Need help fighting the dreaded MinMaxer.

[Mailanka]

Originally Posted by Kuba

He's not the GM.

Well that does change things. But then aren't we back-seat GMing? Is the point of this thread to generate an argument as to why the GM is wrong to allow this? I'm not sure I'm any more comfortable with that.

[Vynticator]

Originally Posted by Jasonft

To start, I think it is broken as heck... but it looks legal.

Someone built a ranged attack....

Would I ever allow it in my game if I was GM? Heck no. But I need solid rules to stand on when arguing with this person as a fellow player.

Help?

From this, it seems like the OP is *not* the GM, but a fellow player. He seems to be unhappy that someone else bought a killer attack and the GM allowed it.

That changes my feelings about how to respond. If the GM says it's ok, it's not really your place to complain that he (the other player's character) is too good. You had, I assume, the same points budget. If the game is all about dealing huge damage, and you didn't build as deadly a set of powers, that's a little bit unfortunate but I guess you gotta deal with that as a player.

If you're all new ish to Supers/Powers, then maybe the GM ought to run a tester few sessions, allowing people to tweak their builds if they don't work as intended or seem underpowered. That should prevent a feeling of jealousy if your build is 'inefficient'.

A better solution is for you to play to your own character's strengths and stop worrying about Mr RoF.

Maybe encourage the GM to diversify the foes and challenges so it's not all about the killing. Maybe you have exotic senses, precognition, investigative abilities, super speed, super defences, magic hypnosis, healing, or whatever: these might be more interesting and offer chances for better roleplaying than Mr Trigger Finger. But if the campaign idea was "Supers Kill Bad Guys" and you had a ton of points and built a less efficient death machine, um, bad luck fella.

[Vynticator]

Originally Posted by Mailanka

Well that does change things. But then aren't we back-seat GMing? Is the point of this thread to generate an argument as to why the GM is wrong to allow this? I'm not sure I'm any more comfortable with that.

Exactly right.

[Kuba]

Keep in mind that for [168] points (I believe that's what Mailanka worked it out to be), you could get:

DR 23 (Cosmic Defense, +50%) [165]

Which cannot be ignored with the cosmic modifier, rendering the attack worthless. Or you could get:

Warp (Reliable +10, +50%) [150]

Which lets you instantly move 10 yards with an IQ+talent roll, or lets you move anywhere you've been on the planet, with a 30 second wait and an IQ+talent roll. Or:

Snatcher (Creation, +100%) [160]

Which lets you create any 5 lbs. object or lighter you can imagine with a successful IQ+Talent roll.

Honestly, when it comes to superheros, damage is one of the tamest powers there is, since you can usually accomplish the same effect with a rifle or clever use of these other powers.

[Jasonft]

Sorry I didn't make that clear. I am not the GM, but I am getting thoroughly fed up with this player's insistence on bending anything he builds to ludicrous levels.

If the GURPS build is legal, I'll accept it even if I don't like it - but he also has a bad habit of using real life fast talk and atrocious handwriting (i.e. messy character sheets) to claim just a little bit more than he is legally entitled to. I want to know what the limits of this build actually are in case he tries it again (which he will).

One currently active GM in that circle refuses to let him into her game because (to quote) "his characters are ********". The fact that this woman is also his mom should tell you something.

[Tomsdad]

Originally Posted by Jasonft

Sorry I didn't make that clear. I am not the GM, but I am getting thoroughly fed up with this player's insistence on bending anything he builds to ludicrous levels.

If the GURPS build is legal, I'll accept it even if I don't like it - but he also has a bad habit of using real life fast talk and atrocious handwriting (i.e. messy character sheets) to claim just a little bit more than he is legally entitled to. I want to know what the limits of this build actually are in case he tries it again (which he will).

One currently active GM in that circle refuses to let him into her game because (to quote) "his characters are ********". The fact that this woman is also his mom should tell you something.

To be honest I think the situation you describe might be best servered with sitting down with this player and having a word (or possibly the GM's sitting down before hand and having a word). If you're having to fact check his builds becuase he has a habit of bending the rules that's a bit more of an issue than just honest min/maxing.

[Tomsdad]

Originally Posted by Mailanka

Well that does change things. But then aren't we back-seat GMing? Is the point of this thread to generate an argument as to why the GM is wrong to allow this? I'm not sure I'm any more comfortable with that.

Originally Posted by Vynticator

Exactly right.

If we're taking the OP at their word, there would seem to be a larger context at work here than just build jealously. However I do agree that this forum may not be the best place to work the problem

[Celjabba]

For the suit, he may get it as part of the bodyguard job, but then it should only be available while on duty.(and that duty should be enforced by the GM).

Or he bought the gadgeteer as a patron that provide gear.

Otherwise, having a 'gadgeteer friend' is only an UB that allow you to purchase a suit otherwise unavailable.

Celjabba

[Donny Brook]

Originally Posted by Jasonft

Sorry I didn't make that clear. I am not the GM, but I am getting thoroughly fed up with this player's insistence on bending anything he builds to ludicrous levels.

If the GURPS build is legal, I'll accept it even if I don't like it - but he also has a bad habit of using real life fast talk and atrocious handwriting (i.e. messy character sheets) to claim just a little bit more than he is legally entitled to. I want to know what the limits of this build actually are in case he tries it again (which he will).

One currently active GM in that circle refuses to let him into her game because (to quote) "his characters are ********". The fact that this woman is also his mom should tell you something.

How does he get his ****** characters into a game in the first place? Sounds like the GMs are not doing their due diligence.

[trooper6]

Originally Posted by Jasonft

Sorry I didn't make that clear. I am not the GM, but I am getting thoroughly fed up with this player's insistence on bending anything he builds to ludicrous levels.

If the GURPS build is legal, I'll accept it even if I don't like it - but he also has a bad habit of using real life fast talk and atrocious handwriting (i.e. messy character sheets) to claim just a little bit more than he is legally entitled to. I want to know what the limits of this build actually are in case he tries it again (which he will).

One currently active GM in that circle refuses to let him into her game because (to quote) "his characters are ********". The fact that this woman is also his mom should tell you something.

If you are having an unpleasant gaming experience with this player, I think you should tell the GM that you are no longer enjoying yourself due to the player and leave the game. Further you should not play when that player is playing. This might mean only playing when this player's mom is GMing.