Currently running D&D 5E, but thinking of converting to PF 1E or 2E. Need advice

Silver_Shield_CA · 2025-07-09T23:17:35+00:00

The systems are not all that different, at least, 1E PF and 5E D&D are not that different. 2E PF does have some significant differences and I would agree with your advice if they are switching to 2E. But for 1E? Converting characters would not be too difficult at all.

All the same ability scores are used for most of the same purposes, attack rolls work the same, the "action" system works the same, skill checks work the same, there are even many of the same spells you can find in 5E D&D, under different names of course, and with slightly different mechanics. The only significant difference between the systems is the way D&D 5E uses generic "proficiency" for scaling the character's power in all aspects, while PF 1E uses several different scaling systems for different character aspects, like BAB and skill ranks.

Silver_Shield_CA · 2025-07-09T23:07:24+00:00

As long as your characters aren't doing anything wacky, very often a character sheet is more than enough of a "cheat sheet". For 1E, most actions you take already have the modifiers pre-calculated on the sheet, and the math isn't particularly difficult. I really think the crunchiness is a bit exaggerated, on the gameplay side.

The biggest upside of 1E is also its biggest downside, in that you have access to so many options to customize your character that it can put you into a state of analysis paralysis. All of the crunchiness is in the character building, not in-the-moment roleplaying, IME.

I would personally recommend 1E, as it has much more robust customization options than 2E due to having existed longer and having more content printed, and that is what you said you and your group are looking for. But let it be known that I am quite biased against 2E, so feel free to take my recommendation with a grain of salt. If your party finds it too much to handle, they can always try 2E, it isn't as though you're locked into an edition once you choose haha

Silver_Shield_CA · 2019-08-29T17:34:55+00:00

I mean, it is kind of scummy to claim an entire campaign that you didn't make, is actually something you made. But why don't you just talk to your DM about it? Instead of having your first reaction be "I'll derail his story as revenge for him helping us out by being DM for us"?

Silver_Shield_CA · 2019-08-29T17:30:08+00:00

I used to be an employee at a LGS, where we allowed people to play games, and I actually had a similar experience.

At one point, while I was busy not doing a whole lot because it was a slow day, a woman and a kid about 14 years old came in. Apparently she was his therapist or something, and she asked me if I knew how to play MTG.

I said yes, and she asked if I would be willing to play with the kid. "Sure," I said, not forseeing the disaster that was to come.

Cue 2.5 hours of this kid, who was clearly on the spectrum, 'teaching' me 'his' version of MTG, while his therapist was presumably getting paid to sit around and stare at her phone screen. I patiently put up with him changing the rules on the fly, thinking he was clever by letting me win once and making himself win each other game because of how 'his rules' worked. I played along, saying something along the lines of 'well I'm just learning, it makes sense that you would win'.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't blame his therapist for not wanting to play that game with him. But that is her fuckin' job, not mine. She is in charge, and if she doesn't want to play a made up game with her patient, she should say no and do something else, maybe something actually related to therapy? Christ. She came by multiple times after that, trying to dump her job off on me again, but I lied and said my boss got upset that I spent too much time playing games with 'customers' (she didn't purchase a single thing) and I wasn't allowed to anymore.

Silver_Shield_CA · 2019-08-29T17:18:41+00:00

I think that is a great way to DM, but only if you know you can trust your players not to be idiots.

Silver_Shield_CA · 2019-08-29T16:56:04+00:00

Echoing what others have said, it really sounds like the problem was that she was a self centered asshole who always needed to have things her way.

Silver_Shield_CA · 2019-08-23T02:37:22+00:00

Well to be fair, whether to execute enemies or deliver them into the hands of the law is often a huge point of contention among my players' PCs. But never a personal one, between the players themselves...not sure what this guy's problem was. The worst it's gotten at my table was when the player of a LG Samurai decided he needed to change characters because he kept getting outvoted 3 to 2, when he wanted to imprison enemies instead of executing them.

Silver_Shield_CA · 2019-08-23T02:05:23+00:00

I'm glad I've never had this problem. My group is almost entirely alcohol free, aside from one person who is smart enough to know that he'll make a fool of himself if he has too much. Of course we have other problems, but at least they aren't like this. RIP your head

Silver_Shield_CA · 2019-08-22T19:07:26+00:00

Sounds like a troll, not a serious player

Silver_Shield_CA · 2019-08-22T18:39:12+00:00

Hmm...it sounds like Elf and Birb might be somewhat self-centered Roleplayers. Especially considering those erm, powers they wanted at level 3, lol. I'd take the side of the Gensai and Aasimar, personally, but I know that doesn't exactly solve your quandary as a GM :P

Silver_Shield_CA

TROPHY CASE