Roleplaying 4 INT

[javijuji]

A player at our table has ended up with permanent 4 INT and has decided to play along with it instead of going for an easy fix (getting a +INT item or using miracle,wish, etc to get his stats back).

How does one play 4 INT? Can he talk? Can he understand the concept of money? He has very high wisdom though but im insure if he will be able to communicate with his party.

[mattie_p]

A creature needs an int of 3 to learn a language ("A creature of humanlike
intelligence has scores of at least 3., PHB p9). As an example, an ogre has an int score of 6. So dumber than an ogre. There is a sidebar on page 10 of the PHB that has suggestions.

"A character with a low Intelligence mispronounces and misuses words, has trouble following directions, or fails to get the joke. A character with a high Wisdom but low Intelligence may be aware, but simple."

Another possiblity is to RP in a child-like way, always curious and asking questions, but not retaining the answers, or misusing the answers once given.

"What's that?"

"It's a lion. It can eat you."

"Oh, I'm safe, it only eats ewes."

[BowStreetRunner]

He has intelligence enough to speak - the character still gets any automatic languages but no bonus languages. In fact, he can still read and write unless he is a barbarian.

For roleplaying purposes, he's just 'slow'. Any INT-based skills (Appraise, Craft, Decipher Script, Disable Device, Forgery, Knowledge, Search, and Spellcraft) he would need 3 ranks just to overcome is -3 penalty in order to be able to take 10 on a DC 10 skill check. His other skills work just fine - although he won't learn very many more because every level after his INT goes down he will now have fewer skill points. But he won't be very quick to pick up any new skills.

If you saw the latest episode of Dr Who (The Snowmen) then the character Strax (who also appeared in 'A Good Man Goes to War') would be a great example.

[Kazyan]

I'm of the opinion that a character isn't disabled until one of their stats reaches 3.

Simple, slow, has trouble following simple instructions, but not damaged. They can still do meaningful things, have relationships, etc.; it's just that they don't understand much of anything more complicated than what they need to get by. Consider Sid, from the Ice Age movies.

EDIT: Although Sid inarguably has low Wisdom, too, so, grain of salt.

[Aasimar]

Forrest Gump is an example of low intelligence but decent wisdom and charisma. Though to be fair, Forrest probably has int around 6-7 instead of 4.

Someone who has wisdom, but not intelligence, might know a few basic rules to get by and not let his slowness hobble him too much. I think decent wisdom will be his saving grace.

For example:

Know to find someone sharper than them who they trust, to hang out with and follow their lead much of the time, knowing that they can trust their friend's intellect most of the time.

Know to stay quiet and wait for more information or someone to explain what they need to know, rather than rushing forward with an incomplete understanding.

Further, he might be a good judge of character, able to tell when someone is being condescending or mean spirited, even if he doesn't understand all the words.

So even with (very) low intelligence, he might come across as methodical and thoughtful, since he deliberately doesn't talk unless he's sure, only uses short concise sentences instead of trying big words that he isn't sure about and doesn't try to do things he isn't well practiced at without a dire need.

[hymer]

To add to what's been suggested, the player could choose to emphasize the memory aspect (as someone said, like a little child). He has the attention span of a monkey chewing on a fly swatter, and the memory of a gypsy moth. He can't follow directions (even if he wants to). Even written directions pose a problem (though technically he can still read) as he forgets where he was last. Big words and long sentences (well, three syllables or more and sentences with commas, I'd say at int 4) pose problems.

[CuetOh]

A player at our table has ended up with permanent 4 INT and has decided to play along with it instead of going for an easy fix (getting a +INT item or using miracle,wish, etc to get his stats back).

How does one play 4 INT? Can he talk? Can he understand the concept of money? He has very high wisdom though but im insure if he will be able to communicate with his party.

yes, he can talk and solve some riddle in his free time.

[elonin]

I'm curious if anyone here plays differently when one of their mental stats is temporarily affected. You might try looking at "Flowers for Algernon"

[Chilingsworth]

Just making sure I understand: The character started play with an int higher than 4, then got it permenantly reduced to 4? As opposed to starting play with 4 int?

If that's the case, what was his int before it got lowered?

My gut solution would be to play him like he's permenantly intoxicated (weather drunk, high, or soemthing else.) Prominant symptoms could be loss of attention span, and damage to memory.

Also, if he has high wisdom, maybe something like these guys (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxZFNMtahfg)?

[Flickerdart]

Consider how smart ravens and monkeys are - they can solve tasks and use tools even if they're encountering them for the first time, and they're only Int 2. Int 3, one step higher, is a step from sign language to real speech, which requires the comprehension of abstract concepts. Int 4, then, is another step up from that.

A good way to model this while accounting for an exemplary Wisdom score is playing him as someone who is only capable of using his own judgment to solve problems. With so little Intelligence, he would not be able to make much use of common, shared knowledge, and have difficulty remembering complex things, but able to figure out how to use them if it's obvious. He might not know what you mean by "elven thinblade" but he understands that you can hold a sword on the one end and then stick the other end into things you want dead. He might not understand the more complex aspects of economies, but remembering how much money he has and that this money can be used to buy cool stuff (but also needs to be saved for food) is something he's able to do. He'll need someone else to tell him what to buy, though - he understands, for instance, that taking lots of hits in battle means he needs to protect himself better, but might need help when it comes to deciding between the many types of shields, rings, amulets, and armours.

Such a character would also be extremely aware of his limitations - the high Wisdom would let him, in essence, know what he doesn't know. If he has the spare cash, it would be a good idea to hire a valet (Expert with Knowledge ranks) to remind him of stuff and take care of more abstract matters.

[mattie_p]

My gut solution would be to play him like he's permenantly intoxicated (weather drunk, high, or soemthing else.) Prominant symptoms could be loss of attention span, and damage to memory.

Permanently drunk/intoxicated would decrease wis, not int.

[javijuji]

Consider how smart ravens and monkeys are - they can solve tasks and use tools even if they're encountering them for the first time, and they're only Int 2. Int 3, one step higher, is a step from sign language to real speech, which requires the comprehension of abstract concepts. Int 4, then, is another step up from that.

A good way to model this while accounting for an exemplary Wisdom score is playing him as someone who is only capable of using his own judgment to solve problems. With so little Intelligence, he would not be able to make much use of common, shared knowledge, and have difficulty remembering complex things, but able to figure out how to use them if it's obvious. He might not know what you mean by "elven thinblade" but he understands that you can hold a sword on the one end and then stick the other end into things you want dead. He might not understand the more complex aspects of economies, but remembering how much money he has and that this money can be used to buy cool stuff (but also needs to be saved for food) is something he's able to do. He'll need someone else to tell him what to buy, though - he understands, for instance, that taking lots of hits in battle means he needs to protect himself better, but might need help when it comes to deciding between the many types of shields, rings, amulets, and armours.

Such a character would also be extremely aware of his limitations - the high Wisdom would let him, in essence, know what he doesn't know. If he has the spare cash, it would be a good idea to hire a valet (Expert with Knowledge ranks) to remind him of stuff and take care of more abstract matters.

Aren't hirelings way too cheap? What stops someone from just getting 100 hirelings for 10gp a day. Seems off.

[Madara]

Aren't hirelings way too cheap? What stops someone from just getting 100 hirelings for 10gp a day. Seems off.

Well, you need to be able to find that many people willing to work for you, plus you need to manage them. Also, people don't like a one-day job, they'll rather continue their consistent job, even for slightly less money that day.

[Roog]

hough to be fair, Forrest probably has int around 6-7 instead of 4.

How did you come to that conclusion?

[Acanous]

Because INT=IQ/10, and Forrest had an IQ above 70?

[HunterOfJello]

How did you come to that conclusion?

Forest Gump had a fictional form of mental disorder. To be in the military you have to have the basic ability to effectively fire a rifle, take it apart, clean it, put it back together, etc. He was also capable of human speech that everyone around him could understand. He was definitely below average is the vast majority of respects (including Wis), but he wasn't actually all that stupid. The larger parts of his intelligence that stand out is his ability to deal with and understand other people.

Intelligence is far more complex than a simple 3-18 number, but even Forest Gump wasn't a 3 or 4.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

Ogres and Trolls are smarter than that.

I'd say give him a 2-3 syllable name, and that's the only word he can actually say. All of his communication is otherwise just grunting and pointing. He can understand his 'known languages' if it's communicated to him in simple words and at high volume.

That he has a decent Wisdom means he has normal common sense, perception, intuition, etc. His abysmal Intelligence means he's lacking in reasoning, judgement, forming conclusions, understanding someone else's reasoning and conclusions, and in his ability to learn.

If he gets an idea into his head, it's going to be almost impossible to persuade him otherwise, because he'll understand his own conclusion but probably won't be able to comprehend a different one. Keep a Fox's Cunning prepared for when it's necessary to get him swinging in the right direction.

[Roog]

Because INT=IQ/10, and Forrest had an IQ above 70?

Do you have a reference for that?

#Edit

I mean do you have a reference for INT=IQ/10?

[Flickerdart]

Aren't hirelings way too cheap? What stops someone from just getting 100 hirelings for 10gp a day. Seems off.
100 hirelings wouldn't actually be very useful, since you'd need somewhere to keep all of them. You'd also not want an unskilled one, since your hireling will ideally have some Knowledge skills to better serve the character. As the hireling doesn't actually negate the disadvantage (for one, it would take multiple rounds for the character to make his intentions clear, the valet to parse them, then reply, and then get the character to understand the answer) but merely makes it less severe, the low price is not a big deal.

[SowZ]

Forest Gump had a fictional form of mental disorder. To be in the military you have to have the basic ability to effectively fire a rifle, take it apart, clean it, put it back together, etc. He was also capable of human speech that everyone around him could understand. He was definitely below average is the vast majority of respects (including Wis), but he wasn't actually all that stupid. The larger parts of his intelligence that stand out is his ability to deal with and understand other people.

Intelligence is far more complex than a simple 3-18 number, but even Forest Gump wasn't a 3 or 4.

4-5 int or so would be able to do all of those things.

[SowZ]

Ogres and Trolls are smarter than that.

I'd say give him a 2-3 syllable name, and that's the only word he can actually say. All of his communication is otherwise just grunting and pointing. He can understand his 'known languages' if it's communicated to him in simple words and at high volume.


A chimpanzee can have more intelligence than that with a 2 int. 3 Int is capable of speaking and understanding language by the books.