When creating a D&D character, its completely normal to try and make them as powerful as possible. However, it’s important to remember that D&D is a collaborative experience and the game is most enjoyable when the party is working together to overcome obstacles.
I can almost guarantee that your favorite characters in fiction or otherwise had some sort of major flaw to overcome. Generally, this is what gives characters their arcs, so why not do the same with your D&D character? Whether the flaw is on their stat sheet, a personality trait, or a combination of both, it is sure to add depth to your character and make their story more meaningful.
While I wouldn’t go as far to say that its super common in modern D&D for players to try and min/max their character to the point where the party power balance is thrown off, it truly is something that happens. As a DM, you can use these two simple rules to mitigate that conundrum:
1. If your players character does not have an ability score of 16 or higher, have them make one of them 16.
2. If your players character does not have an ability score of 8 or lower, have them make one of them 8.
This simple ruling will ensure that everyone’s character has something they’re good at and something they’re bad at, letting the party work cohesively and giving each character moments to shine. Tools like The DM’s Ark can help you track characters, their flaws, and growth over your campaign, making every story arc more meaningful. Happy gaming!
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