[ComicGuy89]

In RPGs there's always this delicate balance to achieve.

On the one hand, you want to be immersed in the story, enjoy playing your character and exploring the worlds the universe presents you with.

On the other hand, you want to be the strongest, have the most efficient build your characters can possibly have, and focus more on the mathematics.

This is especially true of RPGs with a multiplayer component such as Pokémon or MMORPGs.

• Do you just train Pokémon and enjoy the game at your pace, or do you whip out a calculator and breed Pokémon to perfection (even if it ruins the role-playing aspect?)
• Do you stick with ubers listed on Smogon or use a weaker one just because you like it? What about leaving a Pokémon unevolved because you like it that way?
• In Skyrim, do you work out your character build before hand and meticulously train in that build or do you just whip through the countryside and enjoy the sights? Do you wait until later levels to start quests so that the loot is better or just jump right into it? Do you use only Daedric armour because it's the best or do you stick with Iron armor because you like the look even if it's statistically weak?
• In MMORPGs do you obsess over what stats work the best in giving you that tiny advantage in PVP or just try your luck whenever it happens?
• Do you whip out a walkthrough and map when playing JRPGs to ensure you NEVER miss out on any loot or do you just run through the story as it is?

These are just a few examples and they are all (internally) mutually exclusive. Sure, you can play a second time in a "perfect" manner after enjoying the story, but during that second playthrough, if you're like me, your immersion is ruined because it's now nothing more than a math game.

Where's the balance for you? If you do balance it out, where do you draw the line between the quest for perfection and the enjoyment of the game's world?

[algo448]

I mostly just roll with the story, I don't have the patience to grind, much less 100% completion or EV training and the like.

[ComicGuy89]

Quote:

Originally Posted by algo448

I mostly just roll with the story, I don't have the patience to grind, much less 100% completion or EV training and the like.

Yes, grinding was the word I was looking for. I totally forgot about that.

While in single player RPGs it's okay, what about MMORPGs? There's always a multiplayer component, and more often than not, it involves competition.

[Matrixbeast]

I play at my own pace, enjoying the game, not necessarily from a story standpoint (Though I do play the story), but just the leisure of playing.
"Why are you using a Zebstrika? It's a weak electric type."
Because Zebstrika looks cool and I really grew attached to it.
"Why are you an Argonian in Skyrim? No serious enemy uses poisons and there's few water areas deep enough to breath under."
Because playing as a lizard person is cool.

I could list examples for days, but that's the general point. I don't care about building the "Perfect" team in Pokemon (Both in team construction and in EV/IV/Nature/Ability (Though I will admit to aiming for the better abilities and natures in Pokemon when it's vital)), I don't care for building the "Perfect" character in RPGs like Elder Scrolls, since it detracts from my fun (Even if it ends up walling me).

I play games for fun, and because most RPGs are single player games, there's no need to test my character against someone else's since we both made it past the bosses and beat the game, even if I had to put in a little more work since my character wasn't able to pull off the Infinity Maximum Slash x99 or something.

While it could be argued that a good chunk of Pokemon's entertainment value is against other players, I counter that 90% of the "Good" Pokemon can't be obtained during a normal playthrough (Either because they aren't in the area pre-National Dex, because they require breeding with unavailable Pokemon to obtain the "Must have" moves, or because they can't be legally obtained at the time (Like many a Dream World ability)), so building a "Perfect" team in Pokemon is pointless since the staples like Tyranitar and Garchomp can't be gotten during the main storyline (Outside of their generations, obviously).

As for grinding, I find it to make a game too boring to want to continue (Hence why I never grind in Pokemon. Keeps things challenging, keeps the game from getting boring, and keeps me on my toes).

[GoseiWonder]

Well, I usually just bulk up one Pokemon and use it as my go-to in battle. For example, my Golurk in Black Version that knows Earthquake, Hammer Arm, Fly and Shadow Ball and has the Ability Iron Fist. I also tend towards one type like a Gym Leader because I have this nagging feeling that it's the norm.

I haven't played Skyrim, but I do have experience with RPG's that use an "equip system," like Bionicle's Voya Nui Online Game and the Transformers Armada game for the PS2. Both of which I just used used the most powerful weapons I had. In VNOG, whenever I had a stat increase point, I made sure to try and distribute them evenly and I usually went for Attack Boosts when equipping armor, masks and greaves.

Then again, I'm rather "n00bish" in gaming cosidering my first console was a PS2 roughly back in 2004-06 with Spyro 1, Pac-Man World 2 and MX/ATV racing games and most of my first games in general were point-and-click edutainment titles, cereal promos, cartoony virtual chess and the stray Hot Wheels Stunt Track Driver and Lego Island 2 that somehow snuck in.
I only finally say down to play a Pokemon game for the first time LAST YEAR even though I was a fan of watching people play it since at the most Gen III.

[Klonoahedgehog]

I play Pokemon to have fun, though i do try to get 100% sometimes, and i try to get my partners to level 100 so they stand a chance online.