Do creatures in your games take actions according to their mental stats?

[Morrus]

But are you smart and savvy enough to discern who the threats are and be prepared to face the right opponents? It seems obvious when you've got just one group of PCs, but how does the NPC sort through all the potential threats to find the real ones? That's part of his supra-genius.

Yes, smart and savvy opponents I can do. I'm mildly smartish.

Supra-geniuses? Not so much. I'm not a genius, let alone a supra-genius. If I was either, I'd be a lot richer than I am!

Having defenses based on your knowledge or your opponents capabilities? That's just "barely not being an utter idiot" tactics. That's not supra-genius tactics.

 

[ForeverSlayer]

Yes, smart and savvy opponents I can do. I'm mildly smartish.

Supra-geniuses? Not so much. I'm not a genius, let alone a supra-genius. If I was either, I'd be a lot richer than I am!

Having defenses based on your knowledge or your opponents capabilities? That's just "barely not being an utter idiot" tactics. That's not supra-genius tactics.

But, how much actual knowledge you accumulate would be a reflection of your vast intelligence.

 

[Morrus]

But, how much actual knowledge you accumulate would be a reflection of your vast intelligence.

It's a measure of knowledge, not intelligence.

But even then, I haven't personally accumulated vast amounts of knowledge about anything, let alone combative strategies and tactics. So I can't imbue my NPCs with those things. Best I can do is give them better stats and have them act at my maximal intelligence level, and make the stupid ones REALLY dumb.

 

[ForeverSlayer]

It's a measure of knowledge, not intelligence.

But even then, I haven't personally accumulated vast amounts of knowledge about anything, let alone combative strategies and tactics. So I can't imbue my NPCs with those things. Best I can do is give them better stats and have them act at my maximal intelligence level, and make the stupid ones REALLY dumb.

You would have access to spies and minions who could spy on the PC's and report back their tactics and spells the party's mages cast. Then, a simple Scry spell could reveal such things. Controlling a spy network, having access to very powerful magic, vast amounts of knowledge whether it's magic, the planes, creatures, etc are all products of a super genius.

 

[Morrus]

You would have access to spies and minions who could spy on the PC's and report back their tactics and spells the party's mages cast. Then, a simple Scry spell could reveal such things. Controlling a spy network, having access to very powerful magic, vast amounts of knowledge whether it's magic, the planes, creatures, etc are all products of a super genius.

Now you're just listing resources. Sure, I can portray someone with resources I don't have. That 'a someone rich, not someone supra-genius.

I dunno what to tell you. You asked a question, and I answered it. Sorry, dude! I don't feel I can portray supra-genius, a trait I don't have.

 

[Serendipity]

Of course, yes.

 

[ForeverSlayer]

Now you're just listing resources. Sure, I can portray someone with resources I don't have. That 'a someone rich, not someone supra-genius.

I dunno what to tell you. You asked a question, and I answered it. Sorry, dude! I don't feel I can portray supra-genius, a trait I don't have.

Lex Luthor was a super genius. What made him a super genius was his vast knowledge of several subjects including space travel, extra-dimensional travel, biochemistry, robotics, computers, synthetic polymers, communications, mutations, transportation, holography, energy generation, spectral analysis. Know a dragon, for instance, would have massive amounts of knowledge because of his high intelligence score. He is able to Plane Travel, speak with beings from other dimensions including gods and other god-like beings. Just having resources has nothing to do with intelligence, but knowing what to do with those resources does. An idiot can't setup a spy network, or have knowledge about other planes of existence, arcane formulas and theory.

 

[howandwhy99]

I know I use Int, Wis, and Cha for what you're talking about, but those really are stats that determine a few things like limits and potential derived modifiers for many of the rolls. What really is referenced here are the mind maps for the NPCs involved. They might have a vast knowledge due to intellect and experience, but take rather unwise actions regardless of their understanding. That's in the game.

 

[Morrus]

Lex Luthor was a super genius. What made him a super genius was his vast knowledge of several subjects including space travel, extra-dimensional travel, biochemistry, robotics, computers, synthetic polymers, communications, mutations, transportation, holography, energy generation, spectral analysis. Know a dragon, for instance, would have massive amounts of knowledge because of his high intelligence score. He is able to Plane Travel, speak with beings from other dimensions including gods and other god-like beings. Just having resources has nothing to do with intelligence, but knowing what to do with those resources does. An idiot can't setup a spy network, or have knowledge about other planes of existence, arcane formulas and theory.

Well, OK. In answer to your question - no, I don't model supra-geniuses well. Clearly that's not that answer you wanted, but there it is. Sorry.

 

[Obryn]

I mean, what tactics do a supra- genius dragon use? Certainly not any I can think of!

My own thought? The only way to do it is by modeling supra-genius characters post-hoc.

A few times when they're in a bad situation or facing things that you, personally, didn't expect (not being a supra-genius yourself), or even some things you might have but didn't have an easy counter for, make an Intelligence roll or something of the sort. On a success, it turns out the incredibly smart NPC or monster has reasoned out the party would do so-and-so ahead of time, and planned for the contingency.

IIRC, Mastermind PCs in Leverage have a similar ability.