Stats in Real Life

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This is not to be confused with the similar topic "What are your STR, DEX......" , but is a response to something I noticed in the topic. It appears that we have a number of different interpretations of what the stats mean, particularly Intelligence, Wisdom and Charisma. Also, we don't agree on what the numbers mean, as the qualities are difficult to quantify. So I figured, why not create a topic so that everyone can discuss their interpretation of what D&D stats mean in real life.

 

This might be a bit outside of the topic, but....

Why is strenght giving a bonus on your to hit roll? Dexterity ought to do this. The bonus on the damage roll is ok. This is my biggest concern with the d&d rules. The quick and flexible should have a better chance of scoring a hit, while the big bruiser should do more damage. It makes no sence, when everyone is using fighters with a strenght of atleast 18+. 18 in a stat is considered the maksimum a human being can achieve. If you have 18 in intelligence, we are talking einstein, pascal and newton in the same person.

 

I agree about the 18 issue. Lots of folk on this board go and give them self crazy high stats. Let's face it we are all pretty normal. Say "I got an A in 8th grade so I should have a 17 INT" makes me laugh. In 8th grade you are not even aware of most of the higher math that exists. I way that would be an accurate stats is if the person is 4 year old doing 8th grade math. Then I'd say that was approperate. And for wisdom the same thing goes. There is no way a 13 year old say the same insight and maturity as a 30 years old. "I'm wisdom for my years" means you maybe have a 11 not and 16.

I've said it before we don't have outstanding stats because we are not adventures. Adventuring is not done by normal people. And that whole "I'm more educated than someone from the middle ages" line does not fly. Stats are about raw ability not simply facts. "I'm the smartest in my class" doesn't cut it.

All I can say is we need a little realism in these 'stats' topics. OK I've had my rant now I feel better.

 

I agree 100%. Either this board is frequented by future members of the Hall of Justice, or by deluded individuals. IIRC, Carmon from DragonLance was a legend for his strength, and in the RPG he was only given an 18/82. Tanis & Sturm both had 17's!!!!

On the STR for + to Hit, that is for bashing through armor. They figure that in hand to hand combat skill, more than dex is the base of your THACO. However if you are too weak to get your sword through the beetle's shell or the rouge's chain mail, then your blade will bounce.

 

I completely agree with your opinions, with one small caveat. 18 Intelligence is genius level in my opinion, but not quite Einstein, Newton, and Pascal rolled into one. I figure Einstein probably had 19 Int. Perhaps 20, but I think that's overdoing it. I also assume we are basing this on 2E AD&D; I think the numbers do get biased a little higher in 3E, but not having played that system and only skimmed thru the PHB, I'm not sure. If anyone has more intimate knowledge of 3E stats, their comments would be welcome.

 

The 3E system spreads out the bonuses to a greater degree and sets a standard for all stats. For example in 2E a 15 STR does not give you any bonus but a 15 DEX give you a -1 to AC. In 3E a 15 STR gives you a +2 to hit and damage and a 15 DEX also gives you a +2 (higher AC is better i 3E) to AC. You start getting bonuses at 12 and start taking penalties at 8. The makes stats have a greater meaning and cuts down on min-maxing a little bit. I remember in 2E there was really to difference between a 10 and 14 DEX. Neither had any modifiers. Now this is the difference between no modifier at 10 and a +2 at 14.

 

Voltric,
There is actually a way we could determine each ones stats quite precisely. Lets make them to take some tests!
IQ test for intelligence, wisdom (have to think about how could we separate wisdom score and intelligence score) Lets say 18 wis, intel is 165 points and above in IQ test Dont think much people here would actually have so high scores

Strenght tests are easy to perform, no comments needed. BTW some people here announced that they do 400 pds, which is about 220kg bench pressing!!!! Well they could probably be participating in Mr Olympia or Powerlifting WC with such results. If not lieing they definitely deserve strength stat of 19!!! As they are among strongest homo sapiens in the world.
Lets say 19 str 200 kg bench pressing and above, 17 strenth 150 bench pr, 5 str 70 bench pressing and so on.

Dexterity test... Hard to perform... As dexterity is linked with coordination and SPEED, let them send us results of their 100m sprint... 10sec and below - dex 19, 10.3 to 10 - dex 18 and so on... I think that would reflect the dexterity of a person quite well.

Constitution... What about their weight and fat percentage? As well as disease history. Actually the heavier you are the more hitpoints you have (the harder you are to kill)

Charisma.. Well... Seems to me that interview would be needed. Or at least picture and voice record.

That would be interesting to perform such testing to see who is who here

 

What INT score would an IQ of around 180 get me?

I think DEX has more to do with hand-eye coordination than speed, but that's me. I'm not sure what to standardize this as tho. I just figure I have a little less than average dexterity since I don't have as much natural ability at sports as most of the guys my age (although I can still play fairly well).

Sadly I have no idea what I benchpress. That in itself probably tells you my STR isn't great.

 

I saw a TV program once about some experimental school in America using new teaching methods and claiming to test "wisdom" instead of "intelligence"

 

Anybody have the AD&D clarification between intelligence and wisdom?

My understanding is that intelligence relates to knowledge and capability to learn -- referring more to academic skills.

Wisdom on the other hand relates more to understanding; I'm a little fuzzier on this one, but I think it has more to do with being able to conceptualize and imagine, as well as relating more to common sense and dealing with situations rather than facts.

 

why would you WANT to create stats for yourself? i mean, if youever tried to mention that in society you'd be laughed out of the building. however, if you do want equivalent stats, look in the old rule books. they have them

 

If you ever mention your roleplaying habbits in society, a get laughed out as well!

 

Dark Pheonix, the main reasons I want to know how to relate stats to real life are
1) so that I can understand the statistical descriptions of characters better
2) In case I want to create a character which is ME

 

In second ED wisdom was described as largely having to do with strength of will. "A person may have the intelligence to know that smoking is bad for him, but not the wisdom to stop"
wisdom also has alot to do with plain horsesense, not experience. The person with the high wisdom wouldn't get taken in by a con artist, because he's a good judge of character, not because he was already burned by that scam.
honestly, wis 16+ and more should provide some chance to know alignment, but that would just be too much to add.
I think we've all known really bright people who did alot of stupid things. Einstien once lost a 40,000 dollar check he used as a bookmark. That the best example of 19int and a 7 wis i can come up with.

 

I've always wanted to play my selfin an rpg.
Here the stats i think I should have

STR - 13
DEX - 12
CON - 14
INT - 11
WIS - 10
CHA - 10

 

I agree a little fun never hurt anyone...

My stats would be (i think)

Strength: 10
Dex: 15
Con: 14
Int: 11
Wis: 10
CHa: 17



[This message has been edited by Darien Noella (edited July 07, 2001).]

 

ok, join the ffun

Str:9
Dex:12
Con:7
Int:15
Wis:9
Cha:12

 

hmmm


Str: 14
Dex: 8 (clumsy as hell but good with a bow)
Con: 9 (get sick all the time, but great endurance)
int: 14
wis: 12
Cha: 6

I can put 10 out of 12 arrows in a dinner plate at 70 yards, but I frequently trip on my own feet. I have spent years hiking 30+ miles a day, but I can catch a flu from someone 40 yards away in about three seconds.

hehe stats make more sense in the game than in real life.

 

Kitiara... is your 17 cha due to your extreme physical beauty, or to your natural wit & charm?

Or is it just because you can cook a mean steak?

[This message has been edited by Capstone (edited June 18, 2001).]

 

Capstone:

Hang out in the Chat Room some afternoon and you'll find out for yourself!!!!

Personally, I think the "17" is modest.

Now, where did that 1st ED Comliness stat go to????