Dirty Words in Gaming #5 - Min/Max (as a party)

If everyone in the party has specialized, how can they solve a problem together? If everyone has specialized, coming together to figure out a communal solution? If the bard can only talk and the fighter can only fight they are both a little out of water in different situations.

In 3.5, the problem to this is mechanically difficult to solve. Some classes are clearly geared to different situations. Fighters have no skill points and no skills. The best answer is to either work in skills or feats to offset the weakness or to role-play better. Everything on your sheet may say you are a fighting machine, skilled in murdering foes without breaking a sweat; but that doesn't define your personality or how you act out of combat.

In Pathfinder, things are easier. There are more feats handed out, so you can work in more combat ability and there is no penalty for taking skills outside of your class. So you are able to diversify your character much more easily.

The end result for both versions of the game is the same, you need to work with the party and accommodate differing playstyles and goals. If someone in the game wants to do social interactions, work some into your character. If someone wants to focus on combat, work some combat efficiency into your build.