Do you fear weakness?

[Dannyalcatraz]

I try to optimize my PCs to fit their concept- sometimes that means a lean, mean RPG machine, but sometimes it means fleshing out an oddball and inefficient concept.

Do I fear playing a weak PC? No. I've played several PCs with less than optimal stats (in D&D terms, in the 3-8 range).

Fat Fighters; Dumb Priests and Thieves...and then things like Wizards with the stats of a Fighter.

Its all about playing a fun PC.

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

I just played in a session where nothing my character attempted worked. I slid down the cave after orcs and tried to lure them into attacking the spectral image created by dancing lights. No dice. I drank a potion of invisibility and tried to sneak around the ambush. There was no way around it and I nearly fell into a pit for my troubles. I tried to jump over the pit and ran into an invisible door. I tried to find a way to open the door from the outside and their wasn't one. Frustrating, like I said.

Why on earth would I want to put myself into that position when the DM's entire world was not conspiring against me. Giving myself a weak character would do that. Frustrating and boring to boot.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Incidentally, how the heck can you have a PC four levels behind the rest of the group? The XP system is designed to pull laggers up very quickly.

Actually, I think you'll find taht the xp system is designed to pull laggers up very slowly. IMC the level disparity still existed after the top character had gained five levels. The bonus xps that a lower level character gets just are not that big a difference to enable you to catch up quickly (at least when we are talking about mid-level characters in my experience).

Cheers

 

[Cartigan Mrryl]

I'd have to agree with everyone else, the only characters that you need to worry about are a cannon fodder dwarf, or a melee rogue with low Con/Dex/Str. Most other thigns can be used wisely to offset any weakness they might have...

 

[glass]

But on the other side of the coin, I love playing weaker characters. I grin when I roll low, because I get to think of reasons why my character has such a poor stat, then I get to think up ways to help my character overcome his weakensses.

It's true! WD40 is the only person I've ever known ask to reroll his character's stats because he thought they were too good.


glass.

 

[glass]

To actually answer the OP's question, yes, I think I do fear weakness. Or more accurately, relative weakness.

For instance, I am currently playing a diplomacy focused half-elf rogue in a Ravenloft game. Ravenloft has fear saves (which are based on will), and my chracter has a will save modifier of +0 spent, and has spent most of his time with a -2 penalty to everything for being shaken. But it's okay, because my character's will save is actually better than some in the party! :\

I'm still going to try to boost it if I ever make 3rd level though.


glass.