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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
 Posted - 01 Feb 2011 : 14:05:18
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Not an issue if all the PCs and the DM are powergamers. Everybody plays the min/max game — nobody picks a disadvantage unless they feel it's offset by some advantage, even if only an intangible one that helps define some distinctive details for "character background". Powergamers are just people who are more adept at using everything the rules offer. Powergaming playstyles might tend to emphasize more "efficient" roll-playing and combat values, but they are still workable, if perhaps not for everyone.
Munchkins are simply cheaters; their characters don't just exploit the rules, they utterly ignore and rewrite them. Apparently a popular playstyle (there's lots of munchkins) ... but I don't really understand the appeal or see the point. |
[/Ayrik] |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36805 Posts |
Posted - 01 Feb 2011 : 16:23:26
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quote:
Originally posted by Arik
Not an issue if all the PCs and the DM are powergamers. Everybody plays the min/max game — nobody picks a disadvantage unless they feel it's offset by some advantage, even if only an intangible one that helps define some distinctive details for "character background". Powergamers are just people who are more adept at using everything the rules offer. Powergaming playstyles might tend to emphasize more "efficient" roll-playing and combat values, but they are still workable, if perhaps not for everyone.
Munchkins are simply cheaters; their characters don't just exploit the rules, they utterly ignore and rewrite them. Apparently a popular playstyle (there's lots of munchkins) ... but I don't really understand the appeal or see the point.
I am reminded of someone who told me about his low-level, 1E mage killing a dragon by himself. The guy's DM had a houserule that allowed spellslingers to do things like cast multiple magic missiles, but hold fire on them indefinitely. So the mage saw a dragon and used several "racks of magic missiles" (his own words) and killed the dragon by himself. |
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Edited by - Wooly Rupert on 01 Feb 2011 16:23:48 |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 01 Feb 2011 : 16:46:47
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I wonder how many "racks of magic missiles" a dragon could suspend? Dragons tend to have lots of HD/levels and a whole lots of time to cast spells, at least when compared against little low-level magic-users ... (ahem, shield spell?)
I had one kid try to import a character who was stuffed full of dozens of "bio-energy magitek(?) implants" that each granted a +1 increase to all six ability scores, an increase in hit die type, and various other minor stats bonuses. His argument was that paying 10GP each imposed a "realistic limit" that prevented abuse. His fallback argument, of course, was the claim that his previous DM allowed it. |
[/Ayrik] |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
Posted - 06 Feb 2011 : 21:05:16
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| I'd say those are both munchkins. On the other hand, my hubby's wood elf ninja can dish out tons of damage when she needs to, and is darn good at hiding, but get her into an NPC interaction that doesn't involve combat, and she's no better than anyone else. That's a power-gamer. I've got a bard/dervish who is also quite good at dishing out the damage, but he has flaws that sometimes come into play to offset his advantages, such as Chivalrous fighting (won't attack women unless attacked first) and Timid/pacifist (won't attack first- neg to initiative in combat). And those flaws are part of how I RP him. He will only fight if he has to, and will almost never attack a female unless she attacks first! |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 07 Feb 2011 : 02:10:36
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Players who calculate their damage-per-round (for any purpose) are clearly powergamers. I forced my munchkin to roll a new character which complied to the same rules as everybody else, he stopped showing after two sessions, nobody misses him.
I notice that female players have much less tendency to be aggressive powergamers (unless it's the expected playstyle from all her peers). I've never met a female munchkin. I don't want to seem sexist, but I suspect a large part of the reason is a sense of "fair play" the women have. Some of them are as vicious and bloodthirsty as any of the guys (a few seem to revel in being more macho and competitive than the males), but they still seem to be more aware of their social surroundings than of their character sheets, they are apparently much less motivated towards cheating and "selfish" action (or perhaps much better at hiding it from me). And usually not shy about using their feminine charms to manipulate the group by systematically targeting the victim/hopeless (nerdiest/loneliest) males with contrived attention, lol. |
[/Ayrik] |
Edited by - Ayrik on 07 Feb 2011 02:28:18 |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36805 Posts |
Posted - 07 Feb 2011 : 04:45:43
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quote:
Originally posted by Arik
Players who calculate their damage-per-round (for any purpose) are clearly powergamers. I forced my munchkin to roll a new character which complied to the same rules as everybody else, he stopped showing after two sessions, nobody misses him.
I notice that female players have much less tendency to be aggressive powergamers (unless it's the expected playstyle from all her peers). I've never met a female munchkin. I don't want to seem sexist, but I suspect a large part of the reason is a sense of "fair play" the women have. Some of them are as vicious and bloodthirsty as any of the guys (a few seem to revel in being more macho and competitive than the males), but they still seem to be more aware of their social surroundings than of their character sheets, they are apparently much less motivated towards cheating and "selfish" action (or perhaps much better at hiding it from me). And usually not shy about using their feminine charms to manipulate the group by systematically targeting the victim/hopeless (nerdiest/loneliest) males with contrived attention, lol.
I think that as males, we very much have a tendency towards being competitive -- and some express that by becoming powergamers/munchkins. |
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Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
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A Power-Gaming Cleric...should this be allowed?
