Here's something I don't understand.
Everyone's familiar with the idea of "Hard Mode" and "Easy Mode" in video games. Hard mode is for people really into developing whatever skills the game tests (or, if you're really lucky, making money in tournaments) and Easy Mode is for people who don't and also it is often considered an accessibility feature.
All that's easy to get. People know what that means.
Then in tabletop RPGs we have these endless circular discussions for twenty years on the internet (and for the entire life of the hobby if you count fanzine pages) about "Character Optimization".
Character Optimization is basically just playing on Easy Mode.
A few minor differences between video games and RPGs:
- Rather than just flip a toggle, you are doing (depending on system) either a lot of math by yourself or a little math by yourself in order to play on Easy Mode.
- It only works if the GM predictably gives you the kinds of challenges that are better solved with your build than otherwise and you consistently choose to use solutions.
Why do people keep going around and around about this? What's complicated here?
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