D&D 5E Ability Score Increases (I've changed my mind.)

[Bill Zebub]

But considering your general view about the game, I don't expect that you can understand this.

That's veering dangerously close to personal attacks. Or maybe it's over the line.

 

[Lyxen]

Yes, and when you pick things that move you towards that goal, you are still optimizing.

Oh yes, because exploring how you combine serving an evil power with the homeliness of halfling is certainly optimising something. sigh

When I write "interesting", it's in terms of story, integration with the campaign story and that of other characters.

HOwever, just as I suspected, there is no way you cannot powergame, or even envision the mindset of someone who does not.

 

[Bill Zebub]

Not all, but it would be refreshing to see at least one...

And so if I can find somebody who has created a race/class combination using Tasha's rules that is considered not great in that guide, where all they've done is use the floating ASI to give themselves a +3 in their primary attribute, you'll acknowledge that your characterization of optimizers/powergamers is wrong, and concede the debate?

Just trying to figure out what the goal is here, before I put in the effort.

 

[LadyElect]

we are literally all powergamers

Hey, if the name fits @Maxperson

 

[Bill Zebub]

Powergaming is all about boosting one's own character. I'm not saying that that it prevents being really cooperative, but at the bottom there is that edge of competition that will surface at some point in time.

Well, yeah, there are different playstyles.

Which again has us circling back to the question of whether rules can prevent jerks from acting like jerks. I don't think they can.

 

[Maxperson]

That's veering dangerously close to personal attacks. Or maybe it's over the line.

He's already called me dense. I don't expect personal attacks are a thing he avoids.

 

[Maxperson]

Oh yes, because exploring how you combine serving an evil power with the homeliness of halfling is certainly optimising something. sigh

When I write "interesting", it's in terms of story, integration with the campaign story and that of other characters.

People in my experience pick skills, feats, etc. that fit with their theme. So yes, that's optimizing.

You've called me dense, and said I can't understand the game, but now you've gone to far. Calling halflings homely is unforgivable I say!

HOwever, just as I suspected, there is no way you cannot powergame, or even envision the mindset of someone who does not.

You're the one incorrectly equating optimizing to powergaming. This is your issue, not mine.

 

[Scott Christian]

My groups haven't been like that. A powergamer usually focuses on combat, which is a minority of the game. Most of the game is exploration and social, with combats happening a fair amount, but less than the other two combined. I let them shine in combat where I'm still effective, and then I shine in the other areas with my ideas and other skills.

Sounds like a fun table. Most tables I know and have seen use combat more heavily. But, it is definitely a table by table experience.

 

[Maxperson]

Sounds like a fun table. Most tables I know and have seen use combat more heavily. But, it is definitely a table by table experience.

We have one combat on most nights, but some nights don't have any. Occasionally there will be two or more, but those are games where they are in a dungeon or some other place of high danger.

 

[Scott Christian]

People don't necessarily "need" anything, they just gotta "want" it, since this is a game for fun, they can ask for options that'll make the game more enjoyable for them. If they want to be powerful or play in a hard campaign, it's completely reasonable to want the ASIs to match their class.

In this case, there is no difference between a need and want. If they want it because their enjoyment depends on it, then it could also be described as a need. Your statement implies their enjoyment of the game is at stake if they don't have the ASI.