These are general rules, ways to think about building a min-maxed character.

Accentuate the Positive
You rely most heavily on your character’s strengths. Any feat, skill, magic item, or skill that accentuates a strength is good.

A bonus on a roll you make a lot is more important than a bonus on a roll that you don’t make as often.

Small vs. Medium-size Characters
Being small can be an advantage, if you swing the balance of good and bad factors in your favor.

A small character isn’t great in melee (though Weapon Finesse works great for a halfling). The AC bonus and ranged attack net bonus are nice for spellcasters, and the melee and speed penalties aren’t so bad.

Multiclassing
Picking the right class combinations can give you important benefits and cover your weaknesses.

Accentuate the positive: Classes with the same high points are good together (such as fighter and ranger).

Share drawbacks: Monk and wizard go well together because neither wants to wear armor. Sorcerer and paladin go together nicely because each requires a good Charisma.

"Cover your backside": A level of fighter helps make up for a wizard’s weaknesses (low Fortitude save, low hit points, weak weapon skills).

Dip for nice class features: A level of monk gives you evasion. A level of cleric gives you healing.

"Cover Your Backside"
The way for villains to defeat a mighty fighter is not to fight him. Taking him out with hold person or other attacks that circumvent AC and hit points is the way to defeat the character with high AC and hit points. Covering your soft parts can help. Here are four examples by class.

Clerics: Defensively, clerics are the strongest characters, but a level of bard or rogue can give you better Reflex saves and a handful of useful skills.

Fighters: Cloaks of resistance improve your saving throws. Boots of springing and striding improve your speed. Iron Will improves your Will saves.

Rogues: A level of fighter gives you better attacks, great weapon skills, more hit points, better Fortitude saves, and an extra feat.

Wizards: Bracers of health improve your Constitution and hit points.

About the Author
Jonathan Tweet, a senior designer at Wizards of the Coast, led the 3rd Edition D&D design team and authored the new Player’s Handbook. Since 1986, he has freelanced, self-published, and worked full time in the adventure game industry. His other design credits include Ars Magica, Over the Edge, Everway, and support material for AD&D, Magic: The Gathering, Netrunner, RuneQuest, and Talislanta.