Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma

[ancientempathy]

Intelligence (INT)

Intelligence determines how well your character learns and reasons. This ability is important for wizards because it affects how many spells they can cast, how hard their spells are to resist, and how powerful their spells can be. It’s also important for any character who wants to have a wide assortment of skills.

You apply your character’s Intelligence modifier to:
- The number of languages your character knows at the start of the game.
- The number of skill points gained each level. (But your character always gets at least 1 skill point per level.)
- Appraise, Craft, Decipher Script, Disable Device, Forgery, Knowledge, Search, and Spellcraft checks. These are the skills that have Intelligence as their key ability.

A wizard gains bonus spells based on her Intelligence score. The minimum Intelligence score needed to cast a wizard spell is 10 + the spell’s level.

An animal has an Intelligence score of 1 or 2. A creature of humanlike intelligence has scores of at least 3.

// Player‘s Handbook: Core Rulebook I v. 3.5, pgs. 9-10

[ancientempathy]

Wisdom (WIS)

Wisdom describes a character’s willpower, common sense, perception, and intuition. While Intelligence represents one’s ability to analyze information, Wisdom represents being in tune with and aware of one’s surroundings. An “absentminded professor” has low Wisdom and high Intelligence. A simpleton (low Intelligence) might still have great insight (high Wisdom). Wisdom is the most important ability for clerics and druids, and it is also important for paladins and rangers. If you want your character to have acute senses, put a high score in Wisdom. Every character has a Wisdom score.

You apply your character’s Wisdom modifier to:
- Will saving throws (for negating the effect of charm person and other spells).
- Heal, Listen, Profession, Sense Motive, spot, and Survival checks.
These are the skills that have Wisdom as their key ability.

Clerics, druids, paladins, and rangers get bonus spells based on their Wisdom scores. The minimum Wisdom score needed to cast a cleric, druid, paladin, or ranger spell is 10 + the spells’ level.

// Player‘s Handbook: Core Rulebook I v. 3.5, pgs. 9-10

[ancientempathy]

Charisma (CHA)

Charisma measures a character’s force of personality, persuasiveness, personal magnetism, ability to lead, and physical attractiveness. This ability represents actual strength of personality, not merely how one is perceived by others in a social setting. Charisma is most important for paladins, sorcerers, and bards. It is also important for clerics, since it affects their ability to turn undead. Every creature has a Charisma score.

You apply your character’s Charisma modifier to:
- Bluff, Diplomacy, Disguise, Gather Information, Handle Animal, Intimidate, Perform, and Use Magic Device checks. These are the skills that have Charisma as their key ability.
- checks that represent an attempt to influence others.
- Turning checks for clerics and paladins attempting to turn zombies, vampires, and other undead.

Sorcerers and bards get bonus spells based on their Charisma socres. The minimum Charisma score needed to cast a sorcerer or bard spell is 10 + the spell’s level.

// Player‘s Handbook: Core Rulebook I v. 3.5, pgs. 9-10

[ancientempathy]

Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma

You can use your character’s Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores to guide you in roleplaying your character. Here is some background (just guidelines) about what these scores can mean.

A smart character (one with high intelligence) is curious, knowledgeable, and prone to using big words. A character with a high intelligence but low wisdom may be smart but absentminded, or knowledgeable but lacking in common sense. A character with a high Intelligence but a low Charisma may be a know-it-all or a reclusive scholar. A smart character lacking in both wisdom and Charisma may put her foot in her mouth often.

A character with a low Intelligence mispronounces and misuses words, has trouble following directions, or fails to get the joke.

A character with high wisdom score may be sensible, serene, “in tune,” alert, or centered. A character with a high Wisdom but low Intelligence may be aware, but simple. A character with high Wisdom but low Charisma knows enough to speak carefully and may become an advisor (or “power behind the throne”) rather than a leader. The wise character lacking in both Intelligence and Charisma is uncouth and unsophisticated.

A character with a low Wisdom score may be rash, imprudent, irresponsible, or “out of it.”

A character with high Charisma may be attractive, striking, personable, and confident. A character with high Charisma but a low Intelligence can usually pass herself off as knowledgeable, until she meets a true expert. A charismatic character lacking both in Intelligence and Wisdom is likely to be shallow and unaware of others’ feelings.

A character with low Charisma may be reserved, gruff, rude, fawning, or simply nondescript.

// Player‘s Handbook: Core Rulebook I v. 3.5, pgs. 9-10

[Mister Cicerone]

//Giving this a bump