General Intelligence Basics

General Intelligence (GI) is a new rating tool that governs the relative strength of
combat reasoning, combat cool, and combat expertise DMs can employ when
commanding monsters.

Q: Then…isn’t GI just a full proxy for AI?

A: No. It’s one of many features that govern monster behavior in These Monsters
Have Minds of Their Own. The ability to roll for GI orients DMs immediately to the
relative strength of their monsters, and features like Aggression, Linchpin Combat
Events, Weaponry, Special Units, Special Abilities, and Special Tactics provide
DMs with a wealth of options for specific monster combat behavior. The DM is
always the final arbiter of monster actions.

Our philosophy behind the concept of a d100-rollable General Intelligence is this:

In all large groups of monsters, there is variability. In our system, not all Goblins are
Dimwitted. And not all Dragons are Brilliant. When using These Monsters Have
Minds of Their Own, you’ll get more variability in your combat, and less of what
you’ve come to expect. This leads to more excitement, more fear, and more
comradery between the players in your campaign. Every combat has the potential to
be a unique and brutal encounter.

First Steps
Determine and note the General Intelligence rating for each monster, by rolling
d100 on the Monster Card. Note that the General Intelligence Info Box is very
different for each monster.

At the DMs discretion, most Monsters receive a Saving Throw to resist entering the
Fearful and Fanatic Aggression Levels, based on their General Intelligence.
Details below.

General Intelligence Ratings

Mindless: Mindless monsters are those without developed brains, those who have
suffered massive brain trauma, or those who have had their minds stolen or
impaired by special abilities or magic. Mindless monsters in combat take reflexive
actions based on triggers to their primal senses: Light, dark, heat, cold, touch,
smell, and sound. Typically, mindless monsters will act to avoid fire, or the threat of
a long fall. But because they lack true reasoning they can be tricked into harming
themselves by more subtle means. The strength of mindless monsters lies in their
numbers and in their horrifying tenacity.
Mindless Monsters do not experience the Fearful, Cautious, Measured, or
Aggressive Aggression Levels, and do not receive a Saving Throw vs Fanatic.
They attack Fanatically whenever their primal senses are triggered. In a sense,
Mindless monsters are either on or off.

Dimwitted: Dimwitted monsters make strategic mistakes and have trouble

accurately predicting how enemies will behave in combat. They tend to argue with
each other, and act on half-baked information. Their reasoning is leaky. They act
with high variance, often adjusting their behavior based on emotion, and due to the
recency of events, rather than because of the actual importance of those events.
Their actions are not based on a cohesive plan. Monsters with Dimwitted GI may
resist entering the Fearful or Fanatic Aggression Levels if they roll a 16 or above
(d20), with no modifiers.

Average: Average monsters can survey the battlefield and make basic predictions
about strategy and the strength of their enemies. They will avoid obvious tricks and
traps, and won’t make the same mistakes twice. They won’t huddle in a packed
group to be ravaged by an obvious fireball, or spread themselves thin to be picked off
at the whim of the PCs. They may struggle when faced with complex tactics and
may not adapt quickly enough to strategic changes as combat unfolds. Monsters
with Average GI may resist entering the Fearful or Fanatic Aggression Levels if
they roll a 13 or above (d20), with no modifiers.

Intelligent: Intelligent monsters make excellent combat decisions. They work

together well, communicating relevant information to coordinate their attacks.
They are able to accurately predict how enemies might act, and their behaviors
reflect an efficient, well-considered plan. Their reasoning is tight and they are tough
to rattle. Intelligent monsters will usually concentrate their attacks on the PC they
identify as the most dangerous to them. They will not divide their numbers unless
this makes tactical sense. Monsters with Intelligent GI may resist entering the
Fearful or Fanatic Aggression Levels if they roll a 7 or above (d20), with no
modifiers.

Brilliant: Brilliant monsters work together in terrifying synchrony. They employ

high-level thinking and can strategically counter PC actions on the fly. They make
the most efficient use of their attacks, movement, tactics, and special abilities.
They will almost always kill the PC who poses the most threat to them first. They
have a nearly omniscient ability to predict PC combat behaviors, and make
formidable enemies. Monsters with Brilliant GI may resist entering the Fearful
or Fanatic Aggression Levels if they roll a 4 or above (d20), with no modifiers.

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