Need help in RPing stats [Archive] - Wizards Community

Need help in RPing stats [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
TheEmperor
05-19-04, 04:15 AM My character is the party leader, has a really high intelligence (19), decent charisma(14), and horrible wisdom (6).

I'm not sure how to RP him. It seems everything I would do to indicate low wisdom would indicate low intelligence.

The PH says that someone with high intelligence but low wisdom might be smart but absentminded, knowledgeable but lack common sense, or be rash imprudent etc. This doesn't make much sense to me. If I have decent charisma I'm not going to be rash and imprudent, and if I have high intelligence I would think I would not lack common sense.

What are some things I could do to indicate low wisdom but high intelligence?
Kintara
05-19-04, 05:12 AM It seems to me that someone like this would propose brilliant plans for the wrong situation. You fail to take into consideration important details because you overlook them in the minutae of your plans.

You know that scene where the nerd is going through this big rigamorole to hot-wire a car or open a locked door? You know how the wise ass finds the key in the sun-visor, or the streetwise cop kicks the door in? It's that kind of thing.

And a charismatic person can definitely be rash and imprudent. I think you're interpretting "strength of personality" way too broadly.

Also, crazy people are well simulated with a low Wisdom. What wisdom really comes down to is having a flawed perception of the world, or imperfect grasp of the situations you are in.

Maybe you just don't EVER pay attention. You miss important details because you are embroiled in your thoughts. Assume that the character simply doesn't absorb the details he should. The character wouldn't normally ask what he missed because that would entail that he's aware he missed something. He's too preoccupied trying to unpuzzle some passage he read in the last tome he cracked open, or musing on some obscure philosophy regarding the metaphysics of magic.

What's your character like, currently?

Edit: To expound on the earlier "opening the door" example: a "smart" character knows how to disassemble a key-code lock, with out setting off the tampering mechanism, and jury-rigging it to accept a new passcode. A "wise" character knows that he only saw two security guards clocked in at the desk, and both are currently asleep, so no one will notice they were even here if they can get in and out quickly enough.

"Smart" is knowing things. "Wise" is observing things.
TheEmperor
05-19-04, 06:50 AM Thanks for the suggestions. I'm going to have to try suggestion brilliant plans for situations that have almost nothing to do with us.

Maybe you just don't EVER pay attention. You miss important details because you are embroiled in your thoughts. Assume that the character simply doesn't absorb the details he should.

This is a good one.

I'm actually starting him on Fri, so I don't have too much into him right now. I'm in medical school right now, so I don't have time to create 5 page backstories, but here is the little that I do have:

Tromad is a jack-of-all-trades. He dabbles in a little bit of everything.

He really likes traps. Traps are fun. Especially when they don’t explode. It is always exhilarating getting into someplace where someone doesn't want you to go.

He, however, quite sucks at opening locks. He prefers to smash them open, or get through by magical means. He is by no means a thief, although he does like to get into trouble now and then, and tricking someone into doing something is always a blast.

Speaking of blasting things, he also really likes magic. He is by no means a pure wizard, and fireballs are not his forte, but he does know a few tricks. His bat squeaky also likes to get into a lot of trouble, and prides himself on rummaging though backpacks and eating things. (ooc: no one else has a bat familiar, do they?). He mostly stays out of battle and likes to be kept in enclosed spaces like backpacks (don’t ask, he's a very weird bat).

Tromad doesn't quite have the hang of it yet, but he is also really interested in knowledge and epic storytelling. He can be annoying at times, because he will ask anyone how they did anything. When he's not off on adventure, he sticks his head in books to learn as much as he can.

He will often chant out epic stories at the start of battles to dismay his enemies and lift his spirits. If, for instance, he starts fighting a warband of orcs, he will yell out a story about how a party much like his trampled all over a warband of orcs much like theirs, including juicy details about heads rolling and the like.

While Tromad wields a sword, he is by no means a frontline fighter. He prefers to attack the enemy from the rear, or use ranged weapons if he must.
Trydan
05-19-04, 07:18 AM Originally posted by TheEmperor
I don't have time to create 5 page backstoriesDon't forget that background stories are not the same as role-playing. You need to develop two or three strategies for dealing with situations, a couple of mannerisms and that is enough to get started with good role-playing. Unless crucial to the plot, you can delve into character background another time.
NekoWorldOrder
05-19-04, 04:25 PM He really likes traps. Traps are fun. Especially when they don’t explode. It is always exhilarating getting into someplace where someone doesn't want you to go.

I really like this. How about making the guy enjoy Rube Goldberg-styled devices? Overcomplicate everything he does to the point of sillyness. Why make a simple pit trap to catch the orcs when you can build a pit trap, make an illusion of treasure at the bottom, fill it half-way with acid, cast invisble on the acid, then cover the pit and put some sort of real treasure on top of it. It's creative and effective (plays up the high Int), but it's also time consuming and wasteful (plays up the low Wis).

He, however, quite sucks at opening locks. He prefers to smash them open, or get through by magical means. He is by no means a thief, although he does like to get into trouble now and then, and tricking someone into doing something is always a blast.

Maybe Tromad feels that locks are so simple in design that they're not worthy of his attention. The general thugish-ness of thieving might be below him in his opinion, but he's intrigued by the trickery, the carefully worded double-speak and the quick thinking required by it.

You could run pretty well with this concept; He'll probably not bother with Open Locks, Sleight of Hand, Tumble and Balance. Use Magic Device is probally high on his list of skills; I just see him going to the rest of the party with a big grin on his face, saying "Check THIS out!" when they find a new wand. Bluff, Diplomacy, Innuendo, Forgery and Disable Device are probally strong skills for him (as long as he doesn't try to con the wrong person). He's also probally has some ranks of Hide for when everything goes to hell. :D

Speaking of blasting things, he also really likes magic. He is by no means a pure wizard, and fireballs are not his forte, but he does know a few tricks.

I bet he likes illusions. Especially absurdly complex ones. :D

While Tromad wields a sword, he is by no means a frontline fighter. He prefers to attack the enemy from the rear, or use ranged weapons if he must.

Maybe have him wield some strange weapon? A repeating crossbow, perhaps?

Have a set class yet? Alignment? Race? The way I described him, he'd make a good bard or arcane trickster.
Darkness_Incarnate
05-19-04, 05:40 PM One idea for roleplaying such a character could be that the character changes their intelligence level. They go from genuis to idiodic in seconds with nothing in between.
Or also it could be played as a character that almost always opens their mouth in the wrong stiuation.
TheEmperor
05-20-04, 01:07 PM Thank you all for your advice, it fits my character.
Morka
05-20-04, 09:04 PM Something that could be good for a character with high INT & CHA but low WIS is to believe and learn all what people says to him. Try to explain to the druid that you read somewhere that maple leaves are really bad for a forest! Or try to convince a wizard that spells are better scrolled with yellow ink!

I just read this one on the "1001 character quirks" board: begin to elaborate an overly complicated plan, but stop it in the middle, because "they would have guess what the plan was too easily!"

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
TheEmperor 05-19-04, 04:15 AM	My character is the party leader, has a really high intelligence (19), decent charisma(14), and horrible wisdom (6). I'm not sure how to RP him. It seems everything I would do to indicate low wisdom would indicate low intelligence. The PH says that someone with high intelligence but low wisdom might be smart but absentminded, knowledgeable but lack common sense, or be rash imprudent etc. This doesn't make much sense to me. If I have decent charisma I'm not going to be rash and imprudent, and if I have high intelligence I would think I would not lack common sense. What are some things I could do to indicate low wisdom but high intelligence?
Kintara 05-19-04, 05:12 AM	It seems to me that someone like this would propose brilliant plans for the wrong situation. You fail to take into consideration important details because you overlook them in the minutae of your plans. You know that scene where the nerd is going through this big rigamorole to hot-wire a car or open a locked door? You know how the wise ass finds the key in the sun-visor, or the streetwise cop kicks the door in? It's that kind of thing. And a charismatic person can definitely be rash and imprudent. I think you're interpretting "strength of personality" way too broadly. Also, crazy people are well simulated with a low Wisdom. What wisdom really comes down to is having a flawed perception of the world, or imperfect grasp of the situations you are in. Maybe you just don't EVER pay attention. You miss important details because you are embroiled in your thoughts. Assume that the character simply doesn't absorb the details he should. The character wouldn't normally ask what he missed because that would entail that he's aware he missed something. He's too preoccupied trying to unpuzzle some passage he read in the last tome he cracked open, or musing on some obscure philosophy regarding the metaphysics of magic. What's your character like, currently? Edit: To expound on the earlier "opening the door" example: a "smart" character knows how to disassemble a key-code lock, with out setting off the tampering mechanism, and jury-rigging it to accept a new passcode. A "wise" character knows that he only saw two security guards clocked in at the desk, and both are currently asleep, so no one will notice they were even here if they can get in and out quickly enough. "Smart" is knowing things. "Wise" is observing things.
TheEmperor 05-19-04, 06:50 AM	Thanks for the suggestions. I'm going to have to try suggestion brilliant plans for situations that have almost nothing to do with us. Maybe you just don't EVER pay attention. You miss important details because you are embroiled in your thoughts. Assume that the character simply doesn't absorb the details he should. This is a good one. I'm actually starting him on Fri, so I don't have too much into him right now. I'm in medical school right now, so I don't have time to create 5 page backstories, but here is the little that I do have: Tromad is a jack-of-all-trades. He dabbles in a little bit of everything. He really likes traps. Traps are fun. Especially when they don’t explode. It is always exhilarating getting into someplace where someone doesn't want you to go. He, however, quite sucks at opening locks. He prefers to smash them open, or get through by magical means. He is by no means a thief, although he does like to get into trouble now and then, and tricking someone into doing something is always a blast. Speaking of blasting things, he also really likes magic. He is by no means a pure wizard, and fireballs are not his forte, but he does know a few tricks. His bat squeaky also likes to get into a lot of trouble, and prides himself on rummaging though backpacks and eating things. (ooc: no one else has a bat familiar, do they?). He mostly stays out of battle and likes to be kept in enclosed spaces like backpacks (don’t ask, he's a very weird bat). Tromad doesn't quite have the hang of it yet, but he is also really interested in knowledge and epic storytelling. He can be annoying at times, because he will ask anyone how they did anything. When he's not off on adventure, he sticks his head in books to learn as much as he can. He will often chant out epic stories at the start of battles to dismay his enemies and lift his spirits. If, for instance, he starts fighting a warband of orcs, he will yell out a story about how a party much like his trampled all over a warband of orcs much like theirs, including juicy details about heads rolling and the like. While Tromad wields a sword, he is by no means a frontline fighter. He prefers to attack the enemy from the rear, or use ranged weapons if he must.
Trydan 05-19-04, 07:18 AM	Originally posted by TheEmperor I don't have time to create 5 page backstoriesDon't forget that background stories are not the same as role-playing. You need to develop two or three strategies for dealing with situations, a couple of mannerisms and that is enough to get started with good role-playing. Unless crucial to the plot, you can delve into character background another time.
NekoWorldOrder 05-19-04, 04:25 PM	He really likes traps. Traps are fun. Especially when they don’t explode. It is always exhilarating getting into someplace where someone doesn't want you to go. I really like this. How about making the guy enjoy Rube Goldberg-styled devices? Overcomplicate everything he does to the point of sillyness. Why make a simple pit trap to catch the orcs when you can build a pit trap, make an illusion of treasure at the bottom, fill it half-way with acid, cast invisble on the acid, then cover the pit and put some sort of real treasure on top of it. It's creative and effective (plays up the high Int), but it's also time consuming and wasteful (plays up the low Wis). He, however, quite sucks at opening locks. He prefers to smash them open, or get through by magical means. He is by no means a thief, although he does like to get into trouble now and then, and tricking someone into doing something is always a blast. Maybe Tromad feels that locks are so simple in design that they're not worthy of his attention. The general thugish-ness of thieving might be below him in his opinion, but he's intrigued by the trickery, the carefully worded double-speak and the quick thinking required by it. You could run pretty well with this concept; He'll probably not bother with Open Locks, Sleight of Hand, Tumble and Balance. Use Magic Device is probally high on his list of skills; I just see him going to the rest of the party with a big grin on his face, saying "Check THIS out!" when they find a new wand. Bluff, Diplomacy, Innuendo, Forgery and Disable Device are probally strong skills for him (as long as he doesn't try to con the wrong person). He's also probally has some ranks of Hide for when everything goes to hell. :D Speaking of blasting things, he also really likes magic. He is by no means a pure wizard, and fireballs are not his forte, but he does know a few tricks. I bet he likes illusions. Especially absurdly complex ones. :D While Tromad wields a sword, he is by no means a frontline fighter. He prefers to attack the enemy from the rear, or use ranged weapons if he must. Maybe have him wield some strange weapon? A repeating crossbow, perhaps? Have a set class yet? Alignment? Race? The way I described him, he'd make a good bard or arcane trickster.
Darkness_Incarnate 05-19-04, 05:40 PM	One idea for roleplaying such a character could be that the character changes their intelligence level. They go from genuis to idiodic in seconds with nothing in between. Or also it could be played as a character that almost always opens their mouth in the wrong stiuation.
TheEmperor 05-20-04, 01:07 PM	Thank you all for your advice, it fits my character.
Morka 05-20-04, 09:04 PM	Something that could be good for a character with high INT & CHA but low WIS is to believe and learn all what people says to him. Try to explain to the druid that you read somewhere that maple leaves are really bad for a forest! Or try to convince a wizard that spells are better scrolled with yellow ink! I just read this one on the "1001 character quirks" board: begin to elaborate an overly complicated plan, but stop it in the middle, because "they would have guess what the plan was too easily!"