Stat Scores...

[MasterD_Evil]

Ok, as a general rule we accept 3 in any stat as a minimum (exceptions noted)... For Humanoid creatures 10-11 is considered average, and 18 would considered extra-ordinairy... Then how do you define 30 or 48 in a stat?

I mean, I could imagine a an ancient wyrm with 48 Strenght, as those creatures are massive and old and got the time to gain that sort of strenght... But how do you see 48 Int? (doubt there's any creature with such an Int). But still, what if there was, how could you try and comprehend how smart it is? Does it know/remember everything he heard?

[Zoras]

I would rule that by the time Intelligence hits the 30+ range, they cease to think in the way mortals do. Nothing (or very few things) would be beyond their comprehension. They could easily solve whatever mathematical or scientific problem you could pose to them. Such a high intelligence would only be found among the Gods themselves or extremely powerful beings, I believe, where they contemplate and understanding the workings behind the Planes themselves. Mortals can only think and react on a single location at a single point in time. Gods could likely have many different avatars on different worlds all doing different things at different points in time, and yet not get confused. They would likely also put into motion plans that might take centuries or even millienia to reach completion, making them utterly incomprehensible to mortals.

That would be an appropriate intelligence of that height, I feel.

[MasterD_Evil]

Zoras, the man with an explenation for everything.

The problem with Cha, Int and Wis is that it's easy to play a person with the same or lower scores in those stats as you have in RL. But it could be damn hard to play a person smarter or wiser than you are.

An example being that a Wizard with 20 Int would without a doubt know an easy riddle, but that doesn't mean the one who plays the wizard knows the riddle.

It makes really high Str, Dex and Con scores a lot easier to play with.

[Zoras]

There's a reason why I always play a Wizard in PnP, MDE. It matches my own personality best.

And yes, the physical stats are a lot easier to interpret than the mental ones. Remember that Wisdom is changed now however. It represents how well you discern and notice your environment. (Which is why Spot checks are based off Wisdom, not Dexterity.)

[Feraess]

Spot checks from dexterity? Huh

IMO, WoTC noticed that the strength scale was ridiculous and therefore decided to change the lot. Now we have 5 ridiculous scales and one workable one.

There does come a time in everyone's playing career when their vastly inteligent wizard cannot remember the person's name they went sent to find. It really is impossible to roleplay someone with a higher inteligence than yourself.
'Course, this also leads to the opposite situations, where a bad roleplayer uses his own intelligence to guide the actions of a much less intelligent character.

I'm still not certain on the 3rd ed. rules, but i'm thinking the maximum inteligence a person can get is about 24, when they would be into level 20 and beyond. Surely this would be the cut off for mortal inteligence?

[Zoras]

Technically, PCs can keep raising their stats through the use of level raises, magical items, spells etc. but as a DM, I enforce the rule that mortals cannot gain stats above 25 unless they ascend to a higher form of Life. (Namely, an Outsider, Magical Humanoid, Undead etc.)

[Erik]

Just curious, Zoras.  What if a character in your game has an Intelligence of 23 and puts on a Headband of Intellect +4 for a total Intelligence of 27?
Anyway, I think that by the time any character could naturally have an intelligence, wisdom or charisma in the mid to upper 20s, he/she would be so immensely powerful that it wouldn't really matter.  Most likely the character would be of epic proportions (above level 20 at the least) and way beyond the average mortal anyway.  Most characters at that time are touched by gods, magic, or some other powerful force.