Ok, now, it seems that most people here agree that one can be roleplaying and power-gaming simultaneously. But not everyone agrees on what is encompassed by roleplaying and what is encompassed by power-gaming. So let me consider 4 characters. They are all level 1. And Orcs have +2 Strength, +1 Constitution and -2 Intelligence, as per VGtM.
Awnka is an Orc Barbarian who has 16 Strength. (She is strong, proud, ambitious and will crush the skull of anyone who would think of telling her "no, you can't".)
Bolg is an Orc Fighter who has 14 Strength. (He was always left out of the prestigious missions for the tribe, so he left to purse what he wants and to prove his worth to the world.)
Ceega is an Orc Wizard who has 14 Intelligence. (She was was trained by an Arcane Brother who kicker her for being not useful good enough. She now wanders and hope to continue with magic.)
Dench is an Orc Wizard who has 16 Intelligence. (He was raised in Silverymoon during the peace, but felt it would be much safer to leave when war with the Orcs broke out.)
I think that some, if not most, people would agree that playing Awnka or Dench qualifies as power-gaming.
But which ones qualify as role-playing ?
To me, all four characters are acceptable. But a player who wants to roleplay and power-game at the same time will probably choose Awnka or Dench.
It seem like unasnwerable question ... we dont have enough data to decide. :-/ Not like it seem actualy important since we are talking about single player game here ... and in co-op multiplayers its more important what that particular bunch of people agree on ... On the other hand, why not speculate for a while. :P
If Ceega, or Dench are super Intelligent, but dumped wisdom to the ground ... it seem a bit odd and therefore i would concider them to be more power-playing than role-playing. I know those stats are not complementary conected, but it seem odd that one mental stat is sky high and other one completely forgoten. :-/
But to only concider their main stat ... I dont see any reason to not concider any of them potentialy good characters, in measures of role-play ... after all, every character, no matter how effective or noneffective builded could be played both well, and horrible. Personaly i also use right stats for right characters ... After all, no Wizzard would choose as his novice the dumest child he found. :-/ As well as no Barbarian would teach the weakest child with missing both limbs. :-/ And if that makes me powergamer in eyes of some uknown guy on other side of the planet? Well, so be it.
I still dont understand why cant we change Race for our hirelings. Lets us play Githyanki as racist as they trully are!
