Discussion on "playing your character sheet"

[Duster47]

How about: "We appreciate that you play your character sheet. Saying you're a wizard of great intelligence but you have an 8 INT is frowned upon."

I'd say that is already implied by the standards we as players choose to set. By taking responsibility for how we each rp our characters, according to our stats, to the best of our abilities, and leading by example... There is a standard set, a norm so to speak. This norm is obviously preferable in an rp setting... Look at it as a sort of gentleman's law if you want to. It isn't a rule, it isn't something enforced with an iron hand... Just something we challenge ourselves to do for the sake of rp =D

Leslie, I wholeheartedly agree, and dearly wish to believe its true. Unfortunately, it's not.

I'm trying to "lead by example" for what it's worth, but when I get into RP with someone in which I can't help but commenting that their not RPing their sheet (and I hate to have to go this route cause it just ruins the vibe), the response is "shove it buddy," no one can see my sheet.

So, I'm left with: walk away from the situation, and find another player/toon to interact with, because they ain't gonna change, and there is no rule or statement in which i can point them to to let them reflect on what is expected of quality RP and to play your sheet.

Lastly, I see everyones points here, I agree with most, and I'll just learn to live with the "honus on the player" bit, and hope we have more faithful-to-the-sheet players than not.

I guess I'm kinda done now. Thanks again everyone.

It would be wonderful if on this "RP server" persons RP'ed their sheets. My own experience is a significant portion of the server base are obsessed with the high-numbers game of building the most powerful snowflake possible. Just scan the various build proposals on the Character Builder forums under the Tips section. The cheesiness of some of the builds from an FR-RP perspective is truly astonishing*. And quite creative from a mechanics point of view.

* And I do not mean in a positive way "astonishing."

[Simian]

FIGHTER 30 FOR THE WIN!

[Hoihe]

Also, character sheet can't really follow the RP. Say, your character finds something, or someone who might have enough influence to change your character's behaviour. Say, your character might be lusting for vegneance, thinking he had it the worst in the entire world, and such is rude, ignorant of others and such. Which forces him to have say, 6 or 8 charismatic value. But after should he get the vengeance, or prehaps meets someone with a similiar reason for vengeance, yet they are capably of being charismatic... You can't change your charisma to some proper value without items. I agree it takes time for inviduals to change, but what if it can't be changed even more, as they've hit their leveling limit? Well, that's what i've got to say about the matter. Though i'd find it amazing that a drunken dwarf or anyone afflicted by feeble mind understand my or some other's scholarly character's ramblings about the Weave or Lore.

Well, here you are just wrong.

In a character's leveling, you get 7 chances to increase your ability states. I'd imagine going from level 1--30 would be taking years!!! You could easily change.

Furthermore, you just posted a bio with a link to your build sheet, and Hoihe your Arcane Swordsman has an 8 CHA, considered below normal by general server based rules. Hw you gonna play him to reflect that????

Well, his grieving has gave up not long time ago, so prehaps i will turn in level 8 and 12 for getting it away from the being annoying from grief, Actually, he had it go away around level 5 when meeting people a lot like the Bard. And the 8 char comes from the fact he is hard headed, i mean by a lot unless he sees the danger of his hard headedness directly, i've said he is a level head in his personality, but it also makes him take long time to decide certain things. Also, his "Require of others what you require of yourself" annoyed a few people already when he saw them berating their companions. But as i've said, his cha will be moving upright.
Alas, I meant by what i've said is from high levels, where there can't really be turning back yet the character experienced something (only way to increase stats from level 30 is either delevel and change a preivous stat, or get items. And thing is, as things have been going for my character IC, his build will certainly change from the proposed developement.

[Rainbow Prism]

Doesn't CHA works for power of personality too?

[Duster47]

Doesn't CHA works for power of personality too?

Yes. From the SDR:

Charisma measures a character’s force of personality, persuasiveness, personal magnetism, ability to lead, and physical attractiveness. This ability represents actual strength of personality, not merely how one is perceived by others in a social setting. Charisma is most important for paladins, sorcerers, and bards. It is also important for clerics, since it affects their ability to turn undead. Every creature has a Charisma score.

For what it is worth, my bard has mid-20s CHA. She owns the stage. She knows she is pretty and will not hesitate to use her charms when needed to get what she wants. She has very high social skills. She also has 10 WIS, so some choices may be a bit dubious. Sometimes others play along. Good times.

IMHO, you can be physically moderately attractive yet lack self confidence which results in a less than 12 CHA score.

Maybe a year ago, a DM posted the effects of having an 9 or less for Abilities. It was very educational. Perhaps someone can find it?

[stevebarracuda]

The British philosopher Bertrand Russell once wrote that “the trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt.” This is true whether one interprets “stupid” as foolish (short on smarts) or as ignorant (short on information). Deliberately or otherwise, his sentiment echoes that of Charles Darwin, who over one hundred years ago pointed out that “ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge.”

http://www.damninteresting.com/unskille ... are-of-it/

[stevebarracuda]

Addressing your Weaknesses

I don't know if this is it Duster, or if anyone cares, but it's a great read.

[Vogar Eol]

If zero charisma, wisdom, or intelligence means you become unconscious... then the less charisma, wisdom, or intelligence you have, the less conscious you are.

[CorruptedDisciple]

A low Charisma doesn’t necessarily mean you’re unattractive, but it could be a contributing factor. Perhaps you’re badly scarred, have a birth defect or just look different. Your outward appearance only contributes to your low Charisma if you choose to let it.

Something everyone should learn.

[stevebarracuda]

A low Charisma doesn’t necessarily mean you’re unattractive, but it could be a contributing factor. Perhaps you’re badly scarred, have a birth defect or just look different. Your outward appearance only contributes to your low Charisma if you choose to let it.

Something everyone should learn.

If all I have to write on my bio to justify a -6 CHA shield dwarf is: "he looks different and has a birth mark next to his nose..." ...c'mon...

[Duster47]

Addressing your Weaknesses

I don't know if this is it Duster, or if anyone cares, but it's a great read.

That is similar but not it. I searched myself and found it in retired DM Tahlasar's thread. EVERYONE should read this if you plan to Min/Max your PC on this RP server.

Repeated here for convenience:

What is a min?

I'll look at each of the classic DnD stats in turn and examine what one common side effect of a minimised stat entails.

Strength (STR): Strength is a measure of muscle, endurance and stamina combined.

Strength 8 or less. - You are extremely physicaly weak. You may suffer from arthritis or have been maimed in battle. But for whatever reason you cannot lift heavy object without assistance nor do you have a full range of movement. You may also tire very easily.

Dexterity (DEX): Dexterity encompasses a number of physical attributes including hand-eye coordination, agility, reflexes, fine motor skills, balance and speed of movement

Dexterity 8 or less. - You have a serious loss of fine motor skills, you may have lost some fingers or been wounded in an accident or in a fight, but you find manipulating small objects, or perhaps making sudden movements accurately and writing things down extremely hard.

Constitution (CON): Constitution is a term which encompasses the character's physique, toughness, health and resistance to disease and poison.

Constitution 8 or less. - You may have had a fall in early life, or been poisoned, you may suffer from a congentical illness or simply have a small frame, but you are not as tough as most people. You feel the cold, you don't travel well either on horseback or perhaps by sea, you may be picky about what you eat or you will probably have a "glass jaw".

Intelligence (INT): Intelligence is similar to IQ, but also includes mnemonic ability, reasoning and learning ability outside those measured by the written word

Inteligence 8 or less. - You lack the complex reasoning skills of most people and find problem solving difficult. You find may struggle with languages and will certainly not have a wide and varied vocabulary. Planning anything involving multiple variables is almost certainly beyond you.

Wisdom (WIS): Wisdom is a composite term for the characters enlightenment, judgement, wile, willpower and intuitiveness.

Wisdom 8 or less. - You are very naieve or perhaps just gullable, but you believe what most people tell you without realy giving it much consideration. Perhaps your memory is quite poor or you simply haven't traveled much, but you lack the "savvy" most people have to accurately weight up the risk versus reward for your actions.

Charisma (CHA): Charisma is the measure of the character's combined physical attractiveness, persuasiveness, and personal magnetism.

Charisma 8 or less. - People just don't like you. Maybe your ugly, maybe your just rude and obnoxious. Perhaps you've just got a way of speaking that isn't that sophisticated. But you find it hard to relate to people, to understand them and to make them understand you. You lack leadership skills and may be prone to skyness or perhaps your a bit of a loner, but either way, your more comfortable on your own.

The post after the above concerns "Intimidate" and is also a great read.

[Charraj]

Very nice, Duster. Thanks for finding Tahlisar's thoughts on the matter.

[VinnytheSquid]

First let me say that while I certainly have my own preferences, I think people should play what they enjoy. People enjoy different build styles and we have rules such as RP outs that allow them to coexist. Also, although I have a strong preference for RP, lore-based builds, I don't think powerbuilds and RP are mutually exclusive.

@Steve: You're not going to like my answer, but here it is... Get over it. While I personally think people should RP low stat scores and have a RP reason for every class they take, you will drive yourself crazy worrying about others RP. Trust me, I know. Find a play style you enjoy, others that enjoy it with you, and focus on that. You will have a much more pleasant game experience. Other players are unlikely to change anyway. There is no reason to change. There is no extra reward for roleplaying a flaw or not maximizing a character's mechanical advantages. In fact, some would say it's stupid not to do it on this server.

Besides, a player's character is the one area they have complete control. There is a fine line between enforcing character limitations and creating the RP police. It may be possible for a DM to reasonably understand a character's flaws, their growth, and reward RP accordingly in a PnP game, but on a PW I think that would be a near impossible task for the already overworked DM staff here. Too many players (most of which have multiple characters) per DM.

[stevebarracuda]

Hey Vin,
While I do think there are aspects to a character sheet that have to be enforced (such as no half-monstrous races RP), I don't want the DMs to be mostly a police force here...I just hope players won't be so blantantly disregarding their ability scores.

I can definitly get over it, while simultaneously nudging players to be more true to their builds.

[VinnytheSquid]

Hey Vin,
While I do think there are aspects to a character sheet that have to be enforced (such as no half-monstrous races RP), I don't want the DMs to be mostly a police force here...I just hope players won't be so blantantly disregarding their ability scores.

I can definitly get over it, while simultaneously nudging players to be more true to their builds.

Fair enough, and I agree that the half-monstrous race RP should be enforced. Although alternatively you could always RP that the person is just insane. After all crazy people don't think they're crazy. BTW, after reading my post again I apologize if it came across harshly. It was intended to have a "don't worry about it so much, because you only stress yourself out" tone.