Building a “0 Intelligence” character in Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) may sound like a strange concept, but it can be a lot of fun for players who want to create a unique and challenging character. In this article, we’ll explore how to build a 0 Intelligence character in 5E D&D and what benefits and drawbacks can come with such a choice.
What is a 0 Intelligence Character?
In D&D, Intelligence is one of the six ability scores that measures a character’s mental acuity, memory, and ability to learn and reason. A score of 10-11 indicates average Intelligence while a score of 0 means the character has no capacity for reasoning or learning and is essentially comatose. Thus, being a 0 Intelligence character means your character has no mental capacity; this can lead to some interesting role-playing opportunities and challenges.
Creating a 0 Intelligence Character
Creating a 0 Intelligence character requires making a few decisions upfront. First and foremost, it’s essential to understand that being a 0 Intelligence character means you can’t speak or understand language, read or write, or perform any actions that require mental skills. Therefore, you’ll need to rely on your party to communicate for you, and you’ll have to express yourself through actions and gestures.
Another significant restriction of being a 0 Intelligence character is that you can’t cast spells that have verbal components or require concentration to maintain. This severely limits your options for being a spellcaster, but you can still choose to be a martial class or a ranger, which requires less mental acuity.
One of the critical aspects to consider when building your character is what motivates them to adventure; you’ll need to come up with a backstory that explains why a person with no mental capability would be roaming the land in search of treasure and adventure.
Pros and Cons of a 0 Intelligence Character
Like any choice in character building, being a 0 Intelligence character comes with its own set of pros and cons. Some advantages include a unique playing experience, the opportunity for creative problem-solving, and the potential for fantastic role-playing. Conversely, the significant downside lies in the fact that your options for choice in the game world are limited significantly, and you’ll need to rely on your party for nearly everything.
Conclusion
Building a 0 Intelligence character in D&D 5E comes with its set of challenges, but it can be an exciting and rewarding experience. As a player, you’ll need to be creative and rely on your fellow adventurers for support, but it can make for a unique and fulfilling gaming experience. When creating a 0 Intelligence character, remember to choose your class wisely and develop a backstory that supports your character’s choice to adventure. Finally, have fun and embrace the challenges that come with building a character that takes intelligence to a whole new level.
