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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Primitive Screwhead" data-source="post: 2845181" data-attributes="member: 20805">Because 'guess whats in my pocket' is so much more entertaining?  Nah..Its because I wanted to see if I was the only one looking at the above quotes and thinking along the same lines without laying out what those lines where.But, since I am about to head out on a 3 day road trip and wont have internet access for a bit <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f641.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":(" title="Frown    :("  data-smilie="3"data-shortname=":(" />Ability scores range from 3 to 18, with 10 or 11 being 'Average'. Player Characters tend to be above average in at least a couple categories.Somehow a portion of gamers have gotten the idea that an INT of 10 means the character is dumb, and any score lower is, for all intents and purposes, mentally retarded. In Thread 1 it was brought up that Orc's are not smart enough to come up with the tactic of sneaking up in the dark, when thier darkvision helps out, then charge into battle from outside the range of any lamplight.In Thread 2 it was brought up that Wolf's are not smart enough to coordinate attacks in such a manner that they can be lethal to a PC who gets seperated from the group for a round or two.IMHO, as Lord Pendragon put it so well, INT is more a measure of the breadth of knowledge than it is mastery.To me:Int 2, basic level instinctual use of special abilities {like Trip, Scent, Darkvision} and culteral behaviors {Pack mentality.. meaning coordinated take-downs of weaker, isolated foes}. Learning is only through pain or the Pavlovian response.Int 3, As above, add limited learning capability through repeated training. Grasp of a couple simple concepts {basically limited skill points, which the stat does naturally}. Limited learned behaviors. Very short term planning. In computer speak, simple If,,Then clauseINT 6, Learn through repeated training or hands-on experience. Can self educate most Craft skills. Short and near term planning. In computer speak, simple If,,Then..Else clausesINT 9, Just shy of average, may be a step behind in one or two area's but for the most part indistinguishable from the 'average joe'Tactically speaking, behavior models overcome any limitation INT/WIS scores that may exist.Wolves are predatory in nature and coordinate attacks to get enough meat for the pack. As they will use thier tactical advantages of striking from hiding, tripping often and merrily, and flanking downed foes. They will even use Aid Another to handle larger targets.Orcs will, whenever possible, attack at night and with surprise on thier side. They will even use simple feint manuevers {having a couple warriors make lots of noise attacking from another direction to draw off defenders}Eh, this is turning into more of a rant than a discuss... bleh. Boil it down to the brass tacks. Most DM's run encounters far underplayed compared to what the encounter is really capable of delivering. This affects many aspects of the campaign.. but most important is the quick conversion into the arms race mentality where the DM has to come up with more fantastic half-celestial/fiendish/abysall/template from h3ll son in law of the Tarrasque in order to challenge the party.After all, this is easier than turning a pack of wolves against a 6th level party {like the one in Ravenloft I} and ripping the PC's to shreds through cunning use of the creatures innate abilities.This is, of course, simply my opinion. You are free..and encouraged to, heartily disagree and reasonably debate me <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />Anyway.. thanks for reading/posting.Time for me to finish packing <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /></blockquote>

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