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<blockquote data-quote="Morrus" data-source="post: 5745018" data-attributes="member: 1">This is kind of a summation of the Should X Players Have an Advantage? threads.Opinions are divided in those threads.&nbsp; So this question goes to those who hold the position (and I'm not saying it's right or wrong - I'm more asking how it's different to this) that a player's natural advantages should translate to gameplay advantages rather than roleplaying the character itself.&nbsp; Usually this argument is phrased in terms of Charisma and Intelligence.But let's take another ability score.&nbsp; I have a player who is a pretty big guy.&nbsp; He's definitely stronger than all the other players.&nbsp; Should he have an advantage in combat?&nbsp; Should he get some kind of damage bonus because the player is physically large?&nbsp; Should he play his character as a large, strong, intimidating type because those are his own traits?&nbsp; I say no - he is playing a character who is weaker than he is, and uses the character's ability scores, not his own.&nbsp; But then, shouldn't a charismatic player play down his natural abilities in roleplaying situations; shouldn't a non-charismatic player be able to perform better in roleplaying situations if his character has a higher charisma than the character of the low-charisma guy?&nbsp;&nbsp; Otherwise why have the ability scores in the first place?&nbsp; Just play yourself.I'm not trying to say it's all that important.&nbsp; I don't suggest penalising a player who solves a clue that his character wouldn't - that's just pendantry too far, and is no fun for anyone; I wouldn't dream of doing that.&nbsp; But as a curious debate topic:How should ability scores be reflected in the way a character plays his character?</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Morrus, post: 5745018, member: 1"] This is kind of a summation of the [I]Should X Players Have an Advantage?[/I] threads. Opinions are divided in those threads. So this question goes to those who hold the position (and I'm not saying it's right or wrong - I'm more asking how it's different to this) that a player's natural advantages should translate to gameplay advantages rather than roleplaying the character itself. Usually this argument is phrased in terms of Charisma and Intelligence. But let's take another ability score. I have a player who is a pretty big guy. He's definitely stronger than all the other players. Should he have an advantage in combat? Should he get some kind of damage bonus because the player is physically large? Should he play his character as a large, strong, intimidating type because those are his own traits? I say no - he is playing a character who is weaker than he is, and uses the character's ability scores, not his own. But then, shouldn't a charismatic player play down his natural abilities in roleplaying situations; shouldn't a non-charismatic player be able to perform better in roleplaying situations if his character has a higher charisma than the character of the low-charisma guy? Otherwise why have the ability scores in the first place? Just play yourself. I'm not trying to say it's all that important. I don't suggest penalising a player who solves a clue that his character wouldn't - that's just pendantry too far, and is no fun for anyone; I wouldn't dream of doing that. But as a curious debate topic: [I]How should ability scores be reflected in the way a character plays his character?[/I] [/QUOTE]

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