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Playing your Stats
Posted: 14 Apr 2007 09:32 PM |
I've always struggled with playing my lower stats. I know this has come up a few times in debate form But for this post - I'd like to hear how people are already role playing their characters with low stats.
Just trying to get a feel for how other people do things, rather then disagree on how they should be doings them.. so lets try to stick to our own characters and not point at other players?
Thanks for the help,
-Max |
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Re: Playing your Stats
Posted: 14 Apr 2007 10:30 PM |
Playing characters with low charisma gives me trouble. Shale for instance is on the lower end of the scale, but I have him drawing all sorts of positive attention to himself with stories and comraderie, etc. He's the guy who can talk to anybody - that's just how I've ended up playing him. I offset this stuff by making him sort of no-account, never gets anywhere and never makes anything of himself. That's symptomatic of his low charisma in my mind. He's also a spitter and has a cheezy moustache, both just unpardonable gimmicks.
I'm even worse when it comes to roleplaying Vrodo. He has a truly dismal charisma and with the right equipment he's knocked down to a charisma of four (he was my first character on the server and my first in multi-player NWN and yes, this was his dump stat). My concept for this social misfit is a bandit who shuns other people. I manage to play shy and skittish for maybe ten minutes and then he's gregarious and outgoing, calling greetings to everyone he knows, etc. I try to offset this by making him sort of coarse and inappropriate.
If I played him according to my concept for him, he just wouldn't ever be seen and he definitely wouldn't talk to anyone without observing them at length and especially not strangers. He's ugly and monstrous. People should be driving him away, imo. Goes back to the whole idea that a really low stat can be crippling to a character.
I suppose what I should really do is give in to this and put all development into raising charisma for both characters, until they resemble the characters I'm actually playing. |
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about dying."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means lying in the ground with dirt on your face and holding your breath forever."
-Burt Reynolds, "The End" |
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Re: Playing your Stats
Posted: 14 Apr 2007 10:50 PM |
Charisma is the dump stat for Timik and remains so as my other lower stats have been enhanced from being no account to somewhat heroic.
I play him as unwashed and generally tired looking and usually smelling of liquor and stale (or fresh) smoke. He also is generally oblivious of how his blood smeared armor and clouds of pipe smoke might be effecting the other patrons of the cafe, shop, or pub. Personality wise he's a bit blunt and given to needling when in disagreement. All of this would make him sound like he's got like a 6 Cha but it's higher, and I'm just hoping that there are other characteristics I play into him that are endearing or appreciable enough to balance the bad.
Of course, what I'm aiming for and how it's perceived are two different things. Int, Wis, and Cha all require an audience and the judgement of that audience should mean something. For example, if I think I'm pleasant and fun to be around and 9 out of 10 other people think I'm a jerk, what am I? |
T'mok Gurzi
Resident Gnoll Warlord
patron for the noble yet drink addled
Timik Gorozai the Mistake |
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Re: Playing your Stats
Posted: 14 Apr 2007 11:41 PM |
I rarely play characters with below-average mental/social stats anymore, because I find that playing them -right- conflicts with my enjoyment of the game. I play Emma's above-average charisma as still coming with some negatives (well, mostly that she's not the most voluptuous woman in existence).
Some ideas for below average stats, though:
Charisma: scars, stutter, unappealing face or body, runny nose (that goes unwiped), body odour, halitosis, flatulence, irritating habits, inappropriate comments, xenophobia, agorophobia (I hope that's fear of people/crowds, I can't remember) etc.
Intellingence: Inability to understand polysyllabic words or to form proper sentences, speech impediment (could spill over into charisma though), not numerate (agreeing to buy something for a thousand gold then paying your comrade a hundred, because you can't count...which would tie into maintaining a rock-bottom appraise skill), inability to read/write; how about this one for a non-human - inability to speak the common tongue...
Wisdom: Possibly the most fun stat to keep low...if brave, you charge into battle ALL the time, unless your pals stop you. You never understand jokes, don't pick up on social cues, and are easily misled by all the evil plots cooked up by players and DMs alike.
The non-social stats seem a bit more obvious:
Strength: (Emma's lowest stat, which I hope is no surprise) Emma has never carried a body (maybe a hin once or twice, I can't remember) back to the Seven Sisters, or other respawn point. She always drags them. I also try to make a point of rping that she travels with a 'small satchel' over her right shoulder, not a huge backpack.
Dexterity: I know you didn't want a critique of the rp of others here, but I know of one character who RPs a low dexterity as being nearsighted. I think that's brilliant. Otherwise, clumsy is clumsy, yes?.
Constitution: There are a million suggestions out there for what a low constitution entails: allergies, sickness, thin bones, maybe some chronic degenerative ailment.
Then there are all the skills....I've always wondered what should be considered 'average' in them. Zero? Ten? Does a bluff score of one make Emma a better liar than the average chap on the street? |
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Re: Playing your Stats
Posted: 15 Apr 2007 02:20 AM |
The tough part is keeping in mind that some of the suggestions above are not necessarily indicators. Inability to read or write, speak properly or have speech impediments, or even the inability to use numeric systems does not assign a low intelligence. It can (and stupid people might be drawn to that conclusion, as the U.S. cavalry and west traveling settlers considered the Native American population) but I think a character can be very smart without actual learning or using perfect grammar. And wisdom is the trickiest one of all...having it connected to faith means there are nuances to it that allow it to look like almost anything. Even charisma offers a lot of possibilities: As I have read, Baldwin IV, the leper king of Jerusalem, was disfigured, lamed, blind, and literally falling apart through his reign of the Holy Lands and he was an extremely powerful and unifying figure at that place and time.
I think you just have to decide how those stats are figured, rationalize it to the character's history and background, and play to it consistently (and then hope your audience agrees with your portrayal or just end up playing a misunderstood character) |
T'mok Gurzi
Resident Gnoll Warlord
patron for the noble yet drink addled
Timik Gorozai the Mistake |
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Re: Playing your Stats
Posted: 15 Apr 2007 01:50 PM |
My situation comes with Ceviran. He is /very/ good at what he does. But that leaves him with a lot of things he shouldn't do well. He has a few stats lower then average.
Something that I've just thought to try for low charisma is the House strategy. (For those that don't know, that is a tv show) Very blunt, even to the point of being a jerk. But he still knows what he is doing. So even though people don't like listening to him, they still do what he says.
Guess I'll see how it works out in practice....
Thanks for the thoughts so far though, keep them coming.
-Max |
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Re: Playing your Stats
Posted: 15 Apr 2007 02:36 PM |
My situation comes with Ceviran. He is /very/ good at what he does. But that leaves him with a lot of things he shouldn't do well. He has a few stats lower then average.
FEW stats?
Now there is an understatement if I ever heard one!
- Paul |
Purpose in life: finding better ways of allowing players to kill themselves. Repeatedly.
--
"...Cause he mixes it with love
And makes the world taste good."
--
<@James42> Lawful good isn't in your vocabulary, it's on your menu.
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Re: Playing your Stats
Posted: 15 Apr 2007 03:06 PM |
I stand corrected.
I've just discovered a PC with 4 dump stats. |
Purpose in life: finding better ways of allowing players to kill themselves. Repeatedly.
--
"...Cause he mixes it with love
And makes the world taste good."
--
<@James42> Lawful good isn't in your vocabulary, it's on your menu.
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Re: Playing your Stats
Posted: 15 Apr 2007 03:26 PM |
| I have three, if I understand dump stats correctly. Though maybe only two since I brought my Orc from six INT to eight. |
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Re: Playing your Stats
Posted: 15 Apr 2007 03:27 PM |
Not much so say about roleplaying physical stats (STR, DEX, CON) since they are pretty straightforward, but I've still seen some interesting RP with inaverage scores for these stats.
Strength is pretty simple. Alton's "dump stat" is his STR, which is just 10. He's not particularly weak beyond average, but he still never does things that would rely on physical strength. He constantly relies on strength spells to augument that physical lack, and that's an aspect of his roleplay I like. He realizes he is physically weak, and when the need rises he uses his magic to cover for that, otherwise he has problems even lifting a barrel over a trap door.
Dexterity is also kind of simple. Alton has high DEX, only outmatched by his WIS, which is why I play him as very agile and quick in many aspects. What he knows he lacks in strength he makes up with dexterity, including his fighting style (Weapon Finesse feat).
Constitution is no different then the predecessors. A strong, resilient body or a weak and sesnsitive one. A high CON character can be anything from resilient to weather conditions, natural illnesses or a very good drinker. A low CON character would be the opposite of these things. I remember a wizard who played his low CON by being very sickly, sensitive to the surrounding conditions, and constantly having a cold. Alton has above-average CON, but nothing outstanding - that I play in regard to his "ranger" status, he spends plenty of time in the wilderness, so he is not so vulnerable to harsh conditions. He has no problems standing rain the rain, for example, aside from the occasional cosmetic issues.
However, it's the mental stats that are tricky (WIS, INT, CHA).
I don't want to go into what one of each fo these stats is. There has been more than enough discussions of that. Instead, I can only give nice roleplay examples. For these stats in particular I think that they can be attributed in a general manner, or a very specific point.
High INT can be played in many ways - a high INT character can learn quickly, hold a lot of knowledge and manage to apply or, or some or only one of those or other INT related things. I'll give Alton as an example, who currently has average INT, and I played him as very thick-headed. He constantly used to ask other people what words meant when he didn't understand them, and that quirk also came from myself when people used words I didn't recognize, which helped in that roleplay regard. He was a slow-learner and was weak in his appliance of knowledge, but he still managed to hold everything he learned somewhere in that mind of his. In a manner of speaking, his 10 INT is an average of something like 9 in learning, 9 in applying and 12 in holding - in loose terms. Pietro has 12 INT, which I apply into learning lore and stories and being able to remember all of them - that with his low WIS however, makes him very bad in applying anything he ever learned.
As for Wisdom, it can also be played in many ways. Alton has very high WIS, which I try to play as having insight into matters, making appropriate and thoughtful decisions, rather than rash/passionate/emotional ones, and basically being very level-headed when the situation calls for it. It also comes in way of being iron-minded in regard to some things and very strong-willed. Even his general open-mindedness about many things I relate to his high WIS, which shows that WIS is tricky because it can be attributed even into conflicting points. An evil sage would think very different to a good sage, but can be just as wise. Pietro's low WIS basically manifests in him being generally oblivious.
Charisma is the trickiest of them all, since it's both phyiscal and mental. I hate the charisma widget because it may go against a concept of a character. A high CHA character can be anything from very creative, very attractive, have a strong personality, know his way with words, and many others things. A low CHA character would be the opposite of that. Alton, for example, has a little-above-average charsima, which I plan to raise in the future. This I play as having a halflingesque boyish charm to his appearance and high creativity in particular. I liked when Emma refered to Alton as having that boyish charm when she compared him to Valethrion - he is not ugly, he is not stunning, but he has a childish attractiveness. In offset, he is very crude, hardly gets listened to, rather arrogant at times, and sometimes painfully honest. As a cleric of a goddess of vanity, Vilyave in particular, the appearance factor plays a large role for him, as well as creativity, which are supposed to be strong for him in their own way. I think his current CHA represents that due to the other offets, but I plan on raising it a bit just to emphasize it further. Pietro, on the other hand, is generally sociable, with an above-average appearance, but mostly acts very flashy and impressive and dramatic which makes him a good storyteller and a showy fighter. I guess he has a bit of a Jack Sparrow in him at that. Basically - a Swashbuckler.
One concept I had was for an half-orc, which emphasized the mutli-facadeness of mental stats more than anything. He had an above-average INT, but a bad speaker because that's the way he learned and was raised. He had a high CHA, but wasn't attractive at all (though not hideous), rather very creative and have a very strong personality and presence. He had an above-average WIS, which made him rather insightful with something like Vrodo's type of "mother wisdom" but would also quickly lose himself as a Gruinian. I think that concept shows more than anything that ability stats can be anything, and shouldn't be taken for granted. If someone had used the Charisma Widget on that particular character and thought he was attractive because that's what that stupid, pointless widget said - I would tell him to shove that widget where the sun don't shine and ask him what that widget thinks THEN. |
WickedArtist: I think he needs a proper elf.
WickedArtist: A christmas elf!
Tasra: Any sort of elf that actually smiles ;o
Gasp! Scandalous!!! |
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Re: Playing your Stats
Posted: 15 Apr 2007 03:28 PM |
Four?! They sound very ... special. (No offense meant, of course).
RP'ing stats can be tough. Who knows?
I think jokes would tie closer to Charisma than Wisdom, because jokes are a part of showmanship, and showmanship is what Bards are all about. Telling a good joke isn't easy. On that high charisma note though, Markus hardly ever gets some sorts of humor, and I decided that out of, well, inexperience. You don't hear people telling sex jokes in the Midoran Academy or the Church. Sometimes background can get in the way of certain avenues of a stat - at least I think so.
Bereil's dump stats were charisma, and strength. In hindsight ... charisma has caused more difficulties in character than lack of strength. Although either stat is easily negotiable with equipment; doing that is kind of a cheap fix - like using duct tape to fix your shoes instead of getting a new pair. |
CHOO CHOO!
- - - - - -
Bereil Yadashem.
Markus Mortriety, Herald of Novus Aristi. |
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Re: Playing your Stats
Posted: 15 Apr 2007 03:33 PM |
I think you just have to decide how those stats are figured, rationalize it to the character's history and background, and play to it consistently (and then hope your audience agrees with your portrayal or just end up playing a misunderstood character)
Thats how I see it too... as long as you give it a reason, and it's not just because you want more STR, or whatever. Make an effort to integrate it into the character development and I'd even go so far as to say I'd be alright with the person with four dump stats... well... maybe. (they would have to RP all those weaknesses -very- well.)
For Cora, her low stat is Wisdom. That and STR and CON, but those are just at 10.
Wisdom to me, seems like the most open to interpretation of all... what kinds of personality traits are reflective of wisdom?
The way I've always played her is that she is a smart girl... intelligent, and even street-wise, but her low wisdom is manifest in how emotionally unstable she is.. and how that has led her to make VERY poor decisions throughout her life. Plus she sometimes has trouble keeping her smart arsed comments to herself. *smirks*
If I made a different character with low wisdom, I know I would have something entirely different to represent it. It all depends on the character, and their history/personality/beliefs
But yeah... as long as the player has given it thought, and plays it... it's cool with me. |
"I'm not closed-minded, you're just WRONG." - Bucky Katt
My characters n portraits |
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Re: Playing your Stats
Posted: 15 Apr 2007 03:56 PM |
I see WA's post came in after I hit reply, and before I was done... and I see he has some similar thoughts on wisdom.
As for Wisdom, it can also be played in many ways. Alton has very high WIS, which I try to play as having insight into matters, making appropriate and thoughtful decisions, rather than rash/passionate/emotional ones, and basically being very level-headed when the situation calls for it.
So you have Alton on the high end of the wisdom scale, making thoughtful decisions, and Cora on the low end of the scale, making rash/emotional ones. (though, there haven't been a whole lot of those rash, emotional decision moments.. but when they do come around, they have been doozies)
But I still say Wisdom is more open to interpretation than Charisma.
Charisma still implies an attractive quality of some sort... some force of presence.. whether it's physical, intellectual, or spiritual.
Wisdom can be almost anything... Wisdom takes from any or all of the other stats, and arranges or makes use of them apropriately. |
"I'm not closed-minded, you're just WRONG." - Bucky Katt
My characters n portraits |
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Re: Playing your Stats
Posted: 15 Apr 2007 08:31 PM |
I like to think there are no "dump" stats. The low ones are what make your character unique. Anyone can play the ultimate fighter with uber strategic capabilities. It’s a characters faults that make them fun. Well most of the time.
Ophelia has a wisdom base score of 8. I play her as an easily manipulated, middleschool teen. She is a bigot and upsets easily. She has little understanding of how her decisions will effect her or the world around her. She gets scared easily. So pretty much of what people said above. Of course these traits usually mean few friends but I like to think her charisma makes up for it.
Ophelia has a charisma base score of 13 or 14 I can't remember. That’s a little above average and I like to think she is a very sexy half-orc. To other half-orcs of course. She can also be really nice if she likes you (and you’re not an elf) as well as having a take charge attitude.
Ophelia's Intelligence base score is like 11 or 12. So I like to think she isn't stupid but not a genius either. She is that C student. She can come up with a decent plan and can memorize some things, but has troubles with large words and takes things very literary.
She had a base strength score of 16. So she can lift a small car but not a truck.
She had a Dex score of 16. This was a serious mistake on my part because I hadn't played NWN much and thought a high Dex score was needed to hit things. So I pretend it’s really like an 11 and the rest of the points went into strength and Charisma.
She has a base constitution score of 14 or 15. I like to play this as being able to take a beating and keep going. She doesn't ever get sick and has a very high pain threshold. |
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Re: Playing your Stats
Posted: 17 Apr 2007 06:52 AM |
Heh! I think PDW might just be talking about me. Dorian's good to go, lowest stat's his wis. And yes, he does have a bad habit of attacking just about anything that appears to pose a threat, but he's got enough sense to know not to go where he doesn't belong. I think that the character he's talking about is my elven wizard, Anirier. The guy's a walking dump-stat. I geared him up originally to be a wizard/cleric, decided against that and set him as a wizard/monk. Yea, he's a genius, and he's wise, but you will NOT find him physically fighting something or someone unless he absolutely has no choice. Not yet, anyway. He has his strategies, and they usually work for him. he's physically weak, not very graceful, pretty dang frail, and his social graces aren't quite the best. I RP his lack of social skill by constantly talking like a brain child. Ask Emma about that oneBeyond that, though, I think I do well enough with him. Seems to me that Cha's the popular one to dump. *shrugs* Well, back to the game. |
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Re: Playing your Stats
Posted: 17 Apr 2007 02:24 PM |
One thing I would like to emphasize is that though I try myself to combine "proper" stats with roleplay, it's not as much as I roleplay my stats, rather I stat my roleplay.
Basically, like I've said before about every other part of the character sheet (specifically the alignment systen) - ability stats are stupid. Six stats with numerical values will never represent something as complex as a person, something that I say about any other part of the character sheet because it's all equally true.
There are SO many things about Alton that can never be attributed to those six stats, or feats, or alignment or anything else. That is why, when I have a character concept in mind, I try to fit those stats to represent my concept for the sake of fairness - since I find it as pure powergaming to make a character's characteristics go totally against her sheet which was optimized for strength (not that I've seen it done, so far, or that I would know if it were).
Personally, I think that making a character based on the sheet would net a very dry and depthless one. That's why I wouldn't worry too much about roleplaying stats, since they fit the concept, not the concept fit them. However, it is still a nice idea to find those little character quirks to fit into the supposed gap that's formed between the attempt to make a decent build and a roleplay-fitting one. That adds a lot of depth on its own. |
WickedArtist: I think he needs a proper elf.
WickedArtist: A christmas elf!
Tasra: Any sort of elf that actually smiles ;o
Gasp! Scandalous!!! |
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