The Tao of Pun-Pun1. Pun-Pun happened You discover Pun Pun(the min/max world was a different place before and after pun-pun)
2. Pun-Pun can do anything in D&D 3.5 You attempt to comprehend the vastness that is Pun Pun(really anything)
3. There is more than one path to Pun Power You try to do it sooner, then sooner(several ways in fact, as early as level one), then you try to kill Pun Pun before he is born
4. Anything is possible in D&D 3.5 The realization of the true brokenness of 3.5(any conceivable character can be attained at any level in the game because of
pun-pun(pun pun can take all or some of his power away at will thus leaving the desired character after ascension/decline
in power))
Knowing that anything is possible in 3.5 can be applied to Min/Maxing.
Since Pun-Pun can do anything, then anything is possible, the problem is that
every gaming table has its own version of what anything is.
In this sense, we can scale our Min/Maxed creations to apply in more real world tabletop scenarios.
Example: xyz character can do THIS at level x (as recommended in the PHB)
TO min/maxed xyz build can do THIS at level 1 (ie Pun Pun(this will probably not be approved by any "sane" DM))
Gestalt xyz//uvw can do THIS at level w
RAW xyz can do THIS at level v
RAI xyz can do THIS at level u
y is banned so xz class cannot do THIS at all
x is banned so yz cannot do THIS until it is no longer viable
xyz is banned, but fortunately rst can do TH1S in a different way
opq can do THIS better, but is completely worthless outside of levels c through g
all of the above might be allowed at a certain table
half or less of these available at another
to take Min/Max a step further, which of these options have the most advantages relative to other options at the table they are approved at?
using this data one could create a multidimensional graph that charts all possible characters(ie known Min/Max builds) and their relative power to each other at each level AND under different(known) IRL playing conditions
(no I have not done this, but we should get a group of crazies to start on this right away)
just something to consider for writing handbooks / themed characters / theoretical challenges / personal character goals / Min/Maxing in general, whatever it is, IS possible, just not at every table
any thoughts? suggestions for revisions or additions to the four steps? was thinking about making this a handbook, but it seems a little thin on content...
is there another path to enlightenment that starts with a "P"? Pao of Pun Pun seems forced, Path of Pun Pun seems clunky... looking for an IRL religion neutral "Path to enlightenment" any ideas?
after some editing, and hopefully some of your feed back, I can post this in the Handbooks section but without the (explanations) of each step, and newcomers can try to figure it out