Underpowered characters aren't bad, until the weakness that makes them underpowered starts to disrupt enjoyment and roleplay. In a way, the same goes for overpowered characters. There should always be a number of strengths and weaknesses. Maybe a man who can shatter boulders with a single punch can't digest dairy...or ya know, something more appropriate. But someone who is super clumsy, has the knowledge needed to create a victory strategy. Balance is all about finding strengths and weaknesses that fit your character, and fine tuning them into a perfect relationship. Sometimes strengths have to be reduced, as to not ruin roleplay, and sometimes weaknesses have to be overcome, to create flare and keep things interesting. Knowing when and how to fluxuate the positives and negatives is crucial. Non-combat characters are easy, since they don't NEED either of these things. For an example of overpowered and underpowered fighters though:
Draco is often considered overpowered, because of his skill, experiences, and Dark Knight powers (Pre-HW). And in a way he is. Logically speaking, he's a veteran Knight who analyzes a battle while fighting it, and comes up with strategies to win. However, like every warrior he has his weaknesses. He can tunnel vision during a fight, grow tired, has a weakness to electric magic, because he's encased in metal 24/7. His aether depletes rapidly when in use, things like that. He also holds back considerably in fights, to avoid killing his opponent. I refer to it as, and it probably sounds egotistical when put like this, a Superman complex. He's only as strong as he needs to be at any given time. Although unlike superman, he DOES have a cap to his strength. Every strong character should have a chance of defeat.Â
On the opposite side of the spectrum, I have a somewhat underpowered character in Chip Wayman. He's a teenager and not very strong, smart, or talented. His attitude is that of an over eager child, who wants to make a difference in the world. His knowledge of fighting is limited to what he learned from his master, and from watching other people. So he imitates primarily. Chip couldn't really damage someone even if he tried. He just lacks the muscle for it. His combat style is obvious, and he tends to call out his moves. So his weaknesses are easy to see. Obviously, he's weak and roughly trained, he's not very inteligent, having been a street urchin with almost no knowledge of the world outside thanalan, and no one really takes him seriously. He is at best a comedy relief character, designed to make people laugh ICly and OOCly. However, he has strengths that keep him interesting as well. While weak, he employs brass knuckle type weapons to inflict some damage, to help overcome his lack of strength. This allows him to at least hurt his opponents, and hopefully render them unconcious if he works hard enough. He trains hard and daily to hone the moves he's trying to imitate, even if they're not perfect yet, and his Goblin Avenger persona often makes him underestimated, so his foes don't take him seriously and drop their guard. His speed is excelent, and he can often surprise people with how fast he can close in. And despite knowing he's no match for most people, his spirit is unbreakable. He will try desperately to win, even though he knows he probably can't. And that allows him to overcome the obstacles in his path. So even underpowered characters need a chance at victory.
It's all about having great strengths and great weaknesses, not in size but in quality...or I guess both. Every Achilles needs a heel. As for what Ember was saying before, that is also a good point. Just because your character has an in depth backstory where they felled gods, doesn't mean much. Draco has a backstory of a trained soldier, and while it is taken into account in RP, I don't use it as an excuse to always win. Draco loses just as much as he wins, despite his history. His in game RP experiences though, helped him grow. People ICly started to realize that he was a fighter, and respected that. But, being a soldier isn't the most important thing. Getting your character known as a scientist, or kind hearted person, or Goblin themed super hero, through RP is really more important than having a backstory and nothing else.
EDIT: A good point was also brought up after I posted. Underpowered characters have more room to grow than overpowered characters. Draco has reached his limit to physical prowess, and only has a little he could gain from his Dark Arts before he reaches the peak for that too. He has no room left to grow, aside from personality. Whereas Chip is still a fresh faced kid with plenty of experience to gain in life. And that doesn't even stop for non-physical characters. Your character could be a starry eyed novice Scholar (In the intellectual sense, not the Job) that is desperately trying to make a name for themselves and learn. True, they probably wouldn't be the best person to go to for knowledge, and there's definitely people smarter than them, but they offer so much more opportunity than someone who knows everything already. If you had to shoot for one, I'd honestly say start from the bottom. Let your character grow through RP into something great.
Draco is often considered overpowered, because of his skill, experiences, and Dark Knight powers (Pre-HW). And in a way he is. Logically speaking, he's a veteran Knight who analyzes a battle while fighting it, and comes up with strategies to win. However, like every warrior he has his weaknesses. He can tunnel vision during a fight, grow tired, has a weakness to electric magic, because he's encased in metal 24/7. His aether depletes rapidly when in use, things like that. He also holds back considerably in fights, to avoid killing his opponent. I refer to it as, and it probably sounds egotistical when put like this, a Superman complex. He's only as strong as he needs to be at any given time. Although unlike superman, he DOES have a cap to his strength. Every strong character should have a chance of defeat.Â
On the opposite side of the spectrum, I have a somewhat underpowered character in Chip Wayman. He's a teenager and not very strong, smart, or talented. His attitude is that of an over eager child, who wants to make a difference in the world. His knowledge of fighting is limited to what he learned from his master, and from watching other people. So he imitates primarily. Chip couldn't really damage someone even if he tried. He just lacks the muscle for it. His combat style is obvious, and he tends to call out his moves. So his weaknesses are easy to see. Obviously, he's weak and roughly trained, he's not very inteligent, having been a street urchin with almost no knowledge of the world outside thanalan, and no one really takes him seriously. He is at best a comedy relief character, designed to make people laugh ICly and OOCly. However, he has strengths that keep him interesting as well. While weak, he employs brass knuckle type weapons to inflict some damage, to help overcome his lack of strength. This allows him to at least hurt his opponents, and hopefully render them unconcious if he works hard enough. He trains hard and daily to hone the moves he's trying to imitate, even if they're not perfect yet, and his Goblin Avenger persona often makes him underestimated, so his foes don't take him seriously and drop their guard. His speed is excelent, and he can often surprise people with how fast he can close in. And despite knowing he's no match for most people, his spirit is unbreakable. He will try desperately to win, even though he knows he probably can't. And that allows him to overcome the obstacles in his path. So even underpowered characters need a chance at victory.
It's all about having great strengths and great weaknesses, not in size but in quality...or I guess both. Every Achilles needs a heel. As for what Ember was saying before, that is also a good point. Just because your character has an in depth backstory where they felled gods, doesn't mean much. Draco has a backstory of a trained soldier, and while it is taken into account in RP, I don't use it as an excuse to always win. Draco loses just as much as he wins, despite his history. His in game RP experiences though, helped him grow. People ICly started to realize that he was a fighter, and respected that. But, being a soldier isn't the most important thing. Getting your character known as a scientist, or kind hearted person, or Goblin themed super hero, through RP is really more important than having a backstory and nothing else.
EDIT: A good point was also brought up after I posted. Underpowered characters have more room to grow than overpowered characters. Draco has reached his limit to physical prowess, and only has a little he could gain from his Dark Arts before he reaches the peak for that too. He has no room left to grow, aside from personality. Whereas Chip is still a fresh faced kid with plenty of experience to gain in life. And that doesn't even stop for non-physical characters. Your character could be a starry eyed novice Scholar (In the intellectual sense, not the Job) that is desperately trying to make a name for themselves and learn. True, they probably wouldn't be the best person to go to for knowledge, and there's definitely people smarter than them, but they offer so much more opportunity than someone who knows everything already. If you had to shoot for one, I'd honestly say start from the bottom. Let your character grow through RP into something great.
