It's really one game split into two. There's some new tracks in The Lost Age, but if you weren't a fan of the first OST, the second isn't any different.
The story continues in the sequel and rounds things out a bit more. If I had to pick between the two, The Lost Age is my favourite, but you can't have that without the first.
I'm wondering why WotC are so committed to making plans that are so anti-consumer?
You'd figure they'd want to build back good will after the last year, but every move they make seems to just dig deeper into the "fuck you, give us more money" pit.
This cements two things for me. The first is that I hate the wording of things in 5e, especially it being called a Bonus Action. I think that specific phrase confuses people.
The second is that this is much easier in Pathfinder 2e. You can cast any spells as long as you have the actions for it using your 3 action turn. Cantrips are usually one action, and greater spells usually range from two to three actions. Simplifies this confusing mess quite easily.
Think about it this way: what's the purpose of the players choosing between North and West if the outcome is exactly the same, whether they know this or not? Are they just arbitrarily choosing between the two paths, or do they have information that gives positives and negatives to either path? Doing the former is just a choice for the sake of it. It serves no purpose. In the latter, it's now less of something to fill and waste time, and it's now a decision on the players' part on whether they want to travel safely or dangerously, or whatever the differences are between the routes.
Quantum ogre is more about the intent and removing actual choice from players. Good prep does away with making player choice irrelevant.
I'm assuming in your question, the first situation would have the "preplanned" fight be wherever the players decide to go since we're discussing the QO. The difference between your two methods is in the latter, you're making up the creature or combat on the spot by reacting to what the players have done. In the first, it didn't matter what the players did. You were going to do it anyway, so why even give them a choice?
As I mentioned, I understand there are different tables abd thoughts on this, and as such, different DM styles as well.
For me, while it's the DMs job to help keep things entertaining (though that's everyone's job in my mind), it's also the DMs job to be consistent in the world, since they essentially are the world. I personally don't like fudging because half of the reason my tables play is for things to be determined by the dice, not the DM. I get that other tables play for story and are fine with fudging.
In my experience, this isn't a thing you can discuss to try and convince people otherwise. This isn't me trying to tell people fudging is bad and they should feel bad. I honestly just think after 22 years and hundreds of games, it's crazy that no one cared about it. That's all.
That's seriously crazy to me! Wow. It's one of the things I would definitely say 'do not do' if a GM asked me that. Obviously I know everyone doesn't feel as I do, I'm just surprised that in so long, no one has really cared.
Wait, so every table you've had has been fine with you fudging dice? That's honestly wild to me.
I ran my first ever Vaesen game last week, and will be running the follow up session the coming Monday. It was a lot of fun - more narrative focused and room for improvisation for both the GM and the players. The setting is interesting and the creatures are fun. Looking forward to hopefully run more of it in the future.
I also picked up Ryuutama at the games store a few days ago. It's an interesting little system where the journey is more important than the destination. For those unaware, it has been described as "Studio Ghibli meets Oregon Trail". Probably won't be able to run that for a bit, but an interested to read more about it!
There's a slight barrier to entry here that makes it not as accessible for a certain crowd. That may change over time, especially with Threads introducing them to the fediverse. I suppose we'll see.
Not saying you can't play just one or the other, but they're both made better by the existence of the other.