Optimising versus Roleplaying

[clearstream]

Sometimes posters say that you should always optimise because optimising is never incompatible with roleplaying. They will say things like

Roleplaying and optimization are not connected. Trying to claim one interferes with the other is a false dilemma.
​

It appears possible to show that their argument is mistaken as follows (using D&D as the example).

Let's take as a premise that every possible character in D&D can be roleplayed.

Let's say that some possible characters in D&D are optimised, and some are not optimised.

Since every character in D&D is roleplayable, and some are not optimised, then it is possible to roleplay a character that is not optimised.

Where a player desires to roleplay a character that happens to be a character that is not optimised, to optimise precludes their roleplaying the specific character they desired to roleplay. A true dilemma occurs - either roleplay the character, or optimise.
​

The possibility to do something is not the same as the skill at doing it. Skill at optimising is unconnected to skill at roleplaying (that's the false dilemma people refer to, aka the Stormwind Fallacy) but doing one can interfere with the possibility of doing the other: in such cases a genuine dilemma occurs.

vk

 

[clearstream]

Reserved for notes arising.

Dragongrief points out that with a configuration like the below

A= 30 characters
B= 15 characters, 5 can be roleplayed (are in D)
C= 15 characters, 8 can be roleplayed (are in D)
D<B

The reason I stated that it isn't essential to my argument that this is not so is that the implied premises for the above look unsupportable. You would be saying that 'some but not all optimised characters can be roleplayed' and 'some but not all unoptimised characters can be roleplayed' and additionally that 'the number of C that can be roleplayed is fewer or equal to the number of B that cannot be roleplayed'.

If you did happen to feel that all those premises were true, then you would as Dragongrief says find an objection to the argument.

-vk

 

[Cadfan]

The "Stormwind Fallacy" isn't so much of a "thing" here. People aren't going to know what you're talking about, and won't particularly care.

 

[Piratecat]

The "Stormwind Fallacy" isn't so much of a "thing" here. People aren't going to know what you're talking about, and won't particularly care.

Count me in at least the former category.

 

[Crothian]

Ya, I never say the point of treating gaming discussions like a science experiment. And what the heck is up with the reserved post?

 

[Dice4Hire]

I find people trying desperately to generate jargon in RPG circles to be amusing. Now if those same people would not use it to try and make themselves feel superior.....

As for the content, I do not think I could care less about the SF.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I find people trying desperately to generate jargon in RPG circles to be amusing. Now if those same people would not use it to try and make themselves feel superior.....

As for the content, I do not think I could care less about the SF.

Why do you hate Science Fiction?

 

[Squizzle]

Formal logic is sexy.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Formal logic is sexy.

Is that an axiom or a conclusion?

 

[Squizzle]

Is that an axiom or a conclusion?

Watch it, sweet-talker, or my fiancee might get jealous.