Is powergaming worth it?

Klorox · Post by **Klorox** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 11:08 pm

Just wanted to get some idea from regulars around here. Is powergaming worth it? Do you notice a difference in gameplay if you take characters with "realistic" stats vs. those with powergamed stats (reducing INT and CHA as low as possible for those characters who do not need it, for example)?

TIA

(I'm just considering restarting, again, with basically the same party, but with more realistic stats.)

Rabain · Post by **Rabain** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 3:40 am

I think for those who have powergamed but prefer not to there is a certain satisfaction in defeating a foe using characters with realistic stats.

For me there is little satisfaction in cheesing my way thru the game, I might as well just Ctrl-Y the enemies and give myself XP via DaleKeeper for the amount of benefit I gain from playing that way.

Thats just my 2c.

silverdragon72 · Post by **silverdragon72** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 4:12 am

.

Just a question, what's your understanding:

powergaming doesn't mean to min max stats at all prize, if you have a lokk a my party most build have just one weak stat with 4 or 5 points, the bard/druid build has very balanced stat, just the optional PC 6 has CHA 1, but reasonable as a tiefling.

For me it's more a contest about building the most powerfull *PARTY* (not just a single PC), that can prove their effectivness in various situations without cheating!

.

Dedigan · Post by **Dedigan** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 8:59 am

I have no problem with min/maxing stats. If I could make a reasonalbe character without it, I try to, but sometimes, it's just better to min/max. Take the fighter, for example. It's much easier to play a fighter with 3 18's and very low intelligence and charisma, stats which are useless to a fighter's skill set anyhow. Completely dropping intelligence and charisma gives extra room for the extra save bonus (or at least less penalty) to will saves.

I don't like using some powergaming tricks like level squatting, but I've done it before and I'll probably do it again. I just like having level 9 mage spells in the normal game.

There are powergaming tricks, like adding a mule character to lower the party average level, which I think are just silly and unneccessary.

So overall, I powergame to get a slight tactical advantage. When I'm so overpowered that nothing is challenging, then I may as well watch a movie or read a book.

Claudius · Post by **Claudius** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 10:47 pm

For normal mode its not necessary to powergame. I beat the game with pre-created parties (game comes with them) and it was a challenge and a lot of fun to make the party win. It was still easy as taking candy from a baby once I knew how to use spells.

claudius

Domi_Ash · Post by **Domi_Ash** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 9:02 am

I think that my reply can be guessed from my signature. No, powergaming is not worth it. The only way the game keeps my interest is when I roleplay with a gang of NPCs. I spent 2 years trying to get through the campaign, and I *couldn't*. Then I abandoned it, spent a year modding and now on my third run through the game (still modding).

In other words the only way to play for me is to create characters with realistic stats -and give them plenty of dialogue if it's not available in the vanilla game- and run from there.

I don't think I can create characters with max/min stats and enjoy the game with them simply because they are superpowerful. I just... can't. They *have* to have personalities and talk to each other, talk to me, talk to the characters around us.

If anyone writes a patch that decreases the overoll difficulty in IWD2, so it can be played nicely with the non max/min chars I'll be standing in line to download it!

silverdragon72 · Post by **silverdragon72** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 11:00 am

Domi_Ash wrote:I think that my reply can be guessed from my signature. No, powergaming is not worth it. The only way the game keeps my interest is when I roleplay with a gang of NPCs. I spent 2 years trying to get through the campaign, and I *couldn't*. Then I abandoned it, spent a year modding and now on my third run through the game (still modding).

In other words the only way to play for me is to create characters with realistic stats -and give them plenty of dialogue if it's not available in the vanilla game- and run from there.

I don't think I can create characters with max/min stats and enjoy the game with them simply because they are superpowerful. I just... can't. They *have* to have personalities and talk to each other, talk to me, talk to the characters around us.

If anyone writes a patch that decreases the overoll difficulty in IWD2, so it can be played nicely with the non max/min chars I'll be standing in line to download it!

Just HOF is difficult in IWD2!

...it should be quite easy to win the "normal" game even on higher difficult levels with almost any party that's not completly bugged!

.

Domi_Ash · Post by **Domi_Ash** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 3:06 pm

Different people have different tolerance levels for doing stuff. The sheer number of spawns that come in endless arrays is overwhelming for me in IWD2. I also severely dislike buffing and IWD2 just does not have a good selection of items that have build-in protections. So, IWD2 *is* too difficult for my taste. BG1-BG2-NWN2 are much better in that regard and give a person far more breathing room. If it is easy for you, well and good, congratulations. You are a good candidate for the 'super-tough' patches. I, obviously, am not, so I stick to my banters and my cheatkey.