Would you min max a character to compensate for lousy attributes?

[sjmiller]

But yes, there are DEGREES of min maxing. Pun Pun could be seen at the high end of that scale, and the Turkey Sandwich could be seen at the opposite end, with most people somewhere in the middle.

Okay, I have to ask, who/what is Pun Pun? This is the second reference I have seen of this name in as many days.

 

[Fieari]

Pun Pun is the name of a low level Kobold, who also happens to be the Supreme Being. Basically, it's the name given to a rules loophole that allows Pun Pun to gain infinite stats (infinite strength, infinite constitution, etc...) as well as every supernatural, spell-like, and extraordinary ability that exists. This also allows him to have infinite actions each round, and I do believe he also gains every class feature of every class.

While still having only somewhere between 4 and 12 HD, ironically enough.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

One of those"we had to roll 3d6 for attributes and this is what I got" threads leads me to this question. In thinking of what I would do with such a character I found my slef thinking how I could get the most out of my class levels and feats. I wonder if other people would do the same.

I assume thanks to playing with 25 point buy, I am used to min-maxing a lot, and I would naturelly do it with low stats, too.
Especially with the standard group size of 4 or less it is important that characters really know how to fulfill their role int the party. If they don't, the whole party is in danger.

 

[wmasters]

If I remember it right, it's a level 5 build for PunPun.

And personally, I always min-max to a degree. I don't want to play the fighter that's too inept to go into combat, or the wizard with Int 11 and that can only cast Mount, Tensers Floating Disc and Mage Hand.

If I've got a bad character I min max more to try and make a character that will survive. That said, I'm looking at playing in a table of NPC classes in a game shortly, for our poor unsuspecting DM, to see if we can sneak through and survive to greatness. I'm torn between the Expert and the Aristocrat.

 

[Man in the Funny Hat]

A certain amount of min-max is good and inevitable, but if I have a character with a particularly poor ability score what I would do is largely abandon skills that are keyed to it rather than try to compensate for it. I accept that the low score and related consequences are going to be dealt with during play more than during character creation and advancement. Rather than minimize the downside of it I would look to simply putting the effort into maximizing other aspects of the character and eat the flaws. I don't really think of that as min-maxing.

 

[JoeGKushner]

I try to make a competent character regardless of stats.

 

[Crothian]

Min maxing is minimizing weakness, and maximizing strengths. So every time you put your "high stat" in something beneficial for your class, like putting that 16 in strength for a fighter, that's min maxing, to an extent.

I disagree, that's creating a character that went towards his strength. Min maxing is more then just how one assignes attributes.

 

[genshou]

I voted for the last option because it's the closest you have to "Other". I have rules that make the issue irrelevant after a few character levels, and from playtesting starting with 3d6 in order, they're very functional and quite popular.

 

[Crothian]

I voted for the last option because it's the closest you have to "Other". I have rules that make the issue irrelevant after a few character levels, and from playtesting starting with 3d6 in order, they're very functional and quite popular.

So, you wouldn't need to min max the character. That's not min maxing in my book, the poll doesn't care for the reasons why just if you normally do and if you would here. Thanks!!

 

[Tequila Sunrise]

Just how bad are these stats that we're talkin' about? Total +3 bonuses when the other PCs are at least +10? or just marginally below the group average?

In scenario 1 (assuming the DM wouldn't just let me reroll) I'd create a wizard and put my lowest score in intelligence. "Well my character failed his master's final exam, so now he's striking out on his own in bitterness. Why did he fail? Because he can't cast spells!" If by some stroke of unluck or DM malice, Dorkwad the Mage survives first level I'd just start buying useless items (I know Dorkwad's too dumb to use scrolls, but he WANTS to!) and making horrendous character choices (well, he wants to get smarter but due to all this begging for mercy, only his social skills have gotten a chance to improve! you would think he'd be better off with improved initiative but the only real initiative that he's taken in this adventure so far has been to Run away!)

In scenario 2 I'd only min/max to the degree that I always min/max: I'd probably play an archetypal class and pick good solid character options, but no bogus mix of feats, skills and classes designed to squeeze every ounce of juice out of the rules.