What does damaging/boosting mental abilities feel like?

[Quasqueton]

In D&D there are poisons and diseases and spells that damage a character's Intelligence, Wisdom, and/or Charisma. There are spells and magic items that boost these abilities for a short while as well. Plus, as discussed in a recent thread, there is the awaken spell that dramatically increases these abilities, permanently.

What's it like to suddenly go dumb? What's it like to suddenly gain intelligence?

For an average person (10-11 Intelligence), a simple fox's cunning gives a 40% increase in intelligence.

Are there any Real Life examples of people loosing or gaining intelligence, wisdom, or charisma? What is the psychological impact of such a thing?

Is drunkeness loss of Wisdom (and Dexterity)?

Is Alzeimer's loss of Intelligence?

What do the various illegal drugs do to a person's mind (Int, Wis, Cha)?

[Having never been drunk or high, nor known anyone affected by Alzeimer's, I have no personal experience for knowing. Although I've been in the presence of drunk/high people, I was too annoyed to really pay scientific attention.]

What would a person's memory and feelings be on regaining their mental facilities after some kind of drastic loss? I'm especially interested in any Real Life information on this subject. Maybe people who've come back from strokes, amnesia, brain damage, etc. I know the human brain doesn't heal (easily), so there may not be much info on regaining mental abilities.

Quasqueton

 

[diaglo]

http://www.cdc.gov/doc.do/id/0900f3ec8006b2e5

there are plenty of groups out there to discuss issues of memory loss, loss of limb, and other injuries.

also see if you can find the movie with robin williams where he suddenly snaps out of his catatonic state when he starts taking medication.

 

[Kahuna Burger]

Read Flowers for Algernon.

Read it again, its a fantastic story and you may have missed something the first time through.

Talk to someone who has been treated successfuly for severe ADD, then was forced to stop treatment, or found the treatment used was losing effectiveness. :\ They may not be able to put it into words, but for me just seeing and hearing the memory of that loss in a person was powerful.

My opinion is that mental stat enhancing magic is too easy. It should be addictive, with heavy depression setting in after it wears off. It should be distracting when it starts, as the whole world seems new and amazing. It should be a catalyst to a change in the character.

It isn't any of those things because generally stats are just that - statistics that effect your bonus to checks. Some people do try to play their stats, or stat their planned character personality, but in general its a game and not an exploration of the psyche, so thats just how it goes. But in a big ol' homebrew, there would be a lot of changes I would make to stat boost/drain effects.

Kahuna Burger

 

[niastri]

In D&D there are poisons and diseases and spells that damage a character's Intelligence, Wisdom, and/or Charisma. There are spells and magic items that boost these abilities for a short while as well. Plus, as discussed in a recent thread, there is the awaken spell that dramatically increases these abilities, permanently.

What's it like to suddenly go dumb? What's it like to suddenly gain intelligence?

For an average person (10-11 Intelligence), a simple fox's cunning gives a 40% increase in intelligence.

Are there any Real Life examples of people loosing or gaining intelligence, wisdom, or charisma? What is the psychological impact of such a thing?

Is drunkeness loss of Wisdom (and Dexterity)?

Is Alzeimer's loss of Intelligence?

What do the various illegal drugs do to a person's mind (Int, Wis, Cha)?

[Having never been drunk or high, nor known anyone affected by Alzeimer's, I have no personal experience for knowing. Although I've been in the presence of drunk/high people, I was too annoyed to really pay scientific attention.]

What would a person's memory and feelings be on regaining their mental facilities after some kind of drastic loss? I'm especially interested in any Real Life information on this subject. Maybe people who've come back from strokes, amnesia, brain damage, etc. I know the human brain doesn't heal (easily), so there may not be much info on regaining mental abilities.

Quasqueton

Go out tonight, drink 3 liters of vodka on the rocks.

Report back tomorrow morning with your findings.

 

[Quasqueton]

Go out tonight, drink 3 liters of vodka on the rocks.

Isn't there a difference between stupor and stupid?

Quasqueton

 

[Laman Stahros]

In D&D there are poisons and diseases and spells that damage a character's Intelligence, Wisdom, and/or Charisma. There are spells and magic items that boost these abilities for a short while as well. Plus, as discussed in a recent thread, there is the awaken spell that dramatically increases these abilities, permanently.

What's it like to suddenly go dumb? What's it like to suddenly gain intelligence?

For an average person (10-11 Intelligence), a simple fox's cunning gives a 40% increase in intelligence.

Are there any Real Life examples of people loosing or gaining intelligence, wisdom, or charisma? What is the psychological impact of such a thing?

Is drunkeness loss of Wisdom (and Dexterity)?

That would be a good way to repersent it.

Is Alzeimer's loss of Intelligence?

I would have to say so.

What do the various illegal drugs do to a person's mind (Int, Wis, Cha)?

Wow, that's a very, very, tough one. I have never used any, so . . . I can't really say.

 

[niastri]

Isn't there a difference between stupor and stupid?

Quasqueton

I was implying ability damage in Int, Wis and Cha would be a lot like how you would feel first thing tomorrow morning

Especially if you have never tried it before.

 

[iwatt]

I was implying ability damage in Int, Wis and Cha would be a lot like how you would feel first thing tomorrow morning

Especially if you have never tried it before.

But rememeber that while your'e drunk your're pretty sure you've just boosted your Wis, Cha, and Int. At least from your perspective.

 

[Laslo Tremaine]

I think Order of the Stick summed it up best...

http://www.giantitp.com/cgi-bin/GiantITP/ootscript?SK=58

 

[Asmo]

That is one great comic strip.
Hillarius!

Asmo