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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Guest&nbsp; 85555" data-source="post: 9018161">I don't think you would have because the social climate of the hobby was different and the idea that these were optional was crucial. You even note this wasn't the norm at all. This is pretty important, but I would also argue the tools were no where near as powerful as 3E with all of its class dipping options. Yes some of the available options could be used in unexpected ways but most Kits in the complete books provided things like bonus NWPs (which were themselves optional). And there were of course known potential issues, like pushing the multiple attacks. But again I never encountered anything optimized to the degree I saw in 3E. And yes some of that was the internet, most people who optimized were using optimization boards to do it. Still even in the hands of a skilled optimizer there was a big difference in 2E in my experience. But again I would also say that they were optional was incredibly important. It wasn't the default assumption that all of those options would be available, and the GM was expected to control options for reasons around balance, setting integrity, etc. But what we are talking about more than system, though system matters here, is the spirit of play during the period. 3E was an era of wish lists, something you didn't really do in 2E, and it was because the pendulum has shifted in the direction of there being an expectation that players would optimize to realize their character concepts.</blockquote>

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