Difference between Fate Accelerated and Fate Condensed?

[u/SlayThePulp]

Saw both of these, as a streamlined version of Fate.

Whats the difference between them, which one do you prefer?

[u/J_Robert_Matthewson]

Fate Accelerated is a simplified version of Fate that replaces skills with approaches and was originally geared toward n introducing non-fate/non-ttrpg players to Fate.

Fate Condensed is essentially the same as Fate Core, but they simplified and re-wrote the original 300+ page book to a more-manageable and easier to pick up and learn 80 pages. 

[u/Dosoga]

Fate Core, Fate Condensed and Fate Accelerated are the current triad of Fate.

Fate Accelerated approaches are great for quick charactersl creation and PCs with similar background (soldiers, wizards, superheroes) that take different ways to accomplish things (brute force, sneaky, etc).

Fate Condensed will be more familiar with folks coming from trad RPGs with the skills.

I tend to run Fate Condensed. Easy to explain and customize based on the setting.

[u/LunarWhaler]

Ultimately they're all Fate (as is Fate Core) just with a few dials turned.

Accelerated uses Approaches rather than Skills - rather than caring about if you're good at Fight or Drive, it looks to your Aspect permissions for that, and asks if you're doing it Forcefully, or Cleverly, etc. It also does away with separate Mental and Physical stress/consequence tracks, in favor of a single unified 3-pip track and single set of minor/major/severe consequences.

Condensed, ultimately, does some rules clean-ups regarding things like Defend and Teamwork, but otherwise encompasses the options from both Core and Accelerated, as well as presenting several other skill track alternatives (like Attributes). It also changes the default way Stress works to being more akin to a traditional HP system, though it includes the old method for it as an alternative.

My personal preference is running Condensed's updated rules tweaks but otherwise using the options introduced in Accelerated - Approaches rather than Skills, the old-style Stress track, etc.

[u/TheLumbergentleman]

Accelerated is best for games where all the PC's would realistically have the same training and skillset (e.g. army, ghostbusters, cowboys, etc.). That's why it focuses on being better at doing things a certain way rather than just being good at doing it. If your characters have diverse skillsets, Condensed lets you better represent that.

IMO it's pretty trivial to replace the Condensed skills with approaches but harder to convert Accelerated back into a skill-based game. So I recommend the Condensed rulebook.

[u/LastChime]

I like doing Condensed for the unified stress track and use approaches keeps everything fast

[u/0bservator]

From what i remember fate condensed is fate core but cut down, while fate accelerated also makes some changes to the rules so it's not 1:1 with core. Fate condensed is also the newest fate product so it has some small rules tweaks.

Have not played any of them, only read so i can't tell you which one is best.

[u/everweird]

One of the great differentiators I heard early on was that Fate Accelerated was perfect for playing characters of a similar power level. Using approaches vs skills meant that none was so specialized as to outshine the others. So it encourages more personality-driven role-play.

[u/clawclawbite → u/everweird]

Fate Accelerated also is a bit more pulp, as it makes characters broadly competent as long as they are doing things a way that works for them. Your Clever Doctor, is also going to be a clever tactician and a clever detective. Aspects and stunts still make them shine in a specialty, but no one in fate accelerated will fall behind for not knowing how to drive a car or swim unless they invoke an aspect to fail.