On Powergaming in Baldur's Gate 3, D&D 5E, etc.

What does this guy know about rpgs

There's a stigma on optimization in RPGs that come from tabletop but really doesn't make any sense when it comes to videogames. If you're playing tabletop with 4 people and your character is abusing some broken synergy while the other players aren't, let's say you're solving 75% of the problems (combat, skills, roleplay encounters, etc) without help, that can be bad because you're monopolizing the experience. Now in a single player video game it's the complete opposite, a big pull of the experience is solving it's mechanical complexity and your npc companions are taking no pleasure in solving anything because they're not a person, you're the only one getting something out of it.

Within me there are two wolves. One says, "Just play the game, relax, and have fun," and the other says, "Min max and be the most optimal build possible." Both wolves are correct. They're friends, actually.

5:15 This video is obviously an AI construction - cats never exit when you open the door for them.

Minmaxing to get 100% optimal stats < Minmaxing to make a funny character work.

what a pleasant surprise

It's crazy how much of a level-headed discussion people can have once they get off Twitter. Great video!

"Also, who gives a shit?" Honestly, super fair lmao

i loved your perspective here. i really hope you make more of this kind of content going forward. it’s fascinating to not just hear your opinions from a d&d perspective, but that of from a developer as well.

A lot of computer games don't make failing interesting enough and thus I understand optimization. In a tabletop game with a good dm this isn't the case and so I like min maxing semi good or even bad concepts, but min maxing something that is already strong, just to make it broken, would be something I would only consider in certain groups that are less roleplay focused or if everyone is power gaming. DnD 5e is too simple for extreme min maxing anyway unless you talk with the dm about what artifacts one could get.

Unless it has truly extraordinary levels of reactivity, I cannot imagine that the game is going to reward you with a better narrative experience or more interesting conversations for making a narratively coherent build, such as recognising you took a mechanically bad feat that happens to make sense narratively.. On the contrary, with class reactivity, unless you need to meet particularly level thresholds, you are probably going to be rewarded with the most content making some cheesy frankenstein build.

Whenever Josh talks, someone is taking notes A good listen, thanks for sharing

Love the video Josh! I appreciate these game design talks you post.

I find Josh to be a remarkably interesting person. As someone who is fond of many games he's worked on its really cool to hear his thoughts on these things. I even showed his talk about managing small remote teams to my boss and we've learned/used some of it in our own (non game dev) work

3.5 minmaxing left such a wound in our collective psyche that people associate any form of optimizing with the most joyless, flavorless, game breaking type of play. Like, 5e is good, but there's really not a lot going on mechanically or customization wise. You get +4/+5 in your two main stats so you can interact with the game on a basic level, and that's about it. There's flavorful RP options for every stat combo, and I'm sure Larian was especially diligent in making sure no character felt left out.

👍🏾👍🏾🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Pillars of Eternity 2 will always be one of my favorite games of all time!

wow, it's been a while since you've done one of these, happy to hear your thoughts!

Loved watching this. Such insight with a down to earth perspective on game design. You are a legend sir!

I think that’s why I loved Shadowrun so much, because as a system and concept, your characters are literal min-maxers weeded out and literally better than common people. It helps its just an aspect of an interesting setting/system.

I think you really nailed the reasons why people powergame and why it's not always a blind focus on winning. Even video games that do allow you to fail forward like XCOM are still unforgiving enough that optimal play is still heavily encouraged.