In theory, it's easier to RP the weaker stats because those will generally fall within the general D&D guidelines (5-20~ ability), and are humanly possible to replicate, or adapt. At some point, when people start having over 30 of a stat, they're entering deity status. It goes without saying that no player should RP being anything close to a deity though, so it's important to balance that fact with the setting.

My take: More than looking at an exact current count, I think you should portfolio your character's weaknesses and strengths based on a compilation of your character sheet, and wear them like a sleeve for better or for worse. Doing this introduces interesting distinction that helps you, the player, remain separate from your character.

As an example, my character, had 8 wisdom, and she was never renown for her good decision making or logic, despite not being a fundamental idiot. Still, based on how my character acted, people figured it out and eventually joked about it in party chat when she'd make bad decisions that I as a player, would not be behind myself. Conversely, the same with the things she excelled at, she would do well at - but everything in good balance.

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a.k.a. Audrey Zinata

That is not what I said. If you are wearing Wisdom gear and ability buff then we count in those in the wisdom check obviously. But if you make a request for example (that falls under the long term investment) where wisdom might be a factor then the base ability is what will be applicable.

I always hated the ability score because its to open and vague one might assume a wizard with its uber 30 INT is Harvard university, and then you have Joe mechanic who has maybe high school so lets say 9.... but you tell that Harvard guy to do even a fraction of that Joe mechanic does for a living that guy would look like the one with 9 INT, then you have Savant syndrome over all might have 5int, but in a select field would be akin to 50int.


I don't really pay to much attention ability scores on Intelligence, Wisdom and Charisma short of DM events if they ask for a roll as they are too open ended and mean nothing, Str,Con and Dex have a more defined field and are easy to pin down and you can place a value on them.

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================-<Cory ShadowFlame>-================
Risenlord-Shifter(OMG a Non-Dragon Shifter that can hold his own in PvE)

ah ok

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ANT ALARM

ANT ALARM

@Cory:

I can't say I disagree, because you hate them and that's a valid feeling, but I can't help but feel that your analogy tries to tie a magical setting into a 21st century paradigm and as such, it misrepresents the point of the scores.

In my interpretation of your example, a 30 INT 'harvard' wizard, will not only know how to take apart a car, but build one from scratch. They will be able to make it fly. They will make it indestructible, travel through portals, and whatever else. Your 8 int mechanic will watch in awe. When you consider how magic can assist how you learn, it starts detaching your reality from the one you're RP'ing in; expectations rise.

A wise character will know that something needs to be done, and before it becomes too late to do it. They will pick the more logical routes that are tried, true and tested to their vast decision making progress that limits potential for failure and faults. A dumb character will make rash, reckless decisions at high risk for high reward and often get others hurt through their actions.

Your low charisma character might not be personable or take that much care for their own appearance and how they present themselves, whereas others thrive to do just that. They might run for office, and become the face of a banner. They might become heroes others rally behind.

Finally, as you said, Str/Dex/Con are pretty self-explanatory, but in their own way. Ability scores are not an exact science, but I think there can be a time and place for every ability score. Even the examples I gave might not be valid in your case. You having these scores represented well doesn't have to be through rolls or whatever, or even something noticeably obvious; but they can be echoed through your character in many actions even if only passively to form their very being.

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a.k.a. Audrey Zinata

I would like some kind of guideline, but... I understand the complexity of this. It's unfortunate that we do have extreme exceptions to the rules too. I've heard of chars with sub 10 INT inventing amazing magical items even without any magical classes. Might be rumor about the INT score, but... I've seen the result, and it's all DM approved. That makes it difficult when you see something disapproved for the same reasons, IE not high enough in a class/stat to be able to reasonably do that. So a guideline would help, at least in that instance.

so what's the endgame of this discussion here fellow amia players?

dm intervention to make someone act a specific way? Undo some RP that wasn't liked?

what do you want to see done when someone has 8 cha and you don't personally feel they are RPing it properly? what's the goal with this discussion?

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ANT ALARM

ANT ALARM

I know I have an unpopular opinion on this, but I think if you have 10 int and 0 lore, and you're talking in 6 languages, you're not doing it properly.

My 2 cents: I'm not saying everyone that I think everyone has to play the game to the letter, but I am thinking that people should at least acknowledge that their stats exist, and are the tree roots of their character. How they incorporate them and build them into their story can only help fuel a better, more authentic story. If they choose to ignore them entirely... what can you realistically do to dissuade that?

I'm not sure there's a problem to solve here, but as a player, I've always smiled when I see people allude a reference to skills/ability/character bio in their actions. Similarly, I've felt repelled when people do the opposite and it pushes me outside of my immersion.

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a.k.a. Audrey Zinata

Perhaps some sort of enforceable rule, but... it's hardly practical or efficient or likely.

I do not believe we should nitpick and put weight into every single point (though it is a very cool list that was posted).

What I (as a DM) want to see is a decent representation of the stats in RP.

For example your 6-8 charisma chara should no be RPed as the perfect beauty that articulates flawlessly and puts themselves in the center of all attention, being both charming both in appearance and socializing.

Your 6-8 dex character shouldn't make flic-flacs in the square and juggle daggers (at least not without stabbing their own foot at least thrice)

Your 6-8 int chara shouldn't hold lectures about complex topics and make analyzes of the arcane mysteries.

Your 6-8 wisdom character shouldn't always stand there and think three times about the consequences of what they plan to do and if they should do it or not.

Your 6-8 strength character shouldn't carry around heavy stuff or people (without using quite a bit of magical gear or potions/spells)

Your 6-8 constitution character shouldn't be the one running a jog over all of Amia without breaking a drop of sweat (unless using a significant magical boost).


I am speaking base stats here. Gear and potions can alter things slightly. Though they won't change your general character personality. Charisma gear may give your low charisma character a small self-esteem boost, but he shouldn't suddenly go from 100% intovert to 100% extrovert. Wisdom gear/potions may give your character some temporary insight, but he won't suddenly become Gandhi. Int gear/potions may help your chara find a solution to a specific problem they currently face, but they don't suddenly become a rocket scientist.

By not RPing those neg stats, I feel you deprive yourself of a lot of great RP too. Nothing is more boring (to me) than a generic vanilla character who is good at everything and has no flaws and quirks. To me those flaws and quirks are what make the character unique (moreso than optical "specials"), interesting and "real".

P.S. if you actually go 4 in a stat, your character is a vegetable in my book.

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Intelligence does not represent the degree of education but the ability to find and form more complex solutions and not just the ability to learn one thing but the ability to learn and understand complex things at once. It is a contributor not education itself. The ability to memorize something is also not a matter of intelligence. In fact many people with photographic memory is identified as less intelligent than the average despite their vast amount of knowledge because they have too much in something and too reliant on that factor which lowers the overall IQ. Much the same applies to someone with Savant syndrome where the focus on one thing drops the overall scores, not to mention that in most cases the practical use of the said outstanding skill is somewhat limited due to the lack of complexity.

Of course DnD simplifies Intelligence in a negative level then I already described what that means. If your score is bellow 10 then you are in the negative and that has an effect on your character's skills to form complex thoughts.

*smiles*

To answer your questions at least from the pov of the person who started this thread:

1)DM intervention to make some one act a specific way? Nope. Never even implied that.

2)Undo some RP that wasn't liked? Nope again. Never even read anything that implied that.

3) Rest of your questions? These questions save for the what is the end goal are also all rather facetious and none of them were ever implied.

The reason for this topic is quite simple: As a player in this community I noticed certain people are very aggressive about characters with negative stats. I noticed that others are much closer to my interpretation of negative stats. These two groups both claim their way is the right way. So rather than beat around the bush I thought it'd be a good idea to settle it and ask the DM team themselves. By getting an affirmative and concrete DM team's answer on this subject it allows me to direct anyone who makes outlandish claims about how a particular stat should be played to an official answer and settles the dispute.

Unless I am misunderstanding the DM Team we have established:

As long as you RP your stats in some way ( and I use this term loosely) you are golden.

And buffed/geared stats trump base stats in all cases except requests or situations that require "long term" higher stats.

Feel free to correct if I misinterpreted the official DM stance on the matter.

Edited for autocorrect spellings.