I am kind of interested in this system mostly because I like the base 3d6 and stunt mechanics, and it seems to be pretty adaptable and generic overall.

A couple of questions to those who might know.  Does it lean towards verisimilitude (gritty, realistic play... can't find the right word here), or cinematic high powered playstyles?  How about... How deadly is the combat system? Meat points? Death spirals?  Is there much depth in the magic system? Is magic over the top, or low key. What about its suitability for long-term play and character advancement?

Quote from: Madprofessor;947084Does it lean towards verisimilitude (gritty, realistic play... can't find the right word here), or cinematic high powered playstyles?

Similar to D&D.

Quote from: Madprofessor;947084How about... How deadly is the combat system? Meat points? Death spirals?

Similar to D&D but more grindier as HP start larger and damage doesn't escalate as much.

Quote from: Madprofessor;947084Is there much depth in the magic system? Is magic over the top, or low key.

Its very combat focussed.

Quote from: Madprofessor;947084What about its suitability for long-term play and character advancement?

Its suffers from D&D3e's advancement issue of those abilities that you train in run away from anything you aren't, forcing DCs to go up or giving auto success in this areas of speciality.

Combat gets grindier as the levels increase, again like D&D.

It's an expression meaning a very long time, as in "I haven't seen you in a Dragon Age!"

Quote from: Skywalker;947088Similar to D&D....

Thanks, Skywalker.  It seems to be squarely competing for the same territory as D&D without adding much.  I'm not sure what the advantage (difference) over D&D might be.  Maybe I'll pass.

I haven't really read it in detail, or played it, but from what I've gathered I suspect Fantasy AGE to be a different take on D&D5's design goal of striking a balance of sorts between D&D3-like character customization with less mechanical complexity and a smaller workload on the GM's side.

Would anyone who's actually read or played it, confirm or refute this impression?

Quote from: The Butcher;947191I haven't really read it in detail, or played it, but from what I've gathered I suspect Fantasy AGE to be a different take on D&D5's design goal of striking a balance of sorts between D&D3-like character customization with less mechanical complexity and a smaller workload on the GM's side.

Would anyone who's actually read or played it, confirm or refute this impression?

It is its own thing with 3d6, a different way of rolling criticals, and stunt points. Green Ronin has successful made a true alternative in the complexity space that core only D&D 3.X and 5e occupies.

Quote from: estar;947220It is its own thing with 3d6, a different way of rolling criticals, and stunt points. Green Ronin has successful made a true alternative in the complexity space that core only D&D 3.X and 5e occupies.

5e, while still fiddly, is less complex than even core 3.x.  I'd put Dragon Age below 5e, something similar to Shadow of the Demon Lord, probably even lower.

Dragon Age-->Shadow of the Demon Lord-->5e-->Core 3.x in orders of complexity.

Quote from: CRKrueger;9472245e, while still fiddly, is less complex than even core 3.x.  I'd put Dragon Age below 5e, something similar to Shadow of the Demon Lord, probably even lower.

Well, that certainly piques my interest. Maybe I can find AGE a spot in my golf bag.

Quote from: CRKrueger;9472245e, while still fiddly, is less complex than even core 3.x.  I'd put Dragon Age below 5e, something similar to Shadow of the Demon Lord, probably even lower.

Dragon Age-->Shadow of the Demon Lord-->5e-->Core 3.x in orders of complexity.

I don't concur I would be AGE between 5e and D20 Core. This is because picking talents are a must in AGE and their arrangement is more diverse than the simple feats and handful of class options in 5e.

But unlike d20 the talents and specializations are much better organized namely because each have three "levels' (novice, journeyman, master) that give each bundle a tight organization unlike d20's feat chains.

But there are ways to "optimize" your character that follow the same pattern that existed with creating d20 characters. And it present to a far greater degree than 5e.

But for everybody else, AGE (DAGE or FAGE) is very straight forward to use and master. It only weakness is the lack of stuff. If you are looking for a system to try either AGE is an inexpensive way to try. Well DAGE use the single book version not the three boxed set version.

Quote from: estar;947243I don't concur I would be AGE between 5e and D20 Core. This is because picking talents are a must in AGE and their arrangement is more diverse than the simple feats and handful of class options in 5e.

But unlike d20 the talents and specializations are much better organized namely because each have three "levels' (novice, journeyman, master) that give each bundle a tight organization unlike d20's feat chains.

But there are ways to "optimize" your character that follow the same pattern that existed with creating d20 characters. And it present to a far greater degree than 5e.

But for everybody else, AGE (DAGE or FAGE) is very straight forward to use and master. It only weakness is the lack of stuff. If you are looking for a system to try either AGE is an inexpensive way to try. Well DAGE use the single book version not the three boxed set version.

Dragon Age more complex than 5e?  Brother, you are HIGH ON LIFE.  But, that's a good thing, so carry on.

Quote from: CRKrueger;947245Dragon Age more complex than 5e?  Brother, you are HIGH ON LIFE.  But, that's a good thing, so carry on.

Shrug, I fiddled extensively with both systems with stuff like my Majestic Stars and the stuff I created for a hypothetical Majestic Wilderlands 5e.

But hey what do I know? It all opinion right?

My experience is this. With 5e it is about coming with lists of abilities. With Age is messing around with how talents, specialization, and to a lesser extent class abilities work each other. But a lot less fiddly than d20 or D&D 4e.

But I will say this in support of your thesis, the difference in complexity is minimal. It really more about how the games are organized and how AGE uses 3d6 versus 5e's use of the d20.

Quote from: The Butcher;947191I haven't really read it in detail, or played it, but from what I've gathered I suspect Fantasy AGE to be a different take on D&D5's design goal of striking a balance of sorts between D&D3-like character customization with less mechanical complexity and a smaller workload on the GM's side.

Not quite. Its effectively a less mechanically complex D&D3e, with none of the lessons that 5e learned from 3e's (and 4e's) flaws. Its looks OK on paper, but its feels rough at the table.