How should I play a character with wisdom of six? [Archive] - Wizards Community

How should I play a character with wisdom of six? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
DragonWalker
01-19-05, 02:23 AM Please, give me hand. How should I play a character with wisdom of six?
Thank you for any help.
Bentley Mirrorshade
01-19-05, 02:39 AM Less perceptive. Doesnt look on the consequences when she does something. Maybe educated, but lacks comon sense. Ill post more suggestions when I think of something...
Nuffink
01-19-05, 02:48 AM From SRD:

Wisdom describes a character’s willpower, common sense, perception, and intuition. While Intelligence represents one’s ability to analyze information, Wisdom represents being in tune with and aware of one’s surroundings. Wisdom is the most important ability for clerics and druids, and it is also important for paladins and rangers. If you want your character to have acute senses, put a high score in Wisdom. Every creature has a Wisdom score.

So you are likely to have low willpower (easily led or misled!), not much common sense, not perceptive or intuitive. Hmmm.

I've always noticed that people who are really focused on something - hobby work etc - always seem vague and very lacking in common sense in other areas of their life. Who else knows PhD's who forget to turn up to game sessions or lose their character sheets? So maybe you could be really focused to the exclusion of all else.

Try to think of movie/book/etc characters who might be appropriate: the lead guy from American Pie for example - smart but he keeps getiing himself into trouble by doing stupid (or perhaps UNWISE) things. Bumbling scientists?

What sort of character do you have in mind - this will help us help you.

There was a thread on this once before but I couldn't find it with my feeble Wis and Int. EDIT: Not the link I was looking for but pretty darn good (Googled): Intelligence Versus Wisdom: Roleplaying The Difference By thinkanalogous (http://www.gamegrene.com/node/385)

Anyone else got any ideas?
Kalanth
01-19-05, 03:21 AM You want to be the caboose to the parties plans. Whatever they say, you think is a great idea (less you make a wis check to go against them). You could also be the baine of the party, because if a BBEG or their minions came to you, talked a few sweat nothings, you might be inclined to go with the BBEG.
DragonWalker
01-19-05, 09:35 AM I will play rogue. Should I change low wisdom to low strength and make my wisdom avarge?
Bane
01-19-05, 10:57 AM Depends on the kind of rogue. A battle rogue needs his strength more than his wisdom, a thief is about even (depending on how common bags of holding are), a spy needs wisdom, a conartist needs wisdom, a diplomat needs wisdom.
danielinthewolvesden
01-19-05, 02:26 PM My answer- don't. Really, except for CHA- no ability should be below 8. Too hard to play, and too crippling.

A rogue needs WIS for scouting and saves vs spells. With a str 6, you can't carry anything, and you can't fight.

If you insist on a low wis PC, then Barbarian or Fighter can possibly work.

Why not change Low Wisdon for low CHA if you insist on playing a PC with a 6? Give him some scars, and a bad personality.
Roboradish
01-19-05, 05:04 PM well see, first you --oooohhhhhh... shiny!
zioth
01-19-05, 06:48 PM I think it's a lot of fun to play a character with a 6 in an ability score. I was working on a wis6/int18 wizard once, who would always think up exceedingly complex and round about solutions to intuitive problems.

You could also act very mechanical and rigid. A computer could be described as a creature with 30 int, 1 wis and 1 cha. Sure, it can solve equasions, but its instructions must be very precise or it won't understand you.

D&D wisdom is often equated with perception. Maybe you're half-blind.

You should do a search on the Character Development board. This topic has been discussed at least a dozen times over there.
DragonWalker
01-20-05, 08:07 AM Thank you for all your advices.
Lincoln Hills
01-20-05, 03:33 PM Low Wisdom, high Intelligence - Wile E. Coyote.
Low Wisdom, low Intelligence - Elmer Fudd.
Low Wisdom, high Charisma - Zapp Brannigan.
Low Wisdom, low Charisma - Carrot Top.

I hope this has been educational for you: certainly it's been painful for me. Having to think of Zapp Brannigan and/or Carrot Top does that to me. :P
Quenditar
01-20-05, 08:46 PM I've seen the suggestion that someone with a very low Wisdom could be played as autistic or similar - incapable of reading or understanding people's emotions, fixated on details to the exclusion of the big picture, taking everyone literally, etc.
Gnome of Power
01-20-05, 09:23 PM autistic people have low charisma, not wisdom
the other examples would have bad intelligence to blame

someone with six wisdom would be very mentally clumsy
perhaps give up important secret information by accident

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
DragonWalker 01-19-05, 02:23 AM	Please, give me hand. How should I play a character with wisdom of six? Thank you for any help.
Bentley Mirrorshade 01-19-05, 02:39 AM	Less perceptive. Doesnt look on the consequences when she does something. Maybe educated, but lacks comon sense. Ill post more suggestions when I think of something...
Nuffink 01-19-05, 02:48 AM	From SRD: Wisdom describes a character’s willpower, common sense, perception, and intuition. While Intelligence represents one’s ability to analyze information, Wisdom represents being in tune with and aware of one’s surroundings. Wisdom is the most important ability for clerics and druids, and it is also important for paladins and rangers. If you want your character to have acute senses, put a high score in Wisdom. Every creature has a Wisdom score. So you are likely to have low willpower (easily led or misled!), not much common sense, not perceptive or intuitive. Hmmm. I've always noticed that people who are really focused on something - hobby work etc - always seem vague and very lacking in common sense in other areas of their life. Who else knows PhD's who forget to turn up to game sessions or lose their character sheets? So maybe you could be really focused to the exclusion of all else. Try to think of movie/book/etc characters who might be appropriate: the lead guy from American Pie for example - smart but he keeps getiing himself into trouble by doing stupid (or perhaps UNWISE) things. Bumbling scientists? What sort of character do you have in mind - this will help us help you. There was a thread on this once before but I couldn't find it with my feeble Wis and Int. EDIT: Not the link I was looking for but pretty darn good (Googled): Intelligence Versus Wisdom: Roleplaying The Difference By thinkanalogous (http://www.gamegrene.com/node/385) Anyone else got any ideas?
Kalanth 01-19-05, 03:21 AM	You want to be the caboose to the parties plans. Whatever they say, you think is a great idea (less you make a wis check to go against them). You could also be the baine of the party, because if a BBEG or their minions came to you, talked a few sweat nothings, you might be inclined to go with the BBEG.
DragonWalker 01-19-05, 09:35 AM	I will play rogue. Should I change low wisdom to low strength and make my wisdom avarge?
Bane 01-19-05, 10:57 AM	Depends on the kind of rogue. A battle rogue needs his strength more than his wisdom, a thief is about even (depending on how common bags of holding are), a spy needs wisdom, a conartist needs wisdom, a diplomat needs wisdom.
danielinthewolvesden 01-19-05, 02:26 PM	My answer- don't. Really, except for CHA- no ability should be below 8. Too hard to play, and too crippling. A rogue needs WIS for scouting and saves vs spells. With a str 6, you can't carry anything, and you can't fight. If you insist on a low wis PC, then Barbarian or Fighter can possibly work. Why not change Low Wisdon for low CHA if you insist on playing a PC with a 6? Give him some scars, and a bad personality.
Roboradish 01-19-05, 05:04 PM	well see, first you --oooohhhhhh... shiny!
zioth 01-19-05, 06:48 PM	I think it's a lot of fun to play a character with a 6 in an ability score. I was working on a wis6/int18 wizard once, who would always think up exceedingly complex and round about solutions to intuitive problems. You could also act very mechanical and rigid. A computer could be described as a creature with 30 int, 1 wis and 1 cha. Sure, it can solve equasions, but its instructions must be very precise or it won't understand you. D&D wisdom is often equated with perception. Maybe you're half-blind. You should do a search on the Character Development board. This topic has been discussed at least a dozen times over there.
DragonWalker 01-20-05, 08:07 AM	Thank you for all your advices.
Lincoln Hills 01-20-05, 03:33 PM	Low Wisdom, high Intelligence - Wile E. Coyote. Low Wisdom, low Intelligence - Elmer Fudd. Low Wisdom, high Charisma - Zapp Brannigan. Low Wisdom, low Charisma - Carrot Top. I hope this has been educational for you: certainly it's been painful for me. Having to think of Zapp Brannigan and/or Carrot Top does that to me. :P
Quenditar 01-20-05, 08:46 PM	I've seen the suggestion that someone with a very low Wisdom could be played as autistic or similar - incapable of reading or understanding people's emotions, fixated on details to the exclusion of the big picture, taking everyone literally, etc.
Gnome of Power 01-20-05, 09:23 PM	autistic people have low charisma, not wisdom the other examples would have bad intelligence to blame someone with six wisdom would be very mentally clumsy perhaps give up important secret information by accident