Optimising versus Roleplaying

[Thasmodious]

I think I've been convinced to always optimize.

All characters can be roleplayed.
I can roleplay an optimized character or I can roleplay an unoptimized character.
An optimized character is mechanically superior to an unoptimized character.

Therefore, roleplaying an optimized character is clearly the superior choice.

 

[Engilbrand]

HAHA! Awesome!

 

[thecasualoblivion]

I think I've been convinced to always optimize.

All characters can be roleplayed.
I can roleplay an optimized character or I can roleplay an unoptimized character.
An optimized character is mechanically superior to an unoptimized character.

Therefore, roleplaying an optimized character is clearly the superior choice.

I've never thought otherwise, though on the gamer spectrum I am what is classified as an Ass-Kicker, and optimizing enables Ass-Kicking.

 

[Dice4Hire]

I think any character can be roleplayed, and if you only have time to optimize (or spend all available time optimizing) you are short-changing yourself and your group.

I also could not care less about the formal logic rules prevalent in this thread.

Oh, I think I've been convinced to ask the moderators to lock the OP so it cannot be revised again.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

I think optimizing is fine, up until a certain "line." That line being the point where you're sacraficing role playing goals solely for the sake of optimization.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Pretty much.

If you're not playing the concept that made you pick up the dice for that campaign, but instead, your PC is just a bunch of numbers? You may have "over-optimized" your PC.

IOW, if "optimizing" your PC makes your PC less fun for you to play- for whatever reason- then you've probably crossed that line that StreamOfTheSky mentions.

OTOH, if that optimization also makes the campaign more fun for your gaming buddies- and you're the type of person who derives pleasure from the pleasure of others- a few mechanical optimizations at the expense of a little of your PC's soul is probably a good deal.

 

[Theroc]

I usually make characters like so:
Idea strikes brain
Ponder how effective it would be
Post a thread asking for build ideas for said idea
Sift ideas
Make character.

I have a powergamer lean because I'd HATE to be a burden on my group, so I often take great steps to ensure my character will be rather effective. I don't think I cross any lines, because I choose abilities that still fall in line with what I had in mind to play.

Anyways... yeah. I manage to find a good build(mechanically) for a character concept without losing my RP concept.

There's a happy medium to be had, IMO. YMMV.

 

[Jack99]

I think a point got lost. Stormwind was on the WotC boards. When someone would call someone a rollplayer instead of a roleplayer, he would say that it isn't impossible to roleplay an optimized character. The idea that optimized characters can't be roleplayed became known as the Stormwind Fallacy, specifically because Stormwind called it out as the stupid idea that it is.

Nothing got lost. Its been repeated about 17 times over the course of the thread.

Regarding all this, I must admit that I create the kickass optimized character first, then the kickass rp concept to suit it. Why? Well, it's quite simple. I like playing my characters for as long as possible, in order to develop them. And 20 years of playing has shown me that optimized characters live longer.

Who would have thunk it!

 

[UngainlyTitan]

Well as to how I create characters, I used to roll the dice and then see what they tell me, a habit from roll 3d6 and take what you get. However, the Character Builder has changed my habits somewhat. Though I do not get to play most of them but it is fun to fire up the CB and see what various characters might look like.

 

[Doug McCrae]

The main problem with optimization for me is when one player ends up significantly more powerful than another. Like if one PC is doing 50 damage a round and one is doing 10. I think that's a broken game right there.