RCR clarification?

[=Thunderbolt=]

I see people changing and rebuilding their characters with this tool. Isn't this problemtic since how can you justify IC that your main character suddenly changed from dex based fighter to a str based one or a wizard suddenly becoming a sorcerer i.e. That's quite alright if it is entirely new character, but if it is the same those changes doesn't happen over night or are almost impossible.

Is it a bit in conflict with the "play your sheet" rule if you can just change the sheet entirely.

Replacing feats and picking new classes close to your original build is quite understandable, but changing the whole build or changing main stats is another thing. Wasn't the original idea to retire the character for good instead of recreating it?

[Maecius]

I don't know if we've ever put out a formal ruling on this. But I expect the practice will decline once we change the RCR back to 50%.

[NegInfinity]

Is it a bit in conflict with the "play your sheet" rule if you can just change the sheet entirely.

It is, which is why I usually don't do extreme class changes.
I mostly view RCR as a tool for making new concepts without going through the obligatory leveling torture. Not as a tool for endlessly optimizing one immortal char.

Then again, it isn't my problem what other people do with their character and I can't see their sheet anyway.

I guess that when people go for extreme class change, their concept is based around specific personality, not around specific class.

Keep in mind that there ARE ways in D&D universe to be reborn anew.
(Reincarnate/Last Breath spells + Wish).

[DM Golem]

We do ask players to exercise restraint with the use of the RCR function. We do ask that players try and keep an eye to what makes some sort of IC sense, try to maintain the theme of their character, or if there is a change, there is RP surrounding it before and afterwards. (we do take a wide view of whats acceptable RP though!)

While we do not rubber stamp radical changes, we do not, however police them either.

[=Thunderbolt=]

I don't know if we've ever put out a formal ruling on this. But I expect the practice will decline once we change the RCR back to 50%.

Ye I searched and couldn't find any, which promt my curiosity. Still even if practise does decline after the change people still do this with the 50%. It won't change the practise.

Is it a bit in conflict with the "play your sheet" rule if you can just change the sheet entirely.

It is, which is why I usually don't do extreme class changes.
I mostly view RCR as a tool for making new concepts without going through the obligatory leveling torture. Not as a tool for endlessly optimizing one immortal char.

Then again, it isn't my problem what other people do with their character and I can't see their sheet anyway.

I guess that when people go for extreme class change, their concept is based around specific personality, not around specific class.

Keep in mind that there ARE ways in D&D universe to be reborn anew.
(Reincarnate/Last Breath spells + Wish).

It is a wonderful tool for new concept, particulary more odd ones that might be a pain low levels or otherwise. Still it has sort of become partly for optimatization.

Even if the concept is around the personality the rule is still there. I guess it depends if the rule enforces just the mechanical sheet you just have or the whole character concept.

[=Thunderbolt=]

We do ask players to exercise restraint with the use of the RCR function. We do ask that players try and keep an eye to what makes some sort of IC sense, try to maintain the theme of their character, or if there is a change, there is RP surrounding it before and afterwards. (we do take a wide view of whats acceptable RP though!)

While we do not rubber stamp radical changes, we do not, however police them either.

And there it is thank DM Golem.

[finneas]

Another thing to remember right now is that with the recent changes to the feat/spell casting/mechanical system in general many people are testing out things to keep their character functional. The 100% RCR is in effect right no for a reason after all, as the changes have been broad and have hurt some character builds whilst making other builds viable.

[=Thunderbolt=]

Another thing to remember right now is that with the recent changes to the feat/spell casting/mechanical system in general many people are testing out things to keep their character functional. The 100% RCR is in effect right no for a reason after all, as the changes have been broad and have hurt some character builds whilst making other builds viable.

That's completely understandable. Still I recall this being done with the 50% often. However we can trust that everyone keeps their char within the theme, which I'm sure most do.

[finneas]

I'm probably guiltier of this than most. My main character has probably been RCR'd 50 to 75 times before we had the 100% RCR. I just never could find a mechanical representation that quite fit how I envisioned him. I even got frustrated enough with my inability to come up with a build that made sense for his RP that I took several rather long breaks from the server. I have finally settled down but it was quite torturous to have a character in my head that I just couldn't quite put to paper correctly. Fortunately we have some amazing builders here that were able to provide a ton of help.

[Deathgrowl]

I've been ranting about this as a serious immersion breaking problem even with the 50% RCR. Glad I'm not the only one seeing it.

[TheLier]

I must say, in my opinion the problem is that I'm pretty sure that some people take classes (I'm looking at you BM-FS-Bard and PM to a lesser extent), and not roleplaying them or not roleplaying parts of them (PM's undead hand for example). This is very problematic in case of classes which require rp.

For example, you don't just become an FS, you are either one or not, and as far as I know it is very rare that someone who was not born FS, becomes one. Or a bard without training. Or "paladin dip", without Rp.

This is not meant to be a personal attack, but....it hurts my immersion.

[finneas]

I typically try to just go with the flow rather than challenge how other people are roleplaying. I don't feel that it is my place to judge what others are doing with their characters. I am not a great RP'er in the first place so I try to just help facilitate what others are doing without becoming adversarial. If people want to tweak their builds here and there, well, we're all here to have fun and some people have fun doing different things. I try not to let OOC things like mechanics color my interactions IC with different characters.

[NegInfinity]

...a serious immersion breaking problem...

"A wizard did it".

[Rhifox]

I must say, in my opinion the problem is that I'm pretty sure that some people take classes (I'm looking at you BM-FS-Bard and PM to a lesser extent), and not roleplaying them or not roleplaying parts of them (PM's undead hand for example). This is very problematic in case of classes which require rp.

Agreed. I don't see (well okay, I do see, :mechanics:) why people take classes with such flavor and then choose to ignore it. To me at least, the classes with huge amounts of flavor like the ones you're mentioning are appealing precisely because of the flavor.

It's not just those classes though. Any class more or less requires a certain amount of training and commitment, especially to reach higher levels. While some can more easily be swapped than others, changing classes should always involve a lot of RP.

[Ariella]

I typically try to just go with the flow rather than challenge how other people are roleplaying. I don't feel that it is my place to judge what others are doing with their characters.

I second that.