How hard is learning a new TTRPG system?

[Corinnguard]

One interesting difficulty is when games are close but not exact, like new editions that keep a lot of the same terminology but change the definitions, or games that diverge from a common core like 5E vs Pathfinder 2E. "Close" is often more confusing than wildly different.

This is the case between 5e and Level Up. The latter keeps a lot of the terminology in 5e while throwing in a lot of new ideas. Someone who has played 5e should have very little difficulty in playing Level Up.

 

[Staffan]

I never understood the attachment players have to system over setting or the campaign hook. If the setting is interesting, who cares what system we use?

System and mechanics are a bit part of what make games fun for me (as long as they're good), and I enjoy trying new ones out. Playing D&D has a very different feel from playing GURPS. TORG's possibilities and card mechanics provide a very strong feel of being the underdog and then being able to turn that around. Even related games are interesting to me; for example I enjoy the Troubleshooters adding binary abilities and narrative mechanics to a system clearly derived from BRP.

 

[Reynard]

This is the case between 5e and Level Up. The latter keeps a lot of the terminology in 5e while throwing in a lot of new ideas. Someone who has played 5e should have very little difficulty in playing Level Up.

I'm talking about the opposite, where the shared terminology but divergent uses or definitions makes play harder.

 

[Thomas Shey]

I wonder how much of it is the variability to which different people are creatures of habit. Some people like sticking to the familiar in restaurants and foods, and others like trying new things.

Relatedly, maybe its the way things are slotted in ones head. If it is a D&D group or a bridge foursome or a chess club or... (pick one thing) then there is psychological momentum for that one thing. If it is a board game playing club or a card playing group or (pick a general type of thing) then there is a push to learning the new ones.

It probably doesn't take much to learn a new RPG - but it might take making peace with breaking a habit or fighting momentum.

Only problem with that is I'm an enormous creature of habit, and have been most of my life, but new game systems have been a holy grail for most of it, too.

 

[Corinnguard]

I'm talking about the opposite, where the shared terminology but divergent uses or definitions makes play harder.

Okay, I agree. Switching from 5e to PF2 would be difficult. I also think it was the same story for anybody moving from PF1 to PF2, or from 3e to 4e.

 

[loverdrive]

One interesting difficulty is when games are close but not exact, like new editions that keep a lot of the same terminology but change the definitions, or games that diverge from a common core like 5E vs Pathfinder 2E. "Close" is often more confusing than wildly different.

This was me when I ran PF1 as part of a challenge.

I kept second-guessing myself: "is this rule actually from pathfinder, or 3E, or 3.5e or 5.e or was it a houserule?"

 

[Incenjucar]

Learning basic resolution mechanics, character creation/update strategies, functional tactics, and scenario building can take very different lengths of time.

Even a lot of people who play only one game often don't know that game very deeply, and many use house rules anyway, including accidental ones.

 

[aramis erak]

I never understood the attachment players have to system over setting or the campaign hook. If the setting is interesting, who cares what system we use?

Anyone for whom the mechanics are part of how they relate to their character.

 

[Thomas Shey]

Anyone for whom the mechanics are part of how they relate to their character.

Or, frankly, who derive some of their pleasure from,well, playing the game. When that's the case the system very much does (or at least can) matter.

 

[Corinnguard]

Or, frankly, who derive some of their pleasure from,well, playing the game.

And figuring out what to get their character every time they level up, be it an ASI, a feat, or a spell. How will getting one of these benefit my character? How will one of these help out the rest of my party?