DespiteDungeons and Dragonsbeing my go-to tabletop roleplaying game for the better part of a decade now, that doesn’t mean it’s the end-all be-all for the genre. Although it’s not hard to find new ways to playD&Dto keep things fresh, there are still plenty of other TTRPGs that offer great distractions or even more unique ways to experience the genre.
From sci-fi, horror, westerns, and even officially licensed tabletop spin-offs, there’s no shortage of alternatives that can provide a wholly unique experience to traditionalD&D. While it’s hard to imagine anything fully replacingD&Das the number one competitor in the tabletop role-playing game genre,playingD&D's most popular competitor makes the flaws the tried-and-true tabletop even more noticeable.
Pathfinder Revitalized My Love For The Tabletop Genre
Discovering What It Felt Like To Play D&D For The First Time
Despite theimprovements made toD&D 2024that elevate certain aspects of the tabletop game,after playingPathfinder Second Edition, it’s hard to imagine going back toD&Das my go-to tabletop in the future. Originally starting off as an alternative spinoff toDungeons &Dragons' fourth edition, the first edition ofPathfinderaimed to capitalize on the strengths of the previous 3.5 editions, offering greater customization and more detailed rulesets.
While some aspects ofPathfinder’s tabletop offerings can be a bit intimidating at first glance,Pathfinder's origins as aDungeons &Dragons spinoff make it much easier to adapt to for experienced players. Although it did take a couple of sessions to finally get a hold of its gameplay and the more complex class-based mechanics thatPathfinderprovides, the overall experience felt incredibly fresh yet familiar all at the same time once it finally clicked.
One of the biggest changes to howPathfinder 2efunctions compared toD&Dis that you have access to three actions per turn, which can be used to change equipment handling, attack, move, or cast spells, respectively.While having to use an action to draw a weapon and another to move can seem somewhat limiting at first, it ultimately offers a drastically higher level of freedom for combat encounters, encouraging creative gameplay choices that are especially welcome for low-level martial classes.
Offering Even More Freedom Than Traditional D&D
Allowing For Even More Character Customization
Following a more tactical approach,Pathfinder2eoffers a morestreamlined version of its predecessorwhile still providing the number-crunching gameplay that makes it so addictive, on top of an almost overwhelming amount of character creation options to choose from.
Boasting nearly doubleD&D’s selection of 13 classes,Pathfinder 2eoffers a whopping 23 to choose from, with Reddit users likeTheAselcreating handy beginner’s charts to craft your next adventurer from.
As if the 23 classes and 48 playable ancestries there are to mix and match between inPathfinder 2eweren’t enough, you aren’t limited by having to purchase different volumes or editions of the game to get access to the full catalogue of content. While there are some issues with missing legacy content,one ofPathfinder 2e’s greatest strengths is that all of its rules and assets are free to enjoy in their entirety online.
Whether through digital platforms like Roll20’s free integration, printing the content yourself, or using the paid Foundry program’s built-in integration,Pathfinder 2ehas a surprisingly nonexistent barrier to entry in terms of cost compared toD&D.
The amount of options available wouldn’t be as exciting if it weren’t for the greater level of flexibility with its classes, archetypes, and feat selection compared toD&Das well, encouraging unique character builds that emphasize roleplaying in unexpected scenarios.
Rather than having a varying degree of advantage in your specialty and the chance to succeed without it,Pathfiner 2ealso has a greater focus on highlighting both your strengths and weaknesses simultaneously with its skill checks and saving throws.
Sometimes, Newer Isn’t Always Better
Dungeons And Dragons' Frequent Updates Aren’t Always Well Received
Although the2024release ofD&Dintroduced some much-needed changes and surprising improvements across the board,each change to the beloved tabletop roleplaying game ends up alienating growing numbers of its playerbase.
Even now, there are still significant portions ofD&D’s community that exclusively prefer to play previous editions of the game, withD&D2024 facing similar backlash as full-blown overhauls that came in previous versions of the game.
Thankfully, withPathfinder 2ehaving been released in 2019 as a streamlined upgrade to the 2009 release of its predecessor, it’s also a much more stable foundation that isn’t nearly as prone to significant changes or balance issues.
If you’re looking for an easier introduction to the world ofPathfinderwithout having to find a new dungeon master or learn all the rules yourself, severalPathfinder-themed video games offer excellent introductions to the series.
Even if they don’t have the same appeal asBaldur’s Gate 3, games likePathfinder: Wrath of the Righteousshare plenty of similarities with its distant cousin, while excelling past it in certain areas like class building and customization, similar to the tabletop version.
Regardless of which version ofPathfinderyou choose to try out, the second edition ofPathfinderis likely the best choice for a trueDungeons & Dragonscompetitor that’s tough to beat after getting fully immersed in its unique game world, grounded rulesets, and engaging gameplay mechanics.
Pathfinder
Dungeons and Dragons
Dungeons and Dragons is a popular tabletop game originally invented in 1974 by Ernest Gary Gygax and David Arneson. The fantasy role-playing game brings together players for a campaign with various components, including abilities, races, character classes, monsters, and treasures. The game has drastically expanded since the ’70s, with numerous updated box sets and expansions.
