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Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition (D&D 5E) burst onto the scene in 2014, taking a game that’d been around since the ‘70s and giving it new life. After a huge public playtest called "D&D Next," the creators wanted to smooth over old division and give everyone — whether you’re an old-school fan or totally new — a game that feels both classic and modern. D&D quickly stopped being just a niche hobby and it started becoming more popular, showing up everywhere: streams, podcasts, and mainstream pop culture (Community, Stranger Things, D&D movie). In 2024 the game system was given a major overhaul, providing smaller changes and fixes to various parts of the game. This is now known as Dungeons & Dragons 5.5 Edition (2024) Description In D&D 5E, the players create fantasy adventurers. From elven rogues to dragonborn paladins, while one player takes up the role of the Dungeon Master (DM). The DM is the one who builds and describes the world, acts and voices the non-player characters and controls the monsters and the world around them, acting as both the lead storyteller and generally the rules referee. The heart of 5E is “rulings over rules.” Instead of pages of complicated charts, the DM is encouraged to make quick calls and keep things moving, not letting rules stop the game in it's tracks. The game is built on the "Three Pillars": Combat, Exploration, and Social Interaction.  System Overview & Key Features The Core d20 Mechanic The resolution system is unified and straightforward. To attempt almost most action where the outcome is not clearly obvious and there is a chance for failure, the player rolls a 20-sided die (d20), and adds the relevant modifier (either from their main stat or their skill bonus) and the DM's set Difficulty Check (DC) determines whether the attempt was a success or a failure. Advantage and Disadvantage This is 5E’s defining innovation. Instead of making players calculate a dozen tiny modifiers (+2 for high ground, -1 for rain, +1 for a spell etc), the system or the DM simply declares whether the character has Advantage or Disadvantage on said roll. The player rolls two d20s and takes the higher result (Advantage) or the lower result (Disadvantage) and adds the necessary modifiers to the result. Bounded Accuracy In older editions, numbers got out of hand fast. With 5E the numbers increase at a reasonable rate. Armor Class (AC) and attack bonuses rise slowly, so even high-level adventurers aren't always guaranteed to overcome a bunch of goblins. Most encounters can still be a challenge, especially if the amount of enemies is high. The Proficiency Bonus A single, scaling number (starting at +2 and ending at +6) represents the character's training and experience. If a character is trained in using a weapon type, a skill (like Stealth), or a saving throw, they simply add their Proficiency Bonus to the d20 roll. Backgrounds Roleplaying your character is starts already at the character creation. Picking a Background (like Acolyte or Criminal) gives you extra skills and story hooks: Personality Traits, Ideals, Bonds, Flaws, all concrete details to play with. Resource Management (Rests) The game manages health and class abilities through a system of "Short Rests" (a quick one-hour break to spend Hit Dice and regain some abilities) and "Long Rests" (a full eight hours of downtime to completely heal and restore all spell slots and abilities). Subclasses While players pick a primary Class (like Wizard) at level 1, they branch off into specialized Subclasses (like the School of Evocation or the School of Illusion) typically between levels 1 and 3, allowing for deep customization while presenting progression through incremental steps as the character grows and levels up Additional links dungeonsanddragons.com - Official Dungeons & Dragons website Basic Rules (2014)  - D&D 5E free rules

RPG advice and discussion. Let's talk gaming! Actual play channel with multiple campaigns on Bandit's Keep Actual Play. Links youtube.com - Youtube channel discord.gg - Discord server patreon.com - Patreon page

Pathbuilder 2e is the premier digital character builder and sheet for Pathfinder Second Edition. Created by David Wilson (Redrazors), it is celebrated for its speed, near-perfect rules accuracy, and its comprehensive support for the game’s vast library of content. In a significant move for 2025 and 2026, the app finally expanded beyond Android and Web to include a native iOS and iPadOS release, making it accessible across the entire mobile ecosystem. Description Pathbuilder 2e is the "gold standard" for Pathfinder players who want to navigate the system's deep customization without choice paralysis. It tracks every feat, spell, and proficiency bonus from level 1 to 20, ensuring that characters remain rules-legal at every step. While it lacks the high-budget "Nexus" features of competitors like Demiplane, its utility is unmatched; it allows for rapid "theory-crafting" of builds and exports directly to PDF or Foundry VTT. It is widely considered a mandatory tool for anyone playing PF2e regularly. System Overview & Key Features Comprehensive Rules Integration The app is updated with incredible speed, usually incorporating new Paizo releases—like the 2025/2026 Remastered books and playtests—within days of their launch. It includes every ancestry, class, and archetype available in the game, automatically filtering options based on what your character qualifies for. Level-Up Planning One of its most loved features is the ability to plan a character's entire progression ahead of time. You can select your feats for level 15 while your character is still level 1, creating a "roadmap" that makes leveling up during a session as simple as tapping a single button. Cloud Saving and Syncing For users who unlock the full version, Pathbuilder offers cloud storage via Google Drive. This allows you to start a build on your desktop browser during your lunch break and pull it up on your phone or tablet at the gaming table later that evening. Variant Rule Support The paid version unlocks support for popular optional rulesets, such as Free Archetype, Ancestry Paragon, and Gradual Ability Boosts. These toggles allow groups to use the most common community-standard house rules with zero manual math. Pet and Companion Management Managing familiars, animal companions, and eidolons is a core part of Pathfinder. Pathbuilder provides dedicated tabs for these entities (in the paid version), tracking their specific stats, barding, and special abilities alongside the main hero. VTT and PDF Export The app features a robust export system. You can generate a clean, official-looking PDF character sheet or use "JSON" exports to import your character directly into Foundry VTT or Roll20 using community-made modules, saving hours of data entry. Additional links pathbuilder2e.com - Official Web Application Android App iOS/iPadOS App