Powergaming, who is on board?

[mvincent]

Why not take a chance

Because (based on averages) the payout may not be worth the effort for some people. While some here might view that as shallow, 'regular' (i.e. non-gamer) people often view that as reasonable behavior.

7) have poor social skills: Okay, you have to explain that one to me.

A car-less person might:
1) have less opportunities to meet people
2) be less likely to get a date
3) not understand the social importance of mobility
4) not be in control of where he goes
5) not have the social skills needed to have a steady job that can pay for a car (and insurance, etc.).
etc.

Simply put: having good social skills implies being aware of why things (like having a car) can matter socially. So it would not be surprising if a gamer and/or someone without a car did not understand why having one makes a difference.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Because (based on averages) the payout may not be worth the effort for some people. While some here might view that as shallow, 'regular' (i.e. non-gamer) people often view that as reasonable behavior.

I know plenty of non-gamer people (most of the people I know don't play D&D), and I can't think of anyone as shallow as you just described.

 

[ThePublic]

Wow, I never thought the driving aspect of Playing w/ The Public would be such a factor.

It is just logistics in the town I live in (the buses and such are slow and unreliable, it is just a factor that has made timing harder).

When I was in Chicago, heck, I didn't drive either, but then again, i never did anything off the L or bus lines and brought goodies every time I would play (and considering that I had a group of 12 folks who would pay $10 a head to have me as the GM, I always made real sure that I was on time for the CP2020 game I GM'd)

but the classist issues that are coming up, well maybe after 25yrs gaming I figure that folks should bring atleast as much to the game as I do. Shallow? maybe. Realistic in this material world, absolutely. i put alot of work into DMing and making sure that there is something for everyone in my party, so I fugre that knowing the rules well, not abusing the rules various loopholes, and being in character and ready to game on time all the while being clean and responsible isn't too much to ask.

Or maybe as other folks have said I am just f o s and should just crawl under a rock and die.

The Public

 

[Nail]

Oh yeah, I unforgivingly kick out all whiners, criers and cheaters, but hey thats from personal preference and has little to nothing to do with the discussion- ..

Oh, I hope not.

For some of us, gathering together a group of gamers from scratch was the only option. (In my case, I moved to a new town.) Making sure those gathered had compatible gaming traits with me was difficult...if not nearly impossible without seeing their activities during actual play.

So I'm curious: How did you determine someone is a "powergamer" (use your own definition of the term) and then kick them out of your group? Use an actual example of a real person, please, so we don't waste our time over hypotheticals.

 

[DungeonMaester]

So I'm curious: How did you determine someone is a "powergamer" (use your own definition of the term) and then kick them out of your group? Use an actual example of a real person, please, so we don't waste our time over hypotheticals.

Coupe De Grace the players, if they make thier fort saves they are powergamers, and are exiled from the game. If they fail..Well, they where good players..And good friends...

---Rusty

 

[The Shadow Lich]

I understand what a power gamer is, and what a true roleplayer is. Both are important when I Dm and when I play. Every one has probably had a character that ended up having really good stats and likewise everyone has had a character that has had very poor stats. When I was new to dungeons and dragons I once rolled a charater who's stats looked something like this.
9 str
10 con
13 dex
9 Int
8 wis
8 chr
I was horrified by it. I asked my dm if I could reroll he said no. So I did what every bad player would do. I made him a chaotic Evil kobold in hope he would die in his first encounter. I made him the most arrogant cockey and annoying character that ever exsisted. With in minutes the entire group was histarically laughing. The Aurak in the group picked me up and put me on his shoulder. Where is this going you ask? Out of all my characters Ive ever played I only remember about 5. The kobold is always the first to come to my mind. When I was new I didnt know the rules well enough to power game. I went through a peroid where that was all I did(Power game). I kind of forgot what the game was about. But my characters were always good at geting the group out of trouble. Now present day I am still a power gamming fool but I think that im also the best roleplayer in the group. It is possible to be a power gamer and a good roleplayer. I like what someone put in this post about Conan the barbarian. He would not have been very interesing or a good hero if he didnt hit much with that sword. He was very good at what he did but still had a good story to him. So I want you to remember that character you had way back when that had bad stats but was still enjoyable to play. That death machine you made that probably could have killed your entire group. Im amazed that some people look at power gamers badly. My group is composed of about 3 power gamers and two people that dont know the rules well enough to do such. The power gamers are the best role players. You can be a power gamer and a good role player.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

I was horrified by it. I asked my dm if I could reroll he said no. So I did what every bad player would do. I made him a chaotic Evil kobold in hope he would die in his first encounter. I made him the most arrogant cockey and annoying character that ever exsisted. With in minutes the entire group was histarically laughing.

The proper question, however, is would having a 16 Dex and a 14 Intelligence, along with the commensurate ability to snipe usefully in combat, have prevented you from playing that kobold character?

If so, why?

 

[Greg K]

Well among my friends there is a distinction between optimization and powergaming and they are on seperate axis

Optimization: Its about prioritization of numbers to meet a concept. Every one does this to some degree just by assigning numbers. At an extreme, the person is so focused on the concept/build, they ignore placing points in what the character has been doing/experiencing and either continues focusing on optimizing a certain skill or ability when they have not been utilizing the existing skill or acquire a new skill or ability despite having lacked the ability to receive training in the new skill or ability.

Powergaming: An interest in playing for the purpose of gaining power or to play a character that is powerful. Most people want to see their character improve. However taken to an extreme, the person plays for the sole purpose to kill things to take their stuff and get more powerful in order to kill more power and take their stuff and get more powerful.
As for playing a heroic character, what is powerful depends on the person. Some people consider a character slightly above average caught in an extreme situation to be heroic. Others would disagree and believe to be heroic a character must be more powerful. Their view of heroic level might be special forces/tactical unit, some one else might consider heroic to be the very elite (e.g., Captain America or Conan) other want to play at some level beyond that - possibly gods.

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

Now present day I am still a power gamming fool but I think that im also the best roleplayer in the group. It is possible to be a power gamer and a good roleplayer.

Funny that.

My most memorably-played character was also the most powerful. He was a hoot to play and speak through, even if remembering to start his sentences as "Me Tolthrak..." was a pain. (He liked to be underestimated, what can I say?)

Brad

 

[danzig138]

A car-less person might:

You know, I had a much longer response to this, but when I reviewed it, I realized that it was against the rules, so we'll just go with I think you're full of crap. I can only assume you're going with the internet standard of "This is what I've seen, so it must be the engraved-in-stone truth" model. My observations of people have provided different thoughts. You know that the most shallow social jack asses I've ever met had cars? That's because the car doesn't make a person any less of a jack ass. It makes him a jack ass with a car.

Simply put: having good social skills implies being aware of why things (like having a car) can matter socially.

Simply put: crap. What you're talikng about isn't social skills. What you're talking about is social status. Different things. Many people with mobility and cars, and dates don't necessarily have social skills, but they've managed social status. I've thrown down with plenty of drunken rednecks who had girlfriends and cars (trucks, technically) and they didn't have good social skills. They had cars, money, and dated and socialized with the exact same type of people.

I don't know about you. I have pretty good social skills. But I quit being concerned with social status about the same time I quit trying to one-up my elementary school peers I buying Star Wars action figures.