The Importance of Being Mediocre - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

The Importance of Being Mediocre

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
burntgerbil
Nov 07, 2005 19:31:35 The tallest blade of grass is the first to be cut by the scythe.
- Old Russian saying

When mediocre is good.

When I was younger, I played 2nd edition AD&D for a specific reason. I feel that many people still play in this manner - simply put, it is to be the absolutely most powerful character you can be. Many parties are balanced in terms of strength but this article focuses more on groups with one or two standouts in terms of power. Before you read any further, keep in mind that that is not particularly bad viewpoint. Depending on your DM, this "maxing" play style may be absolutely crucial to your party's survival. However, in my recent times of play I have found particular advantage in my character being mediocre in terms of party strength.

It's always the DM's fault.

As a DM, it can be a challenge when you have one or two characters that quickly overcome most obstacles you throw in the way of the party. There are many tools at a DM's disposal to prevent this from happening on a constant basis, but I feel the problem lies more in players wanting to make their characters straddle the very top of the power curve as they progress in levels.

From zero to hero.

From a roleplaying standpoint a mediocre character can be a very successful one. Most often a mediocre character will be able to contribute a good deal of help to the party on a regular basis while trying to avoid dire peril. In combat this may relate as a definite role but not an overpowering one. From a roleplaying perspective this can be very fun to play, as the reluctant hero is a motif in all literature, not only fantasy. It usually is a more enjoyable experience knowing that you helped the party overcome the giant than watching the party's designated killing machine take it down in a round.

Metagame, metagame, metagame...

Herein lies my main point - the most common DM responses to a his adventurers ease with encounters is to raise the CR level. With a higher CR level comes more intelligent encounters - traps geared for certain character types, intelligent enemies, etc. Make note that when intelligent monsters encounter a party, they do one of two things: Either enforce the law of "survival of the fittest" and target the slow and weak, or to eliminate what they feel is the largest threat. This can be a disastrous recipe if you are the "largest threat" and your party's support is anything less than stellar. In many campaigns where there is a constant possibility of death in most encounters, these odds can quickly equate to printing quite a few new character sheets for some of the "big target" players. Now, while I would not promote adapting a particular play style just to increase your character's likelihood of survival until the next session, the point is worth taking note of.

Yeah, but what's in it for me?

Still on the subject of metagaming, but entirely too important to skip mentioning is one of the major reasons we play : treasure. What does treasure have to do with being a mediocre character ? Quite a bit actually. Many experienced DMs pre-plan their treasure for most encounters in an adventure - often customizing the treasure to the party's needs, especially if they discourage item creation feats. (Think about how likely it was for your 7th level halfling to find a keen +1 falchion, when all the creatures in the place wore maces and longswords.) If you are the most powerful character in the party, then your DM will often tend to be more skeptical to give you a powerful, shiny, new magic item than he will to toss a new cool dagger to the rogue that just couldn't sneak attack a deaf cow. Simply put - odds should be in your favor to get more cool stuff if the DM thinks it will help you without making you too powerful. This helps the party and gaming experience as a whole because it directly involves you and the DM in terms of your character's power.

It's still not worth it.

This play style might not fit everyone, after all, every epic needs a hero. But I hope that this may be of some use for players and DMs alike
#2
Edymnion
Nov 13, 2005 16:18:19
The tallest blade of grass is the first to be cut by the scythe.
- Old Russian saying

There's gotta be some cowards around to bury all those damned heroes.
- Old saying from my Grandfather.
#3
draco_strang
Nov 18, 2005 1:03:17
There's gotta be some cowards around to bury all those damned heroes.
- Old saying from my Grandfather.

"Don't die for your country, make the other guy die for his."-Patton
#4
zombiegleemax
Nov 30, 2005 9:12:49 It is interesting to note that if you are role-playing your character the way you should be, then you are also more likely to be given opportunities and items that are more likely to fall in to your character's pockets also.

I have had this with my current campaign especially. Characters that are role-played into their role and are given a personality, even in combat, are more likely to get things more geared to their character, even if they are one of those "powerful" characters. Give the GM a reason to give you a particular type of item by role-playing the need for it.

Out of our current party I think that our most powerful party member is the Healer who has been Maxed, though she is the least likely at the beginning of combat to be singled out by the enemies as she is making little or no action, and by the middle of combat the archers have harried the enemies enough to make them the target.

I also remember playing in a party that almost got slaughtered by a single easy encounter at first and after a bit of game play really figured out how to play well together and ended up confounding the GM when it game to a very difficult encounter and totally decimating the enemy.

I think that cooperation among party members and role-playing really open up some opportunities that even a mild character might see more opportunities from other than the fact that he/she is mild.

Examples: One of our party members (an elf fighter) found some information and started researching the deity Shebarash (who is the ultimate hater of Drow). Convincing the party of the need to take out a near by stronghold of them, the character has now found the option of going to recover the legendary artifact, the Bow of Shebarash.

I also previously had a Dwarven Fighter who wanted to be a Dwarven Defender, but was Deityless. The party members helped a God come back to power and the deity asked what he wanted. Well of course he wanted to be a Dwarven Defender, but to my character it wasn't enough that I just be one and still be deityless, so he chose that God and the God was able to grant him the opportunity to back track in levels in order to take the class and rise up in it, rather than just having the opportunity to rise up in it in future levels without a deity. Quite a powerful thing if not even an item.

Miles
#5
guru7892
Dec 08, 2005 22:07:56
"Don't die for your country, make the other guy die for his."-Patton

"This is why you should never use quotes" guru7892

Anyway, I think min/maxing a kick ass character is ok, as a matter of fact if I’m DMing the whole party can. Now, before you think this is a disaster, chances are the party will all go and make some weird build with some gaping hole-- hole to be exploited, so the party feels vulnerable.

HA! You’re a cleric!
Yeah, the cleric is the class nobody wants to be (well most people), no cool-ass companion, no flashy spells, no high BAB, no illithid hunting special power, and your back story is always you being a priest (and they have no sermon ability).Yet I will have a hard time thinking that there is a party that couldn't be better off without a cleric (unless they have a ranger, 2 paladins and a druid... wait, that took 3 seconds).

To pick the best class and build for the party, simply look and ask:
Do we have strong arcane spells? (sorc or wiz)
Do we have strong divine? (cleric, or two of the following, druid, paladin, or ranger)
Do we have a meat shield (correct build of fighter barbarian or 2 rangers or paladins (any combo of the 2)
Do we have a thief? (bard, rogue, and possibly a ranger)
Do we have anti-undeadness (pally or cleric, this is just a recommendation)
Do we have wilderness/animal capability (druid or ranger possibly familiars)*

*that is the weakness of the standard party (rogue, cleric, fighter, wizard).

Note: if you lack in some of the ones toward the bottom, you'll be ok, but you should cover most. Also, if your a fighter as an archer build, your not a meatshield, actually you're pretty useless unless your party covers the other bases. This means you probably have 5 or more people including you as players.
#6
jefuri_no_oni
Dec 28, 2005 3:31:13
Still on the subject of metagaming, but entirely too important to skip mentioning is one of the major reasons we play : treasure. What does treasure have to do with being a mediocre character ? Quite a bit actually. Many experienced DMs pre-plan their treasure for most encounters in an adventure - often customizing the treasure to the party's needs, especially if they discourage item creation feats. (Think about how likely it was for your 7th level halfling to find a keen +1 falchion, when all the creatures in the place wore maces and longswords.) If you are the most powerful character in the party, then your DM will often tend to be more skeptical to give you a powerful, shiny, new magic item than he will to toss a new cool dagger to the rogue that just couldn't sneak attack a deaf cow. Simply put - odds should be in your favor to get more cool stuff if the DM thinks it will help you without making you too powerful. This helps the party and gaming experience as a whole because it directly involves you and the DM in terms of your character's power.

I have seen this phenomenon in a campaign I have been in. A while back my friend’s little brother joined the game. He enjoys playing but because he is new he just couldn't quite make a build that matched up to the combat death machines that the rest of us were playing. His older brother helped him with his character, but because the older brother always plays fighters and barbarians and his younger brother wanted to play a spell caster, the help was not very helpful.

So our DM gave him a powerful intelligent artifact that he would not in a million years have given to any of the rest of us. He loved that artifact and had lots of fun using it. He still talks about that character and that artifact.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 burntgerbil Nov 07, 2005 19:31:35	The tallest blade of grass is the first to be cut by the scythe. - Old Russian saying When mediocre is good. When I was younger, I played 2nd edition AD&D for a specific reason. I feel that many people still play in this manner - simply put, it is to be the absolutely most powerful character you can be. Many parties are balanced in terms of strength but this article focuses more on groups with one or two standouts in terms of power. Before you read any further, keep in mind that that is not particularly bad viewpoint. Depending on your DM, this "maxing" play style may be absolutely crucial to your party's survival. However, in my recent times of play I have found particular advantage in my character being mediocre in terms of party strength. It's always the DM's fault. As a DM, it can be a challenge when you have one or two characters that quickly overcome most obstacles you throw in the way of the party. There are many tools at a DM's disposal to prevent this from happening on a constant basis, but I feel the problem lies more in players wanting to make their characters straddle the very top of the power curve as they progress in levels. From zero to hero. From a roleplaying standpoint a mediocre character can be a very successful one. Most often a mediocre character will be able to contribute a good deal of help to the party on a regular basis while trying to avoid dire peril. In combat this may relate as a definite role but not an overpowering one. From a roleplaying perspective this can be very fun to play, as the reluctant hero is a motif in all literature, not only fantasy. It usually is a more enjoyable experience knowing that you helped the party overcome the giant than watching the party's designated killing machine take it down in a round. Metagame, metagame, metagame... Herein lies my main point - the most common DM responses to a his adventurers ease with encounters is to raise the CR level. With a higher CR level comes more intelligent encounters - traps geared for certain character types, intelligent enemies, etc. Make note that when intelligent monsters encounter a party, they do one of two things: Either enforce the law of "survival of the fittest" and target the slow and weak, or to eliminate what they feel is the largest threat. This can be a disastrous recipe if you are the "largest threat" and your party's support is anything less than stellar. In many campaigns where there is a constant possibility of death in most encounters, these odds can quickly equate to printing quite a few new character sheets for some of the "big target" players. Now, while I would not promote adapting a particular play style just to increase your character's likelihood of survival until the next session, the point is worth taking note of. Yeah, but what's in it for me? Still on the subject of metagaming, but entirely too important to skip mentioning is one of the major reasons we play : treasure. What does treasure have to do with being a mediocre character ? Quite a bit actually. Many experienced DMs pre-plan their treasure for most encounters in an adventure - often customizing the treasure to the party's needs, especially if they discourage item creation feats. (Think about how likely it was for your 7th level halfling to find a keen +1 falchion, when all the creatures in the place wore maces and longswords.) If you are the most powerful character in the party, then your DM will often tend to be more skeptical to give you a powerful, shiny, new magic item than he will to toss a new cool dagger to the rogue that just couldn't sneak attack a deaf cow. Simply put - odds should be in your favor to get more cool stuff if the DM thinks it will help you without making you too powerful. This helps the party and gaming experience as a whole because it directly involves you and the DM in terms of your character's power. It's still not worth it. This play style might not fit everyone, after all, every epic needs a hero. But I hope that this may be of some use for players and DMs alike
#2 Edymnion Nov 13, 2005 16:18:19	The tallest blade of grass is the first to be cut by the scythe. - Old Russian saying There's gotta be some cowards around to bury all those damned heroes. - Old saying from my Grandfather.
#3 draco_strang Nov 18, 2005 1:03:17	There's gotta be some cowards around to bury all those damned heroes. - Old saying from my Grandfather. "Don't die for your country, make the other guy die for his."-Patton
#4 zombiegleemax Nov 30, 2005 9:12:49	It is interesting to note that if you are role-playing your character the way you should be, then you are also more likely to be given opportunities and items that are more likely to fall in to your character's pockets also. I have had this with my current campaign especially. Characters that are role-played into their role and are given a personality, even in combat, are more likely to get things more geared to their character, even if they are one of those "powerful" characters. Give the GM a reason to give you a particular type of item by role-playing the need for it. Out of our current party I think that our most powerful party member is the Healer who has been Maxed, though she is the least likely at the beginning of combat to be singled out by the enemies as she is making little or no action, and by the middle of combat the archers have harried the enemies enough to make them the target. I also remember playing in a party that almost got slaughtered by a single easy encounter at first and after a bit of game play really figured out how to play well together and ended up confounding the GM when it game to a very difficult encounter and totally decimating the enemy. I think that cooperation among party members and role-playing really open up some opportunities that even a mild character might see more opportunities from other than the fact that he/she is mild. Examples: One of our party members (an elf fighter) found some information and started researching the deity Shebarash (who is the ultimate hater of Drow). Convincing the party of the need to take out a near by stronghold of them, the character has now found the option of going to recover the legendary artifact, the Bow of Shebarash. I also previously had a Dwarven Fighter who wanted to be a Dwarven Defender, but was Deityless. The party members helped a God come back to power and the deity asked what he wanted. Well of course he wanted to be a Dwarven Defender, but to my character it wasn't enough that I just be one and still be deityless, so he chose that God and the God was able to grant him the opportunity to back track in levels in order to take the class and rise up in it, rather than just having the opportunity to rise up in it in future levels without a deity. Quite a powerful thing if not even an item. Miles
#5 guru7892 Dec 08, 2005 22:07:56	"Don't die for your country, make the other guy die for his."-Patton "This is why you should never use quotes" guru7892 Anyway, I think min/maxing a kick ass character is ok, as a matter of fact if I’m DMing the whole party can. Now, before you think this is a disaster, chances are the party will all go and make some weird build with some gaping hole-- hole to be exploited, so the party feels vulnerable. HA! You’re a cleric! Yeah, the cleric is the class nobody wants to be (well most people), no cool-ass companion, no flashy spells, no high BAB, no illithid hunting special power, and your back story is always you being a priest (and they have no sermon ability).Yet I will have a hard time thinking that there is a party that couldn't be better off without a cleric (unless they have a ranger, 2 paladins and a druid... wait, that took 3 seconds). To pick the best class and build for the party, simply look and ask: Do we have strong arcane spells? (sorc or wiz) Do we have strong divine? (cleric, or two of the following, druid, paladin, or ranger) Do we have a meat shield (correct build of fighter barbarian or 2 rangers or paladins (any combo of the 2) Do we have a thief? (bard, rogue, and possibly a ranger) Do we have anti-undeadness (pally or cleric, this is just a recommendation) Do we have wilderness/animal capability (druid or ranger possibly familiars)* *that is the weakness of the standard party (rogue, cleric, fighter, wizard). Note: if you lack in some of the ones toward the bottom, you'll be ok, but you should cover most. Also, if your a fighter as an archer build, your not a meatshield, actually you're pretty useless unless your party covers the other bases. This means you probably have 5 or more people including you as players.
#6 jefuri_no_oni Dec 28, 2005 3:31:13	Still on the subject of metagaming, but entirely too important to skip mentioning is one of the major reasons we play : treasure. What does treasure have to do with being a mediocre character ? Quite a bit actually. Many experienced DMs pre-plan their treasure for most encounters in an adventure - often customizing the treasure to the party's needs, especially if they discourage item creation feats. (Think about how likely it was for your 7th level halfling to find a keen +1 falchion, when all the creatures in the place wore maces and longswords.) If you are the most powerful character in the party, then your DM will often tend to be more skeptical to give you a powerful, shiny, new magic item than he will to toss a new cool dagger to the rogue that just couldn't sneak attack a deaf cow. Simply put - odds should be in your favor to get more cool stuff if the DM thinks it will help you without making you too powerful. This helps the party and gaming experience as a whole because it directly involves you and the DM in terms of your character's power. I have seen this phenomenon in a campaign I have been in. A while back my friend’s little brother joined the game. He enjoys playing but because he is new he just couldn't quite make a build that matched up to the combat death machines that the rest of us were playing. His older brother helped him with his character, but because the older brother always plays fighters and barbarians and his younger brother wanted to play a spell caster, the help was not very helpful. So our DM gave him a powerful intelligent artifact that he would not in a million years have given to any of the rest of us. He loved that artifact and had lots of fun using it. He still talks about that character and that artifact.