But my character is smarter than I am!

[Emerald]

I was wondering how do you play a character that is smarter, wiser, more charismatic, or any other ability than you are?

I have been playing a level 11 wizard that has an intellegence of 20 and I personally probably don't have an intellegence above 13 (using 10 IQ per point method mentioned in another thread) so I often have the feeling, my character would know how to get out of this, but I do not.

Same with skill points, especially CHA based ones, like diplomacy and bluff. In our game we role play all conversations with PCs and NPCs alike so while my character has 8 pts in diplomacy I never use them because I do not know what my character would say because she has more skill points than I do.

Or visa versa, what if your character has a low score, like a 6 in INT and you as a player can think him under the table?

 

[Witness]

As is invariably mentioned in any thread on IQ and intelligence, intelligence DOES NOT equal IQ. Also, I've always thought that the ability to think quickly on ones feet and strategize was represented by Wisdom rather than intelligence. If you Wisdom score isn't all that great then your probably playing the character accurately, at least in that respect.

As for the Cha skill thing, I suggest you talk to your DM about it. Do you still roll the skill check regardless of what you say? If so I think it would be quite amusing for you to play up the fact that, though your speeches don't sound like much to your ears, to the NPCs you are a master negotatior and charmer.

 

[Alchemist]

As the DM for my group, I'm sensitive to those sorts of concerns. I find the easiest way, although probably not the most accurate, is to let the players chat amongst themselves when the brainiac character is thinking. The player gets more insight than he would have on his own that way.

Granted, I have to shut everybody up when the dumb characters are alone and trying to sort stuff out. No help then.

Same thing for large skills that the player dosen't have. Input from the peanut gallery usually gets them by.

 

[Erebus Red]

The intelligence could also be co-operative with the DM. He could provide you with additional information that your character would know - or provide hints and tips to reflect considerations your character would likely know.

I Charisma is more difficult, especially if you are role-playing conversations and so forth. But it could be argued that a persons charisma is not just 'how and what they say', but how they present themselves, what they do and how, and the reputation they have. These things can be easier to tackle than delivering great speeches!

 

[Hand of Evil]

It is not that he is smarter than you but the other PCs. Work with your DM on background, also providing insightful information to your character that would give him that edge.

 

[Olive]

we have a character with a charisma of 19. Is the player superhumanly charasmatic? of course not. I let him say what he want's to say. the die roll tells me how other people interpret it. of course roleplaying has an influence, but the roll is the final determiner.

 

[Erebus Red]

But would you agree Olive that the character by word and deed shoud make an effort to be convincing - and that the more compelling there strategy, and the favourability of their audience to hearing it - should be modifiers on your die roll?

 

[Kilmore]

Another important thing to remember is that the player (under most DM's) has more of a luxury of time and comfort than the character who has to think on his feet in the worst of situations.

 

[Xeriar]

I have been playing a level 11 wizard that has an intellegence of 20 and I personally probably don't have an intellegence above 13 (using 10 IQ per point method mentioned in another thread) so I often have the feeling, my character would know how to get out of this, but I do not.

If you take IQ == int (or can at least approximate it) an IQ of 10 = ~100, +5 points per point above that, so your int would be 16-17 (assuming the IQ test had a standard deviation of ~15).

One in 216 people have an IQ of 140, not 180. One in 54 people have an IQ of 135, not 170, and so on...

Not saying the arguement that intelligence is more than IQ is incorrect - just that there is a flaw in the '10 per point' reasoning. 3d6 cannot come close to approaching the range of talents expressed by human minds.

 

[Tonguez]

Int = Education Check to see if the characters knows that
Cha = Reaction check to see how NPCs will take whats being said
Wis = Awareness check to see if the character notices anything interesting (including a way to overcome the diabolical trap)

If you treat these things as mechanical processes rather than abstract concepts then the numbers are easier to play regardless of the player

eg Wiz has
Int 20 - Excellent general education, knows a lot of trivia and facts, a good learner
Wis 9 - Not as observant as he could be, sometimes misses the obvious, puts things down and forgets where he put them.
Cha 14 - Above average most people react positively to him.