Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 tired_hungry_dolgrim Mar 09, 2009 19:00:40	What are you guys saying when you use the acronym "MAD"? I get that it has something to do with character builds, and it seems to mean that a character has been min/maxed to the point that a DM might really assassinate the character out of frustration, but what does it actually mean? And am I really understanding the usage correctly?
#2 propane Mar 09, 2009 19:03:37	Multiple Ability Dependancy. Needs high stats in many abilitys.
#3 tiwaztyrsfist Mar 09, 2009 19:55:53	What Propane said. Not so common in 4e, but pretty common in previous editions. In 2e, Paladins were the king of MAD, needing like four high stats just to qualify for the class. In 3.X, a lot of "High Power" theoretical builds that involved wide multiclassing had MAD issues. Any Gish build for example needed High Str, Con, and Wis/Int/Cha depending on casting class. In 4e, MAD generally means a build that needs three high stats. A Warlord MC into Wizard would have MAD issues, for example, because he needs Strength and Charisma for his Warlord powers and Int for his Wizard powers. This is considered sub-opitmal. Also, some people tend to regaurd needing high scores in both stats in a single pair to be a MAD issue. A Rogue/Wizard or Wizard/Rogue would have issues, since having high scores in both Int and Dex would basically mean that both his Fort and Will are going to end up being low. Similarly SAD is Single Attribute dependent (Considered a good thing for power gaming) means having everything key off one power so that you can ignore the other stats while focusing all your point buy/racial bonus/and 4th level increases into one stat, granting a massive stat mod bonus.
#4 saernalis Mar 09, 2009 20:21:17	Isn't there a glossary thread somewhere? It would be useful. A lot of acronyms are used on those boards, and it's not always easy to figure out what they mean.
#5 joni-san Mar 09, 2009 20:28:41	Mutually Assured Destruction -Joni
#6 emwasick Mar 09, 2009 20:50:31	Mothers Against Drunk
#7 eldritch_lord Mar 09, 2009 21:44:50	Isn't there a glossary thread somewhere? It would be useful. It would be, and it is. It's only stickied in the Previous Editions board, but a repost in 4e General one of these days might be nice to incorporate some 4e terms.
#8 wrecan Mar 10, 2009 5:44:36	Actually, Eldritch Lord, the 4th edition version of the glossary can be found [thread=1114704]here[/thread], stickied in the 4e General Discussion forum.
#9 eldritch_lord Mar 10, 2009 10:09:06	Actually, Eldritch Lord, the 4th edition version of the glossary can be found [thread=1114704]here[/thread], stickied in the 4e General Discussion forum. Huh. It was already reposted, exactly where I thought it should be, yet I missed it entirely. Oh well. Thanks for the tip.
#10 Unmaker Mar 10, 2009 13:22:27	A Warlord MC into Wizard would have MAD issues, for example, because he needs Strength and Charisma for his Warlord powers and Int for his Wizard powers. Or you could just, you know, play a Tactical Warlord... :rolleye2: -Unmaker
#11 Keenath Mar 10, 2009 20:27:36	Sometimes you'll hear MAD referred to when you have two scores that both key attacks, especially if there's a third that's a strong "kicker" score -- for example, a Star'lock will have a certain amount of MAD because he needs both CON and CHA for his attacks, and also INT for kicker effects (and, coincidentally, for keeping up with AC, unless you go with heavy armor).
#12 Dragoncat Mar 10, 2009 22:23:27	Suddenly, the image of a Paladin, a Monk, and a Starlock riding some manner of beast, bobbing their heads in unison while with a certain Haddaway song in the background is floating through my head...