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As the title says. I have two character concepts that I'd like to try out for an upcoming game but here is the catch: both would be high-wisdom characters and my IRL wisdom score is quite...well...low. As a result, I want advice, how does a person who has low wisdom IRL effectively RP a high-wisdom character in a real-time/non PbP setting where there is -no- extra time to scrutinize/analyze your character's every word and action before they take it? If anybody has advice for me on this matter I would be grateful!
Faith. Also whenever you're right mention that it was already decided by your god/fate/your awesomeness.
Eventually the other characters will see your words as wisdom.
One mechanic I've used as a DM is "Your training/experience tells you that ______ " to represent both character class training or high mental stats. Ask your DM to help you out. She will probably be a little resistant to this kind of direction since it can easily lead to a feeling that the party is being overly directed, but it sounds like your concerned with not being able to portray your character effectively. Talk to the DM.
By low wisdom in real life I assume you mean you are the type to open a chest without checking for traps first. If this is the case get some flash cards for various situations.
(Chest)- Check for traps, don't stand on front when opening.
(Door)- check for traps, crack it ajar and scan what you can see or hear before opening.
(NPC) Check for traps! I mean, Sense motive if asked for a favor. If wearing any symbols ask what they are (or knowledge check of course)
Doing so before hand may seem a little clunky at first and make you're role playing a bit slow or stiff, but eventually you will no longer need them and will give yourself a boost of wisdom as well.
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To the person who asked about RL low wisdom I am known to speak without thinking and make very rash, poorly-thought out remarks. Now, when it comes to actual strategies, attack plans and -actions- I am far more cunning and shrewd and won't have many issues RPing high-wis actions. It's more what my character -says- then -does- that my IRL wis becomes an issue as I am naturally not as careful with what I say as what I do and am prone to making comments that, well, just sound dumb. It's not so much high-wis actions that I have issues with, it's more how to avoid making dumb/stuiped/unwise comments....I also have very poor awareness of my surroundings, though in-game that doesn't really hamper my RP since surrounding awareness is mostly handled by the roll play of the perception skill, which I'd be good with, rather then role play. My IRL wisdom, after taking a D&D character test, was 13....not that the test is 100% accurate, but it sounds about right since I have wisdom deficiencies in some areas, but wisdom strengths in others.(I am, as stated, very good at being shrewd and taking the logical path, and am not easily manipulated/taken advantage of..but have poor surrounding awareness and when I talk tend to make stuiped remarks at times without realizing they are stuiped until after the fact)
One way to do it is to make cautious approaches to any problem instead of rushing in. Sometimes the wise course *is* to pause, have a cup of tea and think or talk things through. Always make sure you ask for all the available information, and if you feel the GM is holding back then use knowledge checks, diplomacy and so on to get more. If wisdom is your weapon then make sure you're fully armed.
Other characteristics of wise people that you could emulate include being a mediator in arguments, advocating peaceful or diplomatic solutions and proposing compromises. Put your own feelings aside and try and see any argument from both sides. Try to resist the idea that just because two groups disagree that one is inherently evil. Many of the real-life people we consider wise have acted this way. Asking yourself "what would MLK/Gandhi have done?" could be a start.
*Edit* Reading your post, Takhisis, it might be worth just slowing down. You rarely need to respond immediately. You can quite easily let someone else respond first while formulating an answer, or just take a few seconds to think before responding.
Well if that's the case..vow of silence. Problem solved.
But if that's the case just tell your gm your character only says things you specifically state your character is saying. So if you do recognize the king as the death cult leader and blurt it out, at least your character isn't then assumed to blurt it out.
Keep a short list of wise-sounding quotes nearby for reference.
I can only picture this scenario.
"Those goblins have taken my daughter you have to help!""Fear not, for a penny saved is a penny earned."
"...What?"
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To Corivino and H.P. Makelovecraft: Both of your ideas are valid and I have considered doing something like that. Playing a character who -doesn't speak- or -rarely speaks- would alieviate many of the issues I have with high wis RP, and considering one of my ideas was a emphyrel sorcerer/sohi monk/eldritch knight vow of silence is a distinct possibility. One of my other ideas was of all things, a druid, so it would be possible to play up the character as being feral to the point of not being able to -speak- or simply preferring not to speak and only talking when -absolutely required-, which would give me the -time- nessicary to think through all my responses, or heck, allow me to use my high IRL int to compensate. If my character -rarely- speaks, I could have a pre-written script of possible non-dumb responses to common situations that would be generic enough for me to use in most instances in which my character would absolutely need to speak and then 80-90% of the time have them not talk and show their character through their actions.
Her name is not Penny?Keep a short list of wise-sounding quotes nearby for reference.I can only picture this scenario.
"Those goblins have taken my daughter you have to help!"
"Fear not, for a penny saved is a penny earned."
"...What?"
Huh...Penny is a name isn't it? Well now my post seems far less silly.
Keep a short list of wise-sounding quotes nearby for reference.
In Latin of course. And never explain them.
O Tempora! O Mores!
Quis costodiet ipsos custodes?
Agere sequitur credere.
etc.
Full list here.
NB - never actually ever do this.
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Steal from an established character.
Think of a favorite character of yours, that could be considered "high wisdom", and copy his/her speech patterns and mannerisms.
This could be from any movie/book/comic/tv series/etc., but should be one you like.
This could be anyone from Yoda, to Zatoichi, as long as it fits your concept, personality-wise.
As the title says. I have two character concepts that I'd like to try out for an upcoming game but here is the catch: both would be high-wisdom characters and my IRL wisdom score is quite...well...low. As a result, I want advice, how does a person who has low wisdom IRL effectively RP a high-wisdom character in a real-time/non PbP setting where there is -no- extra time to scrutinize/analyze your character's every word and action before they take it? If anybody has advice for me on this matter I would be grateful!
Lots of "Hmmm"s seeming to be in deep thought, and telling people that they should think of the consequences of everything is a good start. If someone says something witty then you say, "Indeed, that is what I was thinking."
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Not sure, yet. That would depend on which class I'd go with. They -likely- won't have terribly high int (11-13, to be exact), but charisma would be decent..anywhere from 13-15, depending on what class I go with. Neither, however, would be negative, and both having at least a +1 mod is very possible. Wisdom would likely be anywhere from 16-18, depending on the class chosen, but likely will be 16.
The classes I was thinking of, by the way, where..
Melee/reach Cleric
Emphyrel Sorcerer/Sohi/Eldritch Knight
Druid
Archer Inquisitor
Out of all of these, the Druid, if fluffed as being particularly feral, would be easy to RP as the "man/woman of few words" type both of which would be of help RP-wise so I have less of a chance to say dumb things and could possibly keep a pre-made script handy in the rare instance my character is forced to talk. So I am leaning to druid right now. However, if any of you have other ideas on how I could RP out some of the others with my IRL wisdom issues I'd be grateful!
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Yeah, but it's incredibly difficult to find any high wis characters in media that are -evil-, and I was looking to specifically play an -evil- PC. The only ones I can think of off the top of my head are Malik and Redcloak from the order of the stick webcomic, and I don't think they really have enough fitting quotes for a game that is, well, not meant to be comedic in tone, even though I do like both characters...I suppose I could always use Itachi from Naruto when he was faking being a villain as an model as he came off as fairly perceptive and wise, though he isn't actually a -straight villain- and I would likely want to pump int as well as wis if I where emulating him...
Tywin Lannister is a good Wise Villain to model a character on. He always has the information he needs, and knows the strengths and weaknesses of his enemies.
He also gets a lot of nice, arch quotes:
"Explain to me why it is more noble to kill ten thousand men in battle than a dozen at dinner."
"There is a tool for every task, and a task for every tool."
"Joffrey, when your enemies defy you, you must serve them steel and fire. When they go to their knees, however, you must help them back to their feet. Elsewise no man will ever bend the knee to you. And any man who must say ‘I am the king’ is no true king at all"
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High Wisdom villains in media:
Bill from Kill Bill
Jade Fox from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Ras al Ghul from Batman (Although he has high INT and CHA as well)
Emperor Palpatine in Star Wars
The Operative in Serenity
Cardinal Richelieu from the Three Musketeers
Edit: Tywin Lannister (and Tyrion too) are both great examples of this. Good call Corvino.
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Can't believe I forgot Palpatine. He's likely another case of high wis/high cha, though, but as stated I could swing a 15, or possibly even 16 cha depending on things. Out of the list he and the operative are the only ones I am familiar with enough to emulate, and the operative I am not sure I can class as 100% evil.(An argument could be made that he is simply an extremely devoted and Machiavellian LN.)
If the problem is saying the wrong thing and impulsively doing inappropriate things rather than a lack of street smarts you don't have to fluff that as low wisdom, you can fluff it as low charisma. Druid is perfect for this as nobody really expects social graces from a Druid anyway. Just roleplay your high wisdom as sharp senses and good judgement when you do stop and think things through.
What do you mean by low real-life wisdom?He's asking for advice on the Paizo message board for starters. :)
L0000000000000000001, self insults are best.
Comically, I should think.
Use a lot of wise sounding sayings.
Lots of "Hmmm"s seeming to be in deep thought, and telling people that they should think of the consequences of everything is a good start. If someone says something witty then you say, "Indeed, that is what I was thinking."
That's what I was thinking. You could flesh it out more by letting your PC "already know it all," but chooses to let the other PCs figure things out themselves. When other PCs give conflicting solutions to solve a problem, you could chime in "both have their merits and problems" or say "you're on the right track, the answer will come to you soon." As soon as a choice is made, say something like "this will be a good learning experience." Your motive can be altruistic in nature and not self-righteous. You could be there to help and give sagely advice the other PCs only when they need it (right now the Dungeon Master from the DnD cartoon comes to mind). Or could be visa-versa if you want to play someone who has low self-esteem and needs others to think your PC is wise.
lol nice thread name
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Wisdom seem like street smarts as listed below..."Street smart" is just a way for dumb people to use the word 'smart' to describe themselves. You may be street 'wise', but people on the street are notorious for having far too little free time to spend ensmartening themselves.
"Ensmartening". Ha!
Anyways, part of this is actually quite true. I have had experience being both homeless, and jobless, and you would be surprised how busy you can be.You will also have stretches of time with nothing to do, but you can never quite tell when that is going to happen.
You do learn to read people better, as interacting with all kinds of people, like it or not, becomes absolutely necessary.
Basically, "Perception", "Sense Motive", "Diplomacy" and "Bluff" become means of survival, and can make your situation much more bearable.
"Street smarts" is not just something that dumb people say to sound smart.
In a way, there is a bit of honed awareness, and applied skill set, that could be called "street smarts", but the term has wonky way of changing definition, so I am not sure what you would call it.
The difference between a book smart and a street smart person is that, upon hearing a loud bang, the book smart person goes to investigate while the street smart one hides.
I've always understood it as another way of saying common sense, I guess.
It was mentioned to take a vow of Silence, that may not be far off.
Just don't talk, let other's talk, watch what they do, and say, then say something. Analyze what they're doing, see the problems before they occur.
Can't remember the quote, but the difference between a wise man, and a fool, is the wise man can hold his tongue. The fool cannot.
Good luck, and have fun. :)
In all honesty it's fairly easy. Take your time, be patient, maybe keep a jug of water near you so if the gm asks you a question start drinking water and think for a bit. Like others have said ask the table for advice on what would be a good idea to say or do. There is no one right way to play a high mental stat, so experiment a bit.
Keep quiet. It is amazing how wise you seem when you remain silent.
Work with your GM and have him cut you some slack. Maybe he will allow you to reconsider what you say, or some of your actions. Allowing you to reconsider a number of actions per game session equal to your WIS bonus would work. If so I would limit it so you can only undo an action on the same turn to keep it from getting out of hand.
Another thing you can do is to take a moment to think before you do or say anything. Just take a deep breath and think to yourself what you are going to do or say before doing it. A lot of time if you “hear” what you are going to say you will realize it is foolish. If this is the case ask for some time to think things over. Just don’t carry it to extreme and take an hour mulling over every decision.
Also ask the advice out of character of the other players. A lot of characters have stats higher than their players and any GM will recognize this and allow some help. No one expects the 98 pound weakling who is playing the barbarian to be able to be able to perform amazing feats of strength. Why should the person playing the wizard with the intelligence of Steven Hawkins be expected to perform similarly amazing feats of intelligence.
Also, Shakespeare was right to say "Brevity is the soul of wit". Using flowery language doesn't help or make you seem wise. If you can boil down a good idea to one or two simple sentences then you do. Your party will give you time to prepare your thoughts if you produce condensed nuggets of wisdom when you open your mouth.
"The wise man knows that he knows nothing." -Socrates
There was a psych experiment done where a number of stock brokers were shown a graph for a particular stock. They were presented with three buttons and told that the buttons, "May, or may not, do anything. experiment with them." The reality was that they were dummy buttons; they did absolutely nothing. But some of the participants reported they felt they could "control" the value of the stock by using these buttons. Later, it was found that the ones who had the strongest sense of control over the graph using the buttons were also the ones who did most poorly in their jobs while the ones who did not feel in control were far more successful stock brokers.
"The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt" -Bertrand Russel
This. You are probably more self aware than you give yourself credit for.
You should add Kazaan's quotes to your list to bust out when wanting to sound wise. :)
+1 on the quiet character idea. " It is better to remain silence and be thought a fool, than to speak, and remove all doubt. "