From: jwadsley@vaxc.cc.monash.edu.au
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc
Subject: Int vs. Dex ( RQ Skill Category Modifiers )
Date: 22 Jul 92 10:25:02 +1000
Organization: Computer Centre, Monash University, Australia

RUNEQUEST DEX vs. INT:            ( was: Skill Category Modifiers )
Why 'INT' should not affect base physical skill
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I resisted the temptation to just 'followup' on what went before, it was
getting long. I'll try and state the current state of evolution of my case.

I always launch into things without fully explaining my definitions. I look
upon DEX and INT as two numbers. I have thrown all that they represent into a
pile and my aim is to extract two more realistic and useful attributes. These I
tend to keep calling INT and DEX, which leads to confusion.

The pile looks like this: academic aptitude, general mental learning ability,
physical intelligence ( applicable to sport ), intuition, wit, problem solving,
coordination, reaction speed, balance, flexibility and motor abilities.

The standard RQ break down is currently along these lines:
INT includes academic aptitude, general learning, physical intelligence,
intuition, wit, problem solving and some coordination and perceptive type motor
abilities.
DEX includes coordination, reaction speed, balance, flexibility and a whole mix
of motor abilities.

I think that there is no relation between academic aptitude and physical
intelligence. I hate to use Sheldon & Stevens again, but this is one of their
conclusions. They correlated IQ and Academic achievement ( not the same as
academic aptitude perhaps, but the best indicator I know of ) against Physical
Intelligence ( their name, not mine ). They found a negative relationship. To
me, this indicates TWO things. Firstly, the nerds play less sport. Secondly,
the nerds aren't specially good at sport. Thus even when the 'nerds play less
sport' factor is removed, I think the study still indicates that academic 
ability and physical ability are unrelated.

I am an academic and I am good at sport. I know people with similar body types
( similar build and average muscular development ) who are not academically 
gifted, but good at sport. I also know people of similarly body types who are 
not academically gifted or good at sport. Then there are people who are
academically gifted and not good at sport. Thus my experience would indicate
that academic ability is not related to ability at sport.

I think that attributes such as physical intelligence are better off grouped
with coordination and motor ability than with 'academic' intelligence. I think
that 'intelligence' being a function of the brain is not sufficient reason to
group all 'intelligences' in one statistic. I think it is better to divide the
pile of INT and DEX related abilities on an Academic vs. Physical basis.
Thus a low DEX is a combination of poor physical intelligence and poor
coordination. A high DEX is good physical intelligence and good coordination.
An average DEX indicates that one or the other is quite ordinary.

Thus the pile is now split as follows:
INT ( Academic Intelligence ) academic aptitude, general mental skill learning
ability, mental intuition, wit and mental problem solving.
DEX ( Physical Intelligence and Coordination ) physical intelligence, motor
learning ability, motor perceptive ability, coordination, reaction speed,
balance, flexibility and physical intuition.

Not all people can apply their intelligence academically ( low academic INT ).
Not all people can apply their intelligence physically ( low physical
intelligence ( part of DEX ) ). Some CAN do both ( high overall Intelligence ).

James Wadsley.
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc