Tabletop Games Thread

[Saiga]

And yet

Pathfinder still really interests me

I really want to try it out because it seems like the opposite of 5E in many ways. It also feels like I could legitimately make any character I fancied with all those options.

[I3uster]

The problem really is that most options are incredibly useless while others are broken as fuck so you need to be on the same page with who you play with if you're the sort of person that doesn't like being overshadowed in their area.

And that's if you stick to first party releases only, if you go beyond that the game just snaps in half.

[Seika]

Yeah, the (necessary) existence of the tier systems makes me want to hit something.

[I3uster]

Honestly the class tiers feels less rigid than class strength in 5e because the sheer amount of feats, archetypes and magic items lets you turn any class into an unstoppable predator in their respective area if you're so inclined.

its just a question of how easy it is with the respective class

[Arashi_Leonhart]

I'm probably going to have to look into rping online now, as it is looking like I'll be living in Japan for a while starting in the summer. Guess I'd better read into roll20.

Any other programs people use for online play they'd recommend?

[Seika]

roll20's the most common around here. MapTool occasionally rears its head?

[mAc Chaos]

There's also something called Fantasy Grounds but nobody uses it.

[Seika]

Wizards do support Fantasy Grounds as the 'official' way to do tabletop-style D&D online, but it requires buying everything digitally off them in weird (over-priced) packages that don't line up properly with the physical books. I get the impression it's far from popular.

[mAc Chaos]

The people who use it like it because it has a ton of macros that automate everything or generate content for you. But yeah. Roll20 for me.

[Arashi_Leonhart]

Hmm I may look into MapTool first just because I don't wanna sign up for anything if I don't have to.

[aldeayeah]

There's also something called Fantasy Grounds but nobody uses it.

My group uses it. It's OK.

[Saiga]

It looks super great but the price and division of the products is off-putting

[Seika]

Hmm I may look into MapTool first just because I don't wanna sign up for anything if I don't have to.

Roll20 needs no more commitment than signing up for an account here, tbh.

[Saiga]

but im afraid of commitment

(I really want to try roll20 at some point tho)

[Zurvan]

Same, but I should become more familiar with tabletop in general first

[Saiga]

just dive head first into the deep end, you'll probably float

[Trubo]

There's also something called Fantasy Grounds but nobody uses it.

I use it since I don't have a local group to play with. I like it more than roll20 since the drag/drop features are much nicer in building/adding new stuff to character sheets. Also, the combat tracker and all the things you can do with character tokens on map are pretty useful in keeping combat flowing smoothly. Only downside is that you can only drag/drop stuff you've bought through Fantasy Grounds, though I'm pretty sure you can manually input information like roll20.

As for the licenses, you can only play games if you have the free/demo version. The regular paid version lets you play or DM, but you can only DM for other people that have some form of paid license. The ultimate license let's you play and DM for anyone. In addition, if you are a player with an ultimate license, you can let the DM access your books to share with everyone else.

Edit: That's not to knock roll20. I've done some AL games on it and it went pretty well. Just saying that, if I had equal access to the books in whatever format, I'd prefer Fantasy Grounds.

[Seika]

It's just ... it costs $150 for the ultimate version, and even that only gets you the SRD stuff in terms of play material. You then have to buy whatever else you might want as a DM (or regular player who would prefer the ultimate licence's add-ons), including things like the Elemental Evil Player's Companion that is free to download off Wizards' site but FG charges you for​.

[Bird of Hermes]

Same, but I should become more familiar with tabletop in general first

I agree with Saiga

It might seem intimidating but it really jut works. The first few sessions may feel a bit clunky as you get to know the dynamics of your preferred class and people tend to jump in and out of character but chances are you'll love it. For your earlier games I recommend one one the more simple classes, plain old fighter is still a favourite of mine.

[Katie]

Honestly the class tiers feels less rigid than class strength in 5e because the sheer amount of feats, archetypes and magic items lets you turn any class into an unstoppable predator in their respective area if you're so inclined.

its just a question of how easy it is with the respective class

does it really matter how hyperoptimized your class is when another hyperoptimized class can just avoid the situation you're good in in the first place

or hell, do it better