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RPing your Stats
Posted: 28 Oct 2005 08:11 AM |
The DMs have been talking a lot recently with each other and some players regarding this subject. It's something that we feel that players need to make sure that they do, but that there can be no hard and fast rules around enforcing. So what follows therefore are suggestions not rules.
All characters should RP the stats they have. This includes stats modified by items. What does this mean? Well at a very basic level it means that 10 is an average stat for an adventurer. So if you have anything below 10, then you should RP the disadvantage that stat is giving your character.
Some examples :
Someone with strength of 8 would find it impossible to RP carrying the body of a friend to safety.
Someone with an dexterity of 8 would be rather clumsy.
Someone with an intelligence of 8 may not be able to read and write at all.
Thoughts on Charisma :
Charisma would be a combination of Appearance, Creativity, Influence, and Psyche, all rolled up under the "Charisma" umbrella. So an 8 CHA would translate into not very attractive, not terribly creative, not very likeable or not very happy. Or a combination. Either way, not a very sociable or likeable person.
Some ideas on how high CHA affects the classes below and makes them more powerful :
Paladin powers - Influence, Psyche
Bard spells and powers - Creativity
Cleric abilities (eg Turn Undead) - Psyche
Sorcerer spells - Creativity
In that way, a bard with 20 CHA can still be ugly as sin, but you can explain the CHA as a high score in Creativity (affecting skills such as Music) or Influence (affecting skills such as Leadership).
Also, bear in mind that a negative modifier in a stat does not necessarily have to be a disadvantage. Mechanically, yes, it is. But from a roleplay standpoint it is something you can use fully to your advantage (and we encourage you to do so). It is these weaknesses, as well as your strengths, that define your character. It is what will make you stand out from the crowd.
Got a low CON? Maybe you're allergic to everything. A high INT wizard with a rock-bottom WIS? Sure, you can memorise spells and spout five-syllable words, but you're still trying to figure out which dictionary apparently has had the word "gullible" taken out of it. These little personality quirks are what transform you from "*yawn* another powerful mage who can take down a dragon by sneezing at it" or "oh look, yet another shadowdancer who only took levels in the class for Hide In Plain Sight" or "huzzah, just what we needed, a fighter that doubles as a portable armoury and has every weapon and armour in existence in their inventory... but no room leftover for a personality" into something that will make other players and DMs sit up and take notice.
Because at the end of the day, folks, Vives is a roleplay-oriented server. It is what it has always been and we have never claimed to be anything else. If all you care about is having a character that can slay stuff, if stats are all that matter to you... well, you're in the wrong place .
So in summary, if you don't want to be below average... don't take negative stats. And please RP the stats that you have already. This does mean that sometimes you the person may know what's going on in a particular plot or quest, but that your PC wouldn't and you should RP as such.
From, The Vives DM Team
[This post has been locked so that no replies can be made, please feel free to open up a new post to discuss this topic if you have any thoughts - Sol ] |
- Solitaire, Wizard
- Ilyana Fiirhaart, High Priestess of Naruth |
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