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<blockquote data-quote="Gimby" data-source="post: 8759080" data-attributes="member: 49875">One way of looking at this that erases the distinction is whether we are playing a character that is fully defined or whether we are playing and discovering facts about the characters - in a way we are always playing our characters &quot;correctly&quot; - the actions they take are what defines them, their character and their ongoing story - how could it be otherwise?So by taking the mechanically optimal action, we may instead discover that the character is different to the way that we originally envisioned them.&nbsp; Perhaps they are more opportunistic, or more craven, or maybe braver than we originally thought.&nbsp; After all, when do we tend to invoke mechanics?&nbsp; When there is uncertainty about an outcome - typically in some form of stressful situation or where emotions would be running high.&nbsp; When do we discover things about a personality? Those exact situations.&nbsp; So in this case there's no difference between an &quot;mechanically optimal&quot; and &quot;character driven&quot; action - we discover what the character would do by them acting.&nbsp;&nbsp; All that's important for characters is that they recognise these differences and that the players are willing to deal with the fallout of it.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Gimby, post: 8759080, member: 49875"] One way of looking at this that erases the distinction is whether we are playing a character that is fully defined or whether we are playing and discovering facts about the characters - in a way we are always playing our characters "correctly" - the actions they take are what defines them, their character and their ongoing story - how could it be otherwise? So by taking the mechanically optimal action, we may instead discover that the character is different to the way that we originally envisioned them. Perhaps they are more opportunistic, or more craven, or maybe braver than we originally thought. After all, when do we tend to invoke mechanics? When there is uncertainty about an outcome - typically in some form of stressful situation or where emotions would be running high. When do we discover things about a personality? Those exact situations. So in this case there's no difference between an "mechanically optimal" and "character driven" action - we discover what the character would do by them acting. All that's important for characters is that they recognise these differences and that the players are willing to deal with the fallout of it. [/QUOTE]

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