Dungeons & Dragons vs Electric Bastionland
Compare Dungeons & Dragons and Electric Bastionland side by side. See differences in complexity, dice, genre, cost, and more.
| Dungeons & Dragons | Electric Bastionland | |
|---|---|---|
| Genre | Fantasy | Fantasy |
| Play Style | Tactical, Heroic, Combat-Heavy, Dungeon Crawl, Character Building, High-Fantasy, Grid-Based, Beginner-Friendly, Classic Fantasy, Lore-Heavy, Ascending AC | Rules-Light, Weird, Classless, Dungeon Crawl, Attacks Always Hit, One-Shot Friendly, Low-Prep |
| Core Mechanic | Roll d20 + modifier against a target DC (for ability checks and saving throws) or AC (for attacks). Meeting or exceeding the target succeeds. Advantage rolls 2d20 and takes the higher; disadvantage takes the lower, replacing most situational modifiers. | Roll d20 equal to or under attribute (STR, DEX, CHA) to avoid danger. Attacks always hit — roll weapon damage directly, reduced by armor. 100+ unique Failed Careers define your character through equipment and debt rather than stats. |
| Dice | d20 | d20 |
| Complexity | Medium | Very Low |
| Accessibility | High | Very High |
| Community | Very High | Medium |
| License | CC BY 4.0 (SRD); core books proprietary | Mark of the Odd SRD |
| Cost | $$$ | Free / $$ |
| Publisher | Wizards of the Coast | Bastionland Press |
| Year | 2024 | 2020 |
| Best For | Groups who want heroic fantasy adventures with tactical grid combat, deep character customization, and access to more published adventures and supplements than any other RPG. | Short treasure-hunting campaigns in a surreal, modern-tinged city. Ideal for groups who love strange worldbuilding, fast character creation via 100+ Failed Careers, and fiction-driven play. |
| Highlights | Advantage/disadvantage system simplifies most situational modifiers to a single mechanic. Extensive class and subclass options across 12 base classes with 48 subclasses in the 2024 PHB. The largest third-party content ecosystem in tabletop RPGs. Free basic rules and starter sets lower the barrier to entry. | Two pages of actual rules, 100+ varied Failed Careers, detailed GM guidance, free 42-page edition available, spawned an entire design movement |
| Considerations | High-level play (tier 3-4) introduces significant spell interaction complexity and encounter balancing challenges for GMs. No official rules for non-fantasy genres. Three core books at $50 each represent a significant investment for the full rules. | Tightly coupled to its surreal Bastion setting, minimal character progression, requires a confident GM, narrow genre focus |