Change the Elephant's Ability Scores [Archive] - Wizards Community

Change the Elephant's Ability Scores [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
WaaMatt
10-31-06, 03:28 PM I think the Monster Makeover crew needs to take a look at the Elephant next after reading this article:

http://arstechnica.com/journals/science.ars/2006/10/31/5810

I can't remember which article it was (Design & Development, most likely) about Cha, Wis, and Int and what they represent on a basic level. But, if an elephant is truly aware of itself via mirrors, then whichever of the three mind-based ability scores represents Self Awareness should be adjusted for an elephant.

Of course, I don't have my MM in front of me so this may already be the case. Then again, it could not be and I'll just get flamed since this is a forum. Hooray!
Bawitda
10-31-06, 05:48 PM That'd be wisdom, I'd think, or charisma. They've got 13 Wis already (15 if an Indian elephant), and while their charisma is only 7, I'd imagine that that's still enough.
Branto
10-31-06, 09:27 PM Self-awareness, aka ego, is definately Charisma. Intelligence is logical thought and ability to learn, while Wisdom is described as "Will power, common sense. perception, and intuition"

Oh, and trust me on this one: don't believe ANY of those 'tests'. Most of them are completely set up (like they spend months teaching a dog a trick and then say "this dog can sit on command, so it is smart!") and don't actually prove anything.

Especially that lame 'mirror test'. Yeah, that proves the animal has been around mirrors long enough to know it's a reflection. If only self-aware creatures can tell the difference between a mirror and another animal, then the only life left on the planet would be sentient... why? All the 'dumb' animals would have at some point seen their reflection in water and drowned themselves by now.

Personally, I find this concept of all animals as a rule having 1-2 intelligence to be self-righteous garbage. The older versions of D&D weren't even like that, you know... sure, some animals had "animal intelligence", being a score of 1, but others had higher scores. Most of the large feline species, for example, had 2-4 intelligence.. and the giant linx actually had 11-12!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
WaaMatt 10-31-06, 03:28 PM	I think the Monster Makeover crew needs to take a look at the Elephant next after reading this article: http://arstechnica.com/journals/science.ars/2006/10/31/5810 I can't remember which article it was (Design & Development, most likely) about Cha, Wis, and Int and what they represent on a basic level. But, if an elephant is truly aware of itself via mirrors, then whichever of the three mind-based ability scores represents Self Awareness should be adjusted for an elephant. Of course, I don't have my MM in front of me so this may already be the case. Then again, it could not be and I'll just get flamed since this is a forum. Hooray!
Bawitda 10-31-06, 05:48 PM	That'd be wisdom, I'd think, or charisma. They've got 13 Wis already (15 if an Indian elephant), and while their charisma is only 7, I'd imagine that that's still enough.
Branto 10-31-06, 09:27 PM	Self-awareness, aka ego, is definately Charisma. Intelligence is logical thought and ability to learn, while Wisdom is described as "Will power, common sense. perception, and intuition" Oh, and trust me on this one: don't believe ANY of those 'tests'. Most of them are completely set up (like they spend months teaching a dog a trick and then say "this dog can sit on command, so it is smart!") and don't actually prove anything. Especially that lame 'mirror test'. Yeah, that proves the animal has been around mirrors long enough to know it's a reflection. If only self-aware creatures can tell the difference between a mirror and another animal, then the only life left on the planet would be sentient... why? All the 'dumb' animals would have at some point seen their reflection in water and drowned themselves by now. Personally, I find this concept of all animals as a rule having 1-2 intelligence to be self-righteous garbage. The older versions of D&D weren't even like that, you know... sure, some animals had "animal intelligence", being a score of 1, but others had higher scores. Most of the large feline species, for example, had 2-4 intelligence.. and the giant linx actually had 11-12!