It just occurred to me that Pathfinder is to D&D what Linux is to Windows. More technically complex, less moral baggage, less mainstream and its fans won't shut up about it.

Well depends on the programming language you use. D&D uses classes and that's a big no no for some.

What a fitting anology! I'm going to start saying "I play Pathfinder BTW" at the end of every TTRPG comment now, I love it hahahahaha.

Would you believe me if I said I didn't check your comment history before posting that? I just assumed that a programmer who plays Pathfinder also uses Linux.

The or in this context refers to also known as. Like when you say what the fuck or WTF for short.

not true at all! I play Magic, not D&D

and pathfinder is way more open (AoN), just like linux

In our defense it's a pain to get people to try it.

I guess I'm not a real nerd after all

Well, it said "geeks" not "nerds" so you're fine.

**If I need to** what?!?

Never touched Dungeon and Dragons' stuff. And I have a dev. I don't want to point again the impression that some DnD players seem to think that DnD is the only way to play ttrpg... but well.. it's tempting, doesn't it?

I'd want to try out D&&D but I can't seem to find any group nearby

Not everybody at my company that knows how to program also plays dnd. Just everybody who is good at it.

there's actually great resources for getting started online. There's a site called [start playing games](https://startplaying.games/) dedicated to matching new people to a DM. Note that services like that cost money. There's also the virtual tabletop [roll20](https://app.roll20.net/lfg/search/) which has a group finder for you to find a game. It will have a mix of free and paid games. Alternatively, you can crowdsource that such as on [r/lfg on reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/lfg/) (unfortunately the LFGs here on lemmy don't seem to be active enough to find games), or through various discord servers, [including the official D&D discord](https://discord.gg/dnd). Another that has reasonably active LFG type sections to try is the [Fantasy grounds (another VTT)](https://discord.com/invite/Grn3zdbM) discord. For in person play, you can also look in to local gaming stores that might run [adventurer's league](https://www.adventurersleague.info/players), which is the sort of 'official' play wizards of the coast sanctions at local stores and at conventions.

Just like Linux.

And Wizards of the Coast (since bought by Hasbro) are like Microsoft, trying to control the platform as closely as possible, trying to define how people use their platform

if you need to…

It’s easier to tell someone you play D&D than it is to say you play Pathfinder, get the “… what?” question and then say “it’s for people who think D&D doesn’t have enough rules”

Yes and let's not disturb them. They may discover something interesting? And perhaps avoid to disgust people from our hobby by explaining that math is a must and classes too? I'm not even sure if I am trolling on purpose or because of the topic.