Help! My character knows more than me! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Help! My character knows more than me! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
The_Fan
03-24-04, 10:35 AM I have run into a bit of a unique situation.

I am playing a bard in an upcoming campaign, and I decided to max out all my knowledge skills so for once I could use all the various knowledge I've cribbed from innumerable suppliments without actually metagaming.

However, at level 12, I've realized a problem: My character actually knows more than me!

I've never encountered a situation like this before. Any ideas to help?
jokotoko
03-24-04, 11:11 AM OK. I currently play a 26 int wizard, and as my own int is only 25 I know your problem all to well :D

Seriously though....you need to roll the dice more often. Whenever your character could know something you don't...let him roll for it...simple as that!
Edymnion
03-24-04, 11:13 AM Yup, just roll.
Assume you know everything. When you as a player don't know (aka it hasn't happened specifically while playing), roll the dice. If you pass, have your DM fill you in.
ryan_stone
03-24-04, 01:01 PM HELP! My wizard character knows how to cast spells, but I can't! What should I do?!
green_yawgmoth
03-24-04, 01:02 PM ^shove it. It's a legit question, and you're not helping anything by posting.

My character has 47 int. I have to dumb myself down a little, but it's all good. ;)

But honestly, whenever your DM asks you if slight metagaming X is out of the realm of possibility, just say "I have __ int and __ ranks in knowledge _____. I think he probably knows what he's doing."
Lilith Darkcrow
03-24-04, 01:35 PM It doesn't matter that your PC is smarter the you. You just have to be smart enough to remember to roll them 20s. every chance you get. ;)

DM- You torchlight flickers across the stone door. Upon it's surface you see strange runes and glyphs across the width of the door. No dobut left by the ancient Weewaks 2 thousand years ago. (Ha! They'll never guess that it's a puzzle that explains where the treasure is hidden)

PC- Oh yea! My Wizard had Knowledge Weewak Language & Writing at 30 ranks.

DM- Doh! I mean. After studying the writing you discover that it is a word puzzle. Weewak word puzzles were so complicated that only the Weewak puzzle masters could solve them.

PC-Oh well nevemind...wait a tick! He also has Weewak Puzzle Master Lore at 25 ranks.

DM- Oh forget it! Here's the damn treasure!

Smart Characters are a good thing!
MattMart
03-24-04, 01:57 PM you dont have to have an int of 45 to be dumber than your character....

if you think about it....a character with an 18 str can drag around a dead horse with ease....prolly boot the strongest dern person you can think of...

so what does that say about a character with 18 int?
ryan_stone
03-24-04, 03:11 PM Relax green_yawgmoth, I was just making a joke. That was my first reaction to the post. If we had to be worred about having the skills our character had, we'd be playing a game called "Real Life". I play that game everyday and it's not nearly as much fun as DnD.:)
DM Zoc
03-24-04, 07:57 PM As for the Super-intelligent character problem, the best argument I've heard is as follows:

Just because you're the most intelligent creature on the planet doesn't mean you have to be running at peak all the time. Just as Superman doesn't crush a glass just by holding it, you can make stupid decisions if you don't stop and think about it. With an Intelligence in the twenties or more, you'd only ever think of using that higher processing power for manipulating arcane energies because nothing else can use that much power.
stanks
03-25-04, 05:55 PM Why not use bardic knowledge instead of the knowledge skills...its saves muchly in skill points...and the results are not quite as good for any individual knowledge area...(say only +8 at fifth lvl instead of +10) but it covers everything.

But as for playing a really smart character...use the natural 20 to your advantage and handball it to the DM...its what they are there for...and it is their world...not yours.
evoken_november
03-25-04, 06:22 PM Why would you assume that everything in the world that you're playing in is exactly like what is found in the various supplements and books you've read? Why would you assume that just because you personally have memorized the various campaign settings and Monster Manuals that this information will be true in your DM's campaign world?

Short answer: Don't even worry about it. You shouldn't even make assumptions about things that you as a player *think* you know. You don't know how to swing a sword or cast a spell, do you? Does that mean your character can't? Do you need to be a master painter or a professional innkeeper in order for your character to use the skills "Craft: Painting" and "Profession: Innkeeper?" If you answered "no" to the above questions, then why should you think that Knowledge skills are any different? Just roll the knowledge check and let your DM inform you on whatever the check would indicate.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
The_Fan 03-24-04, 10:35 AM	I have run into a bit of a unique situation. I am playing a bard in an upcoming campaign, and I decided to max out all my knowledge skills so for once I could use all the various knowledge I've cribbed from innumerable suppliments without actually metagaming. However, at level 12, I've realized a problem: My character actually knows more than me! I've never encountered a situation like this before. Any ideas to help?
jokotoko 03-24-04, 11:11 AM	OK. I currently play a 26 int wizard, and as my own int is only 25 I know your problem all to well :D Seriously though....you need to roll the dice more often. Whenever your character could know something you don't...let him roll for it...simple as that!
Edymnion 03-24-04, 11:13 AM	Yup, just roll. Assume you know everything. When you as a player don't know (aka it hasn't happened specifically while playing), roll the dice. If you pass, have your DM fill you in.
ryan_stone 03-24-04, 01:01 PM	HELP! My wizard character knows how to cast spells, but I can't! What should I do?!
green_yawgmoth 03-24-04, 01:02 PM	^shove it. It's a legit question, and you're not helping anything by posting. My character has 47 int. I have to dumb myself down a little, but it's all good. ;) But honestly, whenever your DM asks you if slight metagaming X is out of the realm of possibility, just say "I have __ int and __ ranks in knowledge _____. I think he probably knows what he's doing."
Lilith Darkcrow 03-24-04, 01:35 PM	It doesn't matter that your PC is smarter the you. You just have to be smart enough to remember to roll them 20s. every chance you get. ;) DM- You torchlight flickers across the stone door. Upon it's surface you see strange runes and glyphs across the width of the door. No dobut left by the ancient Weewaks 2 thousand years ago. (Ha! They'll never guess that it's a puzzle that explains where the treasure is hidden) PC- Oh yea! My Wizard had Knowledge Weewak Language & Writing at 30 ranks. DM- Doh! I mean. After studying the writing you discover that it is a word puzzle. Weewak word puzzles were so complicated that only the Weewak puzzle masters could solve them. PC-Oh well nevemind...wait a tick! He also has Weewak Puzzle Master Lore at 25 ranks. DM- Oh forget it! Here's the damn treasure! Smart Characters are a good thing!
MattMart 03-24-04, 01:57 PM	you dont have to have an int of 45 to be dumber than your character.... if you think about it....a character with an 18 str can drag around a dead horse with ease....prolly boot the strongest dern person you can think of... so what does that say about a character with 18 int?
ryan_stone 03-24-04, 03:11 PM	Relax green_yawgmoth, I was just making a joke. That was my first reaction to the post. If we had to be worred about having the skills our character had, we'd be playing a game called "Real Life". I play that game everyday and it's not nearly as much fun as DnD.:)
DM Zoc 03-24-04, 07:57 PM	As for the Super-intelligent character problem, the best argument I've heard is as follows: Just because you're the most intelligent creature on the planet doesn't mean you have to be running at peak all the time. Just as Superman doesn't crush a glass just by holding it, you can make stupid decisions if you don't stop and think about it. With an Intelligence in the twenties or more, you'd only ever think of using that higher processing power for manipulating arcane energies because nothing else can use that much power.
stanks 03-25-04, 05:55 PM	Why not use bardic knowledge instead of the knowledge skills...its saves muchly in skill points...and the results are not quite as good for any individual knowledge area...(say only +8 at fifth lvl instead of +10) but it covers everything. But as for playing a really smart character...use the natural 20 to your advantage and handball it to the DM...its what they are there for...and it is their world...not yours.
evoken_november 03-25-04, 06:22 PM	Why would you assume that everything in the world that you're playing in is exactly like what is found in the various supplements and books you've read? Why would you assume that just because you personally have memorized the various campaign settings and Monster Manuals that this information will be true in your DM's campaign world? Short answer: Don't even worry about it. You shouldn't even make assumptions about things that you as a player think you know. You don't know how to swing a sword or cast a spell, do you? Does that mean your character can't? Do you need to be a master painter or a professional innkeeper in order for your character to use the skills "Craft: Painting" and "Profession: Innkeeper?" If you answered "no" to the above questions, then why should you think that Knowledge skills are any different? Just roll the knowledge check and let your DM inform you on whatever the check would indicate.