I can't help it. I can't make a character that isn't optimised, both mechanically and narratively in holistic harmony and perfection. Even if a character is statistically amazing, if i can't blend that into a story about the character and make it all work as one, then the character simply won't work for me, and vice versa.
It's the versa that gets me when it comes to certain races. Often I'll come up with a cool character concept for a particular race and yet no matter how I mix and match and research it, I just can't make it 'work' mechanically. This often comes down to the ability score bonuses of the race. Not being able to start with a 16 (I only use point-buy; I'm a point-buy puritan) in a primary ability score is often quite painful, especially with a class that has, effectively, two primaries like a paladin. Humans clearly have the upper hand in every configuration, which is fine, but often the concept I have relies on the character being of a certain race, and humans get dull after the thirtieth or so.
So, my question to you, fellow optimiser, is what concepts with what races would you really love to play if you could somehow make it all work harmoniously and holistically? Caveat: this is specifically not an optimisation conversation, in the sense that I'm not looking to build characters or get advice about certain builds, this is about the 'what if', not about the how to.
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"Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation."
I'm kind of like this but I've never had a problem. I typically keep away from classes that rely on multiple ability scores heavily. Races I tend to go with are half-elf and variant human. I'm most comfortable with them plus the classes they're good with tend to be very good and interesting. With my play style I tend to choose classes that aren't all about spellcasting and classes that only focus on boring melee tricks.
Therefore I really enjoy the variant human fighter (battle master/Great Weapon Fighting) with polearm master and sentinel feats (background: soldier) as well as the half-elf bard with an eventual multiclass into Warlock (the fiend patron) (background: criminal).
I tend to keep my characters neutral or chaotic neutral to open myself towards making decisions however I want since I like it that way. With my half elf I just say he grew up on the streets, picked up some musical abilities and became a bard he's a criminal because he'd have to steal a few times to keep alive and almost got in trouble with the law a couple of times. For my fighter I say he grew up in the army but eventually left due to him not always following orders and disliking his superiors.
If you need help coming up with a concept just pm me and I'd be more than happy to help.
Caveat: this is specifically not an optimisation conversation, in the sense that I'm not looking to build characters or get advice about certain builds, this is about the 'what if', not about the how to.
Basically I was saying I like to play optimized characters and I have an easy time coming up with a backstory for them. If you'd like me to help you come up with backgrounds for the optimized characters of yours let me know and I'd be more than happy to help.
Sorry, I'm not an optimizer and don't understand the mindset, so I have nothing to offer. Why limit your options to just what's "best"? Why not just play whatever idea seems fun and not worry about it?
@Koren we worry about being useless. We want to feel like we're contributing and want to feel awesome doing it. It would really suck having what turns out to be a very crappy character for a long campaign...
Fair enough. I guess I just have enough fun merely participating and playing my character concept. "Contributing" is subjective. It seems to most people that equates to effective in combat, which is fine, if that's the focus of the game you enjoy the most. That probably comes across as too "judgy" but it's honestly not meant that way.
No worries! I typically like playing as a bard since I can do some pretty crazy fun stuff.
Example: In a campaign one of my party members tried to cash in some gems from a jewelry store while the rest of the party was at an armory. He got in an arguement, stabbed the shop keeper, and ran away.
I come to cash some gems myself but notice the shop keeper is getting carried away and he's unconscious. I walk up to the guards pretending to act all concerned and tell them I heard what happened. I told the guards I was his assistant and was to take over selling gems for him for the rest of the day.
I rolled above 20 on all of my deception rolls (the DM made me do like 4/5). I then also did a performance roll to try and entice customers to come to "my" store. I ended up selling 175g worth of gems. When the day was over I grabbed the rest of the gems and left (there were 3,000g worth of gems that I grabbed).
As a level 3/4 (can't remember) character I had 3,175+ gold/gems!!!
Sorry, I'm not an optimizer and don't understand the mindset, so I have nothing to offer. Why limit your options to just what's "best"? Why not just play whatever idea seems fun and not worry about it?
That doesn't seem very optimal...
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"Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation."
In terms of optimization for the strange classes, I tend to think of strange ways to use a class and optimize from there.
Two examples: 1) I actually was inspired by the Dnd beyond forums for making a kenku pirate character. He only uses pirate jargon, and obviously has a mutation that gives him bright red, green, yellow and blue feathers. A big parrot pirate. And he would be a Ranger.
2) The typical dwarf religious brawler (giant hammer and everything). However, he's a warlock, with a celestial patron.
These themes mesh well with the ccharacter concepts, plus the races give very relevant stat bonuses. My advice would be to think outside the box, and then figure out a way to Optimize The Weird.
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I know what you're thinking: "In that flurry of blows, did he use all his ki points, or save one?" Well, are ya feeling lucky, punk?
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Hello, I'm dropbear8mybaby, and I'm an optimiser.
I can't help it. I can't make a character that isn't optimised, both mechanically and narratively in holistic harmony and perfection. Even if a character is statistically amazing, if i can't blend that into a story about the character and make it all work as one, then the character simply won't work for me, and vice versa.
It's the versa that gets me when it comes to certain races. Often I'll come up with a cool character concept for a particular race and yet no matter how I mix and match and research it, I just can't make it 'work' mechanically. This often comes down to the ability score bonuses of the race. Not being able to start with a 16 (I only use point-buy; I'm a point-buy puritan) in a primary ability score is often quite painful, especially with a class that has, effectively, two primaries like a paladin. Humans clearly have the upper hand in every configuration, which is fine, but often the concept I have relies on the character being of a certain race, and humans get dull after the thirtieth or so.
So, my question to you, fellow optimiser, is what concepts with what races would you really love to play if you could somehow make it all work harmoniously and holistically? Caveat: this is specifically not an optimisation conversation, in the sense that I'm not looking to build characters or get advice about certain builds, this is about the 'what if', not about the how to.
"Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation."
― Oscar Wilde.
OK then, I guess I'm a unique snowflake and nobody else is like me. Sad.
"Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation."
― Oscar Wilde.
I'm kind of like this but I've never had a problem. I typically keep away from classes that rely on multiple ability scores heavily. Races I tend to go with are half-elf and variant human. I'm most comfortable with them plus the classes they're good with tend to be very good and interesting. With my play style I tend to choose classes that aren't all about spellcasting and classes that only focus on boring melee tricks.
Therefore I really enjoy the variant human fighter (battle master/Great Weapon Fighting) with polearm master and sentinel feats (background: soldier) as well as the half-elf bard with an eventual multiclass into Warlock (the fiend patron) (background: criminal).
I tend to keep my characters neutral or chaotic neutral to open myself towards making decisions however I want since I like it that way. With my half elf I just say he grew up on the streets, picked up some musical abilities and became a bard he's a criminal because he'd have to steal a few times to keep alive and almost got in trouble with the law a couple of times. For my fighter I say he grew up in the army but eventually left due to him not always following orders and disliking his superiors.
If you need help coming up with a concept just pm me and I'd be more than happy to help.
"Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation."
― Oscar Wilde.
Basically I was saying I like to play optimized characters and I have an easy time coming up with a backstory for them. If you'd like me to help you come up with backgrounds for the optimized characters of yours let me know and I'd be more than happy to help.
Sorry, I'm not an optimizer and don't understand the mindset, so I have nothing to offer. Why limit your options to just what's "best"? Why not just play whatever idea seems fun and not worry about it?
@Koren we worry about being useless. We want to feel like we're contributing and want to feel awesome doing it. It would really suck having what turns out to be a very crappy character for a long campaign...
Fair enough. I guess I just have enough fun merely participating and playing my character concept. "Contributing" is subjective. It seems to most people that equates to effective in combat, which is fine, if that's the focus of the game you enjoy the most. That probably comes across as too "judgy" but it's honestly not meant that way.
No worries! I typically like playing as a bard since I can do some pretty crazy fun stuff.
Example: In a campaign one of my party members tried to cash in some gems from a jewelry store while the rest of the party was at an armory. He got in an arguement, stabbed the shop keeper, and ran away.
I come to cash some gems myself but notice the shop keeper is getting carried away and he's unconscious. I walk up to the guards pretending to act all concerned and tell them I heard what happened. I told the guards I was his assistant and was to take over selling gems for him for the rest of the day.
I rolled above 20 on all of my deception rolls (the DM made me do like 4/5). I then also did a performance roll to try and entice customers to come to "my" store. I ended up selling 175g worth of gems. When the day was over I grabbed the rest of the gems and left (there were 3,000g worth of gems that I grabbed).
As a level 3/4 (can't remember) character I had 3,175+ gold/gems!!!
"Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation."
― Oscar Wilde.
In terms of optimization for the strange classes, I tend to think of strange ways to use a class and optimize from there.
Two examples: 1) I actually was inspired by the Dnd beyond forums for making a kenku pirate character. He only uses pirate jargon, and obviously has a mutation that gives him bright red, green, yellow and blue feathers. A big parrot pirate. And he would be a Ranger.
2) The typical dwarf religious brawler (giant hammer and everything). However, he's a warlock, with a celestial patron.
These themes mesh well with the ccharacter concepts, plus the races give very relevant stat bonuses. My advice would be to think outside the box, and then figure out a way to Optimize The Weird.
I know what you're thinking: "In that flurry of blows, did he use all his ki points, or save one?" Well, are ya feeling lucky, punk?