciate what Paizo did with 2.0, but it’s not a game for me.
Same. We love the nerdy minutia, leading to inevitable rules lawyering. Keeps the game fresh and surprising
D&D 3.75e
Incorrect. The best D&D edition is 4E, and that’s why Draw Steel is the best not-D&D.
This sure is a take.
Surely one of the most takes of all times.
Nah, beat version is Balder’s Gate 3 system :p
Less so in 2e, but yeah.
God I love 2e, I know it isn’t as popular as 1e for the hardcore crowd but for actually giving new people who only know DnD something with more substance and interesting character building choice, it is absolutely awesome. I’m also not a big fan of everything stacking like crazy in 1e so there is that.
I’m a PF2e fan who came from PF1e (we do exist!), and one of my favorite parts is that there aren’t really any unviable build options, from either a player side or a GM side. Sure, there are combinations that are more optimal than others, but a player’s going to be able to have fun and contribute meaningfully with just about any ancestry/class combination. And since the encounter math actually works, pretty much any mathematically-correct combination of monsters a GM throws at a party will probably present the desired challenge.
So, yes! Agreed.
But the name is pretty dumb. You know what you’re getting with D&D. Dungeons, Dragons, probably a fantasy world. Pathfinder is… you go hiking? I have no idea.
You can’t be serious, right?
I am serious. And don’t call me Right.
But I’ve never played Pathfinder so I’m just basing my opinion on the name. I’ve heard good things about it.
A “Pathfinder” isn’t just hiking. It’s a person who goes first into the unknown to make the path so others may follow. It’s a name for an adventurer/traveler or another way to say “Trailblazer”.
It’s named after the main adventuring guild in the world, the Pathfinder Society. Which is also the name of Paizo’s irl community
What’s a Paizo?
That’s the company that makes Pathfinder and Starfinder, another tabletop roleplaying game in a scifi setting using Pathfinder’s rules
Thanks
It’s the small device in your BBQ lighter that produces electricity when you hit it, but that’s not important right now!
To be fair, there’s a lot of people arguing for D&D to be about Dungeons and Dragons. That implies that lots of people play it without neither Dungeons nor Dragons.
I mean, the three action system alone puts it over DND, imho.
Pathfinder is the sooo good. So much customization!
One time I made spider man. But he could only web swing thrice per day, was weaker than every enemy, and kind of just died randomly due to lack of spidey sense. But he had a wicked 6 paragraph alter-ego mechanic that the goblins appreciated
Love me some Baldurs Gate
Pathfinder Wrath of The Righteous is pretty damn good
Regill did nothing wrong and is unironically the best companion.
I tried getting into Pathfinder but the constant buffing is just too tedious and it only gets worse as the game progresses, like way worse.
You’re talking about first edition Pathfinder, aren’t you? You should give second edition a try. It takes pretty much only the best from first edition, DnD 4e, a liitle 5e and some original ideas. It’s a great and beginner-friendly middle ground between Pathfinder 1e’s crunch and DnD 5e’s oversimplification.
Yeah I just checked, the game I tried was Pathfinder:Kingmaker and that is indeed the 1st edition.
Sadly all Owlcat Pathfinder games use the 1st edition, but if I ever get the chance I’ll revisit Pathfinder, now that I know 2nd edition is indeed worth trying, thanks for the heads up!
Step 1: Pathfinder Step 2: Savage Pathfinder Step 3: Other Savage Worlds games Step 4: Become a proper TTRPG nerd
An annoying part about wanting to break away from D&D is that all the “experimental” games etc. Get away with having fewer rules. I want another system that can be as complex as D&D but with different focuses.
Forged in the dark is a good example of something close to what I like. What it lacks in combat/interaction diversity it definitely makes up for with the gamified secret base you can customize and the various “down time” interactions you can have.
See, you want Night Shift: Devil Division. It’s based on the Draw Steel engine, so it’s about as complex as D&D with great combat rules. But instead of medieval fantasy, it’s 90s anime.
https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/slightly-reckless-games/night-shift-devil-division
Or possibly Eclipse Phase
Eclipse Phase mentioned!
Transhumanism is cool. Fuck Elon Musk.
That’s why I like GURPS. The core mechanics are simple enough, but there are so many optional mechanics you can get as complex as you like.
Well you could try “The Dark Eye” https://ulisses-us.com/games/tde/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dark_Eye_(role-playing_game)
It should have all what you want
Uh… I’ve never actually played a pathfinder campaign. Or D&D. I’ve mostly played World of Darkness, and a couple of oddball things. I’ve also sat in on some friends custom campaigns that were absolutely wild. I guess that’s not normal, lol.
I’m currently on step 2, running Curse of the Crimson Throne. Not the official conversion though, because I bought the 3.5 version (it actually predates Pathfinder 1e) of that AP like 10 years ago. And converting to Savage Worlds is really easy anyway.
I’m glad my friend got me into D&D. Definitely daunting at first, but once you start to realize no one is the main character and you can focus on your own story as an individual, the ability to play how you want starts to open up. It’s all about committing to the bit.
That and it takes time. Lots and lots of time.
As a player, I can certainly say that the choices my character makes are not the ones I would.
My character spent an entire session running towards the fight where he knew that there were like fifty people fighting the rest of our team. He was looking for the first opportunity to let loose a fireball to assist his teammates.
I, the player, knew that the team was surviving pretty ok and didn’t need me to cast anything. I, the player, knew that up casting fireball at forth level was a terrible idea. I, the player, knew there was only one enemy left with 3hp.
My character on the other hand did 32 damage to this lone zombie and alerted the other 150 enemies further away down the battlefield to our presence.
Now, we had to scramble to come up with a way to get an 8h long rest to heal and get spell slots back even though the army was less than 2 hours away and coming towards us.
I want to play Starfinder again. I had a single session…
Starfinder: Afterlight is only some number of months away if you’re fine with a CRPG.
Time to meet my weekly quota of recommending that someone try Stars Without Number.
I had a short campaign and feel the same.
I’m just here for Wrath of the Righteous. Who’s with me?
It’s a great game, though not for everyone. Balance is all over the place, it’s a contest of who’s the most OP between you and the enemy. I mean who doesn’t love a creature with 90 AC that drains your stats?
