Optimising and Ego

I understand that some people utilise RPG systems for a combat simulator and to test their mettle. This doesn't really apply to that style of gameplay. This is more of a generic overview for the regular game and it covers an issue i see arise in almost every group i have ever been involved with. 

I love table top role playing games. I love getting together with real people and solving problems, having a laugh, interacting with someone’s creation/passion, and guiding which ever character i play onto bigger and better things. I love the idea of the three pillars of game play which D&D has promoted. What do I dislike about this game? Player’s often single minded focus on combat and the optimising that often goes along with it.

 Now before most people stop reading, please understand that I like combat, it’s often at least 33% of the game. I just hate the idea of it being something that people focus on so intently it compromises other sections of their character. I also believe that the drive to be the greatest damage dealer, often seems to go along with an issue of ego and a desire to be unique or the best... maybe even special.  

Let’s Talk Tactics

There are 2 main reasons I dislike combat optimisation. The first is that people who often want to be the best at combat, have no interest in actually strategising with the rest of the party before a combat begins. They would rather take this time to steal the limelight and just hack their way through any encounter. Usually only interested in buffs for themselves, as for input from their party members.

Meanwhile I have witnessed as both a DM and a player how a good strategy can often crush deadly encounters without even slightly optimised characters. A well placed grease from the wizard, coupled with some great shoves from a fighter, a demoralising bane from the cleric and a pyromaniac torch bearing rogue can easily defeat any foe without a chance to even get hit.

As the saying I just made up goes, “A few soldiers with a plan are worth more than a dozen with none.”

With a few cluey tacticians, this game can provide everyone a chance to contribute equally to combat. Even using simple abilities like the help action are often over looked in favour of an attack roll.

What’s Your Character Again?

In the quest for damage, players often sacrifice on the thematic aspects of their character, opting for combat or damage dealing preferences.  This can sorely impact on regular game play as the character can seem ludicrous within their own setting. Now this point is nitpicking on my behalf but having seen my fair share of assassin rogues/hunter rangers (or any other example), it just doesn’t make much sense thematically. Why are players opposed to just picking a single class and sticking with it. Each of the classes has a number of great features and abilities and can be powerful within their own rights.

After Thoughts

I guess at the end of the day, I’m just a simple guy who wants to enjoy having fun with a few people. I don’t care much for being the best player, or hitting the hardest, I just want to have fun with the people I play with, without any of the ego that can sometimes go along with it.

I wish that’s how more people viewed this hobby.