Is INT useless?

[Xetheral]

Some of which is fairly easily represented by one character helping the other. That wouldn't require the second character to use their Cha.

Making it a group check or two individual checks needed would actually make the check harder than a single check.

Sure, a plan that requires two checks to succeed is more likely to fail than one (if the DCs are equal, anyway), but my point was that having two (or more) skilled people opens up new tactics that wouldn't be possible with only one skilled character.

To take a two-man con, for example, it might normally be impossible to effectively lie to a suspicious noble about an event that is easily verified. But if a second character can decieve the guard sent to verify the first character's story, what was previously impossible is now achievable.

[Tanarii]

I like the way your mind works, and would like to subscribe to your newsletter. :)

[Dr. Cliché]

Regarding the 'depends on the DM' argument, I think this can definitely be a factor. Not just in terms of direct skill checks but also in terms of puzzles and such. For example, quite recently (albeit in 3.5) our party had two characters - both with 18 Int (one also had 18 Wis) - staring at a puzzle on a wall. Out of character, neither of us had a clue. We pointed out, quite reasonably I think, that our characters were supposed to have exceptional intellect. However, we as players, did not have that level of intellect. However, the DM flatly refused to so much as give us a hint as to the answer. I think this sort of thing certainly makes Int seem like a total dump stat.


That said, I'm not actually a fan of dumping Int on most of my characters. I usually dump Wisdom instead, because clearly I'm a masochist.

[Xetheral]

I like the way your mind works, and would like to subscribe to your newsletter. :)

I shall entitle it: In a Comat-as-War game, does a Minor Illusion of a one-handed improvised thrown weapon get the bonus to damage from the dueling fighting stye when used to attack by popping out from from hiding by a creature whose opponents have non-sensory knowledge of its location?

The subtitle shall be: And other assorted important Philosophical Questions of the 21st Century.

[Dr_Dinosaur]

Most characters can probably coast by with just proficiency in one or two INT skills rather than actually having a high score