Real Life Stats

[MonsterMash]

Well, I think D&Ders are a highly selective subset of the population with well above average INT, but lower CHA than average and probably lower STR DEX & CON too; and D&Ders WIS will be relatively low compared to INT than for a general population of high-INT people. I think this means that D&Ders compare themselves to other D&Ders, not to the general population, and then underrate their INT while overrating their other stats.

Shouldn't there be CHA modifiers for how often you shower?

Personally I'd expect to be lower than average in Dex (always been poorly co-ordinated), average on Str, fairly good on Con (reasonable club level distance runner), good on Int (reasonable educational record, part completed Msc), average on Cha (I can lead teams and workgroups with reasonable success, but I know that I'm not one of the real magnetic leader types), Wis - hard to quantify.

 

[genshou]

Shouldn't there be CHA modifiers for how often you shower?

No, that would be a circumstance penalty to most Charisma checks and Charisma-based skill checks.

Otherwise, you'd have to quantify a number of other factors which would require you to recalculate your ability score on a daily basis. Ability scores are more or less constant, at least in d20. That aspect can be argued in the "real world" (as far as one would wish to argue the static or dynamic nature of something which is in and of itself only a quantifying aspect of a game, ergo not real and not applicable to the real world in any way), especially with physical scores.

 

[MonsterMash]

I actually feel that a system that includes separate stats for Int and education would give a more accurate picture.

Maybe we should be looking at Call of Cthulhu stats instead of D&D.

 

[genshou]

I actually feel that a system that includes separate stats for Int and education would give a more accurate picture.

In this sense you refer to 'Education' as meaning less along the lines of Knowledge and Int bonus to said skill, and more along the lines of all the character's skill ranks in all skills, right? Despite what many say I believe Intelligence and Education do go hand in hand but are not identical, nor is either an aspect of the other. At the risk of slight derailment: Physical training will only take you so far and in the end it is your brain's ability to retain information learned, whether of the scholarly type or the "I now know how to control my muscles better when competing in a triathlon" type, so Intelligence is always a key factor in skill points. At least that's my take; YMMV.

However, the separation of Intelligence and Education is that Education is reflected by a character class's skill points per level and boosted by Intelligence. A Commoner gets as many skill points as a Wizard, which is one flaw in this belief, but that's more due to an inconsistency in the D&D system. Look at d20 Modern. A Smart hero is the most well-Educated character regardless of what their Intelligence score actually is. Granted, a Smart hero with a 10 Intelligence won't go very far due to not being able to use their talents, but a well-Educated person with an average IQ would be best represented by a Smart Ordinary with a 10 Intelligence. They still get 9 skill points per level, and that's what represents Education: sticking it out and learning whether you are average or exceptional in Intelligence. Heck, saying my high school grades were less than stellar is an understatement. I didn't learn things in school, but if I got into the details here I'd derail this thread into political territory. I knew plenty of light bulbs who weren't particularly bright or dim but did well in school because they focused on learning, and that's what Education is. It is in no way an aspect of Intelligence. Intelligence merely boosts one's ability to attain Education. For example, I am as well educated or more so than all those average-IQ perfectionists who always wanted straight A grades in every class. That is because my focus on learning coupled with a phenomenal capacity for memory retention has allowed me to attain a great amount of Education, ie skill points.

Brevity is not my strong point

 

[Storyteller01]

Quick thought. I haven't read the whole thread yet, so apologies if this is a repeat...


Wouldn't we get a fort bonus against disease? We've been innoculated against diseases that killed regularly during the time that D&D is featured in (polio, measles, small pox, etc).

 

[genshou]

Quick thought. I haven't read the whole thread yet, so apologies if this is a repeat...


Wouldn't we get a fort bonus against disease? We've been innoculated against diseases that killed regularly during the time that D&D is featured in (polio, measles, small pox, etc).

Immunization: Modern-day health benefits in the United States of America include free access to immunization by an age of no more than two years. A character fortified in this way gains a +2 resistance bonus to Fortitude saving throws against disease. If the character receives immunization again during teen years, this bonus increases to +3.

When I statted myself up as a D&D character, part of the assumption was that I grew up in a fantasy world, so I did not receive any immunization.

 

[Tarangil]

I've had several groups in the past set up a game where we play ourselves. The majority of us are pretty much average, and the stats tend to float between 10-13, although things such as STR is sometimes higher.

What the players had found that it was more fun. After a few games they realized why...they couldn't rely on their stats to save them, so they were more careful worked together and felt more...mortal I guess. They liked the challenge so much, that many would create characters afterwards for other games, rolling 3d6 and keeping what's rolled just to have an "average" character.

 

[genshou]

I've had several groups in the past set up a game where we play ourselves. The majority of us are pretty much average, and the stats tend to float between 10-13, although things such as STR is sometimes higher.

What the players had found that it was more fun. After a few games they realized why...they couldn't rely on their stats to save them, so they were more careful worked together and felt more...mortal I guess. They liked the challenge so much, that many would create characters afterwards for other games, rolling 3d6 and keeping what's rolled just to have an "average" character.

Oh, it's very fun to play oneself as a character! Suddenly the game takes on a whole new meaning for you (in a good way). You really don't want your character to die, so you do things a lot differently. And there's less extrapolation based on player knowledge; ie "Well, I know that, but Grogny doesn't."

 

[Toj]

These are always interesting. The best way to figure out your stats is to have someone else do them. Just list your experiences...


Strength:
I'm 5'6", 160lbs. I can do 80 push-ups in 1 minute. 20 dead-hang pull ups. Being my size, I won't have a high score.

Dexterity:
Natural gymnast (flips, handstands etc)
Natural swimmer/diver (I can do a triple flip off a normal diving board)
Took first place in the Marine Corps obstacle course out of 800+
Water-skier (even barefoot)
Fired "expert" with the M-16 all 6 times I was tested.
2nd Degree Black Belt; inducted into the Hall of Fame for fighting--Speed is the key
I can climb anything, I rock at dodgeball, and I can play defense in b-ball (steals)

Constitution:
Never get sick (not a big part of Con, but part nonetheless)
I can run a 1.5 mile in 9:30

Intelligence:
Hmm. Going by school I got A's and B's without studying (could have been lucky guesses)
Military ASVAB scored overall 95 (means I scored better than 95% of the people who take the test). Had a 4.0 for my B.S degree (Computer Science).

Wisdom:
Hard to say. People come to me for advice, but that could be my Int or even Cha. I teach Sunday School, but that could be God given. I'm perceptive at pointing things out. Eh, I have no idea.

Charisma:
I used to think this was low, but I really have no idea. I'm a natural teacher and leader. I've been to 3 military schools, and I've won a leadership award at each one, which is voted upon by other students. I've been rated an excellent speaker and have to 'motivate' the troops often (I'm a military officer). I'm the guy who is very loud and expected to get everyone else going. However I am introverted; perferring to spend time with close friends rather than big parties.

Other things: I am an INTJ in the Meyers-Briggs personality test. I spent 4 years in the Marines, and 5 more years in the Air Force as enlisted and now officer.

Lastly, I would say you need to have exceptions to the 18 rule. Like ol Albert Einstein and other super scientists would be higher. How? They went with the house rule that if you roll an 18 you get to roll percentiles and 90% or higher you add 1 point and roll again.

 

[Storyteller01]

When I statted myself up as a D&D character, part of the assumption was that I grew up in a fantasy world, so I did not receive any immunization.

Well, there is the question of whether you would have survived childhood without it...

Quick hi-jack: What were the infant/child mortality rates for pre-renaissance Europe?