There's no way to answer this poll accurately or that it's representative of people I've actually played with.
There are two different answers that both accommodate this position.
And then aggregating our responses as a representative sample, which makes the distinction meaningless.
You seem to be presuming certain kinds of intent with my question. I don't think this is accurate, but time will tell.
How are you defining "exploiting the rules"?
I am intentionally not doing so. I could, and indeed I do have a personal definition. I consider it irrelevant and indeed counterproductive to share any such definition at this time. I wish to know how
ENWorlders evaluate the statement. This isn't about generalizing to the public. It isn't about making some grand statement. I know I can't get that answer here (or, indeed, much of anywhere.) I would need a massive survey campaign and tons of money, neither of which I have.
Yes, but do you regard that as an actual exploit or just playing by what the rules say? I suspect most people draw that line in different places.
As noted above, I do have an opinion. I consider it counterproductive to share that opinion at this time. Perhaps, in a week or two, after the votes have largely settled, I will give my own personal perspective. I don't want it to taint the results. I genuinely wish to know how
you (and others) feel about it,
whatever YOU consider to be "cheating" or "exploiting."
assume it's being asked just because a fellow poster is vaguely curious, not because they're trying to delve some deep truth about D&D demographics for publication in an academic journal.
It is
slightly more than just vague curiosity, but yes, I am quite well aware that this tells me very little in a broad or scientific sense.
Exploit the rules? Is that optimising? Id say exploiting the rules is legit player strategy. Im narrative first so often the rules exploit me
See above. I am choosing not to specify. Each respondent should use the meaning they think best.