So been here for awhile and I've noticed or rather have always been aware of the prevalent edition of dnd being the one everyone just defaults to. I'm a huge fan of 3.5 and Pathfinder and have always wondered why nobody bothers to try to run the older editions. They had much more variation in things you can do whereas 5th edition is so limited!

Maybe I'm just low-key frustrated that it's been years since someone ran a good old game of Pathfinder. 😂 I need me a robust system, with an entire two pages worth of describing the grappling mechanics!

Because 5e is the most popular + recent edition, so newcomers and everyone else flock to it instead of prior editions.

I need me a robust system, with an entire two pages worth of describing the grappling mechanics!

Call me whenever you look at Song of Swords' combat rules.

@Kuro tell me how many pages does it devote to explaining a ridiculous mechanic?

@Kuro tell me how many pages does it devote to explaining a ridiculous mechanic?

There are three pages dedicated to grappling and grapple maneuvers, and this isn't counting other maneuvers listed in other sections (such as Hilt Push: Grapple, where if you succeed the hilt push ends and you grapple your opponent).

Limitations and simplicity make for accessibility. Combat being bound by pages upon pages of rules is a dealbreaker for some people, and 5e is already pushing it.

@ERode really? Huh, I never thought 5e had that much learning to do mechanics wise

There's a spectrum that tabletop has to grapple with. On one end you have the super ultra complex tabletop games where it takes hours to make characters but there's near limitless customization and combat abilities. On the other end is your more streamlined and simple "jump-in" games where you can create your character and start your adventure in the same night.

I too have a friend who will not shut up about how great 3.5E is when compared to 5E. But the the thing is that my favorite part of role playing is the actual role playing. Fighting has never been my favorite part of D&D and regardless of edition the encounters seem to take forever. This is especially true when it comes to the less enthused among us that seem to forget what their character can do every session.

I think 5E is the best version of D&D thus far. It's not as dumbed down as 4E, and it's not as rule heavy as 3.5E.

I also think 5E doesn't get nearly enough credit for handling non-combat encounters as well as it does. Sure, 3.5E has its customization options and countless perks, but it's a lot easier to roll saves and checks with 5E.

Of course, this is just my preference.

I too have a friend who will not shut up about how great 3.5E is when compared to 5E. But the the thing is that my favorite part of role playing is the actual role playing. Fighting has never been my favorite part of D&D and regardless of edition the encounters seem to take forever. This is especially true when it comes to the less enthused among us that seem to forget what their character can do every session.

This is the same for me. I do suffer through AD&D and other older, very restrictive and rules-heavy TTRPG systems because its what a lot of my friends like to play, and its fun because we get to joke around in person and help each other (read: help me lol) when we struggle with a part of the system. I probably wouldn't do rules and system heavy games over discord or forum. I mean just as an example I don't even play magic classes in 5E because I don't want the hassle of tracking spells.

It's why I've been trying out some of the more roleplay heavy systems lately, or trying to.

My one thing with 5th edition is that there is not enough options to customize a character and generally people don't like homebrew. I just think that it lacks the options to let me make a character that does a specific thing.

Harbinger used to run 3.5 and occasionally Pathfinder. They're fun systems too. I tried to run Deadlands a few years back. It really does come down to 5 is newest and I want to say the one that DND Beyond uses so it's most common.

It really does come down to 5 is newest and I want to say the one that DND Beyond uses so it's most common.

I would agree with this but when 4E dropped everyone hated on it like a red haired step child. Oddly, it's seeing a lot more success now that WotC are too busy making 5E more horrible with other projects. Apparently a lot of people find tabletop intimidating and the ability to create a character in 10-30 minutes is really appealing to the dungeon crawl crowd.

@BrokenPromise did you know that Pathfinder was the edition a lot of people turned to when 4e came out? Literally drove people into the arms of another bigger ttrpg.

Hee, you look for rules in those things! I just needed to know Experience Points.

I do use the Advanced Thief's Handbook, though.

<Snipped quote by BrokenPromise>
This is the same for me. I do suffer through AD&D and other older, very restrictive and rules-heavy TTRPG systems because its what a lot of my friends like to play, and its fun because we get to joke around in person and help each other (read: help me lol) when we struggle with a part of the system. I probably wouldn't do rules and system heavy games over discord or forum. I mean just as an example I don't even play magic classes in 5E because I don't want the hassle of tracking spells.

It's why I've been trying out some of the more roleplay heavy systems lately, or trying to.

AD&D is quite the far cry from the newer editions but we all have different experiences when it comes to our learning of games. I gave played everything from AD&D to 5th, Pathfinder, even more lesser known games like Dragon Quest, or Dragon Age the TTRPG, d20 Modern, Villains and Vigilantes. I've played em, not every one in existence but quite a few. So my experiences are different and I have always been a quick learner, I can remember more about rules than I can about my school learning. 🤣

AD&D is quite the far cry from the newer editions but we all have different experiences when it comes to our learning of games. I gave played everything from AD&D to 5th, Pathfinder, even more lesser known games like Dragon Quest, or Dragon Age the TTRPG, d20 Modern, Villains and Vigilantes. I've played em, not every one in existence but quite a few. So my experiences are different and I have always been a quick learner, I can remember more about rules than I can about my school learning. 🤣

Oh yeah I have played quite a few systems out there; fantasy, cyberpunk, superhero games, fandom-based ones, call of cthulhu and its derivatives, nation-building games... stuff like Time Shredders too. I've tried literally dozens of TTRPGs. And I just find like Broken mentioned above, I get more enjoyment out of character creation and actually playing the role than keeping up with stats, feats, and how certain mechanics work. There are one-page RPGs out there that are a lot of fun 'cause they are extremely simple in how to play.

@Yankee I too enjoy character creation but I like having more options at my disposal.

I enjoy character creation as well, although I'm dumb as fuck at it and usually have to double check everything with the GM. Which is weird since I almost always make a Halfling/Orc Monk/Paladin

It is the most popular because it is the current edition.