I am looking for suggestions for role-playing an evil, half-orc barbarian. He has an Intelligence of 7 and a Wisdom of 12. He is savage (raised by orcs in the underdark) but not outright vicious or diabolical. Frequently I'll speak in orc or undercommon (which no one in the party understands orcs and only one other person speaks undercommon) instead of common even when others speak to me in common. Needless to say, I say "Oops" a lot and then repeat myself in broken common. Generally I won't do outright silly things like try to pick up crabs and have them attach to my fingers with their claws (I do have above average Wisdom) but I will kick fragile things around not thinking about how easy it is for me to break the object (Strength is 20). Any additional ideas such as what my character could say or actions he could do would be appreciated.
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Suggestions for role-playing a low intelligence character
- Thread starter rrealm
- Start date
Welcome to the boards!
It sounds like you're playing a bully. Strong, not too smart, but wise enough to know when to run if a fight isn't going your way. The low INT is going to hurt you in your planning; you think charging straight forward at the enemy is the bee's knees. And hey, if it works the first time, it works every time.
I don't think your language should be impared to the point of being broken; you arn't that stupid. But you won't have complex thoughts to express. Also, I think understanding what language you're speaking is a function of WIS, not INT, so you shouldn't necessarily be switching around a whole lot.
You say he's Evil and savage, but not vicious or diabolical. I agree with the second one... there is something in Diabolical that implies careful and clever planning that your INT 7 half-orc doesn't have. And while savage doesn't mean someone is Evil, if they are Evil and Savage (and a barbarian), I have trouble seeing how they would not be vicious; I should think this guy enjoys enflicting pain and watching other suffer... he is, after all, a bully.
At any rate, have fun with him.
It sounds like you're playing a bully. Strong, not too smart, but wise enough to know when to run if a fight isn't going your way. The low INT is going to hurt you in your planning; you think charging straight forward at the enemy is the bee's knees. And hey, if it works the first time, it works every time.
I don't think your language should be impared to the point of being broken; you arn't that stupid. But you won't have complex thoughts to express. Also, I think understanding what language you're speaking is a function of WIS, not INT, so you shouldn't necessarily be switching around a whole lot.
You say he's Evil and savage, but not vicious or diabolical. I agree with the second one... there is something in Diabolical that implies careful and clever planning that your INT 7 half-orc doesn't have. And while savage doesn't mean someone is Evil, if they are Evil and Savage (and a barbarian), I have trouble seeing how they would not be vicious; I should think this guy enjoys enflicting pain and watching other suffer... he is, after all, a bully.
At any rate, have fun with him.
DarkMaster
First Post
a Barbarian with high wisdom and low intelligence, would act more like a wild animal than the average person. Relying on instinct and it's sense to take quick descision without really analysing all the futur impact of his action. What is the most obvious way to save my life now. He could follow predetermined attack tactics perfectly, but may lack on the improvisation side if things do not turn as plan. He should not come up with complicated attack plan or be able to solve most purely logical problem. He will excel at things requiring common sense. Hit the dragon in the hearth instead of trying to figure out what is his weak spot by analysing the color of its scale and how much food he ate and the last 24 hours.
welby
First Post
If I may add (as a player in the campaign), rrealm certainly has the basics down. He plays his character well, and not once would anyone question the actions of his character. He's a very fun character to have around.
That being said, I'm guessing rrealm is looking for *additional* things he can do to add diversity and flavor to his character. Ie. he does say "Oops" a lot, which is getting to be a nifty trademark for his character.
That being said, I'm guessing rrealm is looking for *additional* things he can do to add diversity and flavor to his character. Ie. he does say "Oops" a lot, which is getting to be a nifty trademark for his character.
Felix said:
I would say this is accurate.
Felix said:
Mainly when I speak common, I make it as broken as I can. In general, I keep the proper sentance structure (Wisdom based as I see it) but "mix up" some of my words or ignore words or assign new meanings to exsisting words, usually when the wizard uses big complicated sentences directed towards me.
I see the learning of new words and their meaning as Intelligence based which is one reason why my character's vocabulary is quite poor.
Another reason why my common is so broken is because I know one more language than what the books allow. I have made a deal with my DM to give me the extra language (common since I gained undercommon and orc as bonus languages from living deep within the earth) but I must role-play that I can barley communicate in that language or else I receive an XP penalty or must forfit a language.
Felix said:
I suppose I meant to say that he is savage and vicious along with being primitive and crude but he doesn't walk up to innocent people and rip off their ears and pull their hair out just to watch them bleed and hear innocents scream. Now if they insult him or do something that my character deems as insulting (which could be nearly anything. His intelligence doesn't percieve all gestures correctly) then they are fair game and will probally get mangeled "because they deserved it".
Felix said:
I certainly do. Thanks.
welby said:
I doubt that would help Thokk in any fashion other than to prove how dumb he is. He might give it up after you challenge him to a battle of witts though.
noeuphoria
First Post
I would suggest using material from the real world to study up on how less-intelligent people speak and act. Interviews with NFL lineman would be a good start, as would the state of the union address.
Particle_Man
Explorer
Tactically, you might be unfamiliar with how to deal with unfamiliar foes. I had a dumb half-orc fight vampires. They turned to mist and he kept swinging, ineffectually, at the mist. The same, earlier in his career, with incorporeal foes. The lack of a magic weapon did not stop him swinging (it just stopped him hitting). 
What is the CHR? This might be relevant to social aspects of the character.
What is the CHR? This might be relevant to social aspects of the character.
