I feel like a Munchkin...

[NoOneofConsequence]

I always thought that a munchkin was a player who thought that their character's power(s) were the whole point of the game.

The kind of people who would say "You want to dual wield and didn't take one level of ranger? That's dumb!" and things of this like.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

I always thought that a munchkin was a player who thought that their character's power(s) were the whole point of the game.

The kind of people who would say "You want to dual wield and didn't take one level of ranger? That's dumb!" and things of this like.

And the flip-side of this would be, that just because someone did take one level of ranger for the TWF, that doesn't necessarily make them a munchkin.

Myself, I don't mind PC's trying to excel. In fact, I expect them to, since they are the heroes of the game. So long as the classes make sense, I have no problem with it. As many people have already pointed out, power does not always mean munchkin power.

I am currently DMing a game where several of the players have plotted out their PC's progression up to 18th-level or so (they just gained 5th), aiming for PrCs such as Duelist, Weapon Master, or Sacred Fist. I don't have a problem with it. They also wrote up great character backgrounds before the game, and one of the PCs is even keeping up written correspondence with his parents in a neighboring kingdom.

Metagame strategizing is no sin, so long as you're playing a character instead of numbers when the session gets underway.

 

[Cedric]

I have to say...that I would absolutely never play a character just because it's an attractive set of stats.

At the same time though...third edition has presented so many options that within reason, I want to take advantage of them. I know this is totally reasonable...but it's still taking some effort to come to terms with it completely.

Cedric

 

[Garmorn]

Munchkinism is more of a attitude and behavior problem then character construction problem. A munchkin by the original and true definition includes in mature behavior that is disruptive to the game, ignores other players and other wise create problems for the group as a whole.

Building a effective character is not wrong. Especially if it is built with the group's gaming style in mind.

 

[mirzabah]

Munchkin is as munchkin does...

Well no, that's not really fair. If you happen to come up with a character that happens to squeeze every last advantage out of the rules that doesn't automatically make you a munchkin

I'd say take your basic character concept and start playing. A lot of the stuff you're talking about won't happen for a few levels yet. By the time you level up, you may feel a bit differently about your character and might go in a direction you hadn't anticipated. In my experience, any decent character will take on a life of his/her/its own.

Cheers,
Mirzabah.

 

[Dr. Strangemonkey]

I understand your fears, Munchkin can be a dangerously confusing term.

And while I never experienced the internal debate that you're dealing with, I have had it pointed out to me.

I used to look at rules and their happy felecities of number crunching as material to help inspire new characters.

I never thought to myself, "I'm going to take these advantages and these handicaps so that I end with this amazingly capable stats." I always just thought I was finding ways to make really unusual but competent characters.

Long story short, I was really surprised when I discovered that I was widley thought of in our gaming circle as a tremendous Munchkin.

Eventually it all got resolved and people saw that I wasn't a munchkin just someone who liked weird that worked. I started toning down my characters by not being as upfront about their competencies and that seemed to work out fine.

The players were only tripped off when my characters' idiosyncracies were very obviously backed up by stats, in their eyes unusual behavior that translated directly into abilities meant Munchkin.

From this we developed the flip side of the Munchkin phenomena: That people will deal with people who play characters that they don't think make common sense by calling them Munchkins because that's the simplest explanation for their exoticism.

Seems to me that you have internalized what happend to me in my group, and I think you may be better off for it.

Since you are aware of this dangerously thin line between yourself and Munchkins, just be very clear with yourself on what your doing.

To some you may be splitting hairs, but if the fact that you are doing that enables you to bring more interesting characters to the table then why should they complain.

 

[green slime]

*alsih2o reaches out and feels cedric*

nope, feels like a butternut squash to me!

*grabs an arm, munches ever so slightly on it*

Hmmm... Tastes, like munchkin....ooops sorry, human, that is.

*Rolls bite around inside*

Hmmm... definitely human... A role player!... a D&D 3e:er!

But it did feel like butternut squash... how strange.

 

[Drawmack]

My entire group is around on these boards, though most of them are lurkers. A couple weeks ago at the game I jokingly announced that we were going to throw out any rule that had ever been disputed on enworld.

One of the group members looked at me and said, so we're playing free form now.

Look at it this way. The longer and more detailed a wish spell is, the easier it becomes for the sadistic gm to twist it. Well DnD has over 600 pages of core rules. Loop holes are there, just don't use/abuse them and you can play whatever you want without being a munchkin.

 

[kkoie]

Everyone whose posted is right. Don't worry about if you are a munchkin or not. IF we garner enough opinions, eventually just about everything will be labled munchkin by at least someone.

If after deciding over what to roleplay, you still feel uncomfortable, then roleplay something your comfortable with. Nothing wrong with that, nor does it make you a munchkin or less of a roleplayer.

 

[Someone]

There´s a diference in wanting to play a powerful character and wanting to play the most powerful character in the party, be the center of attention and step on everyone´s toes.

Ask your group. If they are ok with your character, you shouldn´t feel bad.