Just for fun. Let's have a battle royal of the big 3.

[Evenglare]

Just curious, Pathfinder, 5e, or 13th age. At this point what's your favorite fantasy system? I know 13th age may not actually be a big 3 but in my life these are the major contenders for my time.

 

[Serendipity]

Well right now my favorite fantasy gaming system is still either OD&D or the DCC RPG BUT of the three you listed, the only one I'm in any way interested in playing is the new/current edition of D&D (starting a game this weekend in fact).

 

[delericho]

D&D 3.5e, at least for the moment. Hopefully, that will change when I get a chance to read, digest, and (most importantly) play 5e.

(Of the three you list, it's Pathfinder, simply because it's the closest. But my opinion of that game has always been that while it's better than 3.5e, it's not better enough to persuade me to abandon my years of system mastery to get the upgrade.)

 

[TerraDave]

I could see an expanded pole...

 

[TrippyHippy]

D&D is D&D. No contest.

 

[Bluenose]

Depends on the type of game/setting I'm going for. None of the ones you list are at all suitable for the type of games I prefer. If I was picking something blind I'd probably for a random campaign I'd go with something rules-lighter and generic. Fate, Heroquest, or something similar.

 

[Morrus]

I can't judge. 5E is the new and shiny. Pathfinder has a vast body of work to draw from which neither of the other options have. 13th Age has some nifty ideas which I love. I think doing this poll again in a couple of years would be interesting.

 

[scruffygrognard]

Pathfinder is too close to 3rd edition for me. I played 3.X for 12 years before getting sick of its complexity.

From what I've seen 5th edition will scale back that complexity to a much more manageable level. I'm very hopeful that it will get me back to playing D&D again.

 

[Warunsun]

From what I've seen 5th edition will scale back that complexity to a much more manageable level. I'm very hopeful that it will get me back to playing D&D again.

Indeed. I have been Dungeon Mastering Castles & Crusades this year (replaced 4th edition for us). I really dig the simpler setup of C&C and many of my returning to the hobby players really dig it. Those same players were pretty lost when they occasionally sat in during 3rd and 4th editions. Our group is very happy with Castles & Crusades but I can see myself playing D&D Fifth Edition. I was going to go to both Origins and GenCon this year to try out D&D Fifth Edition but circumstances beyond my control forced me to cancel those trips. I was really looking forward to it.

 

[JRRNeiklot]

The big 3? 13th age has a long way to go to crack the top 3. Besides, OD&D tops them all.