Dirty Words in Gaming #1 - Min-Max

So the first topic to go over in the metagame series is about min-maxing.

But what is min-maxing? Strictly speaking it is minimizing your weaknesses while maximizing your strengths. People view this as a very negative practice in gaming. However, I don't think it is. I think that the practice can be taken too far (at which point you cross into optimization, which is a bad thing)

I think there is a fine line between min-maxing and optimization (and your definitions may be reversed than mine, so if it is, just switch the words and it'll work). The reason I don't think min-maxing is bad is because that is what we do in our lives. Very few people (relatively speaking) try to be good at everything. For any given person they will be good at some things and bad at others. In the realm of things they are good at, there are some things that they will excel at.

Knowing this, any rational person would attempt to use the skills they are good at or bring their good abilities to bear. If you are a physicist, why would you try to fix your own car? You excel at physics, not automotive repair. Even if automotive repair is a hobby, it will at best be something you are good at, not something you excel at.

And it is the same for characters. Your feat, skill, and gear selection will all tend towards what you've chosen to specialize in. As heroic characters you should excel. You should be the greatest swordsman, spell-slinger, or thief in whatever realm you are. If you aren't you wouldn't be a hero.