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Message: <blockquote data-quote="jgsugden" data-source="post: 8402110" data-attributes="member: 2629">The poll results explain why optimization often ruins the game, and results in TPKs.Let's say you have a group of 5 PCs.  2 are optimized, primarily on offensive capabilities, with the other 3 very efficient PCs.  The DM observes these 5 PCs blow away deadly encounters without breaking a sweat.  Like so many DMs, they think this will get boring, so the DM includes more monsters of a higher CR.  The next few encounters are a good challenges for the PCs.  Then they have an encounter where the two powerhouses fail a saving throw early in the combat and are knocked out of commission.  This is to be expected as the monsters are tougher than you'd expect for PCs of their level to face, and it is only the offense, not the defense, of these PCs that is optimized.  That leaves the other three to survive when vastly overpowered by foes.  The result - TPK.  Players are unhappy that the DM 'cheated' with an overpowered foe.  The DM is unhappy because their storyline s ruined by a TPK, and that everyone is angry at the DM.  I've seen this far too many times over the years. It has been a long time since I experienced it as a DM, but I still run into it as a player in a number of different groups.My solution: Don't worry about the power levels.  Overpowered PCs can still be challenged in combat if you understand their powers.  If the players wants an overpowered PC - so they can feel like an amazing hero - cool.  Run with it.  Celebrate how cool they are and let that be their part of the spotlight.  Focus the storylines around the other PCs to give them a star spot in the story to give them their spotlight.  There are a lot of ways to be the hero of the story.  After all, they write comic books about Super-man, but they also write them about Batman, Daredevil and Black Widow.  D&D is an RPG.  A role playing game.  Characters play a role in the story.  The game is at its best when the story is great.  You'll have the most fun when the combats are best used in the story, not just when they're the best strategy game challenge.</blockquote>

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