PC Abilities vs Player Abilities

[Jayde Moon]

Thank you, Easy.

Yes, all of you who point out that there are different types of intelligence, you are absolutely right!

But you make the mistake, in this thread, of focusing on the example that sparked this discussion and not the discussion itself.

The point of the discussion is more to the point of, "Is it right, in your opinion, for Player Joe to tell Player James that Player James can't play a Bard because Player James has no musical ability in real life?  Is it right for Player Joe to tell Player Amy that Player Amy can't have a character who is a math whiz because Player Amy is not a math whiz in real life?"

Should we, as players, be limited in our character creation process, a creative and imaginative process, to only those things we ourselves are good at.  Whether that be physically, mentally, or socially?

If yes to some and no to others... why?

Devil's advocate to my own position:  The mechanics allow you to flub being stronger, faster, more robust if you the player are weak, clumsy, or frail.  There is no mechanical buffer for intelligence, wisdom, and charisma.

If we can find or create those buffers, can it be acceptable (ie tools).  Are you REALLY gonna know if 'I'm using a calculator next to my computer' vice 'I'm a mathematical savant'?

And if so... do you really, REALLY care?  How much sleep are you gonna lose over it?

"Dammit, Amy's such an idiot, I KNOW she uses a calculator to divide the loot.  RARRRGH!!!!  That makes me so ANGRY!!!!"  *hulks out*

[Ommadawn]

I get what you're saying Jayde Moon, and agree 100%. No one has the right to tell another player how they should be playing their character. The DM's have also commented on this as well, both here and very clearly in the past on the old forums...  I don't know the link now, but they were pretty emphatic, even then.

[The Beggar]

As a person who has 18s in all stats IRL (except Dex, I admit, I'm just above average), it's hard for me to play anything but a near God-like character.

Should I be forced to "dummy down" a character who in reality is a digital representation of myself? If you prick them, do they not bleed red-magenta pixels?

[Gwydion]

Beggar,

Oh yeah?  What's your bench?  (Without a strength potion!)

:D

[Cruzel]

Dance puppets, dance.

[VauntedSpirit]

Cruzel, you cannot now pretend this was all a clever ruse.

[Thomas_Not_very_wise]

Smash them all.

[Kiaring]

Writing it off as a joke: #1 way to try and get out of debacles such as this one.

[Daemonic Daz]

NWN and FR are "fantasy" games. The fantasy being you can be what ever you want as long as it rides well with the DM's.

I think that sums up the topic. :)