D&D 5E So 5 Intelligence Huh

[BoldItalic]

Apropos of nothing in particular, this thread is now the 9th funniest of all time (105 laughs).

Can we get it higher? Maybe we should all stop wrangling and tell a few jokes?

Here's a challenge: write a joke that is (a) funny to us (so it generates lots of laugh clicks) and (b) if told IC would amuse a fellow party member with an Int of 5.

I'll start:

An orc walks into a bar.
*slight pause*
"Ouch," says the orc, "Who put dat bar dere?"

 

[Maxperson]

All those stats mean is that a a character has the same odds of success as a baboon when making Intelligence ability checks against the same DC. Any other attributes you assign are just your preference.

It means they are equally intelligent. Unless you can show me a rule stating that intelligence is somehow different for a baboon or frog.

 

[Maxperson]

Apropos of nothing in particular, this thread is now the 9th funniest of all time (105 laughs).

Can we get it higher? Maybe we should all stop wrangling and tell a few jokes?

Here's a challenge: write a joke that is (a) funny to us (so it generates lots of laugh clicks) and (b) if told IC would amuse a fellow party member with an Int of 5.

I'll start:

An orc walks into a bar.
"Ouch," says the orc, "Who put dat bar dere?"

What do you call a psychic midget who escaped from prison?



A small medium at large!

 

[iserith]

It means they are equally intelligent.

As reflected by a modifier to Intelligence checks and saves.

Not that I think Intelligence is related to IQ, but can a bat take an IQ test?

 

[Maxperson]

As reflected by a modifier to Intelligence checks and saves.

If that's the only criteria, then it applies to baboons, frogs and PCs equally. 100 frogs will be better at solving puzzles than a 20 int PC.

Not that I think Intelligence is related to IQ, but can a bat take an IQ test?

The obvious answer according to your interpretation of 5e is yes. It only has a -4 and that's it.

 

[iserith]

If that's the only criteria, then it applies to baboons, frogs and PCs equally. 100 frogs will be better at solving puzzles than a 20 int PC.

We've covered this silliness already. Your assertion fails because it assumes the DM is not performing his or her role. Frogs don't get to solve puzzle because they are frogs. There is no uncertainty here and thus no ability check. Humanoids capable of adventuring can at least try.

The obvious answer according to your interpretation of 5e is yes. It only has a -4 and that's it.

I believe the answer is "No," a bat can't take an IQ test. See above for why.

 

[BoldItalic]

A bat took an IQ test.
*slight pause*
It flew through it!

(DC 5 Wisdom(Perception) test to see the joke)

 

[Maxperson]

We've covered this silliness already. Your assertion fails because it assumes the DM is not performing his or her role.

No. It fails because you are now forced to engage in DM fiat to avoid that silliness that you yourself just created by allowing stupid PCs to act much smarter than they are.

Frogs don't get to solve puzzle because they are frogs

You're the one who created the situation equalizing them with PCs, rather than the other way around. Just because you now are removing that equalization via DM fiat in order to prevent frogs from taking over the planet doesn't mean that there isn't a problem.

Best not to create the problem in the first place and have the players limit the intelligence of their PCs.

 

[Maxperson]

A bat took an IQ test.
*slight pause*
It flew through it!

(DC 5 Wisdom(Perception) test to see the joke)

Okay. That was pretty good

 

[iserith]

No. It fails because you are now forced to engage in DM fiat to avoid that silliness that you yourself just created by allowing stupid PCs to act much smarter than they are.

You do realize the DM is supposed to decide whether or not an ability check is called for, right? Not just roll ability checks for everything? So your objection on the grounds of "DM fiat" doesn't make a lot of sense. This is DM 101 stuff, man.

You're the one who created the situation equalizing them with PCs, rather than the other way around. Just because you now are removing that equalization via DM fiat in order to prevent frogs from taking over the planet doesn't mean that there isn't a problem.

Best not to create the problem in the first place and have the players limit the intelligence of their PCs.

Uh, no. I am not "equalizing frogs with PCs." They have equal modifiers if they have an equivalent Intelligence score, but that modifier only applies when the DM decides an ability check is required to determine an outcome. I don't need an ability check to tell me the outcome of a bat or frog taking an IQ test or trying to answer a riddle. They fail, period, no roll. A PC capable of adventuring on the other hand is a different story.