intellectual hobbies for people with 30+ int

[King of Nowhere]

I would like to throw in something to help characterize someone of superhuman intelligence.
I could put that stuff in a dragon's lair on in the house of a mighty wizard as a random bit of fluff; both to show that this creature is very intelligent, and to show a mundane side to it.
Not every supersmart creature has the ambition to concoct complex plots for world domination/salvation; even those that do plot will have hobbies.

Ideas I have so far

- hexadecimal sudoku (on a 16x16 grid divided in 16 4x4 squares) and the even crazyer alphabetical sudoku (25 symbols on a 25x25 grid with 25 5x5 squares)
- multilingual crosswords. you get the definitions, but the word may be in any of the languages specified (uses phonetic alphabet). Even after you figure out what the word is, you have to figure out in which language to put it down so that it can fit with the other words - which themselves could be in different languages. In addition to the complication, it also requires being an omniglot.
- chess. The basic rules are simple, but there is enough compleity there that a solution to the game escapes out best efforts. Chess can definitely appeal to a superhuman intelligence; on the down side, a chessboard does not imply superhuman intelligence. After all, plenty of humans play it.

What else can you come up with?

[Venger]

are you familiar with xorvintaal? it's designed for stuff like this. they can't be "players" exactly since they're not dragons, but they could still track the progress of the great game and work to manipulate events for their masters as a way of playing 3 dimensional star trek chess with other eggheads.

[Eldariel]

Those are all basically memory games you learn with experience. While intellect helps get started, ultimately it's pattern recognition, retention, and extrapolation that's key in all three. Ironically the best Chess-players are rarely the most intelligent ones; intelligent people often lack the longitudinal interest to stay engaged enough to reach the peak. That said, some memory games like Chess may indeed interest a hyperintelligent being as curiosities of sorts. Go is 100 times more complex than Chess so there's one. Since Magic, perhaps 3d Chess or 3d Go with magical illusionary holograms. Xorvintaal [MMV] is of course this taken to a sort of a logical extreme, playing IRL Chess with living pieces with all their complexities.

An interesting alternative would be some "logic puzzles": perhaps some time travel calculations (high level magic enables time travel but figuring out its results requires knowledge of the infinitely complex chain of changes altering something in the past invokes) or some philosophical ruminations about the nature of reality and time (something the game worlds usually delve into too little considering the impact it has on what is actually possible and what isn't in an internally consistent world). Perhaps something about the Gods and the planar balance of power.

[Psyren]

Research - for example, the "new spell/new item/new monster" variety.

The best part of this is that you don't actually have to have it result in anything, since the nature of such research (and its barriers to even attempt safely) can be entirely up in the air. You could have a superintelligent character research magic for a century and only have a single new spell to show for it if you wanted.

[Kurald Galain]

Nomic.

The game works like this: players take turns in suggesting a new rule, which is then voted on. If the vote passes, the suggestion is now an active rule for the entire game. While this sounds simple in theory, in practice there is no upper bound to the number, complexity, or sheer obtuseness of rules (or amendments thereof). This is an example (https://agoranomic.org/ruleset/flr.txt) of a ruleset in progress.

Rule 1950/33 (Power=3)
Decisions with Adoption Indices

Adoption index is an untracked switch possessed by Agoran
decisions and proposals, whose value is either "none" (default) or
an integral multiple of 0.1 from 1.0 to 9.9.

Adoption index is secured with a power threshold of 2.

Adoption index is an essential parameter of an Agoran decision if
that decision has an adoption index.

For any Agoran decision with an adoption index, the voting method
is AI-majority.

History:

Amended(1) by P4032 'Powerfix(2)' (t), 24 Jul 2000
Amended(2) by P4085 'Playing Roles' (Blob), 16 Nov 2000
Amended(3) by P4221 'The Neo-Oligarchy, again' (Steve), 10 Oct 2001
Amended(4) by P4282 'Massive Political Reform' (G.), 16 Apr 2002
Amended(5) by P4352 'Overhaul Parliamentary Voting' (OscarMeyr), 07 Aug
2002
Amended(6) by P4370 (OscarMeyr), 06 Sep 2002
Amended(7) by P4486 'Of what worth honor?' (Michael), 24 Apr 2003
Amended(8) by P4539 'Remember Remember' (G.), 16 Nov 2003
Amended(9) by P4576 'Oligarch in a Three-Piece Suit' (root), 31 May
2004
Amended(10) by P4624 'Crimson Go' (G.), 20 Nov 2004
Amended(11) by P4665 'Deckmastor Perks' (Kolja), 09 Apr 2005
Amended(12) by P4685 'Slight addenda to two rules' (Quazie), 18 Apr 2005
Power changed from 2 to 3 by P4811 'The Cobalt Repeals' (Maud, G.), 20
Jun 2005
Amended(13) by P4811 'The Cobalt Repeals' (Maud, G.), 20 Jun 2005
Amended(14) by P4868 'Red Tape Repeals 2.0' (G.), 27 Aug 2006
Amended(15) by P4972 'No free votes II' (Goddess Eris), 23 May 2007
Amended(16) by P4964 'Disambiguate voter eligibility' (Murphy), 03 Jun
2007
Amended(17) by P5000 'Disambiguate voter eligibility' (Murphy), 12 Jun
2007
Amended(18) by P5007 'generalize naturalhood' (Zefram), 18 Jun 2007
Amended(19) by P5047 'Fix Support for Democracy 1.1' (root), 01 Jul 2007
Retitled by P5078 'refactor voting limits' (Zefram), 18 Jul 2007
Amended(20) by P5078 'refactor voting limits' (Zefram), 18 Jul 2007
Retitled by P5418 'Refactor Chamber' (root), 02 Feb 2008
Amended(21) by P5418 'Refactor Chamber' (root), 02 Feb 2008
Amended(22) by P6961 '52-pickup v2' (G.), 03 Mar 2011
Retitled by P7013 'Ordinary Decisions' (omd), 23 Apr 2011
Amended(23) by P7013 'Ordinary Decisions' (omd), 23 Apr 2011
Amended(24) by P7083 'Re-jigged Re-jiggery' (Walker), 04 Jul 2011
Amended(25) by P7216 'Fix some definitions' (omd), 04 May 2012
Amended(26) by P7239 'this has been broken for a long time' (omd), 10
Jun 2012
Amended(27) by P7274 'Voting Chambers' (FKA441344), 14 Aug 2012
Amended(28) by P7296 'Power On' (Alexis), 09 Sep 2012
Amended(29) by P7416 'Not my job' (omd), 12 May 2013
Amended(30) by P7610 'Low-hanging Fruit' (G.), 22 Dec 2013
Amended(31) by P7629 'Do Things' (Alexis), 07 Apr 2014
Amended(32) by P7778 'Instant Runoff Improved' (Alexis), 14 Aug 2015
Amended(33) by P7832 'Quintessential Parameters' (Alexis), 05 Dec 2016

[Biggus]

The glass bead game?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Glass_Bead_Game

[MisterKaws]

I'm seconding Go, but you'd need at least a second genius-level character to play that together.

For memory games, I think by 30 Int you'd need something like a magically produced tetra-dimensional byte char(as in the 256 characters) Sudoku for it to be challenging.

[Caedes]

A 3-dimensional layout of a dungeon, with colour coded kill zones. Can also add tags with ids that correspond to an index somewhere else in the room, finding this index reveals the arcane scrawlings of spells to use for traps or a bestiary of sorts of what monsters they would place where. Basically, this Wizard or Dragon or whichever is planning or has a dungeon somewhere at first glance and has gone through great pains to plan it out.

On his desk are some very complete dossiers of some random adventurers. Each dossier lists where they come from, weaknesses, where they excel and information about their general health and abilities. They look like some deep research has been done on them.

However, in the back of the index is a coded section. Set the DC really high to break the code and if the PCs do, they can realize that this is all a hypothetical scenario they are setting up and plan on having some friends over to try out the scenarios. Playtesting it so to speak to make sure that it is the best form it can be before he/she/they actually starts building it.


*Blinks*

[ericgrau]

Futuristic RPGs with rules so in depth and over-complicated they put 3.5 to shame. The characters are actually playing the players and the players don't even know it.

[Venger]

Futuristic RPGs with rules so in depth and over-complicated they put 3.5 to shame. The characters are actually playing the players and the players don't even know it.

so eclipse phase

[Faily]

Seconding suggestions of Go and Chess. Add in Shogi and other strategy games as well. Probably variants like 3D Go/3D Chess?

Also: musical instruments.

Not only is it a trope that genius-level folks often play a musical instrument (Sherlock Holmes), but there is a lot of complexity, skill, and knowledge that goes into mastering an instrument. Not all intellect need to be applied to "solving calculus for fun" or similar activities. As a hobby, playing music could provide a different kind of stimulus and relaxation at the same time.

Horticulture and botany is also something to consider. And painting. And writing. Imagine the ideal Renaisscance man, like DaVinci: intelligence should be applied to a broader spectrum, including and not limited to: mathematics, philosophy, architecture, sculpting, painting, science, astronomy, medical science, physics... I'm sure there's even more.

Also, check out Alexander von Humboldt (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_von_Humboldt).

[MisterKaws]

so eclipse phase

I would've thought of that game which rolls a D100000000 for race generation and includes finger length and width on the character sheet(among other less savory things).

[Efrate]

Assuming a standard mideval Europe kindaish level of society, tech, etc. like most dungeons and dragons, just make he/she/its projects and endeavors more keeping with current standards. A visionary.

Things like steampower, a magical version of the internet, modern governmental systems, would all be extremely new and forward thinking. Mundane methods of achieving magical phenomia, like space and planar travel.

Or just blueprints for the tippyverse.

It is also a great way to introduce alternate rulesets. Things like pact magic, tome of battle, incarnum, psionics, mysteries or truenaming. Especially if those are not major influences in your world and you think a player might be interested. You could even do it for "weird" prestige classes, like setting specific things such as Knight of the Raven or Telflamar Shadow Lord. Or even just theurge classes or anything with a fluff requirement that seems a bit at odd with your setting.

After all, someone had to figure out how to use both inborn and learned magic to enhance one another ala ultimate magus, why not that one ancient blue dragon?

[Segev]

A 3-dimensional layout of a dungeon, with colour coded kill zones. Can also add tags with ids that correspond to an index somewhere else in the room, finding this index reveals the arcane scrawlings of spells to use for traps or a bestiary of sorts of what monsters they would place where. Basically, this Wizard or Dragon or whichever is planning or has a dungeon somewhere at first glance and has gone through great pains to plan it out.

On his desk are some very complete dossiers of some random adventurers. Each dossier lists where they come from, weaknesses, where they excel and information about their general health and abilities. They look like some deep research has been done on them.

However, in the back of the index is a coded section. Set the DC really high to break the code and if the PCs do, they can realize that this is all a hypothetical scenario they are setting up and plan on having some friends over to try out the scenarios. Playtesting it so to speak to make sure that it is the best form it can be before he/she/they actually starts building it.


*Blinks*
If this forum had a "like" button, I'd have used it on this post. Because while recursion is a frequent joke in D&D, this is beautifully taken to the next level, with a huge fake-out. As an added bonus, they friends could all be bringing simulacra of themselves after polymorphing into their characters (or some other equally magical means of chargenning) and the dungeon could actually be real and deadly. But not intended for anybody but the "PCs" to go through, so it's not hurting anybody real.


If you want to emphasize "nerd" along with very intelligent, he might have scattered notes and playing boards where he's got rules for "improved" versions of common games. With explicit details about what the flaws in the common games are. Could be anything from a straightforward desire to include more people in a game of "Go" to a personal rant about how Chess has too many exploits and doesn't make sense with the names of the pieces and needs more options.


Correspondence with local potentates wherein he gives advice (possibly unsolicited) that he hasn't yet sent out, giving detailed analyses of problems with the County, Barony, Duchy, or Principality in question and suggested solutions. They might read like a "letter to the editor" more than an ongoing conversation, if you want to paint a busybody. If you want to paint a sought-after genius, they should look like they're clarifications and expansions on earlier letters, possibly with explicit answers to questions aluded to in the response; this latter would hint that he's a trusted or at least listened-to advisor for these folks.


Doodles and drawings that display attempts at visulaizing/representing 4D and higher-dimensional structures on 2D paper. Matrices and coordinate systems.

Alternatively, toy, incomplete, and possibly self-contradictory theories on how some aspect of magic, the planes, or other esoteric subjects work on a fundamental level: not serious publications, but written-down speculations.


Stacks of books and articles on a particular subject - possibly literary, rather than scientific or historical - near a letter pinned to a board with a riddle on it. The riddle itself is "hard" but has a lengthy answer on another incomplete letter which gives what the owner of the space believes is the "intended" answer, and a lengthy dissection of a number of other possibly-equally-valid answers as a critique of the riddle, with suggested improvements to narrow it down which may or may not ruin the cadance and structure, but also with notes on cadance and structure and acknowledgements that it needs more work.

The idea here is that he's engaged with one or more compatriots in riddle games and has a tendency to not only tear them apart for flaws, but has an underlying frustration that he's "missed" some answers in the past because he gave what seemed to him to be a clever and accurate answer that wasn't the much more pedestrian answer that was actually sought. So now he does extensive research to illustrate why each possible answer fits, but still tries to "play the game" straight by listing what he thinks the expected answer is.


A literal house of cards.

A very firmly-based floor that is largely invulnerable to shaking on which is constructed a precariously-balanced "sculpture" of, well, balanced items. It looks impossible, as this hobby is using extreme perfection of balance and counterweight to make things which look like they should fall over, but don't (unless knocked, shaken, or blown on too hard).


For something that lacks a reproductive urge (e.g. a Beholder or an Aboleth or similar aberration), a collection of steamy romance novels/smut next to a pile of anatomical treatises and works and a lengthy set of scientific and artistic renderings in various states of completeness of the lewd acts described in the fictitious works, with notes and call-outs for physical impossibilities or queries on whether the hormonal surges of pleasure gained from such positions would counteract the likely pain induced, complete with stats for things like "strength," "dexterity," and "constitution" to measure capacity to engage in some anatomically-unlikely poses and minimum values in this creature's home-brewed metric (which seems to run from 3-18 for most humanoids) to attain those positions without physical harm and/or to maintain them for specified lengths of time.

With a Beholder, in particular, sculptures carved with disintigration with notes on how the structural integrity of the sculpting materials make stability possible where the floppier meat-bodies of the humanoids (or non-humanoids; it may not be picky and might have some stuff on dragons, centaurs, or even formians or the like; anything that would have or be the subject of the fiction of the sort it's doing analysis on) described may not be able to hold up.

The entire thing should be quite embarassing (and, if you're into any of the stuff depicted... *ahem*) for most creatures with reproductive urges, but should be entirely clinical and technical, with the precision of a nerd explaining why a particular scene and tech doesn't work in the greater realm of Star Trek, rather than any purile or lustful interest on the part of the alien being doing the analysis. At MOST salicious in its interest, it should be done with the dispassion of the most clinical breeder discussing lines of stock and best practices for introducing partners.


Poetry of varying quality, especially if notes found depict works in progress, but which are attempts at particular techiques and technical feats in using language, rules of poetry, allusion and allegory, and particularly multi-lingual references/puns.

Perhaps a poem which is written in an alphabet shared by two languages with very different pronunciation schemes, but which works in both and is a classic meter and structure in each that nevertheless is very different in each. Or at least attempts at such.

Or a poem which is a doggerel nursery rhyme in the obvious language, but which, when spoken aloud, is the equivalent of a sonnet of magnificent structure and subject if you listen to it with an ear for a different language. If a successful effort, the natural cadance of reading it in the obvious language naturally forms the phrasings in the other. The primary hints to this, if somebody doesn't speak both languages, would be some odd word-choices here and there. If somebody speaks the "epic sonnet" language but not the "doggerel nursery rhyme" language, they might still figure out the alphabet "cipher" and that it's a phonetic representation of said "epic sonnet" in an inappropriate alphabet for the language.

[weckar]

Probably mundane real life intellectual hobbies at a much higher level, such as for example hobbyist mathematics.

Showing that a character has (supposedly) cracked the four color theorem without a computer is a pretty nice and casual way to prove their smarts - and it should make sense in most worlds.

[Faily]

Things like steampower, a magical version of the internet, modern governmental systems, would all be extremely new and forward thinking. Mundane methods of achieving magical phenomia, like space and planar travel.


So you mean the greatest invention yet? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oa_hiLXLbTc) :smallbiggrin:

[Kurald Galain]

Speaking of poetry, there's a whole slew or constrained writing (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constrained_writing) techniques that can be used to write highly complex texts; such as telling a coherent story using only one vowel, or rhyming/meter schemas like a sonnet, or word squares. Or, for the 30+ intelligence folks, all of them at the same time, backwards, in the language of the Voynich.

https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/constraints.png

[weckar]

Speaking of poetry, there's a whole slew or constrained writing (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constrained_writing) techniques that can be used to write highly complex texts; such as telling a coherent story using only one vowel, or rhyming/meter schemas like a sonnet, or word squares. Or, for the 30+ intelligence folks, all of them at the same time, backwards, in the language of the Voynich.

So close. Wilfrid will not be pleased.

[Kyutaru]

Taking over a country. It's really not that hard for a genius to plan out methods to conquer lesser minds and use them for his own bidding or make them look to him for salvation. Manipulate your way up the ladder or just get the top guy into your pocket. Then trade power or influence at the poker table with other 30+ intellectuals.

Demonstrating you're smarter than 99.999% of the world is as simple as outsmarting that many people.

[Segev]

Taking over a country. It's really not that hard for a genius to plan out methods to conquer lesser minds and use them for his own bidding or make them look to him for salvation. Manipulate your way up the ladder or just get the top guy into your pocket. Then trade power or influence at the poker table with other 30+ intellectuals.

Demonstrating you're smarter than 99.999% of the world is as simple as outsmarting that many people.

Eh....

This really isn't a function of intelligence. Very smart people like to think it is, and then get baffled by the fact that nobody bows to their brilliance and accepts that they should have won already. This is particularly true in a system where Charisma is a distinct and separate stat.

[Kyutaru]

Eh....

This really isn't a function of intelligence. Very smart people like to think it is, and then get baffled by the fact that nobody bows to their brilliance and accepts that they should have won already. This is particularly true in a system where Charisma is a distinct and separate stat.

Somehow I see Charisma as Persuasion or Intimidation or Deception. I don't see it as bribery, extortion, or favors. Blackmailing the mayor may seem like it requires a Charisma check but showing him that you kidnapped his daughter doesn't. You don't roll your check from a distance when you mail him those photos of him with the King's wife. But then, these are also simpleton concepts. A truly intelligent person is busy buying out all the power in the city through business savvy contracts or betrayal and playing a national game of chess with every other would-be tyrant. Whoever rises to the top is usually the one who won that struggle. But then they are also rarely the true power behind the curtain. Figureheads are targets.

Truly intelligent people don't wonder why nobody bows to their brilliance because they never even let anyone know just how brilliant they are. It's all done in secret and can't be linked back to them.

[Segev]

Somehow I see Charisma as Persuasion or Intimidation or Deception. I don't see it as bribery, extortion, or favors. Blackmailing the mayor may seem like it requires a Charisma check but showing him that you kidnapped his daughter doesn't. You don't roll your check from a distance when you mail him those photos of him with the King's wife. But then, these are also simpleton concepts. A truly intelligent person is busy buying out all the power in the city through business savvy contracts or betrayal and playing a national game of chess with every other would-be tyrant. Whoever rises to the top is usually the one who won that struggle. But then they are also rarely the true power behind the curtain. Figureheads are targets.

Truly intelligent people don't wonder why nobody bows to their brilliance because they never even let anyone know just how brilliant they are. It's all done in secret and can't be linked back to them.

I suppose it might also involve Wisdom. The problem is that Intelligence will let you model out a plan that works perfectly with precision instruments and known rules. The moment real people who aren't you enter the picture, it starts breaking down, and anything so delicate as what a super-genius would come up with to take over the world by pure brilliance would break down almost immediately without a lot of understanding of the people involved. This takes Wisdom. Also, you have to convince them to go along with your schemes. Bribery helps, but even persuading people to take bribes and not screw you over by renegging on their part of the deal takes Charisma.


Besides, the OP specifically asked for things other than world conquest as a supergenius's personal intellectual hobbies.

[MisterKaws]

Somehow I see Charisma as Persuasion or Intimidation or Deception. I don't see it as bribery, extortion, or favors. Blackmailing the mayor may seem like it requires a Charisma check but showing him that you kidnapped his daughter doesn't. You don't roll your check from a distance when you mail him those photos of him with the King's wife. But then, these are also simpleton concepts. A truly intelligent person is busy buying out all the power in the city through business savvy contracts or betrayal and playing a national game of chess with every other would-be tyrant. Whoever rises to the top is usually the one who won that struggle. But then they are also rarely the true power behind the curtain. Figureheads are targets.

Truly intelligent people don't wonder why nobody bows to their brilliance because they never even let anyone know just how brilliant they are. It's all done in secret and can't be linked back to them.

Don't forget that, depending on the city's size, the mayor could very well be a level 28 Commoner or a level 24 Expert, as per Table 5-2(extended portion in p139) of the DMG. Those guys get Epic stuff, even if low-powered. They can very likely contend with your 30 Int character to some extent.

[Liquor Box]

We can look to the hobbies or people in real life who have intelligence that high.

Lots of super intelligent people have ordinary hobbies. They might like jogging or golf.

[Jack_McSnatch]

A lot of RL geniuses actually have really banal hobbies. Rather than playing 3D chess amd hexidecimal sudoku, they tend to prefer astoundingly simple things, like gardening, or reading.

[MisterKaws]

A lot of RL geniuses actually have really banal hobbies. Rather than playing 3D chess amd hexidecimal sudoku, they tend to prefer astoundingly simple things, like gardening, or reading.

Or sit in an aged wood rocking chair worth more than a couple kidneys while contemplating how smart they are in relation to the rest of the world preparing their next masterpiece.

[Kyutaru]

Or sit in an aged wood rocking chair worth more than a couple kidneys while contemplating how smart they are in relation to the rest of the world preparing their next masterpiece.

Remember it's anything but something to be glorified. Imagine waking up in a world where everyone else is a zombie. You're the last human left. Everyone else is a brainless shambling corpse. That's the struggle.

Realizing that all of the world is like a child compared to you is nothing to be thrilled about. You'd be so drained putting up with it on a daily basis that relaxation would be the first thing on your mind. Playing games with your living puppets comes after that for amusement.

[Jack_McSnatch]

Or sit in an aged wood rocking chair worth more than a couple kidneys while contemplating how smart they are in relation to the rest of the world preparing their next masterpiece.

I have yet to meet someone who does this, but they probably exist... And are too busy sitting in their aged smoking chairs, doing the thing.

Stephen Hawking liked rowing when he could still move, and writing childrens books, Carl Sagan liked reading and playing basketball, and Neil DeGrasse Tyson is a big time foodie. Just some examples that I pulled straight from google

[King of Nowhere]

A truly intelligent person is busy buying out all the power in the city through business savvy contracts or betrayal and playing a national game of chess with every other would-be tyrant.

that looks a lot like work.

I met many brilliant people, and by many standards I am considered brilliant myself, and really, those things about seeking power and moving people like pawns are so clichè. Ok, you can have a few villains like that, but if every smart person is like that then you have a problem with worldbuilding.

First thing, brilliant does not mean ambitious. Most of the brilliant people I know don't have any special ambition besides getting a good job. Some just want to pay their bills and have fun. Few want to have power over individuals (as in, leadership/management). None of them would like to rule from the shadows.

Second, brillaint can be as lazy as anyone else. After pushing myself for a decade to chase academic goals, I decided to quit research in part because I was tired of struggling to keep up and wanted something intellectually less taxing. The major factor in the decision was not wanting to chase short terms funding around the world with no prospect for stability, which can still be summed up as "wanting an easier life". And while I'm more lazy and less ambitious than most, I don't think many of my friends would want to pursue a career as mobster and plotter, with all the risks it involves.

Third, brilliant is generally limited to a few specific fiields. I am great in the logic-mathematic field, but my people's skills are mediocre at best; and while mathematic is linked with music, I'm terrible at music. I can understand politics after I see its effects, but wouldn't be able to see it in advance.

So, even if I had the means to blackmail powerful people, I would lack the political savy to do anything with that power. And I lack the ambition to want to do anything with the power, and even if I had the power and savy and ambition I'd probably give it up because it was too much hassle and not worth the effort.
I do like games, though, as they have all the thrill of a good intellectual challenge without any risk or "have-to-make-this-work" downsides.
What I'm thinking about is the same attitude, but with scaled up mental faculties.

Incidentally, "not every smart person is ambitious" also let me build up villain teams. I have a villain who is the kind of persuasive schemer and blackmailer, because he is good with politics and with people. In his organization there is a brilliant mathematician and economist; she could manuever any nation into an economic crysis or out of one, but she lacks the political savy to do anything with it except making money, and she likes being part of something bigger. then there is a powerful wizard who is super smart about magic, but doesn't know much about plotting or politics and he's not that good with people. He's in because it's a good job where he can make good use of his skills and doesn't have to worry much about anything else.
Together, they can accomplish much more than they could on their own. but I would never be able to have them work together if I assumed each one of them wanted to take over the world just because they are very smart.

[Bphill561]

Maybe have the character edit the Stronghold builder's guide and then design a castle.

[Cirrylius]

My PERSONAL endgame super-smartery is for my epic level character to contrive by... DM interests in time travel story potential, I guess, to build a famous historical city that already exists, somewhere in reputation, or just off the edge of the map. Go back to the Neolithic to hollow out the caves and so forth, guide the settlers, pay/be/create the rulers.

(I realize the time-travel part may be a bit of a conceit, considering Kingmaker rules already exist, but I was going for ultimate realism here, and , let's be honest, building a Vatican/Hogwarts/Alexandria/historical conspiratorial puzzle nexus is SUPER time consuming for your table, if nothing else. Plus, it gets really really hard to fool the other smartest people in the world)

Also, codes. Everybody loves codes. They're never not relevant.

Build THE long-term doomsday storage knowledge archive. Located in a geologically stable region deep underground, or demi-planar, climate-controlled, noble gases, Noble metals, genetically symbiotic caretakers, multiple magical backups. Think dungeon chambers shaped like a negative space fractal Rubik's cube, lined in an ultra dense code language in adamantine foil, with riverine highlights, layered on the walls.

Woud epic debate be considered an application of epic intelligence? Related, how much fun would it be to thunder down in an angel, demon, or Modron in their own court?

Has "creating complex ecosystems" been mentioned yet? I feel like it must have, but I can't recall off the top of my head.

[Talverin]

Foundation-style Psychohistory prophecies? Or creating your own non-Divine prophecies, and making them come about?

The Beautiful Mind board of a superintelligent creature waging a war of riddles or tricks against a trickster God in an attempt to win their Divine Mantle?

Or perhaps a huge ritualistic altar dedicated to a God of Knowledge, which doubles as a science lab for uncovering the secrets of the Divine?

Hubris is a theme in so much of Greek literature because, for many people, there's that drive to find out how they stack up against a God.

[unseenmage]

Birdwatching.
In the Far Realm or Region of Dreams.