D&D 5E Quick question re: monsters as PCs

[The Crimson Binome]

Well, for the min-max minded, it encourages a different sort of behavior: choosing non-proficient weapons that do the least damage possible, or spells that do no damage at all, in the hope of qualifying for a higher level and knowing they can be changed-out at a later time. To counter this, I'd require the character to be played as-is.

At the extreme end, you could still play a utility wizard with no damaging spells (in order to tank your offensive CR), and then calibrate your defensive CR such that you end up as a CR 3 creature who can still cast forcecage.

 

[Hriston]

Yeah, that kind of min-maxing is not gonna fly...

I was more thinking of the fact that min-maxing won't actually put you ahead of the curve (which is pretty much the only reason to min-max) if you efforts only make you gain fewer levels.

Sent from my C6603 using EN World mobile app

Maybe I've inadvertently stumbled upon the ultimate foil for min-maxing players, i.e. setting a party CR rather than class level. To me, this hearkens back to the uneven XP progression of first edition.

At the extreme end, you could still play a utility wizard with no damaging spells (in order to tank your offensive CR), and then calibrate your defensive CR such that you end up as a CR 3 creature who can still cast forcecage.

Or perhaps not.

 

[77IM]

I just came across this. You might like it.

https://www.reddit.com/r/DnD/comments/7nxy88/dmsguild_i_converted_every_creature_in_the/

I love this. It's so good I wrote a review of it.

I guarantee this approach won't be everyone's cup of tea. But, for $3, it is well worth the price.

 

[The Crimson Binome]

Or perhaps not.

If not, then you would need new rules to explain why.

Characters are built using rules, and any set of equations can be optimized. Changing it from level-based to CR-based does not change that fact. Even if you patch one particular exploit, you're still just left with a set of rules, and a skilled player can still find the best solution.

 

[Hriston]

If not, then you would need new rules to explain why.

Characters are built using rules, and any set of equations can be optimized. Changing it from level-based to CR-based does not change that fact. Even if you patch one particular exploit, you're still just left with a set of rules, and a skilled player can still find the best solution.

Sorry, I meant that perhaps I haven't hit upon a way to stop min-maxing, not that you couldn't play that character. I agree that you could, although to me it doesn't sound altogether viable, without going too far into the details that is.