Post/Author/DateTime	Post
kSquared 09-18-04, 08:34 PM	One of the NPCs in my party's current adventure is an orc druid blessed with a preternaturally high Wisdom (15) but the usual abysmal-ish Intelligence scores of an orc (8). His Charisma score is also rather low (9). How might such a character play out? Right now I'm picturing that he wouldn't have a very commanding presence (low Cha) or be very illuminating (low Int), but he'd always be offering enlightened snippets of wisdom (good Wis). A glorified fortune-telling druid, maybe? =) Any suggestions?
necrosnoop110 09-18-04, 10:32 PM	There are many angles you can take with a high wisdom character and it does not have to be the monk-like spiritual insights. You could consider focusing on playing him as a tower of cumbrous willpower and although not bright or commanding he would have an almost preternaturally awareness of his immediate physical surroundings. Druid or Ranger are good classes in line with this idea.
Levism84 09-18-04, 10:42 PM	I am reminded of the "uncarved block" from the taoist point of view. I really started to understand it when I read The Tao of Pooh (a complete look at taoism using the metaphor of whinnie the poo). Think of whinnie the pooh as you play; slow, rather simple, not overbearing (pun), but able to find simple insights into the world. Other characters might become "bothered" with him because he doesn't exist in the "real world," running around like a chicken with his head cut off trying to get things done. Instead he may see that everything will unfold in its own time, so why rush it? That is just my brief attempt at insight. ~Rain~
Morka 09-19-04, 06:51 PM	Heh, your character is not that stupid; don't forget that the intelligence of the average NPC is 10. So with 8, you're just 2 below. One of my favorite way to figure out how to play a character's mental stats is checking the skills affected by the ability. INT: Appraise, Craft, Decipher Speak, Disable Device, Forgery, Knowledges, Search & Spellcraft. You're not very good to understand complexe things (traps, secret doors, magic, strange texts...) and to learn abstract things (raw knowledges). WIS: Heal, Listen, Profession, Sense Motive, Spot, Survival. While you're not very good to keep in your mind the name of every thing, you're able to recognize something that helps and something that harms. While you don't know how to speak all the languages, you know enough of body language to detect if someone is trusthworthy or not. Especially useful to understand an animal. In addition, the more intelligent you are, the most skills you can learn; so an intelligent but uncharismatic character could learn many diplomacy tricks and become a best negociator than a bard or paladin. Now being a it low in intelligence but high in wisdom, you know you can't be good at everything, but you are great at some skills.
Nuntius128 09-28-04, 12:42 AM	That is just my brief attempt at insight. ~Rain~ Well put, and a very good attempt. Very well worded. I never got around to the Tao of Pooh, wish I did though.
Mancer 09-28-04, 01:54 AM	The Tao of Pooh is an excellent book, perhaps more so than any other Taoist text for its accessibility. It is hardly the final word on Taoism, but the whole idea of it is very much in the spirit of Taoism. A low intelligence/high wisdom character can get a lot of mileage out of this book. In fact, any monk, druid, cleric, paladin, or worshipper of a benevolent diety should read Tao of Pooh. And for you lazy people out there, they made it nice and short (around 150 pages, as I recall.)
daphne 09-28-04, 03:10 AM	i wouldn't play such a character about 'wisdom snippets', but i'd go more for the 'make the right choice' style. your orc has some instinct/common sense which would make him do right most of the times, although he cannot really 'translate' such gift into 'snippets' (because int=8) nor impose his choices to others (cha=9). -imo-
Azigoth 09-29-04, 10:06 AM	Momma always told me that dungeoneerin' was like eatin' a peach - it can be sweet but watch out for those pits. A little duller than the sharper knives in the drawer, not quite the "brains of the party," but with a wisdom that belies insight and unusually high willpower... Run, Forrest, Run!! :D
kSquared 09-29-04, 10:26 AM	Now we just have to get him on a shrimp boat... But thanks for all the comments guys! I appreciate it. =)
Quartermain 09-30-04, 09:56 AM	Momma always told me that dungeoneerin' was like eatin' a peach - it can be sweet but watch out for those pits. A little duller than the sharper knives in the drawer, not quite the "brains of the party," but with a wisdom that belies insight and unusually high willpower... Run, Forrest, Run!! :D Hah! Beat me to it. I agree - Forrest Gump is the way to go.