When comparing Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition vs Fate Core, the Slant community recommends Fate Core for most people. In the question“What are the best tabletop RPGs?” Fate Core is ranked 9th while Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition is ranked 16th. The most important reason people chose Fate Core is:
Whereas Fate Core is skill driven, has more variables to keep track of and is potentially more varied in terms characters created, Fate Accelerated is approach driven, has less variables to keep track of and allows getting started quicker. Also, the Accelerated version is just 50 pages whereas the Core version is 310 pages.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Minimal rules though somewhat clumsy
5th Edition strikes a balance in keeping the rules simple in some areas, confusing and poorly thought out in others, while limiting the creativity of players and any real choice.
Pro Free basic rules PDFs
Wizards of the Coast provides free PDFs containing the complete core mechanical rules of 5th Edition D&D (combat, exploration, spellcasting, etc.) and a selection of iconic character options, monsters, magic items, etc. drawn from the full game. Though short on variety, the basic rules are almost playable and accurate to the full game.
Of course far more is free in older editions as well as cheaper, 5e is by far the most expensive edition, and it is almost as bad as 4th edition.
Pro Slightly encourages character immersion
Few core aspects of 5th Edition exist solely to encourage thinking in-character, including mechanical rewards for good roleplay and detailed character backgrounds with lasting effects in the game.
Pro Bounded accuracy
Bounded Accuracy is a core design ideal of 5th Edition. In short, it means the numbers don't get too big; this lets weak challenges remain relevant for longer, and strong ones become survivable sooner. In practice, it also places more focus on a character's inherent stats and less their class or on magical equipment than has been the case in recent editions, which is a another major downside to 5e.
Pro OGL content
As with other editions of the game, much of the content is released under the Open Game License (OGL) allowing custom modification, extension and alteration of the game.
Pro Advantage rule
Rolls 2d20 chooses best. This dramatically makes all classes feel the same and moves away from distinct, interesting classes.
Pro Lacks granularity
Overuse of lazy balancing systems such as concentration spells and advantage mechanic.
This removes player choices, fun and creativity.
Pro A good mix of the best rules of the previous D&D editions without the worst things
Pro New, popular & growing
This is the most recent edition of the game and is the only one for which official content is being produced. Do not expect to see new official adventures or splatbooks published for any of the older editions of D&D.
Pro An even more streamlined version is available, called Fate Accelerated
Whereas Fate Core is skill driven, has more variables to keep track of and is potentially more varied in terms characters created, Fate Accelerated is approach driven, has less variables to keep track of and allows getting started quicker.
Also, the Accelerated version is just 50 pages whereas the Core version is 310 pages.
Pro Excellent clarity of rules
It starts at the very beginning by explaining what is roleplaying and moves on to introduce various mechanics and conventions and explains why they're there, when's the appropriate time to use them and what are the best practices on how to do it.
The book does so in easy to understand language, offers many examples and highlights the important bits in various ways.
Pro Focuses on roleplaying by originating gameplay from world-building
Fate uses "aspects" to influence the gameplay in ways that are consistent with the world that's built. Aspects are descriptive phrases that define anything they are attached to. They give both roleplaying and mechanical advantages and disadvantages. For example, a character could be "raised in a wretched hive of scum and villainy" and that would allow him to better negotiate with thiefs and crooks, but also make him poor at fine dining etiquette.
Pro Multiple settings available for free
If you have problems creating your own game world there are a lot of settings available for free and they range from fantasy to Soviet-era pulp sci-fi, so everyone can find something for himself.
Pro Straightforward and Flexible
The system is great for moderating a session of roleplaying. Bring your own setting, and any additional gameplay your group enjoys. It lends itself well to those without the money to invest in miniatures, game boards, or even tables.
Pro No fixed setting
Fate Core is a general purpose RPG system that can be applied to any theme.
Cons
Con Lack of granularity
Due to the simplicity of the rules, responsibility lies with the GM to govern the game rather than hard and fast rules.
Con Lacks the soul of older versions
Con It's too combat-oriented
It's meant for fight-y campaigns. Way too simple too.
Con Bland classes and races compred to other versions of DnD
Overuse of concentration mechanic, no racial stat modifiers and hardly any differences at all between races and classes, compared to previous editions.
Con Only popular because most people playing it have not tried any other systems.
Only justification for the system is to let critical role bring more people into the hobby. Once players try Warhammer, Vampire or AD&D 2e, they will have no need to return to 5e.
Con Worse mechanics than other versions of DnD
Especially spells, races and classes are dumbed down with lazy attempts to balance them, blocking player creativity.
Con Too shallow
Easy to learn, but not much to the game overall. Limited character depth and customization.
Con Very unbalanced
Thieves and Rangers are pretty much useless.
Con Casters are more powerful than noncasters
Con Almost no published material for 5e
WoTC has been super lazy since 3,5 and even that had only a third of the material available that TSR published for AD&D 2e.
Is is sad that WoTC after 7 years has not supported 5e or other versions better.
This is a great reason to look into 2e or 3,5e systems instead of 5e.
Con It can be difficult to come up with aspects
Coming up with aspects can take a while. Especially for new players. In addition to coming up with traits that define the character, tags and compels are needed. Furthermore all of these little nuances have to be coherent as well as balanced in terms of power. This can make the character creation process take a while.
Con Compel mechanic is not for everyone
Compels allow GM to trigger a player's aspect in exchange for a fate point. The player can avoid invoking noted apect by spending a fate point.
Concerns about the system include removing control from the player of how a character is played, GMs having a lot more data to track (each aspect for each player) and possibility of getting stuck in a compel-loop of forcing certain behaviour.
Con Atypical mechanics
The general mechanics of Fate are broadly dissimilar to classic roleplaying games like D&D. While this is generally the system's strongest point, players who are not yet accustom to the game may find great difficulty with it.
Con Not for passive players
If you find your players passive and unwilling to take an active role in creating game world then the experience may be not as enjoyable as it could be.