Rasmus Nielsen's page

If a Magus has a Spell-like ability, that functions as a standard action, would be be able to deploy this ability, as part of a Spell Combat Full-Round action, or is it even possible to use spell-like abilities in conjuction with Spell Combat?

Rasmus Nielsen wrote:

You seem to be missing the point, which is alright, sometimes I have trouble expressing myself so others understand what I'm saying.

No.

Its not a matter of miscommunication. You're not proving your point here. We disagree, and i think you're wrong.

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Someone with 7 Int, isn't *dumb* he simply has 7 int.

I understand you.

No.

Someone with a 7 int IS DUMB.

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This means, that overall, with *all* the aspects of a character intelligence covers, those aspects add up to a 7, that does *not* mean that all the aspects of the characters intelligence are 7

Yes. It does.

Intelligence determines how well your character learns and reasons

There is no rule for "reasons" but we know the int 7 character is bad at it.

Wisdom is more the stat for common sense.

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since if it did, and as we know, intelligence is stated as being your capability to reason and learn, a fighter with 7 int, would have the exact same skillset and skills as a rogue with 7 int

1) If you need 5 commas in sentence its probably time for a period.

2) No. The rogue and fighter learn at the same speed but the rogue spent his time at dinner parties learning to be polite and the fighter spent more time on the practice yard learning how to hit things in the head.

So, the Bard, who knows more about *everything* than the fighter (7 Int bard, vs 14 Int Fighter), is dumb, if he has 7 int, even though, he's both learned, knowledgable, speaks perhaps 5 languages, and knows something about everything? Or, is he simply a character with 7 int, who has a harder time using that knowledge and accessing it when he needs it, or expressing it correctly, or a harder time picking up new skills?

No, he's not, he's actually very intelligent, because intelligence is not *just* the Int stat, heck, on subjects he knows, he's both able to reason and learn, so obviously he's not *dumb* *if you don't choose* to play him as such. however you *can* choose to play him as an idiot who's a retard if you want, however someone who plays him as an absentminded fop, who knows a little bit of everything. Again, intelligent people can have a hard time *learning and reasoning* and still be intelligent, does this mean that others with higher int aren't *more* intelligent? No, of course not, but it doesn't mean that someone with 7 Int, *has* to be a dullard/dumb/stupid etc.

So, the Int stat, doesn't solely decide your wether your character is actually intelligent or knowledgable, or smart or dumb, it has influence on how fast/easy your character can in a situation reason/learn something, how quickly he can access knowledge/reason something out, and how broad a fan of knowledge your character might have, but not wether your character is or is not able to express or understand complex ideas and has Intelligence or the ability to learn or not learn something. It is a sum of the whole, and it's how you treat the sum-total of the stat that matters, and what is tied to the stat.

Rasmus Nielsen wrote:

That's the thing people miss, just because he has 7 Int, doesn't mean he's dumb, it means that he has 7 int, it means his ability score is 7, so his ability overall, is 7 it doesn't mean he's dumb a a stump, it might mean he's got little logical sense, it might mean he doesn't know how to properly express complex Ideas, it might *mean* a great many things, heck, it might *also* just mean he's dumb as a post, but that's not the *only* way or only thing it means, not by how the stats are written, not by how they're intended.

Actually Charisma is used to express ideas, not Intelligence. Intelligence is used to think of complex ideas.

Actually, Intelligence is used to express complex ideas, as well as think of them, this is why when a DM gives a riddle, and allows you to *roll* an int check, you're not required to roll a charisma check as well to give the right answer, or why when you roll a knowledge monster check, you get to *express* the answer to that knowledge check, by only rolling an Int check, Intelligence gives both the ability to form and express that intelligence, and a low intelligence means simply that the sum total of your ability to reason, learn and put that reason and learning to *use* adds up to the stat of 7, not that all those things are 7.

What you use Charisma for, is to display looks, personal magnetism, ability to inspire, ability to perform socially (be it through banter, or acting, or otherwise) this is why Language skills are not tied to Charisma, but social skills are, thus you can learn languages and speak them fluently, and be great at expressing complex ideas, but not in a way that makes people listen, believe you or care (Thus why diplomacy, bluff and intimidate are charisma skills), in fact, you can be *great* at expressing complex ideas and be a great teacher (Knowledge checks and sharing/learning knowledge are all Int related, not cha), but be a completely s!~+ty social character who doesn't get social interactions (Charisma), expressing a complex idea is the area of intelligence, expressing a complex idea, does not preclude having a complex idea, heck, expressing a complex idea that people can *understand* does not mean it's expressed politely, or listened to, or taught well, but a low intelligence character is not precluded from having or expressing complex ideas, they simply have a harder time at it. That does *not* mean it's wrong to play a character with 7 Int as an idiot, however, but it as I said, means, that it's not wrong to play him as someone who's simply very challenged in some areas that the stat intelligence covers, and above average or normal in others, as long as the sum total of the whole of the ability add up, and makes sense. (Again, I'm not saying, that someone with 7/7/7 can play as if he's a genius with perfect recall, who knows everything and never has anything he doesn't understand, wise and understands all social interaction, notices everything that goes on around him and beautiful and the most amazing leader ever, what I'm saying is, that all his mental abilities might be 7, but that does not mean that *every part of his mental aspect has to be a flat line)

What I say, is that someone with a low ability score, simply has a score that as a whole makes that ability score add up to 7.

No, it doesn't just mean that he can't express complex ideas. It means he doesn't HAVE complex ideas. I'm sure that when the little ogre saw his character sheet his mom told him he was just a bad test taker, he just couldn't express himself, that he was a different kind of smart etc etc...

Truth is he's dumb. Club dragging, paste eating, rock chewing dumb.

If you dump your characters intelligence and wisdom scores down into a room temperature IQ and then play him like Ceasar you're cheating. The problem isn't with the people calling you on it the problem is with you doing it.

You seem to be missing the point, which is alright, sometimes I have trouble expressing myself so others understand what I'm saying.

Someone with 7 Int, isn't *dumb* he simply has 7 int. This means, that overall, with *all* the aspects of a character intelligence covers, those aspects add up to a 7, that does *not* mean that all the aspects of the characters intelligence are 7, since if it did, and as we know, intelligence is stated as being your capability to reason and learn, a fighter with 7 int, would have the exact same skillset and skills as a rogue with 7 int, your ability scores are *not* hardline rules of what your character is capable of, they are scores that show how well your character applies the aspects of the abilities as a whole that does not mean that your feelings that someone with 7 int and wis is a mentally retarded person with no common sense, isn't a valid portrayal of it, but it also means that someone who represents a 7 int/wis character as a scatterbrained, and slow thinking (Not dullard, simply methodical and deliberate thinker) inattentive, compulsive and naive character can not portray that as validly, without making the person a borderline downs syndrome case, and NOT be cheating or breaking the rules.

Rasmus Nielsen wrote:

littlehewy wrote:

Actually, low stats do mean you're terrible at everything that stat does, unless you've spent lots of skill points or feats to overcome your natural deficiency. But we're specifically not talking mechanics.

We're talking about roleplaying a character with low Int as smart. And again, that's not the baseline assumption of the game. And I hope your not suggesting that anyone that plays by the baseline assumption that low Int = not very smart only likes black and white flaws, and has less layered and interesting characters than you do.

(I'm not claiming you are saying that, just hoping you're not!)

Actually, it doesn't mean you're terrible at everything the stat does, what it means is that you're not able to apply what the stat does easilly, and that *overall* taken *all* the aspects of the stat, you are weaker in more areas than you are strong. Low Intelligence does not mean you're dumb, even by the definition of dumb or the RAW, heck, I don't even think by RAI. It means you do not have the ability to easily apply reason and learning mechanically and at will, and more than that it means, that while your character might be intelligent and skilled, his ability to reason might be VERY lacking, or his ability to learn new things might be lacking, OR his ability to do both of those, might be slightly lacking, but his ability to apply what he's learned or reasoned effectively might be lacking.

In fact, nowhere do the RAW imply that someone with a low stat is terrible at everything the stat does, what stats imply are your overall ability to apply the stat either through inborn ability or aqquired ability, from a *roleplaying* perspective, it obviously often makes sense to make stats fit a character, but one persons idea of how a stat suits a character might be different from another, and *both* equally valid, both as intended and as written.

Stats represent mechanical ability to access/apply what they

...

That's the thing people miss, just because he has 7 Int, doesn't mean he's dumb, it means that he has 7 int, it means his ability score is 7, so his ability overall, is 7 it doesn't mean he's dumb a a stump, it might mean he's got little logical sense, it might mean he doesn't know how to properly express complex Ideas, it might *mean* a great many things, heck, it might *also* just mean he's dumb as a post, but that's not the *only* way or only thing it means, not by how the stats are written, not by how they're intended.

There's a difference between *thinking* you are something, and being something. Someone with 7 Int, might be a skilled person, with a lot of knowledges (A bard or rogue with 7 int, is entirely plausible, he's not unintelligent, or dumb, hell, he is likely to know and be both more knowledagble and skilled than the fighter with 14 int.) Obviously, the rogue isn't an idiot, however he might be very forgetful, scatterbrained, or be a deliberate and slow thinker, he might not be good at reasoning things out "on the fly" but he's *not dumb* or unintelligent

Rasmus Nielsen wrote:

littlehewy wrote:

Ok. But see, as far as the world, and everyone it, is concerned, if you can't apply your intelligence, you're unintelligent. If you can't access it, you will appear dumb, and everyone will think you're dumb. So what's the point of making a character that's "smart" but can't access/apply it? How will that change how you roleplay them, and how will it change how other PCs/NPCs view/interact with them?

In other words, what's the point?

What's the point? Well, what's the point of roleplaying *any* character? What's the point of roleplaying a character who's flaws are not black and white? It creates a more layered and interesting character, both for *yourself* but also for others.

For instance, just because a character has low wisdom, doesn't mean he can't have insights into personal issues or problems, or a social situation, even though he has terrible impulse control, can't shut up, doesn't notice sounds or spots sights, or hell, forgets things which are common sense. Low Stats don't *mean* that a character is terrible at *everything* the stat does, it means the character has a low ability to apply the stat when he *needs* it, when it's required, at will, at his behest.

The Low Wis Barbarian, who always talks at the wrong time, or makes the wrong comment in social situations, who never notices when his friends are upset, but who *cares* about his friends, and wants to help them and can express that, but simply isn't good at doing it most of the time, or all the time, or when he needs to. The bard, who *knows* all sorts of things, but *never* can remember them when he *needs* to remember them. "Ooooh, it was just on the tip of my tongue..." who's relatively good at puzzles and riddles, but, the problem is, he just *can't* seem to get the answers formulated right when they're posed before others answer. The low Charisma Warrior, who's brash and has bad manners in a crowd, who's actually a good leader, but he acts like an idiot in a crowd, or

...

Thank you, and yes, it does very much more manifest in person, since there are no distractions online, and I have time to formulate and align my thoughts into posts, and I have more...-thinks.- Well, I have less things that my brain is flooding me with informationwise, which makes it difficult to apply/coherently present ideas, the more people, the harder it gets in real life.

Actually, low stats do mean you're terrible at everything that stat does, unless you've spent lots of skill points or feats to overcome your natural deficiency. But we're specifically not talking mechanics.

We're talking about roleplaying a character with low Int as smart. And again, that's not the baseline assumption of the game. And I hope your not suggesting that anyone that plays by the baseline assumption that low Int = not very smart only likes black and white flaws, and has less layered and interesting characters than you do.

(I'm not claiming you are saying that, just hoping you're not!)

Actually, it doesn't mean you're terrible at everything the stat does, what it means is that you're not able to apply what the stat does easilly, and that *overall* taken *all* the aspects of the stat, you are weaker in more areas than you are strong. Low Intelligence does not mean you're dumb, even by the definition of dumb or the RAW, heck, I don't even think by RAI. It means you do not have the ability to easily apply reason and learning mechanically and at will, and more than that it means, that while your character might be intelligent and skilled, his ability to reason might be VERY lacking, or his ability to learn new things might be lacking, OR his ability to do both of those, might be slightly lacking, but his ability to apply what he's learned or reasoned effectively might be lacking.

In fact, nowhere do the RAW imply that someone with a low stat is terrible at everything the stat does, what stats imply are your overall ability to apply the stat either through inborn ability or aqquired ability, from a *roleplaying* perspective, it obviously often makes sense to make stats fit a character, but one persons idea of how a stat suits a character might be different from another, and *both* equally valid, both as intended and as written.

Stats represent mechanical ability to access/apply what they represent, *not* only ability to apply, OR to access. This is why you have Villains who have hundreds of henchmen, and thousands of gold and lead nations, who often don't have *sky* high Charisma but who still manage to lead, often with both low diplomacy and intimidate skills (For their respective levels) Or Villains with average intelligence scores who still think up convoluted and complicated plots, or who have *really* high intelligence scores and think up *really* stupid/unreasonable/illogical ones. Or Villains with High Wisdom scores, who are neither wise, nor calm, who have *serious* impulse control issues, it's because often NPC's and Monsters don't *follow* the rules for stats, because stats are not *direct* translations of abilities. But rather a mechanical tool that shows *how* well you access the prerequisite ability and apply it when you need to apply it (with or without a roll)

Your stat is not a stat, it is an *ability score* it is a score, that states on a scale of 3-18 (For PC's) how well you can apply the sum-total of an ability scores meaning, some have more visible effects than others (Strength springs to mind), but none even by the Rules, *dictate* exactly what the meaning of a stat is.

Intelligence is listed as your ability to reason and learn, the important thing to notice is that your stat is not your capability to reason and learn (This is why as characters level, they get to add +1 to stats, clearly, those stats are not your capabilities, simply your current abilities to apply the effects.) it is your ability to apply said stat when needed.

Ok. But see, as far as the world, and everyone it, is concerned, if you can't apply your intelligence, you're unintelligent. If you can't access it, you will appear dumb, and everyone will think you're dumb. So what's the point of making a character that's "smart" but can't access/apply it? How will that change how you roleplay them, and how will it change how other PCs/NPCs view/interact with them?

In other words, what's the point?

What's the point? Well, what's the point of roleplaying *any* character? What's the point of roleplaying a character who's flaws are not black and white? It creates a more layered and interesting character, both for *yourself* but also for others.

For instance, just because a character has low wisdom, doesn't mean he can't have insights into personal issues or problems, or a social situation, even though he has terrible impulse control, can't shut up, doesn't notice sounds or spots sights, or hell, forgets things which are common sense. Low Stats don't *mean* that a character is terrible at *everything* the stat does, it means the character has a low ability to apply the stat when he *needs* it, when it's required, at will, at his behest.

The Low Wis Barbarian, who always talks at the wrong time, or makes the wrong comment in social situations, who never notices when his friends are upset, but who *cares* about his friends, and wants to help them and can express that, but simply isn't good at doing it most of the time, or all the time, or when he needs to. The bard, who *knows* all sorts of things, but *never* can remember them when he *needs* to remember them. "Ooooh, it was just on the tip of my tongue..." who's relatively good at puzzles and riddles, but, the problem is, he just *can't* seem to get the answers formulated right when they're posed before others answer. The low Charisma Warrior, who's brash and has bad manners in a crowd, who's actually a good leader, but he acts like an idiot in a crowd, or simply is ugly, or doesn't have the presence to make people pay attention and notice or inspire trust or confidence in that good leadership.

I actually think Holmes would be just as intelligent as Sheldon, and not terribly better off in his Wisdom stat either. Though I'm speaking original, literary Holmes. In any case, I don't think Holmes is using a 15 point buy, whereas Sheldon could be :)

Having said all this ^^^ stuff, I've never, in all my years of GMing, told a player "Your PC can't think that! He's too dumb, Int of 7, remember?" I've just never encountered anyone that even hinted that they thought Intelligence wasn't intelligence, just like I've never encountered anyone that thought Strength wasn't how strong your character is.

And for the record, I'm quite happy with the reskinning of classes, feats, spells, what have you, to keep their mechanical benefits/drawbacks but be reflavoured. I guess it's just that Ability Scores are so simple and integral and definitive to a character that it seems ridiculous - it smacks of wanting to be the best at everything no matter what the rules say. "I know my Str is only 6, but I'm actually totally ripped and massively strong. I'm just not very good at accessing it."

When all's said and done, I guess it doesn't matter one bit if your table is happy with that. Despite all this talk of RAW, I'm really not a rules nazi when I GM or play.

So I guess I have two questions for those that are arguing for "smart" characters with low Int:

1) Why would you want this? What's your underlying motivation? Why can't your character have a low intelligence to go with their low Intelligence?

2) Have you ever actually played a character like this?

I've actually on many occations played characters who might have one low score, for instance in wisdom, or intelligence, or even charisma who're not just plain dumb, or unwise, but who have other issues, such as impulse control, or self-control, even OCD and other disorders, or are self-absorbed and don't notice things, or who aren't good at expressing abstract ideas or applying their intelligence effectively, or who might understand and reason something, but simply not apply it reasonably, or who might be good looking, but carry themselves badly, aren't noticed because of personal magnetism, or who stutter or have other impediments which detract from their ability to draw attention or lead people, they all by the rules, are low stat characters, and none of them are house ruled by the stats as written.

Saying that Int means you know it's raining, Wis means you know to get out of the rain, is a *very* simplistic, and by no means the only way to look at the stats, even as those stats are written. For instance, a low int character could know it's raining, and understand that the rain is from the clouds, and understand how moisture gathers, forms clouds, drops etc, but could quite frankly, feel that rain, and because of low intelligence, simply not be able to remember, why it is it rains, or what rain exactly is, other than wet, because his ability to apply his learning reasoning is impeeded by his low intelligence, and by the time he gets out of the rain, and sits down, and thinks about it, he could very well understand exactly what it was, but his ability to access all that knowledge is not an "on the fly" quick thing. Intelligence as a stat is very much about Applying it and the speed/capability you have of applying it *when you need it*

Rasmus Nielsen wrote:

littlehewy wrote:

Er, I would submit that there is no detectable difference between someone's intelligence (little "i"!) and how able they are to access and use their intelligence...

Look, it says under "Intelligence" in the CRB what the designers intend that stat to define. Playing your Intelligence any other way is the house rule - playing Int as intelligence is not.

Yes, it says it's your ABILITY, not your capacity, those are two very different words. Your ability to reason and learn, is not the same as your capacity to reason and learn. So, if you want to go with directly using RAW precisely as written, rather than as intended, Intelligence is your ability to use your intelligence effectively.

Ok. So how does that support the idea that someone can make a PC with an Int of 7 that can think of awesome plans all the time and understands things really, really well.. I.e., someone who can access their internal capability for intelligence?

Hint: it doesn't :)

Actually, it does, here's the thing, Intelligence/Wisdom/Charisma are not Internal stats, they are external stats that relate to *how* a character *applies* those stats to his surroundings and the world.

Being able to internally form, and comprehend something, is not the same as being able to *apply* it, reasonably, or to learn from it. I comprehend, and understand *a lot* of things with my intelligence, but my ability to apply that understanding, either by reasoning or learning how those things interact, and apply them to my surroundings lack in many cases. By the very definetion of the Stat as written, I have a low intelligence, because while I have the capacity to reason and learn, highly complex ideas and systems, I do not have the ability to apply them in a lot of cases. (Example, I understand Maths, very well, however I can't handle personal finances.)

None of the stats are internal, the Mental stats are not *internal* stats, they are stats that dictate an *external* effect, they are stats that correlate how well you apply a mental ability externally, be it to the world around you (Dredge up Arcane Knowledge at will), your actions (Cast Spells that you have *memorized*), or your ability to make use of external stimuli (See a monster, use your reasoning by accessing and applying it to externalize what it's weaknesses are. or hear a riddle, and come up with the *answer* and be able to communicate that answer in a way that is understandable.)

Er, I would submit that there is no detectable difference between someone's intelligence (little "i"!) and how able they are to access and use their intelligence...

Look, it says under "Intelligence" in the CRB what the designers intend that stat to define. Playing your Intelligence any other way is the house rule - playing Int as intelligence is not.

Yes, it says it's your ABILITY, not your capacity, those are two very different words. Your ability to reason and learn, is not the same as your capacity to reason and learn. So, if you want to go with directly using RAW precisely as written, rather than as intended, Intelligence is your ability to use your intelligence effectively.

Edit: I should clarify, this is not the *only* way, in my mind to play your intelligence, playing a dumb character with low intelligence, who has no learning, no smarts, but several narrow skillsets etc. etc. is as valid, as playing a normally intelligent/above averagely intelligent character who simply is not focused, who doesn't know how to apply his reason and doesn't have the ability, either due to laziness or due to (perhaps) a disorder or other issues with presenting his ideas in an effective or coherent manner, those are all low intelligence characters, as far as I can understand the RAW description of what the Intelligence stat is.

Epic Meepo wrote:

littlehewy wrote:

Oh, by the way, my halfling barbarian is actually 7'10". Don't worry, mechanically he's Small, but mechanically Small doesn't have to be the same as "fluff" small. Only a Simulationist would say such a thing.

Gamists, narrativists, and simulationists would all agree that your halfling cannot be 7'10" tall in his natural form, because the rules explicitly state how tall halflings can be in real-world feet and inches. In fact, the rules explicitly state how long or tall a Small creature can be in real-world feet and inches (allowing for abstractions in the case of long, narrow creatures like snakes).

That being said, Small (size category) does not equal small (English-language adjective). If that were the case, a character with a small scar on his cheek would somehow have a two-foot long gash on his face, because two feet is the bottom limit for the length of something Small.

Can you how me where in the rules it says that a character cannot exceed the height range given on the "Random Height and Weight" table?.

Since you seem determined to deliberately misunderstand my "Small =/= small" paragraph, let me explicitly describe what I meant: a Small creature is actually small, not because of rules and numbers, but because small means small. The designers used the word small to create the game term "Small" because of they wanted the term to describe a creature that is small compared to our baseline, which is human-sized. Similarly, the designers used the word intelligence to create the game term "Intelligence" because that's what they wanted that number to describe. If your Intelligence stat is above average, you have above average intelligence. If you have a below average Intelligence stat, you have below average intelligence.

Just clear this up for me.

Are you claiming that Intelligence =/= intelligence?
Do you think the game designers meant for that stat to be a metric for intelligence?
If not, why did they use the word?

I think he *is* claiming that Intelligence =/= Intelligence, yes

Yes, I don't think they meant the stat to be a metric for how intelligent a person *is* because noone gets *more* intelligent, all people get, is better at using/accessing/applying their intelligence which is what I think the stat is a metric for.

I think they used Intelligence, because that's what the creators of D&D used, however, I again think they use the word Intellience not to measure how intelligent a character is, but to measure how able to access and use his intelligence effectively the character is. Not as a measure of IQ or any other form of particular intelligence.

Rasmus Nielsen wrote:

As someone with a diagnosed atypical autism disorder, but higher functioning, someone who is developmentally disabled, can be quite intelligent, in the intelligence area, that is, however, his social and communication, plus common sense, might be lacking.

I often RP things that I am *not* in real life, it's one of the parts of my autism that makes me atypical, my ability to communicate, and my active intelligence and creativity, which in an online spectrum in particular aren't as visible as in person. However, as my doctors (Psychiatrists and Psychologists) explained to me, I am mentally handicapped, due to my autism, because a large part of my intelligence is used to cope and react and understand the world around me, that I do not grasp, I use a large part of my reasoning and mental faculties to understand the world around me, and make sense of things. I cannot read body language, I don't get social situations, I have trouble keeping track of social directions, what's right and wrong, all in all, I have a very hard time "thinking" on my feet, when it comes to common sense, social situations, and even in heavilly traficked social situations, where I'm not trying to figure things out, but trying to do something intelligent (Such as finances, complex math, solving puzzles, seeing patterns.) However, in a stressed situation, where I have little to no interference, my ability to grasp, both logic, complex math, new concepts, complex ideas and complex social interactions, on a logical and intellectual level is high, I can for instance roleplay a character who grasps/masters social concepts, in small groups or one on one, I can, due to my own previous experiences and catalogues, and due to my brain, and teaching myself to cover the fact that I have no clue about body language, instead learning to use eyes, and voice to help me understand social cues, from individuals, I have highly repetitive body language, and also exaggerated bodylanguage, for instance, as a child, I mimmicked

...

Exactly, my point, I might be intelligent, but I have a low Intelligence score, because my ability to reason and learn while high, is not something I can access, or convey very well in most situations and at most times, it should be noted, my charisma, and wisdom are higher, because in written format (Thank you internet) A lot of the issues I face in real life (Social contact, external stimuli, body language, thought processes, energy spent trying to notice things, obsessive tendencies, compulsive and impulse control behaviour, accessing memories for social/cultural etiquette, personal etiquette, personal information specific to known individual, vs filing away information regarding unknown individual, while trying to not get distracted by surroundings, or while trying to keep aware of surroundings.) All impact my ability to function, and thus my "stats" so to speak, it's not that I have a penalty in those situations, because I am simply wired differently and my brain works differently, what it means is that in a situation such as this, I get bonuses, (Internet of +6 to mental stats, ftw!) and in other specific narrow situations I get bonuses, to my "Stats" or skills, but my base stats, are simply lower. There are also social situations where I have a high charisma, or wisdom, due to "Skill focuses" so to speak, skills I've had to develop to cope with my lacking and naturally low base stats.

Rasmus Nielsen you said you have autism. Autism is not a low int score but a disorder. I have a learning disorder as well. Which is not the same thing as a low int score. I think an adequate example of autism might be an allergic reaction to a bee sting. You could have a 20 con and be in great shape and rarely get sick but when a bee stings you are toast.

A low Score *can* be a disorder, it can be an allergy, hell, one of the prime examples of Low Scores is Raistlin (however one feels about him) who was sickly and ill, and needed potions to keep him from succumbing to those illnesses and thus had a low con score, stats are what a person is endowed with, born with, or has managed to gain by the time their adventuring career starts. Thus, someone autistic, could be a 7/7/7 mental attributes character, or someone who's actually, very intelligent, but simply not good at applying that intelligence, be it through forgetfulness, or scattermindedness, or even simply through having the inability to convey them in a way that makes sense to others.

The stat, as it is written, is not wether a person has reason or ability to learn, it's how well a person applies the reasoning and ability to learn effectively, to his surroundings and situations.

that does *not* mean, that the 7 int character can't come up with a suddenly complex and very intelligent or well thought out plan, or than the wis 7 character who's normally got his head in the clouds and doesn't notice what goes on around him, can't suddenly notice something completely obvious that others with his wisdom and good common sense noticed, heck, it might not even mean that the Wis 7 character has bad common sense, he might have impulse control issues, or simply not *pay* attention, but have a good dose of common sense/streetsmarts

As someone with a diagnosed atypical autism disorder, but higher functioning, someone who is developmentally disabled, can be quite intelligent, in the intelligence area, that is, however, his social and communication, plus common sense, might be lacking.

I often RP things that I am *not* in real life, it's one of the parts of my autism that makes me atypical, my ability to communicate, and my active intelligence and creativity, which in an online spectrum in particular aren't as visible as in person. However, as my doctors (Psychiatrists and Psychologists) explained to me, I am mentally handicapped, due to my autism, because a large part of my intelligence is used to cope and react and understand the world around me, that I do not grasp, I use a large part of my reasoning and mental faculties to understand the world around me, and make sense of things. I cannot read body language, I don't get social situations, I have trouble keeping track of social directions, what's right and wrong, all in all, I have a very hard time "thinking" on my feet, when it comes to common sense, social situations, and even in heavilly traficked social situations, where I'm not trying to figure things out, but trying to do something intelligent (Such as finances, complex math, solving puzzles, seeing patterns.) However, in a stressed situation, where I have little to no interference, my ability to grasp, both logic, complex math, new concepts, complex ideas and complex social interactions, on a logical and intellectual level is high, I can for instance roleplay a character who grasps/masters social concepts, in small groups or one on one, I can, due to my own previous experiences and catalogues, and due to my brain, and teaching myself to cover the fact that I have no clue about body language, instead learning to use eyes, and voice to help me understand social cues, from individuals, I have highly repetitive body language, and also exaggerated bodylanguage, for instance, as a child, I mimmicked adult body-language, not understanding it. I am able to form emotional attachments to people, and do at times, though how I form them is very simplstic.

On an intellectual level, I have a *very* good grasp of money, because I understand math, very very well, inherently, however I am terrible at finances, and cannot keep track of my *own* expenses, though my logic and thinking is rigid and hard, I remember faces, but not names. I have several OCD tendencies, and obsess over activities, and by the definition of intelligence in the PF SRD, I would score low intelligence, because while I am good at reasoning and problem solving, and can do them quickly, I am *not* good at applying them effectively. Or expressing them clearly or linguistically or concisely, I can have a very lively debate, and adapt quickly to changes in the subject of a conversation, but will completely miss the tone of a conversation or direction it is headed or how I come across.

All in all, I'm a prime example of a 7/7/7 mental attribute character, by the rules of stats as written, though on most standardized IQ tests, I score past 120 or higher.

It should be noted, I'm also not a native english speaker, though I learned to speak english in a 5 month period when I was 7 (Easter Holiday spent with mother and scottish stepdad, Summer Holiday and Fall break spent with mother in scotland) In general, I do well at learning and grasping knowledge but do not apply it well. (I suck at school, I simply cannot complete schooling, and score bad grades with anything not exam related, where I tend to score in the 90 percentile on any subject) I can't do homework, I simply cannot *focus* in classes due to boredom or distractions, or retreating into own world, or not being able to shut up, or correcting the teacher, thus I've failed at education my entire life, not because I do not retain what is taught, but because my ability to effectively combine the use of my intelligence is impaired.

Thus, I feel that someone who has 7 intelligence, is not nescesarilly dumb, or slow, or dull, by the RAW, but can be exceptionally intelligent, and simply lack the ability or tools intellectually to apply the intelligence "effectively" at all times.

So, I've had trouble understanding how these two interact, while I realize that at a glance the two have no compatability issues, I am having trouble seeing how a Bladebound could for instance make the Black Blade his Bonded item, since while it states that the weapon starts out as masterwork, and a magic weapon "counts" as Masterwork, it also later states, that if you lose the weapon or it's destroyed, it loses all enchantments, and starts out as a normal masterwork weapon.

That aside, the Arcane Bond feature, would not be able to pick the Black Blade, as the Black Blade is an intelligent magic item, which have different rules than normal magical items, but even then, the Black Blade is *not* a Masterwork item, *period* it may "count" as one, but it is not a Masterwork item, which the rules states that it *must* be when you aqquire the Bonded Item.

Now, I can understand that that doesn't mean that the Bladebound and Soul Forger couldn't have a Black Blade, AND a Bonded Weapon as well, though, even then, would a Bonded Weapon not *count* as a Familiar of some kind? Isn't the intent of the Black Blade, that the Black Blade be the most important thing, as in, it'd not want you to have a Mount, or an Animal Companion either, or is the Black Blade only tied to *Familiars* (Witches, Wizards, specifically those called Familiars?) And, as far as I can understand, you cannot improve and upgrade Black Blades, due to them being intelligent items, and progressing as "creatures" do...all in all, I'm slightly confused by how exactly they work together, by the rules, both as written and intended.

So, I've had trouble understanding how these two interact, while I realize that at a glance the two have no compatability issues, I am having trouble seeing how a Bladebound could for instance make the Black Blade his Bonded item, since while it states that the weapon starts out as masterwork, and a magic weapon "counts" as Masterwork, it also later states, that if you lose the weapon or it's destroyed, it loses all enchantments, and starts out as a normal masterwork weapon.

That aside, the Arcane Bond feature, would not be able to pick the Black Blade, as the Black Blade is an intelligent magic item, which have different rules than normal magical items, but even then, the Black Blade is *not* a Masterwork item, *period* it may "count" as one, but it is not a Masterwork item, which the rules states that it *must* be when you aqquire the Bonded Item.

Now, I can understand that that doesn't mean that the Bladebound and Soul Forger couldn't have a Black Blade, AND a Bonded Weapon as well, though, even then, would a Bonded Weapon not *count* as a Familiar of some kind? Isn't the intent of the Black Blade, that the Black Blade be the most important thing, as in, it'd not want you to have a Mount, or an Animal Companion either, or is the Black Blade only tied to *Familiars* (Witches, Wizards, specifically those called Familiars?) And, as far as I can understand, you cannot improve and upgrade Black Blades, due to them being intelligent items, and progressing as "creatures" do...all in all, I'm slightly confused by how exactly they work together, by the rules, both as written and intended.

A question popped up, as I read this in the Bladebound Archetype.

'A black blade is always a one-handed slashing weapon, a rapier, or a sword cane. The magus chooses the blade’s type upon gaining the blade, and once chosen, it can’t be changed. As a bladebound magus increases in level, his black blade gains power.'

It says there, that a Black blade is always a one-handed slashing weapon, rapier or a sword cane.

This means, that the black blade cannot be a Light Melee weapon, only a one handed slashing weapon, thus making daggers, sickles et al. not possible as Black Blades, correct?

When a feat has several prerequisites, such as Crane Style, listed as follows -- Prerequisites: Dodge, Improved Unarmed Strike, BAB +2 or 1st level Monk -- does this mean that if you are a 1st level Monk, you don't need any of (Dodge, Improved Unarmed Strike, BAB +2), or does the "or 1st Level Monk" ONLY replace/substitute the previous single clause, +2 BAB?