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2 years ago ::
Nov 18, 2010 - 10:52AM
#1
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Date Joined:
Feb 15, 2009
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I am a DM, and I would like to know, what are the differences between Pathfinder and 4e? Please, I don't want this to be a screaming match between people who love one and hate the other, I really would like to know the differences and similarities because a player suggested I switch the campaign over to Pathfinder.
On a side note, when running the Age of Worms adventure path, does anyone have any resources for adapting to 4e or Pathfinder?
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2 years ago ::
Nov 18, 2010 - 10:54AM
#2
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No matter the intentions, I can only see this going one way and that's badly. You could probably search out other threads on the subject.
People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. --George Orwell There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people. --Howard Zinn He who fights with monsters must take care lest he thereby become a monster. --Friedrich Nietzsche 
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2 years ago ::
Nov 18, 2010 - 10:56AM
#3
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Date Joined:
Jun 20, 2009
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Pathfainder is a more complicated system, much harder to learn for most people. Characters are mosre cutomizable: it means char-op types can have alot of fun with the system. Balance, while better than 3.5, isn't nearly as tight as 4e. Expect some classes to outshine others.
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2 years ago ::
Nov 18, 2010 - 10:59AM
#4
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Date Joined:
Jan 21, 2006
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Not to get into a deep side by side comparison, I will say this much - 4e is far and away more GM friendly.
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2 years ago ::
Nov 18, 2010 - 11:00AM
#5
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Date Joined:
Jul 20, 2003
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Well, the only difference is the rules.
Paizo took the 3.5 rules and tweaked them to make the classes more balanced and cleaned up the skills and some other things ("negative levels" are no longer a true negative level, but cumulative penalties, so you're not actually retconning your character). It is backwards-compatible with other 3.5 products, giving it the benefit of all the previously published material (as well as all the negatives of that material).
Wizards moved towards 4th Edition to balance the classes out and create a more tactical game that is easier to learn and play. They also wanted to make it easier to integrate in virtual tabletops and such, although their own VTT has been long delayed.
"There is a theory which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened." - Douglas Adams
I ♥ My Realms
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2 years ago ::
Nov 18, 2010 - 11:05AM
#6
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Date Joined:
Sep 26, 2001
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I am a DM, and I would like to know, what are the differences between Pathfinder and 4e? Please, I don't want this to be a screaming match between people who love one and hate the other, I really would like to know the differences and similarities because a player suggested I switch the campaign over to Pathfinder.
If you've played 3.5, you know about what Pathfinder is like. The big obvious differences is that there are no healing surges, roles aren't as clearly defined, and PCs and monsters are both more detailed - there's more 'reward for system mastery' (optimization works better for the PCs) and more work as a DM to create challenging encounters without crossing the line to TPK. As a DM, I wouldn't consider going from 4e to 3.5 or Pathfinder. 4e just makes the DM's job much easier. It'd be less of a pain to replace one player than to try to run with the older system.
On a side note, when running the Age of Worms adventure path, does anyone have any resources for adapting to 4e or Pathfinder?
AoW was for 3.5, so should be able to run it under Pathfinder. Converting to 4e would be a matter of re-doing all the encounters, which isn't really all that bad. Encounter balance is structured and simple in 4e, so it's much easier to re-do them from scratch than to try to convert 3.5 encounters to 4e directly.
Love 4e? Concerned about its future? Join the Old Guard of 4e"You want The Tooth? You can't handle The Tooth!" - Dahlver-Nar. "If magic is unrestrained in the campaign, D&D quickly degenerates into a weird wizard show where players get bored quickly" - E. Gary Gygax
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2 years ago ::
Nov 18, 2010 - 11:22AM
#7
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Date Joined:
Jun 14, 2008
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Its also a new game. If you own any 3.5 you can count on having serious troubles with using it. Pathfinder characters are more powerful than 3.5 ones.
You will need to memorize huge amounts of material since running most critters\characters requires knowledge of spells. One thing I like about 4e is that I rarely if ever have to crack a book during play. By comparison look at a 4e dragon versus a Pathfinder dragon. You need a good understanding of all the material. (4e cards kick butt, why don't other games catch on?)
4e is incredibly DM friendly... So much so that there are many alternate adventures styles for 4e in the 3rd party domain. DMs can actually get beyond the linear story line even in modules.
By contrast Paizo's adventures are simple linear story lines. (They are also amazingly good for what they are.) If I was to do some Pathfinder, I'd probably only be able to run modules.
4e is very gamest, or tactical. I feel this is true. Pathfinder is very narrationist, so you can get away from the minis etc. IMO if I was wanting to go narrationist, I'd go with Castles and Crusades, there is so little there, that there is nothing to do BUT role-play.
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2 years ago ::
Nov 18, 2010 - 11:25AM
#8
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Date Joined:
May 23, 2005
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I own both, and I've run both. Pathfinder, as others have said, is D&D 3.5 re-tooled. It offers more customization, more options and more to do. However, it is a whole lot harder to teach new players, and exponentially harder to GM. In Pathfinder, it can take hours to build a proper encounter (in my experience) whereas in 4th, it can be slapped together in minutes.
It really boils down to, how much time and effort do you have to put into creating an encounter, and how important is it that all the little things have rules?
Playtime is also a major factor, as I've had 4th Ed. combat over in roughly an hour, but one Pathfinder battle take upwards of 4. But these are my own experiences.
Again, both have their positives, and negatives. And for what's it worth, my own recent RPG timeline has been: 3.5 ---> 4th ed. ---> Pathfinder ---> 4th. ed. (Essentials). I prefer D&D 4th Edition (Especially Essentials).
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2 years ago ::
Nov 18, 2010 - 11:28AM
#9
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Date Joined:
Jul 20, 2003
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I should also point out that if you want to really get both sides represented, head over to the Paizo forums and ask the same questions. That way, you're sure to hear the likes (and dislikes) from both fan bases, not just one.
"There is a theory which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened." - Douglas Adams
I ♥ My Realms
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2 years ago ::
Nov 18, 2010 - 11:31AM
#10
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Date Joined:
May 23, 2005
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I should also point out that if you want to really get both sides represented, head over to the Paizo forums and ask the same questions.
That way, you're sure to hear the likes (and dislikes) from both fan bases, not just one.
This is a brilliant idea, and people should take note.
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