There’s a certain beauty to tabletop gaming. It can be difficult to gather a group of friends regularly enough to play a cohesive tabletop game, but there are few things quite as satisfying as sitting back, rolling some dice, and having a good time with good friends. But there are many different choices for tabletop games, though many still considerDungeons & Dragonstop dog, and it can be difficult to choose where to start. Moreover, there are two standouts currently dominating the tabletop role-playing market,Dungeons and DragonsandPathfinder.So, which is the best one to play first?
Both games have their pros and cons.Dungeons and Dragonsis certainly the more popular of the two, as the game has enjoyed a distinct renaissance over the past few years and is easily the most successful tabletop RPG of all time. On the other hand,Pathfinderis essentially an expansion of 3.5eD&D,which many consider to be one of the best editions ofDungeons and Dragons.Neither one is a bad game; in fact, they’re some of thebest games ever made- even beyond tabletop games. It’s worth checking out both eventually, but there are some key differences between the two that can influence decisions.
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The first thing players will notice about the two games is how much largerPathfinder’score rulebook is than theDungeons and DragonsPlayer’s Handbook. It’s about twice as large as the 5e Player’s Handbook,one of the many books in theD&Dlineup. To be fair, thePathfinderCore Rulebook also includes rules for Game Mastering, which takes up a decent amount of space. Even with that section removed, though, there’s still quite a bit more content for players in thePathfinderrulebook.
That extra size is for one central reason that separatesPathfinderfromDungeons and Dragons- character customization. Both games allow for homebrew content and new classes, butPathfindergoes above and beyond for players in terms of designing the perfect character to suit them. It packs in more content and rules for players that want to take their characters a few steps further, making for extra depth overall. This extra customization is great, but, for those new to tabletop role-playing, it may be a bit too much to absorb all at once.D&Dis more focused on ease of use and will be quite abit easier for beginners to get into.
Overall,Pathfinderis going to be a more mechanically complex game thanDungeons and Dragonsis. That in itself has pros and cons. For those that are looking to just kick back and play a casual game around a table with friends, it’s hard to beat the simplicity of pureDungeons andDragons.ButPathfinder’scomplexity can be great to those that are used to hardcore RPGs or have playedDungeons and Dragonsfor quite some time. Fundamentally, the experiences are going to be similar, at the very least, and most of the time will come down to how much the Dungeon Master actually enforces the rules - or breaks them,which Dungeon Masters should do that from time to time.
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Both games are going to have piles of content to choose from.Dungeons and Dragons5e has not only gotten a ton of published campaign support, but there are thousands of pieces of content on websites like DMs Guild, offering players essentially limitless content to play through, not to mentionbeing able to write their own campaigns.Pathfinderhas similar support, with websites often hosting content for it as well. Not to mention,Pathfinderhas been designed to work with content fromDungeons and Dragons3.5e, the version it’s based on, therefore allowing for plenty of older content to be played through. That being said, the second edition ofPathfinderwas recently released and loses most of that compatibility without some serious conversion work. Still, those using the first edition should have no shortage of content to play.
For those looking to find a real-world group to play with, the rise inDungeons and Dragon’s popularity will likely make it easier to find a party playing 5e thanPathfinder. It won’t be much of an issue for those forming an original group, but it is an issue for some to consider. Those looking intoPathfinderhave probably either played someDungeons and Dragonsin the past or have a party member that has recommended it to them, which is how many begin their transitions fromD&DtoPathfinder.
Generally speaking, it’s best for most players to start withDungeons and Dragonsand then transition intoPathfinderat a later time. There will, undoubtedly, be things that players like about both. After all, there areways Pathfinder is better thanDungeons and Dragonsand vice versa. But there’s simply more complexity toPathfinderthat may make it less enjoyable to newcomers. Of course, both games are great. Neither one will be a bad time so long as whoever is playing finds a group that they mesh well with. It’s one of the most beautiful aspects of tabletop gaming.
It’s challenging torank every version ofDungeons and Dragons, especially when includingPathfinder,but both fall pretty high on the list of fun to play, making them equally worth checking out in time.Dungeons and Dragonsis certainly the better jumping-off point for most players, but it’s definitely worth it to run a few sessions ofPathfinderto see which game feels best to the actual party playing it.
