We share almost identical feelings about 4E. I think it does what it does awesomely and deserves praise for a number of good ideas and changes to the standard D&D stuff.
4E just isn't the game I grew up playing/DMing and delving into. I liked 3.5 but PF is just like a better 3.5 really. It isn't necessarily simpler but all the pieces fall into place more easily. There's still a lot to learn and if no one knows what they're doing and wants to follow the rules perfectly it will slow the game down a lot. Despite that I think all the qualities of 3.5 that needed some form of love got it.
My players don't remember too much either. But what they do remember as D&D is 3e and 3.5 so when we started using PF everyone understood all the basics and really that's all you need.
So yeah, if you want something kind of new but very familiar in rules and overall design then you really should check out pathfinder. If 4E just doesn't feel like D&D PF is a good alternative to simply returning to 3.5.
4E just isn't the game I grew up playing/DMing and delving into. I liked 3.5 but PF is just like a better 3.5 really. It isn't necessarily simpler but all the pieces fall into place more easily. There's still a lot to learn and if no one knows what they're doing and wants to follow the rules perfectly it will slow the game down a lot. Despite that I think all the qualities of 3.5 that needed some form of love got it.
My players don't remember too much either. But what they do remember as D&D is 3e and 3.5 so when we started using PF everyone understood all the basics and really that's all you need.
So yeah, if you want something kind of new but very familiar in rules and overall design then you really should check out pathfinder. If 4E just doesn't feel like D&D PF is a good alternative to simply returning to 3.5.
