It's really the same discussion as "when is a character overpowered", and the answer I find is roughly the same: a character is too overpowered or too skilled when they can no longer be meaningfully challenged or defeated by a narrative, and/or when other player characters are no longer interested in engaging in conflict with them.
Take, for example, classic comic book hero Superman. A lot of people find the concept of Superman laughable: how can anyone find the story of an almost totally invincible, handsome, charismatic demigod with no drawbacks to his powers be compelling? After all, we're talking about a protagonist who can literally fly into the sun and prevent it from emitting too much solar radiation.
It's because for all of Superman's omnipotence, he still has weaknesses and mortality. That's not all, though. It's not a matter of simply having flaws or weaknesses to balance excessive power or skill, though; it's a matter of making the effects of those flaws or weaknesses have significance, effect or meaningful consequence on the character. One of the most widely acclaimed Superman arcs is about how Superman is faced with his impending and inevitable death, and explores how a character who is so used to being practically omnipotent deals with such a fate.
A character is a master crafter who can literally fabricate anything imaginable. What's his flaw? Maybe no social skills leads to complete isolation that lends itself to bouts of depression that seriously impede his or her work.
A character is literally an un-defeatable combatant; his or her skills in battle are so great that they are capable of warping the reality around them so that said character can win. What's that character's flaw? Life has no meaning and there is nothing else this character can do but fight.
Make a character's weaknesses have real, observable detriment to them and how they live with little to no benefit. Do that convincingly, and it doesn't matter how powerful or skilled your character is.
Take, for example, classic comic book hero Superman. A lot of people find the concept of Superman laughable: how can anyone find the story of an almost totally invincible, handsome, charismatic demigod with no drawbacks to his powers be compelling? After all, we're talking about a protagonist who can literally fly into the sun and prevent it from emitting too much solar radiation.
It's because for all of Superman's omnipotence, he still has weaknesses and mortality. That's not all, though. It's not a matter of simply having flaws or weaknesses to balance excessive power or skill, though; it's a matter of making the effects of those flaws or weaknesses have significance, effect or meaningful consequence on the character. One of the most widely acclaimed Superman arcs is about how Superman is faced with his impending and inevitable death, and explores how a character who is so used to being practically omnipotent deals with such a fate.
A character is a master crafter who can literally fabricate anything imaginable. What's his flaw? Maybe no social skills leads to complete isolation that lends itself to bouts of depression that seriously impede his or her work.
A character is literally an un-defeatable combatant; his or her skills in battle are so great that they are capable of warping the reality around them so that said character can win. What's that character's flaw? Life has no meaning and there is nothing else this character can do but fight.
Make a character's weaknesses have real, observable detriment to them and how they live with little to no benefit. Do that convincingly, and it doesn't matter how powerful or skilled your character is.
