Are you looking to explore new horizons with your friends? Are you looking to acquire friends to explore horizons with? Are you simply a nerd? Well, if you are that last one, you may already be familiar with the concept of Tabletop Role Playing games. An offshoot of the larger Table Top games category that includes Monopoly, Chess, Poker, and many, many, others; the Role Playing variety focuses, rather predictably, on playing different roles, acting as another, and often, though certainly not always, in the format of players, playing the player characters, and a Game Master, playing as the world.

The most widely known such game is Dungeons and Dragons or, as its commonly abbreviated, DnD. And it, or more specifically its fifth edition, does not hold that acclaim entirely without merit. Its many prewritten modules, rules light system, and large community create an easy play that lowers the perceived barrier of entry that facilitates beginner play.

Why, then, is it not DnD in the title? Well, I said that DnD’s acclaim was not entirely without merit, not that it is good. That is an inflammatory statement. What I actually mean is that DnD 5E has certain problems and pitfalls. Its “rules-lite” system is typically touted as a strength allowing for superior flexibility in both gameplay and narrative. But the truth is, when compared side by side with truly rules-lite systems, it becomes plain to see that DnD’s periodic lack of rules does not afford it greater flexibility, it merely shifts the burden of game creation from the designers onto the individual game masters.

When the design is done by designers, it can often be … inconsistent. Monsters are given ratings to help GMs determine what they can throw at their players and when, but these ratings are often all over the place. This results in a playing experience contrary to the one intended, where the player party will either completely roll over any challenges presented to them, or crash headfirst into a metaphorical concrete wall and suffer total party wipe.

Neither is fun when the intended outcome is a challenging encounter that is nonetheless possible to overcome.

This, and more, is why I recommend Pathfinder Second Edition. Its three-action economy and plethora of rules can seem overwhelming at first but, if one takes the time to learn, it can be a truly unforgettable experience with your friends, or wonderful opportunity to make some!