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How does “optimization” change the game?
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<blockquote data-quote="pming" data-source="post: 8402035" data-attributes="member: 45197"><p>Hiya!</p><p></p><p>My problem with this thread...</p><p></p><p>What is "Optimized"?</p><p>What is a "low stat"?</p><p>What is "sucking"?</p><p></p><p>In regards to 5e, this would be my interpretations:</p><p></p><p>Optimized: Scoured through all the source books and options available looking for the most +'s and looking for ways to try and "interpret in a blatantly not-intended way" (e.g., trying to use the english language as 'RAW' and falling back on "But it doesn't say I <em>can't</em> do this...").</p><p></p><p>Low Stat: Anything with a -2 or worse.</p><p></p><p>Sucking: You need to constantly roll a 15+ for almost anything you do...and some things that a commoner can do you specifically can't because of flaws/hinderances/choices.</p><p></p><p>From reading what I have read in this thread... I get the impression that "Optimized" means focusing on one specific "trick" that lets you "win in any situation"...somehow. (e.g., "I suck at everything, but I get an extra attack at +9th and +1d6+8 damage"... and when they can't convince a guard to let them go, they just attack; or they can't pick a lock, so they just attack the door; or they can't get passage on a ship, so they just attack a fisherman and take his boat; or they can't pay for their week's stay in an inn and try and walk out, get stopped, and attack because 'they were assaulted and feared for their life'; etc...etc). ... I also feel that "low stat" means anything lower than +2 as a bonus...and that "sucking" means you aren't the character that THEY would have made.</p><p></p><p>I disagree as much as I agree with Genny (the video girl posted above)...half the time I think "Huh, yup. Never thought of it like that", and the other half of the time I think "WTF girl?! Are you daft?!". If she and her group are cool with this style of play...go for it. The problem often, IME, doesn't come from someone "not optimizing at the table", but from the person or persons who DO "optimize at the table". I have encountered what she stated she is; she has an unoptimized character, and the only people upset with her choice are the "optimizers". The 'regular' gamers don't care, for the most part. These "optimizers" remind me of Cal from the movie "The Gamers: Dorkness Rising" </p><p></p><p>...{{{SPOILERSS!!!!}}}...</p><p></p><p> who absolutely looses it when the new girl in the group (his ex) has an un-optimized/expected Fighter and uses a Wish on an NPC.</p><p></p><p>For me, the bottom line is this: Are you having fun? If so, keep going. Because if you are having fun but several of the other players are annoyed and not having fun because "you suck as a [class]"...chances are that you will NOT be having fun in the very near future. This results in them learning to accept it, or you leaving the group because of playstyle differences. Either way, problem solved.</p><p></p><p>^_^</p><p></p><p>Paul L. Ming</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="pming, post: 8402035, member: 45197"] Hiya! My problem with this thread... What is "Optimized"? What is a "low stat"? What is "sucking"? In regards to 5e, this would be my interpretations: Optimized: Scoured through all the source books and options available looking for the most +'s and looking for ways to try and "interpret in a blatantly not-intended way" (e.g., trying to use the english language as 'RAW' and falling back on "But it doesn't say I [I]can't[/I] do this..."). Low Stat: Anything with a -2 or worse. Sucking: You need to constantly roll a 15+ for almost anything you do...and some things that a commoner can do you specifically can't because of flaws/hinderances/choices. From reading what I have read in this thread... I get the impression that "Optimized" means focusing on one specific "trick" that lets you "win in any situation"...somehow. (e.g., "I suck at everything, but I get an extra attack at +9th and +1d6+8 damage"... and when they can't convince a guard to let them go, they just attack; or they can't pick a lock, so they just attack the door; or they can't get passage on a ship, so they just attack a fisherman and take his boat; or they can't pay for their week's stay in an inn and try and walk out, get stopped, and attack because 'they were assaulted and feared for their life'; etc...etc). ... I also feel that "low stat" means anything lower than +2 as a bonus...and that "sucking" means you aren't the character that THEY would have made. I disagree as much as I agree with Genny (the video girl posted above)...half the time I think "Huh, yup. Never thought of it like that", and the other half of the time I think "WTF girl?! Are you daft?!". If she and her group are cool with this style of play...go for it. The problem often, IME, doesn't come from someone "not optimizing at the table", but from the person or persons who DO "optimize at the table". I have encountered what she stated she is; she has an unoptimized character, and the only people upset with her choice are the "optimizers". The 'regular' gamers don't care, for the most part. These "optimizers" remind me of Cal from the movie "The Gamers: Dorkness Rising" ...{{{SPOILERSS!!!!}}}... who absolutely looses it when the new girl in the group (his ex) has an un-optimized/expected Fighter and uses a Wish on an NPC. For me, the bottom line is this: Are you having fun? If so, keep going. Because if you are having fun but several of the other players are annoyed and not having fun because "you suck as a [class]"...chances are that you will NOT be having fun in the very near future. This results in them learning to accept it, or you leaving the group because of playstyle differences. Either way, problem solved. ^_^ Paul L. Ming [/QUOTE]
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How does “optimization” change the game?
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