#dnd5e

So look, optimize if you want. It's fine - with caveats.

Just a couple of things: don't push other people at the table to optimize to the same degree. This kind of quarterbacking sucks the joy out of the game for non-optimizers.

1/4

In my video game design work, I saw players ratchet up optimization until the game flipped from play to work.

Ask yourself if you've convinced yourself that you MUST hardcore optimize to get by. You may be wrecking your own fun.

2/4

Pay attention to how you're pressuring the DM to change the game to challenge you. If your fun is cruising through challenges that threaten other PCs (or worse, soloing everything), that's... not great.

3/4

So check in with other players, with yourself, and with the DM. The price of optimizing is asymmetric responsibility to other people at the table, in exchange for which your character is in some way The Rockstar a disproportionate amount of the time.

4/4

Meta commentary: this sprang out of talking to @standsinthefire about things players have done in MMOs to wring more effectiveness out of their gaming situation while wrecking their fun.

Thanks for reading, and in conclusion:

Stop anti-Asian hate crimes.
Black lives matter.
Trans lives matter.
End concentration camps in the US. I really shouldn't have to keep saying this.
Wear your masks.