Design Discussion: House Rules

[Raellus]

Has anyone ever seen an RPG system that uses different types of intelligence as a base attribute or for skill resolution?

I've often thought that intelligence as an attribute in RPG's is problematic. An intelligent player can RP an unintelligent character, but it doesn't really work the other way around (same with Charisma), does it? I digress.

Anyway, discussing the way that T2k v4 handles languages got me thinking about how RPG's often approach and use INT as an attribute and how it's not very realistic (in that it's overly simplistic). There's a theory of multiple intelligences (8 or 9, depending on who you ask) that makes some sense. I think it could a more realistic, accurate way of using it in a rules set.

I'd like to see a system where players have to allocate a set number of INT points between the 8 or 9 types of INT. Individual skills (which could be learned) would then receive boosts based on what kind of INT they primarily require to perform and what the PC's rank is in each.

For example, one type of INT is Visual-Spatial (how good someone is in maneuvering through space and visualizing things). This could be applied to navigation (map reading), forward observing, driving, parachuting, boating, diving, maybe engineering and architecture, and other skills.

Linguistic-Verbal INT could be applied to learning and speaking foreign languages, writing, diplomacy, and communications.

Logical-Mathematic INT could be applied to accounting, cryptography, engineering, architecture, anything requiring mathematical calculations, and/or number sense really.

Bodily-Kinesthetic INT would be crucial for athletes, dancers, hand-to-hand combat, throwing- almost anything with a major physical requirement (driving), really.

Musical INT- singing, playing instruments, recognizing tunes

Interpersonal INT- persuasion, diplomacy, leadership, acting, deception

Intrapersonal INT- not sure how this one might be applicable to conventional RPG skills, actually. Dealing with stress, trauma- coolness under fire, maybe? Is this Wisdom, by another name?

Naturalistic INT- horticulture, animal handling, hunting and foraging, herbal medicines, tracking, weather forecasting

Pedagogical INT- teaching, training,

I guess it wouldn't cover everything (which would apply to the Intrusion skill, for example), and there is some overlap. Maybe some skill resolutions would use the average score of two types of INT, or one of the types of INT and another attribute (for example, grapping would use both Bodily-Kinesthetic INT and physical STR).

In a game like T2k, some would definitely be more useful than others (Bodily-Kinesthetic v Musical, for example). Some, like Intrapersonal INT, would replace tried-and-mostly-true attributes like Charisma.

I'm just kind of thinking out loud here. I'm interested in your thoughts on this concept and, of course, any house rules that you've found work for you when running T2k.

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