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General Tabletop Discussion
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Where does optimizing end and min-maxing begin? And is min-maxing a bad thing?
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<blockquote data-quote="jrowland" data-source="post: 7060061" data-attributes="member: 94389"><p>Didn't read full thread, but I felt I could chime in my 2cp without it.</p><p></p><p>Min/Max is reducing the game to numbers and pushing them to extremes. The OPs stat choice is min/maxing.</p><p>Optimization is playing with what you have to its highest potential. A deep roleplayer with a str 8, dex 10, cha 16 fighter might find ways to avoid direct combat, relying on skills like intimidate, flasks of oil, environment (pushing into fire, off cliff, total defense action in choke points etc). </p><p></p><p>Optimizing is a methodology of <em>playing</em> the game. Both Min/Maxers and "Roleplayers" can optimize. </p><p></p><p>Powergaming is both optimizing and min/max mashed together, sometimes in exploitive ways, and usually with a weak-to-no narrative justification (what do you mean my Death Cleric 4/Rogue-Assassin 4/Paladin of Devotion 4 doesn't make much sense?)</p><p></p><p>I often play the anti-min/max characters (weak Str/dex fighters for example) but then try to optimize the hell out of it...to me its a fun challenge to make a "numbers" weal character effective (my Int 14 11th level divination halfling wizard with luck feat is an example: Halfling luck, luck feat, and portent dice often do the heavy lifting my 'low' int can't do)</p><p></p><p>All that said, there is no negative connotation for any of these in any absolute sense. Its intent and usage is what matters and brings scorn. WWhich, of course, is subjective to the whims of the table.</p><p></p><p>YMMV</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="jrowland, post: 7060061, member: 94389"] Didn't read full thread, but I felt I could chime in my 2cp without it. Min/Max is reducing the game to numbers and pushing them to extremes. The OPs stat choice is min/maxing. Optimization is playing with what you have to its highest potential. A deep roleplayer with a str 8, dex 10, cha 16 fighter might find ways to avoid direct combat, relying on skills like intimidate, flasks of oil, environment (pushing into fire, off cliff, total defense action in choke points etc). Optimizing is a methodology of [I]playing[/I] the game. Both Min/Maxers and "Roleplayers" can optimize. Powergaming is both optimizing and min/max mashed together, sometimes in exploitive ways, and usually with a weak-to-no narrative justification (what do you mean my Death Cleric 4/Rogue-Assassin 4/Paladin of Devotion 4 doesn't make much sense?) I often play the anti-min/max characters (weak Str/dex fighters for example) but then try to optimize the hell out of it...to me its a fun challenge to make a "numbers" weal character effective (my Int 14 11th level divination halfling wizard with luck feat is an example: Halfling luck, luck feat, and portent dice often do the heavy lifting my 'low' int can't do) All that said, there is no negative connotation for any of these in any absolute sense. Its intent and usage is what matters and brings scorn. WWhich, of course, is subjective to the whims of the table. YMMV [/QUOTE]
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Where does optimizing end and min-maxing begin? And is min-maxing a bad thing?
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