Are you optimized?

[Stormborn]

Occasioanally around here the subject comes up about planning out your PCs and inveitably someone points out that in real life people often do not become what they set out to be and that characters should progress just as organically. Of course thats true of a lot of people, but it is true of you?

In other words, did you become what you set out to become (or are you in the process at least)? Are you single classed and focused on doing one or a limited number of things really well? Of course in RL most of us are Experts, with a few Commoners, Warriors, and Aristocrats thrown into the mix - but where is the fun in that? If you were in a DnD type world and your career followed your real life career would you be an Optomized PC?

In my case I would say not. In DnD terms I am easily a Cleric/Bard, with most of the emphasis on Cleric. I have a BA in Religion and a MDiv and am currently working as a minister and relgious educator, but I am also a free lance writer and have taught Speech and Communications courses. I have done a wide variety of things, and know a good deal of fairly esoteric knowledge about a wide range of fields due to my hobbies and interests (and a tendency in my younger years to read encyclopedias.) So while, again in DnD terms, I would have alot of ranks in Kn(religion), Perform (oratorty), Diplomacy, and Sense Motive I have a few ranks in every knowledge skill, and probably at least 1 rank in 90% of the skills (not counting Craft and Proffession but I do have several of those).

So not really optomized.

What about you?

 

[Aus_Snow]

Hm.

Smart Ordinary/Charismatic Ordinary/Dedicated Ordinary. Levels? Er, no idea!

So no, really not.

 

[Theron]

Assuming one level of experience per year on the job, I'm a 7th level bookseller, 12th level Administrative Assistant, 3rd level IT Manager.

I'm EPIC!

 

[Voadam]

I enjoy hunting but I'm a terrible shot.

So since D&D is all about the combat I'd say I'm not optimized.

 

[Aus_Snow]

Otherwise (running with that D&D thing) maybe Commoner/Expert/Bard. Commoner pretty much reflects my "class" during childhood, in both senses of the word. The Expert levels would cover the majority of my education and employment (a mixed bag, to be sure!) Then finally we have some levels in Bard to represent the travelling around playing gigs, getting recorded, and all that stuff.

Wow. Unplayable, methinks.

 

[freyar]

I suppose I'm optimized in that I've spent pretty much my whole life studying and doing science, if you're talking about my actual RL experience. Sometimes it's kind of scary, considering how rare academic jobs can be.

 

[Rafael Ceurdepyr]

Nah, probably not optimized. I started out as a librarian (M.L.S. degree), for 10 years (although I DID catalog my books when I was like 9 or 10 years old). Then I switched to web designer. I still do research for gaming (and I write gaming books), but all my web experience is self-taught. Yeah, I have a lot of ranks in Research and a bunch of different Knowledge skills. Throw in a level of Bard, perhaps, for my voice lessons and current volunteer as music leader at church. Oh yeah, the teaching thing, too, web design for the journalism department at the university where I'm a web designer.

Nope, still not optimized. Pretty random.

 

[theredrobedwizard]

My entire life has been devoted to the study of manipulating people and trying to take advantage of those stupider than myself. I work in a casino, so I'm pretty sure I'm optimized for my job. I figure, Warlock for Beguiling Influence, Marshal for inspirational speeches, and Bard for the same.

Sure, I have a +0 BAB at level 3, but my saves and Bluff/Diplomacy are amazing.

-TRRW

 

[ShadowDenizen]

Assuming "Optmized" refers primarily to combat-scnearios?

Then, No. I'm not optimized at all.

If I were "translated" to D+D, I would probably be a Multi-Classed Bard/Druid.

 

[Driddle]

Based on the low charisma scores and diplomacy ranks of some people I've encountered, I figure they must have optimized some other abilities and skills.