the myth of IQ

Pretty much every rpg includes some sort of smartiness stat. It measures how smart the character is. This is usually said to correspond to the IQ of the character. IQ scores are attractive as a measure of PC intelligence just as they are attractive as a measure of intelligence in real life. They are a nice, round number that can be referred to. They can be easily compared against each other. They give the appearance of scientific objectivity and precision. The IQ score as a measure of intelligence is one of the most widespread myths of modern times. It is right up there with the idea of race. People with high IQ scores would love to believe they indicate high intelligence. I should know. I scored in the 99.99%. This makes me a super genius according to the standard canon. Do I sound like a super genius? Hardly. The whole business is a load of crap. IQ scores are dependent on many factors. IQ tests are culturally and socially biased. Certain groups do well and others do poorly. Performance is tied to mental state and physical health. Scores for a single person can change drastically based on mood, sleep cycle and physical health. IQ tests are neither objective nor precise. They are not a measure of intelligence. They are a measure of how well a certain person did on a standardized IQ test at a particular time. So, if IQ scores don't cut the mustard, how can intelligence be measured? How can it be incorporated as a score or stat in a rpg? Some theories say there are several types of intelligence. In some there are as many as six types. Six intelligence stats seem a bit much for any rpg to handle. The simple method is, of course, just to leave the whole thing vague. This stat is for smartiness...the higher it is the smarter the character... Ride the wire to the other side of this metal sky and you will see these stars are just projections this is not real -Sister Machinegun, This Metal Sky