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Message: <blockquote data-quote="tetrasodium" data-source="post: 9828170" data-attributes="member: 93670">No, the statement you are <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f644.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":rolleyes:" title="Roll eyes    :rolleyes:"  data-smilie="11"data-shortname=":rolleyes:" /><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f644.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":rolleyes:" title="Roll eyes    :rolleyes:"  data-smilie="11"data-shortname=":rolleyes:" /><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f644.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":rolleyes:" title="Roll eyes    :rolleyes:"  data-smilie="11"data-shortname=":rolleyes:" />'ing at is often linked to problems caused by a topic that came up earlier in the thread.[spoiler="this one"][/spoiler]Even if you assume that first type of player simply for purposes of discussion, a statement like the "can I play a tortle" one I was responding to can have any claims of roleplaying reasons flatly dismissed on an objective level & I'll go deeper on why it can be done on an objective level no matter how in depth & detailed their unshared backstory personality & so on is.There is a Core Problem with a statement like "can I play a tortle [in a 5e game]" & I bolded that because it's going to get referenced a few times  It used to be that extreme character optimization was limited by outwardly visible character sheet entries & silo'd prior to 5e streamlining & simplifying away mechanical elements that served to place any form of hurdle in the way of the most extreme character optimization it took care and planning to make a statblock spreadsheet build of a PC where any narrative elements largely only exist to justify choices used to fill in the spreadsheet statblock rather than something that could be done with no preplanning & no outward headscratching worthy signs on the character sheet.  Those hurdles were things like dual/hybrid classing systems that carry an opportunity cost locking a PC into the weight of locking in their later choice & prerequisites that lead to proactive questions about maxed cross class ranks in underwater basket weaving when that's normally a sign of a particular feat chain or PrC combo that seems oddly conflicted with any narrative claims.  Without those signs & lock ins it becomes the logical inference to assume mere character optimization when it looks like that and the player has not bothered to share any hint of roleplaying with the table even if the player is in that first group simply because it is only novel writing or similar if there is not any hints of roleplaying occurring at the table.   We could be generous & assume the hypothetical player asking for it is from the second group, but all we have is the Core Problem at this point so it's not reasonable to consider it a roleplaying choice until presented with some statement or action from the player that hints otherwise.  I'm not familiar with the site/blog, but I found <a href="https://rolldark.co.uk/the-blog/characterdepth" target="_blank">this</a> great article through google looking for a good solid definition of <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=d%26d+spreadsheet+builds+slang&sca_esv=9eb2221ffd9d72e3&sxsrf=AE3TifNNugavnjUBKEV_ScZnunOYMDGL5Q%3A1767118693447&ei=ZRdUaYmIG76IwbkPk5Ub&ved=0ahUKEwjJzv6P9uWRAxU-RDABHZPKBgAQ4dUDCBE&uact=5&oq=d%26d+spreadsheet+builds+slang&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiHGQmZCBzcHJlYWRzaGVldCBidWlsZHMgc2xhbmcyBRAhGKABMgUQIRigATIFECEYoAFIxhhQ8gVYyRRwAXgBkAEAmAGGAaABvAWqAQMwLja4AQPIAQD4AQGYAgegAs4FwgIKEAAYsAMY1gQYR8ICBRAhGKsCmAMAiAYBkAYIkgcDMS42oAeEH7IHAzAuNrgHywXCBwMwLjfIBwmACAA&sclient=gws-wiz-serp" target="_blank">spreadsheet builds</a>.The original "can I play a tortle" is 100% a statement focused on stats and optimization.  If anything  my mention of a past player of mine who added "who is from Droaam" is the only element other than a question of pure stats.Once again "can I play a tortle" lacks even a single word to suggest any sort of "concept" so it falls back to the Core Problem.Once again, the Core problem exists simply because regardless of if the player is the first or second type of player "can I play a tortle" does not share any hint of this with othersDittoOnce again, nothing but the Core Problemand againStill nothing from the player on this with a statement like "can I play a tortle"They probably don't have any chance or reason to be acting at this point if they are simply asking "can I play a tortle", but they aren't doing anything else either & we get stuck on the Core Problem again.If you feel like I've unreasonably overlooked some sign of roleplaying found in a statement like "can I play a tortle" I'd  be fascinated to hear more</blockquote>

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