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<blockquote data-quote="CharlesRyan" data-source="post: 4725343" data-attributes="member: 5265">For me, balance in a game ensures that there are no (or few) truly suboptimal choices. In a balanced game, I will contribute and feel useful playing any reasonable type of adventuring character. I will not be penalized (with a less effective character) based on that decision.For games that rely heavily on their mechanical aspects (like D&amp;D, vis a vis combat abilities), I find balance is pretty darn important. If my character sucks, I will have less fun than the player whose character is really effective.For games that rely less heavily on such elements (like, say, Call of Cthulhu), I find balance much less important. If my character sucks, I can still have a lot of fun, as long as I'm creative in playing out my San incidents!Even in a balanced game, I might still make suboptimal decisions in service of an interesting character concept. But that's my choice, and the &quot;less fun&quot; I have from being mechanically effective is counterbalanced by the &quot;more fun&quot; I have playing my character concept.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="CharlesRyan, post: 4725343, member: 5265"] For me, balance in a game ensures that there are no (or few) truly suboptimal choices. In a balanced game, I will contribute and feel useful playing any reasonable type of adventuring character. I will not be penalized (with a less effective character) based on that decision. For games that rely heavily on their mechanical aspects (like D&D, vis a vis combat abilities), I find balance is pretty darn important. If my character sucks, I will have less fun than the player whose character is really effective. For games that rely less heavily on such elements (like, say, Call of Cthulhu), I find balance much less important. If my character sucks, I can still have a lot of fun, as long as I'm creative in playing out my San incidents! Even in a balanced game, I might still make suboptimal decisions in service of an interesting character concept. But that's my choice, and the "less fun" I have from being mechanically effective is counterbalanced by the "more fun" I have playing my character concept. [/QUOTE]

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