System FinderWhat TTRPG should you play?

For: Tables that want the biggest player base, the most published adventures, and a system everyone already knows or can learn in one session.

Not for: Groups that want deep character customization, reliable encounter math, or rules that don't require constant DM judgment calls.

vs D&D: This IS D&D — the 2024 refresh. Compared to 2014: weapon mastery gives martials tactical options, backgrounds determine stats, every class got revisions.

For: Tables with existing 2014 books, players who don't want to relearn classes, and DMs who rely on the decade of community content and third-party supplements.

Not for: New groups starting fresh in 2026 — the 2024 rules are the forward path, and 2014 books will gradually phase out of print support.

vs D&D: The 2014 ruleset vs 2024: simpler martial turns (no weapon mastery), backgrounds are flavor not mechanics, and some subclasses are significantly different (Paladin, Druid).

For: Players who love building characters, DMs who want encounter math that actually works, and groups that play on a grid with tactical combat.

Not for: Theater-of-the-mind groups, players who find character-building homework stressful, or DMs who improvise most rules on the fly.

vs D&D: PF2e trades 5e's improvisational ease for mechanical precision: three actions per turn (not move/action/bonus), feats at every level, and CR math you can trust.

For: DMs who want to run classic modules as-written, groups that enjoy deadly combat where running is a valid strategy, and anyone curious about 'how D&D used to play.'

Not for: Players attached to their characters (death is common), groups that prefer combat-as-sport over combat-as-war, and tables that want rules for social encounters.

vs D&D: No death saves (0 HP = dead), XP for gold not kills, 10-minute dungeon turns, and the answer to most problems isn't on your character sheet — it's in the fiction.

For: 5e players curious about OSR, DMs who want atmosphere-heavy sessions, and groups that love the tension of a real-time countdown.

Not for: Tables that want detailed character builds (creation takes 3 minutes), grid-reliant tactical players, and DMs who dislike timers at the table.

vs D&D: Always-on initiative, real-time torches (1 hour = 1 torch in real life), roll-to-cast magic (spells can fail), and you don't build characters — you roll them.

For: Groups that want fantasy without class restrictions, tables that enjoy skill-driven progression, and DMs who want sandbox tools baked into the core rules.

Not for: Players who love optimizing class builds (there are no classes), groups that want epic superheroic fantasy, and tables that dislike deadly combat.

vs D&D: No classes or levels — you improve individual skills through use. Roll under your skill on a d20. Combat is quick and lethal, not tactical and measured.

For: Story-first groups, players who enjoy investigation over combat, and anyone who's ever thought 'what if D&D but Lovecraft?'

Not for: Combat-as-primary-activity tables (fighting gets you killed), players who want character power progression, and groups that prefer heroic fantasy tone.

vs D&D: No classes, no levels, no HP bloat. Skills are percentile (roll under your skill). Seeing a monster costs Sanity. Shooting it probably makes things worse.

For: Genre-hopping groups that play different settings each campaign, DMs who like miniatures but hate complex rules, and anyone who wants 'action movie: the RPG.'

Not for: Tables that want deep narrative mechanics (it's action-first), players who dislike swingy dice (exploding dice create wild outcomes), and groups wanting simulationist realism.

vs D&D: No classes — skills and Edges define your character. Exploding dice (roll max, roll again and add). Bennies let players reroll, soak damage, or change the story.

For: Simulationist DMs who want rules for everything, historical campaign enthusiasts, and groups that value realism over cinematic action.

Not for: Players who want quick character creation (point-buy takes time), cinematic action fans, and tables that prefer rules-light improvisation over detailed simulation.

vs D&D: Point-buy not classes, one-second combat rounds (not six-second), active defenses (you roll to dodge/parry), and the GM picks which optional rules to use from a massive toolkit.

For: Hard sci-fi fans, sandbox enthusiasts who want to generate entire sectors, and groups who enjoy the 'tramp freighter crew making mortgage payments' fantasy.

Not for: Players who want balanced combat encounters, groups who want heroic fantasy in space (try Starfinder), and anyone uncomfortable with dying during character creation.

vs D&D: No levels, no classes, no XP for kills. Advancement is through gear, contacts, and ship upgrades. Character creation IS a session — you roll your life story before play begins.