Real Life Stats

[RangerWickett]

Me, using default array:

Str 10
Dex 12
Con 13
Int 15
Wis 8
Cha 14

I have a friend making a fantasy comic based on our college. Freshmen are 1st level. Sophomores 2nd, etc. I graduated a year ago, so I'm 6th level.

 

[genshou]

On the other hand, when people claim to have an I.Q. of 160+ I view that with skepticism. Online tests tend to give out a little higher scores... especially if they want you to buy something.

Point taken, but why do you assume that anyone here took an IQ test online? Mine was taken by request of my Jr. high school counselor, and taken nowhere near a computer.

I tend to think that everybody is equal. That doesn't mean eveyone has the same point buy with D&D stats. Oh no! People just usally have things that will balance them out. I mean... to me, typically the smarter people are less happy or less well adjusted. (Broad generalization) Ignorance is bliss anyone?

Oh, I definitely agree with you on this one. A few things that aren't represented by ability scores, but might affect my ability to adventure:
Narcolepsy. A big one.
DM: "The warm air current blowing down the tunnel is very relaxing, in stark contrast to the vileness of your previous surroundings. genshou, roll a Fortitude save.
genshou: "Crap."
Hypoglycemia. The best mechanical representation I've ever made of this one simply involves the amount of time before a character begins to take subdual damage for no food, and how fast that damage accrues thereafter. A ring of sustenance would be at the top of my magic item wish list.
And of course there are other disadvantages I have that wouldn't directly relate to gaming, but certainly make up for any perceived "unfairness" in my situation.

 

[Zaryus]

I don't want to sound like it's going to my head, but I got some good stats

STR:10
DEX:6
CON:14
INT:14
WIS:17
CHA:16

Needless to say I'm quite pleased with the stats, whether I deserved them or not, I don't know. But my ego stat certainly got bigger

 

[Gidien]

So Rangerwickett brings up the next question beyond the six stats... what about levels?

Now with the way the starting age is set up, it would seem that simply being 1st level requires training through the end of adolescence. So, I'd think that an average level 1 person is pretty much fresh out of high school. Maybe after you finish college, level 2 or 3? Graduate school for a 4? How long do you have to last in the professional workforce before you gain a level? What if your job never challenges you? Seems like leveling could be quite a long process.

The thing is, though leveling works awfully fast in the world of adventuring, it doesn't seem likely to be like that for most people. After all, 4th level represents a complete doubling of ALL your abilities. You are simply at least twice as good at everything than you were at level 1.

And what about class? I'd think most everyone is an expert, with even more experts than commoners, simply because we have an established educational system. Those who have spent time in the military or on a police force would be warriors or fighters, but don't forget, a 16 year old medival squire has been training extensively in combat most of his life, and he is still just a Ftr 1.

 

[genshou]

So Rangerwickett brings up the next question beyond the six stats... what about levels?

Now with the way the starting age is set up, it would seem that simply being 1st level requires training through the end of adolescence. So, I'd think that an average level 1 person is pretty much fresh out of high school. Maybe after you finish college, level 2 or 3? Graduate school for a 4? How long do you have to last in the professional workforce before you gain a level? What if your job never challenges you? Seems like leveling could be quite a long process.

The thing is, though leveling works awfully fast in the world of adventuring, it doesn't seem likely to be like that for most people. After all, 4th level represents a complete doubling of ALL your abilities. You are simply at least twice as good at everything than you were at level 1.

And what about class? I'd think most everyone is an expert, with even more experts than commoners, simply because we have an established educational system. Those who have spent time in the military or on a police force would be warriors or fighters, but don't forget, a 16 year old medival squire has been training extensively in combat most of his life, and he is still just a Ftr 1.

If you're going with stats in the modern day, be sure to use modern-day classes. For instance, I would be a Smart 1/Fast 1 Ordinary (just because I have high stats, that doesn't mean I'm heroic in any way). If I were brought up in D&D, the ways in which I've already received training would go with Rogue for my first level, followed by Ranger for my second. There are a few people on this thread who can claim high "level" in specialized "classes"; I for example am a level 14 Thread Hijacker.

What about skills? Feats? Technically I would have Ambidexterity, Alertness, and Education, but since I exist only in 3rd Edition and I'd get Ambidexterity at 2nd-level when I picked up Ranger, I'd chop that one off to make it only two feats.

As a 1st-level human Rogue with an 18 Int, I have A LOT OF SKILL POINTS. @.@

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

Reckon I'm some sort of spell-less Bard variant. (Maybe my Charisma's only 9. I got no magic, man.) Maybe a level of Rogue for my mis-spent youth building poisoned crossbow traps and perfecting my Sneak Attack.

Don't reckon I have Evasion or the ability to implant suggestions with my oratory (yet), but I can Inspire Competence. Reckon I'm Rogue 1/Bard 3. Don't reckon I'm any higher than that, despite what my friends tell me.

 

[genshou]

Reckon I'm some sort of spell-less Bard variant. (Maybe my Charisma's only 9. I got no magic, man.) Maybe a level of Rogue for my mis-spent youth building poisoned crossbow traps and perfecting my Sneak Attack.

Don't reckon I have Evasion or the ability to implant suggestions with my oratory (yet), but I can Inspire Competence. Reckon I'm Rogue 1/Bard 3. Don't reckon I'm any higher than that, despite what my friends tell me.

But do you have any levels in specialized "Enworlder" classes like my 14 in Thread Hijacker?

 

[Storyteller01]

IMO, a good measure for Int (Using the FAQ statement that INT x 10 is a good rule of thumb for character IQ) is to go online and take one of the free on-line IQ tests. Divide the result by 10, rounding up or down accordingly.

May not be completely accurate, but its close.

 

[Storyteller01]

Most of us would start out as low to mid level experts. Fighters for military, police, or martial training (although most of us city dojo trained folk will have minimal levels in fighter).

 

[Gidien]

Yeah, as genshou pointed out, the d20 Modern might be a better class system. Still, I've a feeling few people, even really talented people, are PC classes. I mean, after all, most of us don't have any of those nifty class features like sneak attack, spellcasting, or anything like that. I think expert is the way to go for most everyone.

And if you are a PC class, then give some examples of how you use those nifty class features