Post by sgthulka on Aug 3, 2013 10:22:26 GMT -5
I'll admit it, most of my warriors begin with an 8 or 9 IQ. In The Fantasy Trip, even some of my wizards began with low IQ's! Part of the reason is that the mechanics of the game encourage you to emphasize ST and DX over IQ. LAW is a bit more forgiving in that regard because of the skill system. But still, if you want a front line fighter you're well-advised to start with 11/13 or 12/12 ST/DX combo ignore IQ for the moment.
Over time, my characters who survive multiple adventures start to gain IQ. Once they have a basic combat role covered, and have a decent chance of surviving an encounter with a goblin, I begin to develop their non-combat role. Their IQ begins to climb with experience.
So, from a flavor/fluff standpoint, what's going on here? I'm a big fan of Bernard Cornwell and so in my own head I've used his Saxon and Grailquest and even Arthur books as a story narrative explanation. In those books the protagonist generally begins as someone with unique combat abilities. Those abilities aren't necessarily brutish power, they're often a cunning, craftiness, or natural understanding of tactics or strategy. Of course, they are as often as not mixed with straightforward skill at arms (like Thomas of Hookton's archery). So what's going on here? Does that means the characters of fiction begin their adventuring careers as super-heroes with high ST, IQ and DX all at the same time?
I would argue not, because the other characteristic these protagonists all share is naivite. They are constantly surprised by how evil the world is around them, and they are easily manipulated as a result. As they progress through the novels they become more jaded, more worldly, and less naïve. This, I would argue, is closer to the IQ of LAW and TFT. This is why all my characters begin with low IQ and slowly gain more as they gain experience and knowledge. To me, IQ is less raw intelligence. Instead, it is basic education, experience, knowledge, and perhaps wisdom.
That makes more sense within the mechanics of the game, too (imho). Of course a wizard would have a higher IQ, he's been forced to study to learn his spells, resulting in a higher base knowledge/education stat. It also stands to reason that a clerk or a scribe, at IQ 10, would be higher than your typical adventuring murder hobo. He went to an ecclesiastical college or had a tutor teach him to read, write and perform arithmetic, while your beloved murder hobo was busy lifting weights.
Over time, my characters who survive multiple adventures start to gain IQ. Once they have a basic combat role covered, and have a decent chance of surviving an encounter with a goblin, I begin to develop their non-combat role. Their IQ begins to climb with experience.
So, from a flavor/fluff standpoint, what's going on here? I'm a big fan of Bernard Cornwell and so in my own head I've used his Saxon and Grailquest and even Arthur books as a story narrative explanation. In those books the protagonist generally begins as someone with unique combat abilities. Those abilities aren't necessarily brutish power, they're often a cunning, craftiness, or natural understanding of tactics or strategy. Of course, they are as often as not mixed with straightforward skill at arms (like Thomas of Hookton's archery). So what's going on here? Does that means the characters of fiction begin their adventuring careers as super-heroes with high ST, IQ and DX all at the same time?
I would argue not, because the other characteristic these protagonists all share is naivite. They are constantly surprised by how evil the world is around them, and they are easily manipulated as a result. As they progress through the novels they become more jaded, more worldly, and less naïve. This, I would argue, is closer to the IQ of LAW and TFT. This is why all my characters begin with low IQ and slowly gain more as they gain experience and knowledge. To me, IQ is less raw intelligence. Instead, it is basic education, experience, knowledge, and perhaps wisdom.
That makes more sense within the mechanics of the game, too (imho). Of course a wizard would have a higher IQ, he's been forced to study to learn his spells, resulting in a higher base knowledge/education stat. It also stands to reason that a clerk or a scribe, at IQ 10, would be higher than your typical adventuring murder hobo. He went to an ecclesiastical college or had a tutor teach him to read, write and perform arithmetic, while your beloved murder hobo was busy lifting weights.
