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(08-20-2015, 02:46 PM)Berrod Armstrong Wrote:(08-20-2015, 01:32 PM)LadyRochester Wrote:I have a hard time believing this can be quantified via your own experiences with players of lesser wit than their characters. I have roleplayed with people who are quite slow of wit -- but they see witty characters on TV or have read them in books, and use what they've seen to produce a properly convincing performance that fits their narrative well.Â(08-20-2015, 01:22 PM)Berrod Armstrong Wrote: Perhaps a change of the thread's subject might help, if a sharp mind and quick wit is what you're talking about. Addressing the word 'dumb' may assist as well, regardless of if the intent is not to offend.Â
Not to mention, if someone not of a sharp mind cannot respond as fast as their character can, it has nothing to do with the roleplay at all. If they take five minutes to respond and simply put in their emote "Berrod Armstrong's response was almost immediate, blah blah," Then the scene has been narrated in a way that paints the character as quick witted -- even if the player took five minutes to come up with the response. It's all about the writing.
I changed it to "Witty" though this also applies to "Genius" characters so many people love to RP. And I do mean dumb, not slow. Dumb. Stupid. Not smart. Someone intellectually challenged.
Someone who even if they take five minutes to respond, no matter how great they are, their responses are hardly intelligent or thoughtful. I know far too many characters that their players OOC tell me they are "geniuses" only to find out they are acting like bumbling fools when they are put to the test, simply because the role-player is lacking in mental faculties. Characters who act irrational and emotional when their players claim they are the ultimate scientists who are oh-so-cold and calculating.
If you want to attribute it to the player's WRITING or their ability to pull from what resources and references they have available...that I can understand. The answer remains though, yeah, a less mentally proficient/witty player is capable of portraying someone with wit -- regardless of your handful of experiences.Â
It's not something that is impossible. If the less mentally proficient/witty player can write something good enough, or even get HELP from someone to write something good enough, that is literally all they need.Â
Of course, this all depends on the subjective view of what is 'dumb'. Immaturity, inexperience, a slower pace of learning can all be presented as 'dumb' by an impatient enough and judgmental enough observer.Â
Something that many of us roleplayers at times tend to be, myself included.
Wit is very deeply based on reaction, and it isn't something you can learn from television (my God can you not learn wit from modern television). Â And, unfortunately, it's not something you can replicate if you don't have it.
There are a lot of poor substitutes for wit that you may have some kind of traction today, but not wit.
SAMPLE INITIAL SENTENCE: Â Maybe if you'd just stop insulting the name of Her Majesty, you wouldn't find yourself in this trouble.
WITTY RESPONSE: Â Honestly, if we called her Liz Windsor, it wouldn't be worth the trouble.
RESPONSE I USUALLY HEAR: Â Maybe I like trouble.
RESPONSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT: Â Maybe you should shut up!
And you know what, the latter responses are probably just fine for many characters. Â Wittiness is a character trait, not necessarily something pleasant. Â There are plenty of unpleasantly witty people. Â We're very specifically talking about someone who thinks the third response is as good as the first response if they just say, "My character's a smart ass and he's witty."
No, he's not, even if the player wants him to be.