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<blockquote data-quote="Blue" data-source="post: 7477178" data-attributes="member: 20564">I have to respectfully disagree with your definition.&nbsp; Not saying there aren't some people that it fits, but it's far too narrow.First, min-max is orthogonal to roleplay.&nbsp; Some of the biggist min-maxers I know are also fantastic roleplayers.&nbsp; Enjoying playing a numbers game and seeing what they can get out of the system is completely independent of being able to RP.Second, min-max is often about system mastering - understanding the rules, not just creative interpretations of them.And third, people do it for all sorts of reasons, not just &quot;to overpower&quot;.&nbsp; One example - a whole group min-maxes, and a DM is fine since all of the PCs are at a similar power level - that's the easiest place to challenge the party from, be it everyone weak, average or strong.&nbsp; No &quot;overpowering&quot; happens.&nbsp; Or when someone makes a very effective support character that makes others shine.&nbsp; Most min-maxers I know are happy to share their system knowledge, helping to make everyone's character efficient - it's not just for them &quot;over power&quot; the rest.&nbsp; Every group has it's own challenge level, from pick-up-games with little synergy to tight teams regardless of system mastery, etc.&nbsp; A DM has all the tools they need to challenge any group.&nbsp; After all, they have all the monsters.&nbsp; <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile&nbsp; &nbsp; :)"&nbsp; data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />I'd rather say:&quot;Min-maxing is the art of understanding and using the rules to design a character that is highly efficient in some categories.&quot;It makes no judgement on the player - all kinds can do it.&nbsp; Some players will want to show off how uber-cool their character is and steal spotlight.&nbsp; Others end up with the best possible Investigation and Insight skills because they've cleared with the DM that they want to play a Sherlock Holmes archetype.&nbsp; Another makes a fantastic defender so that all of the glass cannons in the party can have a chance to strut their stuff.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Blue, post: 7477178, member: 20564"] I have to respectfully disagree with your definition. Not saying there aren't some people that it fits, but it's far too narrow. First, min-max is orthogonal to roleplay. Some of the biggist min-maxers I know are also fantastic roleplayers. Enjoying playing a numbers game and seeing what they can get out of the system is completely independent of being able to RP. Second, min-max is often about system mastering - understanding the rules, not just creative interpretations of them. And third, people do it for all sorts of reasons, not just "to overpower". One example - a whole group min-maxes, and a DM is fine since all of the PCs are at a similar power level - that's the easiest place to challenge the party from, be it everyone weak, average or strong. No "overpowering" happens. Or when someone makes a very effective support character that makes others shine. Most min-maxers I know are happy to share their system knowledge, helping to make everyone's character efficient - it's not just for them "over power" the rest. Every group has it's own challenge level, from pick-up-games with little synergy to tight teams regardless of system mastery, etc. A DM has all the tools they need to challenge any group. After all, they have all the monsters. :) I'd rather say: "Min-maxing is the art of understanding and using the rules to design a character that is highly efficient in some categories." It makes no judgement on the player - all kinds can do it. Some players will want to show off how uber-cool their character is and steal spotlight. Others end up with the best possible Investigation and Insight skills because they've cleared with the DM that they want to play a Sherlock Holmes archetype. Another makes a fantastic defender so that all of the glass cannons in the party can have a chance to strut their stuff. [/QUOTE]

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