Northern Humans cannot jump

[Barstro]

In a Pathfinder game, I'm playing a character with high INT, low WIS, low CHA. While I consider basic strategy to be a function of WIS, I also think that a low WIS person would have picked up at least a decent amount of strategy just by rote memorization;
Melee fighters should have good armor,
Flanking helps rogues,
Splitting the party is bad, splitting the enemies is good.

Because of that, I feel I don't have to play someone who is horrible at figuring out the battlefield, etc. But, I do still have the low WIS to have an effect in my roleplaying.

So, what I want to do is have my character react to things based only on his "knowledge" that he has based on stereotypes and any fun flawed logic because of said stereotypes.

Anyone have good stereotypes that I can use? I'm mainly looking for thigns that could possibly be mentioned in scholarly textbooks, etc., not bigotted things that people would say on the street.

ie
All dwarves are functional alcoholics (based on correlation between spirits produced per capita and actual productivity of dwarven race)

Merchants care only about coin (I'm sure that's in a travel guide somewhere)

Mounted cavalry is the greatest strength on the battlefield (sounds like crap a nobleman would write)

[TheYell]

I'm mainly looking for thigns that could possibly be mentioned in scholarly textbooks, etc., not bigotted things that people would say on the street.

Not that big a difference, really.

[Telonius]

"Orcs lack the intelligence to put together a cohesive battle strategy, preferring to dash in recklessly. They lack a literary tradition, and as such Wizards are unknown among them."

[Elder_Basilisk]

First pillage, THEN burn.

Kill the casters first.

It's hard to cast a spell with three feet of steel in your chest.

If your weapon isn't working, power attack more. (Goes hand in hand with the out of combat aphorism, "if your problem can't be solved with violence, you haven't tried enough violence.")

Always flank

Always charge if you can

Always have a ranged weapon

Always do something, even if it's just throwing a javalin

If they have more reach than you, wait for them to come to you and ready to five foot step inside their reach and attack.

Once a thief, always a thief

Never trust an evil priest

Never make deals with devils. There is always a hidden catch.

There is a time for all things. A time to kill, and a time to heal. The time to heal is after you're done killing.

[Flickerdart]

Anyone have good stereotypes that I can use? I'm mainly looking for thigns that could possibly be mentioned in scholarly textbooks, etc., not bigotted things that people would say on the street.
An easy way of doing this is to consider the fact that gathering data, writing books, publishing books, distributing books, and reading books all take substantial amounts of time. By the time your guy has read The Dwarves of the Mountain Clans and memorized that they like to use axes, those same dwarves may have already invented gunpowder, developed guns, and then exterminated each other in a brutal civil war, so that there are no more dwarves who like to use axes anywhere in the world. So just think of what would be "common knowledge" in your world a few decades back.

As knowledge travels slowly, it also becomes corrupted along the way. Read some of the things really old dudes like Herodotus wrote about far-off lands, or maybe a Roman account of life in Britannia or among barbarians, for an example of this.

However, someone with high Intelligence knows this (probably from reading it in a book about books). Rather than being a set-in-his-ways bigot, he should probably be more inquisitive - he recognizes that the world is different from his conception of it, but he can't intuitively see how, and he lacks the social graces that would hinder another person. So he would be likely to run straight up to the first rider he sees and ask him if cavalry is the king of the battlefield, and if he could come along to the next war and observe a battle to find out for sure. Oh, and if they could only use cavalry every other battle, to act as a control sample.

[Barstro]

Rather than being a set-in-his-ways bigot, he should probably be more inquisitive

Excellent advice. But, I want that to take place in several levels. For now, he needs to keep making fun (to me) mistakes.

Witches still weigh the same as ducks, right?

[Flickerdart]

Excellent advice. But, I want that to take place in several levels. For now, he needs to keep making fun (to me) mistakes.
You could always make him wrong setting savvy (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/WrongGenreSavvy). Flip through some really trashy generic fantasy books from the 80s and 90s, and now pretend they apply to the setting you're in.

[Extra Anchovies]

I like to think of Wisdom as the stat that governs changing your own ideas about the world. Low-Wisdom characters tend not to question what they already believe to be true; they may hold to ideas even in the face of directly contrary information. Characters with high Wisdom scores don't necessarily change their entire worldview from day to day, but the notions they've developed about the world are supported by deep, solid foundations that they truly believe (not just merely accept), and they're better able to understand the perspectives of others.

Applying this to your high-Int low-Wis warrior, the first thing that comes to mind is that they have a variety of well-constructed strategies which they choose from at the start of a fight based on what they know of the enemy and the battlefield at the time, but once they've picked a tactic they stick to it even if the circumstances change (enemy reinforcements, environmental effects, etc) such that switching tactics would be more beneficial. They'd be great at chess, where all the information is available to both players, but would be utterly lost in a game of Calvinball.

[THEChanger]

They'd be great at chess, where all the information is available to both players, but would be utterly lost in a game of Calvinball.

...Is the implication here that Calvin has an incredibly high Wisdom? Because that is glorious.

[Extra Anchovies]

...Is the implication here that Calvin has an incredibly high Wisdom? Because that is glorious.

At least decently above average, yeah. His conversations with Hobbes often possess (or at least approach) substantial (http://brickerhile.com/scott/The%20Philosophical%20Collection/Only%20Calvin%20and%20Hobbes/ch950831.jpg) philosophical (http://personal.bgsu.edu/~dcallen/calvin1.jpeg) depth (https://pathwriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/calvin-hobbes-rhetorical-question.gif), his interactions with other humans often revolve around him trying to find (http://picayune.uclick.com/comics/ch/1995/ch950617.gif) out (https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/1c/f9/02/1cf90244408d656fbabce3fa90106db2.jpg) more (http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/cgull8mv/RucbCvGN0jI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/asqmW-YZHa0/s800/calvinandhobbeseintstein.jpg) about the world, and he demonstrates a clear ability to think (http://i.imgur.com/LaD4Q.jpg) critically (http://i.imgur.com/k9u9MyX.jpg) about the things he learns. Two particularly memorable examples that come to mind are the raccoon arc (http://calvinandhobbes-daily.tumblr.com/post/19577066756/ch-baby-raccoon-storyline), in which Calvin grapples with the concept of mortality and displays a great deal of empathy for other life, and the binoculars arc (http://jetpacksunrise.tumblr.com/post/59392686408/calvin-breaks-his-dads-binoculars), where he shows a definite understanding for the effects his actions can have on the people around him. Another demonstration of Calvin's insight - and one that I find particularly affecting - is this comic (http://photos1.blogger.com/img/81/1328/1024/2.jpg).

Those traits are part of the comic's overall style of presenting our incredibly complex, nuanced world from the perspective of someone who is just experiencing or learning things for the first time. Consider the art style, generally plain and straightforward but interspersed with highly (http://chquotes.synthasite.com/resources/ch_7.gif) detailed (http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1025896/bill2.gif) imaginative (http://7.fotos.web.sapo.io/i/o91115ab3/17822285_M3WJA.jpeg) sequences (http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QZtNmECRM2k/TjXLZbKoI7I/AAAAAAAAASk/LEvWsXULgwE/s1600/Clipboard01.jpg). Watterson could have easily given more panel space to elaborate backdrops and wild mindscapes, but the focus of the comic isn't on the world itself but on how Calvin experiences and interacts with this intricate reality that he's only beginning to understand. Without his moments of piercing clarity, Calvin's just another kid with a stuffed tiger. A d20 Calvin true to the source material would have high Wisdom, somewhat above-average Intelligence, and average Charisma. He'd make for a great Druid - heck, he's even got the animal companion already :smallsmile:

Man, I was not expecting to churn out an impromptu analysis of Calvin & Hobbes when I got out of bed this morning. What a day.

Edit: While writing this up, I happened to think of a fairly succinct way to differentiate between the mental stats. Intelligence is your ability to comprehend, Wisdom is your ability to analyze, and Charisma is your ability to communicate.

[Calthropstu]

Edit: While writing this up, I happened to think of a fairly succinct way to differentiate between the mental stats. Intelligence is your ability to comprehend, Wisdom is your ability to analyze, and Charisma is your ability to communicate.

I prefer THIS (https://www.reddit.com/r/DnD/comments/1s9l2g/dd_stats_explained_with_tomatoes/) explanation instead.

[Dravda]

You could also consider having this character cling to what he "knows".

"Hobgoblins fear and despise arcane casters, everyone knows that! I foresee no danger of enemy spellcasters in the upcoming engagement."
"Um...that looks like an enemy sorcerer over there."
"Nonsense. Hobgoblins don't have the inclination for it."

Often, knowing your enemy will prove to your advantage...but you may be blindsided by enemies using nontraditional tactics (such as a tribe of hobgoblins with unusually strong arcane traditions, for example). As your character progresses in level, you could have him grow and learn from his experiences so he relies less on what he's read and more on what he's seen.

[Barstro]

You could also consider having this character cling to what he "knows".

I believe that's what I said I wanted to do in my first post. I'm just not well versed in some of the stereotype biases of D&D in general or Pathfinder in particular. It's probably because those ethnocentric idea-stealing elves took all that knowledge in books and hid them in their trees.

[Barstro]

Edit: While writing this up, I happened to think of a fairly succinct way to differentiate between the mental stats. Intelligence is your ability to comprehend, Wisdom is your ability to analyze, and Charisma is your ability to communicate.

Thanks for taking the time to post the links. Always fun to go back to Spaceman Spiff.

I understand, and agree with, your definitions. I also constantly use Calthropstu's tomato example as the difference between Wis and INT. I'm just trying to find interesting way to force odd interactions.

[Zaq]

At least decently above average, yeah. His conversations with Hobbes often possess (or at least approach) substantial (http://brickerhile.com/scott/The%20Philosophical%20Collection/Only%20Calvin%20and%20Hobbes/ch950831.jpg) philosophical (http://personal.bgsu.edu/~dcallen/calvin1.jpeg) depth (https://pathwriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/calvin-hobbes-rhetorical-question.gif), his interactions with other humans often revolve around him trying to find (http://picayune.uclick.com/comics/ch/1995/ch950617.gif) out (https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/1c/f9/02/1cf90244408d656fbabce3fa90106db2.jpg) more (http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/cgull8mv/RucbCvGN0jI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/asqmW-YZHa0/s800/calvinandhobbeseintstein.jpg) about the world, and he demonstrates a clear ability to think (http://i.imgur.com/LaD4Q.jpg) critically (http://i.imgur.com/k9u9MyX.jpg) about the things he learns. Two particularly memorable examples that come to mind are the raccoon arc (http://calvinandhobbes-daily.tumblr.com/post/19577066756/ch-baby-raccoon-storyline), in which Calvin grapples with the concept of mortality and displays a great deal of empathy for other life, and the binoculars arc (http://jetpacksunrise.tumblr.com/post/59392686408/calvin-breaks-his-dads-binoculars), where he shows a definite understanding for the effects his actions can have on the people around him. Another demonstration of Calvin's insight - and one that I find particularly affecting - is this comic (http://photos1.blogger.com/img/81/1328/1024/2.jpg).

Those traits are part of the comic's overall style of presenting our incredibly complex, nuanced world from the perspective of someone who is just experiencing or learning things for the first time. Consider the art style, generally plain and straightforward but interspersed with highly (http://chquotes.synthasite.com/resources/ch_7.gif) detailed (http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1025896/bill2.gif) imaginative (http://7.fotos.web.sapo.io/i/o91115ab3/17822285_M3WJA.jpeg) sequences (http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QZtNmECRM2k/TjXLZbKoI7I/AAAAAAAAASk/LEvWsXULgwE/s1600/Clipboard01.jpg). Watterson could have easily given more panel space to elaborate backdrops and wild mindscapes, but the focus of the comic isn't on the world itself but on how Calvin experiences and interacts with this intricate reality that he's only beginning to understand. Without his moments of piercing clarity, Calvin's just another kid with a stuffed tiger. A d20 Calvin true to the source material would have high Wisdom, somewhat above-average Intelligence, and average Charisma. He'd make for a great Druid - heck, he's even got the animal companion already :smallsmile:

Man, I was not expecting to churn out an impromptu analysis of Calvin & Hobbes when I got out of bed this morning. What a day.

Edit: While writing this up, I happened to think of a fairly succinct way to differentiate between the mental stats. Intelligence is your ability to comprehend, Wisdom is your ability to analyze, and Charisma is your ability to communicate.

Man, I miss C&H. And to think that no one currently 20 years old or younger would have seen it when it was being made! I have to periodically remind myself that one of the many reasons C&H remains so beloved is because it actually did end on a high note (rather than just dragging on until it stopped being good), so it's not a terrible thing in the long run that it's over, but I still miss it. Watterson was brilliant, no doubt about that. (He's still alive, so he's still probably brilliant, but as far as I know he's not creating new art that he's sharing with the world.)

Still, excellent analysis, EA.

[Telonius]

He did three guest strips on Pearls Before Swine (http://www.gocomics.com/pearlsbeforeswine/2014/06/04#.U5KCEV7irwI) a couple of years back.