RPing very high intelligence or wisdom

[Dagesh]

So what I do, when RPing my characters, through their entire life, is RP their Abilities as they are at Character creation.

I like this tip with the posted reference chart. It simplifies a lot.

[Xanfyrst]

For high intelligence, simply use the "Julian Bashir"-method.

If you don't know what that is, I'll explain it; (Deep Space 9 spoiler warning)

Hidden: show

Julian Bashir is a prominent character in the Star Trek-series Deep Space 9, where he is the station's doctor. During the first few seasons nobody knew that he had been put through illegal genetic manipulation during his childhood by his parents when he fell behind the other kids. From a near-retarded child to a 200+ IQ genius, Julian hid his intelligence by "never going too far", meaning he kept himself in check to not appear as intelligent than he actually was.

You don't have to act as if you know more and don't have to use obscure fancy words most english-speakers don't even knows exist.

[Hawke]

The way I view non physical attributes is that the number just represents an aptitude. What really matters is the skill it directly affects.


You could have a 6 charisma, and yet have a 33 diplomacy ( -2 pts of course). Someone with such a low charisma still being able to broker a deal like someone having a 30 charisma who didn't care about learning diplomacy or barely trained in it.

[K'yon Oblodra]

The way I view non physical attributes is that the number just represents an aptitude. What really matters is the skill it directly affects.


You could have a 6 charisma, and yet have a 33 diplomacy ( -2 pts of course). Someone with such a low charisma still being able to broker a deal like someone having a 30 charisma who didn't care about learning diplomacy or barely trained in it.

No offense but I think diplomacy is a bad example since it usually requires a charming person. Of course one could learn the rules of courtesy but even then an ugly an charisma lacking person would have a hard time negotiating. This of course is just my opinion.

Maybe it makes me sense to say that a character with 6 charisma is just unlikely to learn such trait because he'll have an incredibly hard time with it initially of course in a world of D20 where -2 is just 10% of a roll is not as devastating but a character with 6 charisma would basically be as charming as an Ooze(I don't know the charisma score of those, this is just an exaggeration).
Getting into a diplomatic negotiation will just be really hard for someone that ugly and unfriendly ontop of that most likely as well.

I hope I got my point across... Feels a bit unstructured

[chad878262]

I disagree. You absolutely have people IRL that rub people the wrong way, but can still get deals done. I know some very good sales men (high end, tailored suit, million dollar deal salesmen) that can be brutish, and would never be called charming, but yet they are very good at navigating and negotiating deals...CEOs repeatedly coming back to them to do business. Now, obviously the other sort is more prevalent, there are simply many ways to achieve similar results, this is represented well by the low stat, high skill example.

[Vermilion]

I disagree. You absolutely have people IRL that rub people the wrong way, but can still get deals done. I know some very good sales men (high end, tailored suit, million dollar deal salesmen) that can be brutish, and would never be called charming, but yet they are very good at navigating and negotiating deals...CEOs repeatedly coming back to them to do business. Now, obviously the other sort is more prevalent, there are simply many ways to achieve similar results, this is represented well by the low stat, high skill example.

Agreed. The character's stats reflect who they are, the skills they choose reflect who they want to be - a half-orc rogue with 6 charisma, for example, might choose to max points in intimidate so he can menace shopkeepers for protection money even though he's innately less talented than a blackguard with Cha21.

I'd say that the character should RP their disadvantage, though, even though they succeed. Give them a stammer or a brusque attitude, rather than just saying "the character has an ugly scar on their face" in their Examine description which is hard for other PCs to react to in a contextual way.

The one I find hardest to RP effectively is low wisdom - because unwise characters are going to blunder (or, in some cases, charge wildly) into situations where they're out of their depth whereas we, as players, don't want to lose gear or Fugue XP. I counted two such errors in my own RP with Steve last night, just recounting an adventure Elspeth had.

[chad878262]

I think I rp low woods very effectively...i blunder my way over my characters head so much you'd think it's on purpose!

[Sun Wukong]

The one I find hardest to RP effectively is low wisdom - because unwise characters are going to blunder (or, in some cases, charge wildly) into situations where they're out of their depth whereas we, as players, don't want to lose gear or Fugue XP. I counted two such errors in my own RP with Steve last night, just recounting an adventure Elspeth had.

Actually that is one of the easiest. For example, the Earth Genasi with their -2 to wisdom and how they are described to be slow to react in the race summary. Thus, if you have low wisdom score, you could just be slow to react. Let others speak as if their words were carried by the breeze - while your own character just blurts out: 'Huh?' - 'Eh..-' - 'Wha?' fairly often.

You know, someone greets you on the trade way, and your character goes: 'Huh?' *Looks around.* 'Ah, hello. Been a while.'

[Tsidkenu]

I also like to RP low wisdom as a propensity for risk-taking behaviours. Any character can do that.

You know, someone greets you on the trade way, and your character goes: 'Huh?' *Looks around.* *other character walks off* 'Oh, there's no-one there. . .'

Fixed. Legit.

[Sun Wukong]

That's curious because I'd think the wiser characters would be the ones that take their time to react. Speed of mind and calculation being more tied to intelligence.

Wisdom is used to determine your character's general awareness. Spot, Listen, Sense Motive, are all wisdom based skills. This is where the slow reactions come into play, your low wisdom character is simply oblivious. Unmindful, forgetful, and unaware.

As for a high wisdom character taking time to respond, well, it is usually only because they want to hear what the other has to say before giving a piece of their own mind.

[Glowfire]

Low wisdom can also be played as being prone to following one's emotions before reason. Maybe best described as lacking a bit of 'common sense'.

High wisdom I think can be RPed as giving others a lot of 'life advice'. Think counsellor. Several ways to go about it. Mi-Le's journal posts are good examples for monks.

[Toxen]

How do you RP someone who is much smarter than you are as a player!
Any tips would be welcome.

Grow a beard, keep stroking it, and chuckle occasionally. It is basically all you need to do to appear smarter than everyone else involved in some form of campfire RP.

Edit: And you know, point out mistakes after they happen, and if someone calls you out on it... For example, why didn't you advice otherwise. Well, just have your character state that he is a bit of a gambling man, and how hard it is to get a mule to walk without the right carrot. Followed by some beard strokes and bemused chuckles.

So once again, grow a beard, and stroke it! Hey, it worked for Gandalf, and if you think about it that guy stumbled through one mistake after another!

This. I am so much missing a "like" button right now. ;D