I always go pretty deep on imagining my character’s backstory (or characters’ backstories if I’m making a full party), and ascribing them character traits and specific personalities that are all largely irrelevant to the gameplay but only for my own internal enjoyment. I’ll also make non-optimal choices, such as I won’t play a character with less than 12 Int even if their class doesn’t need it, just because I like to role-play clever characters.
Even still, within those role-playing parameters I will powergame the hell out of my characters. I enjoy researching a game’s mechanics to find synergies that will maximize my character’s efficiency and battle performance. For example, I’m currently playing a sorcerer who has the magic initiate: warlock feat in my table top game because 3d6 scorching rays (thanks to hex) make me smile. I really hope Hexblades are in BG3, so I can live out my Vengeance Paladin / Hexblade Warlock power trips in BG3.
