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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="Aenghus" data-source="post: 7085463" data-attributes="member: 2656"><p>While I agree it's unrealistic, the vast majority if not all RPG systems are unrealistic. I expect all RPG systems to have flaws and when I agree to play one there's a spoken or unspoken agreement to tolerate the flaws of that particular system that aren't houseruled away. </p><p></p><p>There are many downsides to putting extra constraints on PC stats. It's difficult to get agreement on what makes sense when it comes to linking stats and edge cases often look ridiculous. What stats are linked, how complex is that linkage, how much does it change the system from baseline. From a game point of view it "arbitrarily" reduces the potential gamespace of stat distribution and risks reducing the variety of viable stats combos in the game.</p><p></p><p>From my perspective everything in RPGs is artificial, artifice, made up. Many players will choose stat lines that the system people say they are playing suggests is effective or in some way optimal. Of course it's unrealistic, everything in RPGs is, real life is far far too complex to capture accurately in a RPG, the most complex of which are still vastly less complex than human beings.</p><p></p><p>Unspoken constraints and goalpost shifting really annoy me in most walks of life. If I agree to play a RPG I want to be told everything relevant before I make a character, not have entirely new criteria be sprung on me mid game when the game is well under way. Now, while people are entitled to their preferences, that includes me.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Aenghus, post: 7085463, member: 2656"] While I agree it's unrealistic, the vast majority if not all RPG systems are unrealistic. I expect all RPG systems to have flaws and when I agree to play one there's a spoken or unspoken agreement to tolerate the flaws of that particular system that aren't houseruled away. There are many downsides to putting extra constraints on PC stats. It's difficult to get agreement on what makes sense when it comes to linking stats and edge cases often look ridiculous. What stats are linked, how complex is that linkage, how much does it change the system from baseline. From a game point of view it "arbitrarily" reduces the potential gamespace of stat distribution and risks reducing the variety of viable stats combos in the game. From my perspective everything in RPGs is artificial, artifice, made up. Many players will choose stat lines that the system people say they are playing suggests is effective or in some way optimal. Of course it's unrealistic, everything in RPGs is, real life is far far too complex to capture accurately in a RPG, the most complex of which are still vastly less complex than human beings. Unspoken constraints and goalpost shifting really annoy me in most walks of life. If I agree to play a RPG I want to be told everything relevant before I make a character, not have entirely new criteria be sprung on me mid game when the game is well under way. Now, while people are entitled to their preferences, that includes me. [/QUOTE]
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Where does optimizing end and min-maxing begin? And is min-maxing a bad thing?
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