Summary
BothDungeons & DragonsandPathfinderroleplaying games are living in a golden age of unprecedented popularity. However, many newcomers are conflicted about which system or settings to adopt in their games. This is understandable, as learning both a TTRPG play system and a campaign setting reflects dozens of hours of study, reading, and play. In fact, most campaign settings are so expansive thatmany players without consistent gaming groups will spend years in the hobby without setting foot in various settings.Often, this can lead to indecision and hesitation.
Most frequently, the key driver of this is hesitancy to invest in a setting only for it to be unenjoyable. As many veteran players know, TTRPGs can be an expensive hobby, and beyond the time commitment it takes to play, the cost of purchasing source books is hefty. Even more vexing is a question that has plagued many players since the days of the mid-2000s:DnDorPathfinder?While it’s true that familiar tropes can be found within each game’s campaign settings,they nevertheless offer distinct experiences that should be weighed before venturing into either.
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What’s Brought Both D&D & Pathfinder To Where They Are?
When entering the TTRPG world, many players find themselves drawn towardDungeons & Dragonssimply because of its priceless branding. The game has been a cultural linchpin for nearly three generations and has seen renewed popularity given the rise of real-play media such asCritical RoleandDimension 20.However,Pathfindercannot be counted out. When choosing between the two,DnD’sstrength lies in both its pedigree and its variety, whilePathfindercreates a truly expansive, versatile world with sci-fi capabilities.
Dungeons & Dragonshas seen dozens of campaign settings over its nearly 50-year history, and they are too numerous to detail here. Likewise, many players will feel overwhelmed at the options presented when beginning to playDnD,but clear front-runners do stand out.Pathfinder,though, has grown tremendouslysince its 2009 launch, with many players citing its rich system and customization opportunities. This popularity has only increased afterPathfinder2e’s 2019 release, followed by theheated controversy overDnD’s Open Game License.
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D&D Has Settings Galore For All Flavors Of Fantasy
Greyhawk, Forgotten Realms, Ravenloft, Eberron, & Exandria Offer A Massive Breadth Of Content
A big draw forDungeons & Dragonsis the romantic ideal of playing in the original campaign settings. While Blackmoor is technically the first,Greyhawk is often thought of as the original. Greyhawk, crafted byDnDlegend Gary Gygax, is a true high-fantasy setting mainly built with ideas of high immersion and battle tactics in mind.The setting is ideal for players who want to experience classic tavern meetings and dungeon crawls– a no-frills, uncomplicated campaign setting, which is possibly whyGreyhawk is returning in One D&D’snew sourcebooks, with new players directed toward it in their opening chapters.
However, players looking for more world-hopping would be wise to try the Forgotten Realms and Ravenloft. Possibly the two most iconic settings in all of TTRPGs, they represent a movement away from dungeon crawlers and toward multidimensional threats.Forgotten Realms introduced the concept of the Underdarkand made realms like the elemental planes more tangible threats. It’s a massive setting where nearly any type of adventure can exist. On the other hand, Ravenloft is geared explicitly toward Gothic Horror content and is possibly most famous for its adventure,Curse of Strahd,which saw republishing for 5ein 2020.
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Exandria
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AsDnDaged, its settings evolved. The two most popular coming out of recent decades are Eberron and Exandria. Eberron, released in 2004, focuses on a modern-ish fantasy setting with less high-tier magic and more technology. It also introduced the artificer class and the warforged, or sentient automatons, toDnD.Exandria, though, developed by celebrity dungeon master Matthew Mercer, reflects a return to classicDnDtones while updating the game for modern sensibilities.It removes ideas like “evil races” and focuses on light-hearted rag-tag adventures, though the potential for more high-stakes political dramas is always there.
Pathfinder Stays Unified With A Single Major Setting
Paizo Offers Variety & Ease With A Single, Massive Setting
WhereasDnDtotes its numerous settings,Pathfinderthus far has chosen to keep faithful to one: Golarian. Paizo compensates for this by making its single setting feel massive.A key feature of Golarian is that every nation has a distinctive flavor,meaning no two feel the same. Indeed, many ofPathfinder’sadventures play into this strategy, with entire areas themed to deliver a specific player experience. Further, they share direct parallels to real-world history, meaning that a single campaign could see players fight Dracula, raid a pyramid, and participate in the French Revolution all within the same world.
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Another major strength ofPathfinderlies in Paizo’s sister system,Starfinder,a sci-fi reimagining of the Golarian setting. Set in a distant future,Starfindertransports the Golarion setting across the rest of its solar system, the Pact Worlds system.It’s a setting geared towardStar Trek-esque planet-hopping, emphasizing freedom and variety.NinjaCatVanessaon X (formerly Twitter) highlights another of Golarian’s/Pact World’s draws: its inclusive approach to gender and sexuality.
Obviously,there is no right or wrong in this debate; bothDnDandPathfinderoffer wonderful experiences across their published materials. However, players who wish to save time would do well to consider what they hope to experience when choosing a system. Those wishing to experience the roots of TTRPGs and explore massive, thematically unified worlds should look towardDungeons & Dragons.However, players who crave variety without learning multiple settings should look towardPathfinder.
