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I've been thinking about this after a conversation today.
Whenever I make a char I never have a negative modifier to any stat. I've only used point buy for stats.
I'm curious...
How do you role play:
-low Int, Wis, and/or Cha?
-low Int, high Wis, low Cha?
-high Int, low Wis, high Cha?
-some other combination
(High means a stat bonus, low means a negative bonus.)
Thanks.
I've been thinking about this after a conversation today.
Whenever I make a char I never have a negative modifier to any stat. I've only used point buy for stats.I'm curious...
How do you role play:
-low Int, Wis, and/or Cha?
-low Int, high Wis, low Cha?
-high Int, low Wis, high Cha?
-some other combination(High means a stat bonus, low means a negative bonus.)
Thanks.
Those are hard ones, I'd start from movies and TV. The first, having low in all three, sounds a lot like Jane from Firefly, a true thug.
The seconed might be Jabba the Hutt time, in attitude if nothing else.
The last depending on how you describe high Cha can be Hermonie (spelling?) from the Harry Potter books/movies. She is always very book smart, but often misses important clues, or solutions that should have occured to her ealier.
I'll admit the latter is a harder fit, but those are good starting points for how to play those types of characters.
TTFN Dre
Director of Brand Strategy
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-low Int, Wis, and/or Cha?
It it's Int, I play the character as a little slow on the uptake or lacking much book smarts or worldly knowledge. For Wis, I generally have them as gullible or aloof, and Cha tends to manifest itself in a gruffness, extreme awkwardness, or shyness.
-low Int, high Wis, low Cha?
For this one, I usually play up the insightfulness of the character, but maintain the above mentioned penalties, sometimes even accentuating them to add contrast.
-high Int, low Wis, high Cha?
This I would play as a lovable nerdy type (like myself!). Low Wis would mean that I don't really grasp things in the real world, but have lots of random knowledge or a very specific area of expertise. I'd play the high Cha as being outgoing and open with the information, perhaps combining the Int and Cha into a sharp wit.
-low Int, high Wis, low Cha?
Think like...the old grizzled soldier archetype. You know, graduated form the school of hard knocks, doesn't care much for book learning, and takes a lot of getting to know them before you come to like them, but they can be very insightful and perceptive and extremely strong willed (not to suggest all soldiers are like this - far from it, but I'm sure we've all seen movies where the "old veteran" in an army unit is or the like).
-high Int, low Wis, high Cha?
Like Yoda said, this could be a lovable geek type. Or it could be similar to Gaius Baltar from the new Battlestar Galactica. Absolute genius and very suave, able to talk his way out of most anything, but he's got problems with self-control and can miss things that are right under his nose (good thing his mental Six has a high Wis! ^_-).
For scores that are borderline low (with only a -1 penalty), I'd play the character the same way I'd play an average or just above average character. Your little penalty will reflect enough on your skills, I would't even worry about playing the character.
I'd focus more on the extremes, say you rolled a five on intelligence... I'd make him forgetfull, missinformed, or something like that. For a very low wisdom score, I'd play him gullible and/or naive. For a low charisma score, I would give him a quirk that repulses others (or make others not want to have him as a leader)... I'd make him bashful, akward around others, maybe give him a studdering problem or an awful scar across the face.
Same thing goes with high scores (16 or more)... High intelligence would translate in the character being a great tacticitian, remembering passes from book he's read long ago, etc... For a high wisdom score, I would prepare a series of old chinese proverbs on a sheet of paper and my character would say a few during the games, when the time is appropriate. For high charisma, I would certainly get the Leadership feat and start surrounding myself with an entourage, talk in character with an english accent, start calling everyone Jimmy.
Ultradan
There's an excellent article in an old Dragon Magazine, "Wise As An Ox, Strong As An Owl" by Brian Rogers (issue # 284, p. 48), that suggest how to roleplay poor characteristics. If you have access to that issue, I strongly suggest you read it.
- Zorg
Do keep in mind however that our PC perceptions of "high" and "low" are greatly warped by our expectations for our PC's to have /very/ high scores.
An 8 isn't all /that/ low of a score. It just means he's -1 modifier compared to the average joe on the street. He isn't necessarily slow of thought, drooling, heavy with speech impediment, apt to put foot to mouth at a moment's notice while picking his nose.
It means he's not the brighest bulb on the strand- but also not the dimmest.
I would personally suggest against trying to compare him to any fictional character. You are trying to build a personality here, not to copy someone else's. Having low int (or low wis or cha) can lead to any number of personality traits.
Low int low cha? Knows nothing, thinks he knows everything, isn't afraid to share his knowledge. (or lack thereof). Hard to convince that he's actually wrong. (since, of course.. he's right.. yanno?)
the High Wis component could just mean that occasionally he comes up with something worthy of an epiphany. Yanno- that moment where everyone turns to look at the annoying moron, jaws agape as he casually figures out what's been going on.
High int low wis low cha could be the intelligent person who has low self esteem. Maybe he does know everything- he just doesn't think he does. He lacks the confidence to express his knowledge effectively. This can be RP'd by stating every fact as though it was a question, and always asking for approval. "the red door, right?" or "that's a demon, right? not a devil? devils always have red forked tailes, but that one's forked tail was blue.. that means it's a demon, right?"
High Cha low I, low W, could be a.. bard. (ha!) ok, seriously-
Someone with alot of personality without alot of substance to back it up. Cheerful, forthright,always a bright spot in the gloom but couldn't find their way out of a wet paper sack.
Generally:
Intelligent people know facts about the world.
Wise people know people and are.. erm. wise? (bad form I know- but how else to explain it?) They tend to know things but not necessarily Intellect things. (would be lost in Trig but knows alot about life, etc.)
Charismatic people know how to talk and how to interact with others. Typically (but not always) forthcoming, with magnetic personalities at the front.
That, to me (i.e. in my opinion), is the fundamental of each ability score. Form a fundamental for each for yourself, then adjust the model for the ability scores you chose. Then apply a personality to it.
(quite, annoying, forceful, whatever).
-S
I see a few of those combinations with the players in my group at the moment.
10 Int, 10 wis, 6 Chr is the gruff dwarven ranger Kreegone, who only stops talking to change feet.
8 Int, 16 Wis, 10 Chr, the Wise Human Cleric/Ranger of Esteril (SP?) he is pios but was raised by the rangers of Hook Mountain and is far from civilised or well educated.
13, Int, 13 wis, 8 Chr, Callis the Shoati Fighter, Sharpwitted, Eagle eyed, trained in the ways of the shoanti, but blunt to the point of obnoxious in civilised company.
8 Int, 10 wis, 8 chr, Methud the Shoati Barbarian, he was dropped on his head as a child and is more than a little slow and inarticulate as a result.
Notice that no one took a minus in their wisdom score? That is the fear of low Will saves, in fact, Dexterity and Constitution are also rarely less than 12 as well as they are more combat stats.
Our sorcerer does have 8 strength.
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Well if I have a low WIS, I usually will purposely fail an occasionl notice something going on check. Or if something is awfully tempting and I really shouldn't but want to I may make a Will Save.
Low INT, I play dumb when we get to puzzles that we have to solve. I may stumble onto the answer occasionally, but usually leave it to other players to solve th epuzzle. In game, I make fun of the nerdy wizard and squiggles in the book-thingy.
Low CHA is easy, I play an a%+$$~* which is easy to do :)
Low STR I simply avoid melee and make someone else do th eheavy lifting.
Low DEX I try to fail occasional Reflex saves (when I know the consequences aren't too bad) and when exploring the quiet dungeon with the dragon at the end I occasionally trip and make slots of noise.
Low CON I usually play as a hypercondriac (sp?) and try to avoid dead things because I may get sick. We get to town and ther eis a lovely barmaid I play "sick" for some sympathy attention.
Combinations I would probably combine, but I usually try to avoid more than one negative score.
These are just my quick roleplaying stereotypes I use.
My most recent character had a low wisdom, average intelligence, and higher charisma. I played him as very pliable. With enough goading you could get him to do almost anything within his personality (CG).
EX we were adventuring and the rogue always went left when we got to a turn in the dungeon. The druid (CN) was getting bored because we weren't encountering anything. We get to a T-junction. Rogue and rest of party turns left. Druid bets me to go right. Druid insults me to go right. Druid dares me to go right. I go right and almost get killed by badies but kicks major ass with the druid's help (no one else bothered to show up and help despite all the yelling)
So for me, high CHA and low WIS is someone who does what's best for their ego even if common sense says otherwise.
I've been thinking about this after a conversation today.
Whenever I make a char I never have a negative modifier to any stat. I've only used point buy for stats.I'm curious...
How do you role play:
-low Int, Wis, and/or Cha?
-low Int, high Wis, low Cha?
-high Int, low Wis, high Cha?
-some other combination(High means a stat bonus, low means a negative bonus.)
Thanks.
I read a lot to my kids so I'll put my examples in these terms:
-low Int, low Wis, low Cha: Eeyore
-low Int, high Wis, low Cha: Winnie the Pooh
- high Int, low Wis, high Cha: Rabbit
- low Int, low Wis, high Cha: Owl
Eeyore is not clever, not perceptive, not particularly confident most of the time
Pooh is not clever, surprisingly perceptive and intuitive, not confident
Rabbit is too clever, not perceptive, very confident
Owl is not clever, not perceptive, very confident
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I've been thinking about this after a conversation today.
Whenever I make a char I never have a negative modifier to any stat. I've only used point buy for stats.I'm curious...
How do you role play:
-low Int, Wis, and/or Cha?
-low Int, high Wis, low Cha?
-high Int, low Wis, high Cha?
-some other combination(High means a stat bonus, low means a negative bonus.)
Thanks.
I read a lot to my kids so I'll put my examples in these terms:
-low Int, low Wis, low Cha: Eeyore
-low Int, high Wis, low Cha: Winnie the Pooh
- high Int, low Wis, high Cha: Rabbit
- low Int, low Wis, high Cha: Owl
Eeyore is not clever, not perceptive, not particularly confident most of the time
Pooh is not clever, surprisingly perceptive and intuitive, not confident
Rabbit is too clever, not perceptive, very confident
Owl is not clever, not perceptive, very confident
ewwww great analogy!
How do you play low stats?
Verrrry carefully.
Ba-dump.
I've been thinking about this after a conversation today.
Whenever I make a char I never have a negative modifier to any stat. I've only used point buy for stats.I'm curious...
How do you role play:
-low Int, Wis, and/or Cha?
-low Int, high Wis, low Cha?
-high Int, low Wis, high Cha?
-some other combination(High means a stat bonus, low means a negative bonus.)
Thanks.
On a serious note, those are all fun combinations. There are many ways to take each of them, but here are some of my ideas:
low Int, Wis, and Cha: A shy, not-so-bright person who always does foolish and embarrassing things.
low Int, high Wis, low Cha: A rude, boorish, ignorant person who's quick to point out the foolishness of others.
high Int, low Wis, high Cha: A charming professorial person who frequently misplaces his glasses and gets himself into trouble.
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I've been thinking about this after a conversation today.
Whenever I make a char I never have a negative modifier to any stat. I've only used point buy for stats.I'm curious...
How do you role play:
-low Int, Wis, and/or Cha?
-low Int, high Wis, low Cha?
-high Int, low Wis, high Cha?
-some other combination(High means a stat bonus, low means a negative bonus.)
As you see there are lots of different way to get thoes personalaties. Here are some other.
-low Int, Wis, and/or Cha? - The Ultimate ego maniac. Think he is gods gift to women (But they see through him), thinks he is a genius (But gets everything backwards), thinks he is well traveled, but truthfully everywhere he has gone he has had his father pay servants to take care of everything.-low Int, high Wis, low Cha? - a perfect ranger, who has never read a book, hates people, but has no problem taking care of himself. Another example, a secluded monk warrior that has taken a vow of silence. He dosen't know about stuff that has nothing to do with fighting, people think he is strange, but he is very spiritual.
-high Int, low Wis, high Cha? - ever see the movie TWINS. A handsome charming tutored test tube person who has never been let out of a lab, but has studies the bards tales of how to get on peoples good side. Too good to be true, but no concept of money, etc.
my favorite high int, low wis, high cha:
Brilliant and charming prodigy who is more than a bit unhinged by his previous successes and tends to believe he can do no, or little, wrong.
When my player tried to rectify playing Valeros' low wisdom with the background of being an excellent merc, I suggested that maybe with winning a fight, Valeros will excel at surviving the fight, but maybe when it comes to walking around Sandpoint after the initial hero worship begins, he's absolutely clueless that the town ladies want to do a little bit more than to just say thanks. The shopkeep's daughter encounter was very amusing.
In the current game where I'm playing, I have a Dwarf fighter with a CHA of 10 who's the self-appointed leader since he's nobility. 10 is only average, and the character has a good heart, so I roleplay his leadership style as one of those controlling fatherly types that tells everyone what they already damn well know what to do, or he'll listen to the others' advice and then pick a good one as an original of his. Since he has a 10, others don't find it "that" annoying as his good intentions do come across.
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Here's two scenarios that might help:
low Int, high Wis, Cha ? (not really relevant)
A cleric with a wand that does something they don't normally use on a daily basis, say Searing Light. At the end of a tough combat, when he hadn't used the wand, and the party tactician asks why, the answer is 'I always forget I have that darn thing.'. He's wise, uses his spells properly, but sometimes forgets things that aren't right under his nose or part of his routine. If someone reminds him, he'll blast away.
high Int, low Wis, Cha? (not relevant)
Similar situation, say a wizard or bard with a wand of Scorching Ray. At the end of a tough combat, when he hadn't used the wand, and the party tactician asks why he cast Acid Orb instead of using his CL 13 Wand of Scorching Ray, the answer is "I remembered I had it, but it didn't seem important enough to waste a charge.'. Smart enough to remember all his gear and what it is for, but not wise enough to find just the right time to take advantage of it. If someone reminds him, he may still not use it, as it just might not be the right time, or maybe the critter is mostly dead anyway in his (flawed) opinion.
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I like to try things alot when I have a low attribute and as my failures build up I slowly stop doing them and second guess my abilities. Rapidly I start leaning on my party to help fill in for my weakness. After a couple more sessions if my Int or Wis is the low number I begin to do it all over again as so many people never learn long term from their mistakes and neither does my character.
In life or death I may even flip a coin to make the decision safe or go for it, this is to take my personal feelings to want my character to live so I'll pick the right choice.
This has lead to some very memorable characters!
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Interesting discussions so far. I don't think this has been brought up, but what about roleplaying PHYSICAL stats?
The only example I can think of for myself is my human scout. Although he has a 12 Con, he also has two features that give him -1hp/level, meaning that his HD is 1d8-1. He is always fast on his feet, moving around the battlefield, but it also makes him a bit rash - like a death wish. He knows he is vulnerable, so he denies it, pretends it isn't a vulnerability.
-low Int, Wis, and/or Cha?
This is only one possible interpretation out of many (same goes for the other combinations). It's only the one that first springs to my mind:
You are the quintessential soldier. You don't care much for books. You keep your head down and go where you are told.
-low Int, high Wis, low Cha?
You are a backwoods loner. You never had the chance to learn or study. Your time spent alone in the wilderness have honed your senses but now makes it awkward for you to interact with others.
-high Int, low Wis, high Cha?
You are genius. People come to you from afar asking your counsel on a wide range of intellectual conundrums. Unfortunately, you are usually so lost in thought, you don't notice what's going on around you.
-some other combination
-high Int, High Wis, Low Cha
You are the ultimate detective and tracker. You can outwit any adversary and solve any riddle. Your also an extremely obnoxious practical joker and few can stand your irritating personality.-Low Int, High Wis, High Cha
You dazzle people with your smile and have a silver tongue. Everyone thinks you must be really clever but you are really a fraud who has a knack for hiding failures and flourishing successes.