Feebleminded [Archive] - Wizards Community

Feebleminded [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
BadCatMan
10-05-05, 05:50 AM Hi

After my previous character was killed in a fight triggered by the DM's Lawful Stupid Paladins, I vowed to play a smart Paladin as my next character (and a light one, following an incident involving full-plate and water). Enter Walter of Candlekeep, Paladin of Oghma, the Forgotten Realms god of knowledge.

He's a geeky paladin, good and kind-hearted and all, but focussed on protecting books, knowledge and science. He's spent his early adventuring career journeying the Sword Coast delivering and swapping books between temples and libraries. He's an adventuring librarian.

Mechanics-wise, I've taken my concept and minmaxed it. He's a Monk 2 / Paladin 2 / Fighter 2 / Shiba Protector 1 / Pious Templar 1 (and onwards). He has a range of skills, especially the Knowledge ones. He's a tripper, a longsword master (can even flurry it), and Wisdom powers everything - AC, attack, damage, saves and Paladin abilities. I picture him as something like a Matrix warrior. Mental stats are Int 16, Cha 7, Wis 16 (18 with Periapt of Wisdom +2)

His normal character and background, I have no problem with. But a recent event has changed things drastically.

We found some potions, all different colours, no labels. Everyone drinks one. The rogue loses strength, but everyone else is healed. I gave it a shot, thinking my odds were good, and downed the last one.

It was a potion of Feeblemind.

Not so good for the smart paladin of the god of knowledge. I swear the DM makes these things deliberately.

The DM keeps having flashbacks to second edition, so he said it set my character's intelligence to 3, which is better than 3.5's animal intelligence of 2. He forgot about a saving throw, but I guess it doesn't help if I actually drink the stuff. It seems it will wear off in a few days, anyway.

What I'm not sure of is how to play him during this time. Being a complete moron is turning out to be rather fun, such as when some samurai are comparing their ancestries and their honour... 'I am the Lizard Queen!' But I don't think he should be a total buffoon, not with that Wisdom score. So, does anyone have advice for a paladin of knowledge with Cha 7, Int 3, and Wis 18?

The PHB suggests wise, but simple-minded, but I'm not sure that's enough for this extreme difference in stats. I figure he'd still know what was going on, at least. What kind of dumb things would he do? Low Int might cause him to do something stupid, but high Wis would probably suggest that it wouldn't be a good idea.

I'm sure he would definitely know what is that he has lost, and be horrified at having lost his mind. Maybe I should go reread Flowers for Algernon.

Currently he's cowering behind a door while the party tackles a giant spider, a mad wizard demon thing, and a chaos beast. And the rogue just got turned into a blob by the chaos beast, with the prospect of becoming a chaos beast himself (He's likely to make his Charisma check in time to recover however). He (the rogue) has a potion that would save him, but lacks the hands to use it. My previous character hated the rogue (after all, the rogue killed him), my current character doesn't like the rogue and doesn't much care for his mission to protect him (or something like that, I'm not sure), and I personally despise the rogue (the player's okay, its just his character is a jerk).

So... my character is perfectly positioned behind the annoying, treacherous rogue (Chaotic Stupid Evil, the Chaotic Neutral so-I-can-do-whatever-I-like type). What would my character do? Options:
a) Scream "Ah! Chaos Beast!" and continue hiding.
b) Run out and Smite that man-blob, because it could be another Chaos Beast.
c) Run out and Smite that little bastard while he can't fight back, then sing "Hallelujah! Hallelujah!", just a like a Paladin would.
d) Run out and save that little bastard and prove myself to be the better man for not being a player-killer.
Harrow Blade
10-05-05, 08:42 AM As for your current dilema i think that you should save the rogue but but hold it over him, you saved his life and he owes you, it's time that he amended his ways or face the consiquences next time. It may help reform the 'annoying' part of his character.

As for the period of time while you have a low intelligence I would approach it in the way where you know you understood something and knew how it worked but can't remember how. You would be come increadibly frustrated before lashing out with the nearest bashing tool.
BadCatMan
10-10-05, 07:20 AM Thanks.

Hmm, last session tomorrow, and I doubt I'll come back next year. Maybe I should just smite him. :devil: But I don't want to be the bad guy, despite all the crap. Maybe my character will muddle through saving his life.

Hey, you're a Perth person too. Are you in UniGames?
Harrow Blade
10-10-05, 07:44 AM unfortunately not in the uni games, I always find out too late.
I should probly be more proactive. ;)
good luck in your game any way.

Harrow Blade
BadCatMan
10-10-05, 10:38 AM No, UniGames, University of Western Australia's gaming club. I guess not then. :)

Thanks.
Harrow Blade
10-11-05, 10:21 PM I am an ECU student, not nearly so high brow as UWA :P
dagger
01-06-07, 12:20 AM How did this build work out and can you post it? Thank you! :D

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
BadCatMan 10-05-05, 05:50 AM	Hi After my previous character was killed in a fight triggered by the DM's Lawful Stupid Paladins, I vowed to play a smart Paladin as my next character (and a light one, following an incident involving full-plate and water). Enter Walter of Candlekeep, Paladin of Oghma, the Forgotten Realms god of knowledge. He's a geeky paladin, good and kind-hearted and all, but focussed on protecting books, knowledge and science. He's spent his early adventuring career journeying the Sword Coast delivering and swapping books between temples and libraries. He's an adventuring librarian. Mechanics-wise, I've taken my concept and minmaxed it. He's a Monk 2 / Paladin 2 / Fighter 2 / Shiba Protector 1 / Pious Templar 1 (and onwards). He has a range of skills, especially the Knowledge ones. He's a tripper, a longsword master (can even flurry it), and Wisdom powers everything - AC, attack, damage, saves and Paladin abilities. I picture him as something like a Matrix warrior. Mental stats are Int 16, Cha 7, Wis 16 (18 with Periapt of Wisdom +2) His normal character and background, I have no problem with. But a recent event has changed things drastically. We found some potions, all different colours, no labels. Everyone drinks one. The rogue loses strength, but everyone else is healed. I gave it a shot, thinking my odds were good, and downed the last one. It was a potion of Feeblemind. Not so good for the smart paladin of the god of knowledge. I swear the DM makes these things deliberately. The DM keeps having flashbacks to second edition, so he said it set my character's intelligence to 3, which is better than 3.5's animal intelligence of 2. He forgot about a saving throw, but I guess it doesn't help if I actually drink the stuff. It seems it will wear off in a few days, anyway. What I'm not sure of is how to play him during this time. Being a complete moron is turning out to be rather fun, such as when some samurai are comparing their ancestries and their honour... 'I am the Lizard Queen!' But I don't think he should be a total buffoon, not with that Wisdom score. So, does anyone have advice for a paladin of knowledge with Cha 7, Int 3, and Wis 18? The PHB suggests wise, but simple-minded, but I'm not sure that's enough for this extreme difference in stats. I figure he'd still know what was going on, at least. What kind of dumb things would he do? Low Int might cause him to do something stupid, but high Wis would probably suggest that it wouldn't be a good idea. I'm sure he would definitely know what is that he has lost, and be horrified at having lost his mind. Maybe I should go reread Flowers for Algernon. Currently he's cowering behind a door while the party tackles a giant spider, a mad wizard demon thing, and a chaos beast. And the rogue just got turned into a blob by the chaos beast, with the prospect of becoming a chaos beast himself (He's likely to make his Charisma check in time to recover however). He (the rogue) has a potion that would save him, but lacks the hands to use it. My previous character hated the rogue (after all, the rogue killed him), my current character doesn't like the rogue and doesn't much care for his mission to protect him (or something like that, I'm not sure), and I personally despise the rogue (the player's okay, its just his character is a jerk). So... my character is perfectly positioned behind the annoying, treacherous rogue (Chaotic Stupid Evil, the Chaotic Neutral so-I-can-do-whatever-I-like type). What would my character do? Options: a) Scream "Ah! Chaos Beast!" and continue hiding. b) Run out and Smite that man-blob, because it could be another Chaos Beast. c) Run out and Smite that little bastard while he can't fight back, then sing "Hallelujah! Hallelujah!", just a like a Paladin would. d) Run out and save that little bastard and prove myself to be the better man for not being a player-killer.
Harrow Blade 10-05-05, 08:42 AM	As for your current dilema i think that you should save the rogue but but hold it over him, you saved his life and he owes you, it's time that he amended his ways or face the consiquences next time. It may help reform the 'annoying' part of his character. As for the period of time while you have a low intelligence I would approach it in the way where you know you understood something and knew how it worked but can't remember how. You would be come increadibly frustrated before lashing out with the nearest bashing tool.
BadCatMan 10-10-05, 07:20 AM	Thanks. Hmm, last session tomorrow, and I doubt I'll come back next year. Maybe I should just smite him. :devil: But I don't want to be the bad guy, despite all the crap. Maybe my character will muddle through saving his life. Hey, you're a Perth person too. Are you in UniGames?
Harrow Blade 10-10-05, 07:44 AM	unfortunately not in the uni games, I always find out too late. I should probly be more proactive. ;) good luck in your game any way. Harrow Blade
BadCatMan 10-10-05, 10:38 AM	No, UniGames, University of Western Australia's gaming club. I guess not then. :) Thanks.
Harrow Blade 10-11-05, 10:21 PM	I am an ECU student, not nearly so high brow as UWA :P
dagger 01-06-07, 12:20 AM	How did this build work out and can you post it? Thank you! :D