So You Are a Powergamer?

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

Zardnaar

Jul 09, 2014 13:51:20

 

  Assume you were a powergamer. What class and race combos do you think are the best for each class or builds in that class? Mountain Dwarf Wizard looks great, cleric to a lesser extent. High elf dex based fighter using rapier and shield seems better than str based fighter using sword and board. 

 

#2

iserith

Jul 09, 2014 13:53:37

Basic Char-Op

 

5e DPR King Candidates

#3

abanathie

Jul 09, 2014 14:06:44

Zardnaar wrote:
#4

ChrisCarlson

Jul 09, 2014 14:12:03

Human <insert class here> FTW!

#5

Paraxis

Jul 09, 2014 14:19:20

Hi my name is Paraxis, and I am a powergamer.

 

Best advice, game your DM. 

 

  • How often does he allow you to short rest?  
  • How many encounters before a long rest on average?
  • Does he play his monsters smart or just throw them on your sword points?
  • Does he group his monsters up for easy AoE attacks?
  • How often does he give out inspiration points, can you get them often without much of a real penalty to yourself?
  • Does he fudge monster saving throws?

Knowing your DM is the first best step to powergaming.   All of those questions will help you make a more optimal character.

 

But for the most simple answer if the DM doesn't fudge saving throws for monsters, play a wizard.   From level 1 wizards are the game changers, if you want to stand in the spot light and overcome combat and non combat situations with the wave of your hand there is a spell for that.

 

#6

strider13x

Jul 09, 2014 14:21:03

are we assuming D&D Combat pillar only? Then Mountain Dwarf ANYTHING is where its at. Luckily D&D isn't a combat only game. If we assume all 3 pillars the Human ANYTHING is where its at. And what about the concept of a party, where one member compensates for others weaknesses... I guess my point is these discussions are pointless without more context.

And to answer the title of the thread, no I am not but give me any class/race combo and I bet I can crush any powergamer if we assume all 3 pillars of play! Think of Bruce Lee in "Enter the Dragon" where he says "the art of fighting without fighting", he beat that dude without throwing a punch! Think beyond your character sheet and the game can be so much more.

#7

strider13x

Jul 09, 2014 14:23:51

Paraxis wrote:
#8

Tony_Vargas

Jul 09, 2014 14:41:17

For the record, I like to think of 'powergaming' more as getting the most out of a system /without/ wrecking it, but....

 

 

Paraxis wrote:
#9

DemoMonkey

Jul 09, 2014 14:56:26

"Know your DM" is no better nor worse advice for a player than "Know your players." is for a DM.

 

Now as to the original topic, if I were going to powergame I would play a...

 

Nope. I'M NOT REVEALING MY SECRETS SO EASILY, RICHELIEU! En garde!

#10

cranebump

Jul 09, 2014 16:50:19

Shouldn't the thread begin with "So, you're a Munchkin...?"  I mean, that's what we're talking about, aren't we? 

 

Gonna go with strider and bring the question outside the strict mechanics where munchkins live and say if you include all 3 pillars, well... Outside that, I hear a lot about Mountain Dwarves and their armor, and casting spells, and so on. Not to worry, there will be a ton of "optimization" threads somewhere along the line.

#11

JRutterbush

Jul 09, 2014 17:03:53

cranebump wrote:
#12

Rastapopoulos

Jul 09, 2014 18:15:54

 

Best way to powergame: be the DM!

#13

ChrisCarlson

Jul 09, 2014 18:23:16

Rastapopoulos wrote:
#14

mellored

Jul 09, 2014 18:35:16

iserith wrote:
#15

ORC_Cricket

Jul 09, 2014 21:36:00

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#16

kalil

Jul 09, 2014 22:01:36

Assuming that humans get a feat at level 1 and that feats are even remotely similar to the playtest feats: Human for everything.

 

If not the halfling would be my pick for anything dex related, mountain dwarf for anything strength related and mountain dwarf for wizards.

#17

Polaris

Jul 09, 2014 22:10:32

kalil wrote:
#18

masterfat78

Jul 09, 2014 22:09:03

Nope not a powergamer. I make up my characters backstory and stuff first and then use the system to make him as best as possible. I dont make a dwarven warlock, I make Igander the hellforger who sold his soul too make the finest dwarven gear possible but was found out by his clan and is not exiled. In fact I cant stand playing ith muchkin powergamers and if someone showed up to one of my games and tried too use a munchkin build that was made to break the game I would throw him out of the group. This has happened once or twice when we let someone new join.

#19

masterfat78

Jul 09, 2014 22:10:26

Now as foe players who are greedy or maybe just like the combat and gaining new gear, Im ok with that, I feel it as a challenge for me too draw them into the story.

#20

Psikerlord

Jul 09, 2014 23:44:35

 

wood elf rogue, immune sleep, adv on charm eg hold person, darkvision, hide in light obscurement, 35' move (ie avoid melee at will in big areas vs those with normal move with cunning action), great perception, stealth, single attribute dex gives AC, hit and dmg in meleeand ranged, longbow with SA, fast hands with acid pot, uncanny dodge and evasion to tank, great skills, great tools,  no need for short or long rests except hp, at 13th can use all magic items inc scrolls (I presume?) so at that point you can pretty much do everything, at 15th prof on wis saves. Easily the strongest all rounder in all 3 pillars before 13th, and after 13th theres no contest.

#21

Nausicaa

Jul 09, 2014 23:57:12

As an optimizer (and not a powergamer, which is different) is sincerely hope those "ok, now you have 23 strength" items are gone.

#22

zgrose

Jul 09, 2014 23:58:55

Rastapopoulos wrote:
#23

Polaris

Jul 10, 2014 0:19:23

Nausicaa wrote:
#24

Nausicaa

Jul 10, 2014 0:29:28

Polaris wrote:
#25

Bluenose

Jul 10, 2014 0:41:25

Depends on how you're defining powergamer, but if it's soemone who likes to see their character getting more toys to play with, then I'd suggest a Cleric is rather easily the best choice. Dwarf or human for race, probably. 

#26

Caliburn101.

Jul 10, 2014 0:56:50

Wood Elf Ranger (Colossus Slayer)Rogue + Archery Feat.

 

Master Stalker + Mask of the Wild + Cunning Action with the Wood Elf's increased move is a truly wicked combination of abilities.

#27

Prism

Jul 10, 2014 1:50:16

Nausicaa wrote:
#28

Shasarak

Jul 10, 2014 2:01:43

cranebump wrote:
#29

Nausicaa

Jul 10, 2014 2:15:19

Prism wrote:
#30

Prism

Jul 10, 2014 2:16:39

Nausicaa wrote:
#31

Nausicaa

Jul 10, 2014 2:19:42

Prism wrote:
#32

Prism

Jul 10, 2014 2:25:24

Nausicaa wrote:
#33

Polaris

Jul 10, 2014 2:27:56

Nausicaa wrote:
#34

Polaris

Jul 10, 2014 2:29:18

Prism wrote:
#35

Nausicaa

Jul 10, 2014 2:31:24

Prism wrote:
(Reply to #34)

Prism

Polaris wrote:
(Reply to #35)

Prism

Nausicaa wrote:
#38

Polaris

Jul 10, 2014 2:55:18

Prism wrote:
#39

Nausicaa

Jul 10, 2014 2:56:30

The only issue will always be on organized play.

 

I will never ever allow such items in my games, and surely the fellow DM in my party will agree with me. At very least i'd go for +4 strength for the gauntlets and +6 for the belt.

 

I don't agree with those being a DM-only resource: magic items have never been a DM-only resource, even if technically players couldn't really "ask" for them before 3.5. 

We'll see.

#40

Nausicaa

Jul 10, 2014 3:03:07

Polaris wrote:
#41

Prism

Jul 10, 2014 3:03:48

Nausicaa wrote:
#42

Nausicaa

Jul 10, 2014 3:12:43

Prism wrote:
#43

Polaris

Jul 10, 2014 3:14:23

Prism wrote:
#44

Zardnaar

Jul 10, 2014 3:34:54

Polaris wrote:
#45

Nausicaa

Jul 10, 2014 4:30:07

It's the time to throw some Aboleth to them, for a "volunteer stripping program".

#46

Karnos

Jul 10, 2014 5:31:07

Nausicaa wrote:
(Reply to #27)

Gunthar

Prism wrote:
(Reply to #46)

Nausicaa

Karnos wrote:
#49

kalil

Jul 10, 2014 10:11:41

Nausicaa wrote:
#50

Nausicaa

Jul 10, 2014 11:38:12

kalil wrote:
#51

kalil

Jul 10, 2014 11:52:39

Nausicaa wrote:
#52

iserith

Jul 10, 2014 11:58:55

masterfat78 wrote:
#53

Karnos

Jul 10, 2014 12:00:51

I thought optimizing a character meant making it the best possible.

 

Isn't 20 strength still better than 19?

#54

kalil

Jul 10, 2014 12:03:45

iserith wrote:
#55

Polaris

Jul 10, 2014 12:17:31

Karnos wrote:
#56

masterfat78

Jul 10, 2014 16:00:17

Polaris wrote:
#57

masterfat78

Jul 10, 2014 16:02:39

Polaris wrote:
#58

MechaPilot

Jul 10, 2014 18:11:27

Zardnaar wrote:
#59

Mommy_was_an_Orc

Jul 10, 2014 18:38:14

Polaris wrote:
(Reply to #40)

DavidArgall

Nausicaa wrote:
#61

Nausicaa

Jul 11, 2014 2:16:40

DavidArgall wrote:
#62

Thunaer

Jul 11, 2014 4:16:32

I think one of the more serious errors they might hve made is doing away with actual subclasses as it does allow for more OP then I like ( But still less then 3.5 so that is a step forward).

Something just irks me about seeing any Multi where Paladin/Ranger for example are allowed to multi with fighter or Druid an Clerical builds. While I understand the desire to want to have the freedom to do what you want to meet a character concept I was hoping the character creation rules would  at least keep it sane. Guess I was wrong.

#63

mellored

Jul 11, 2014 5:27:20

Nausicaa wrote:
#64

Karnos

Jul 11, 2014 6:40:18

masterfat78 wrote: