Alright, I run into this every single time I run this game with newcomers to tabletop and I’m never able to give a satisfactory answer so I’d like to hear your thoughts on it so I can let this rest.
What’s the difference between wisdom and intelligence in this and every other game that has these two attributes?
In DW it’s easy, because you use them to do completely different moves. Only in Defy Danger do you ever need to decide which one is more appropriate.
Intelligence is knowing the dragon’s habitat, diet, strengths, weaknesses, and attack patterns so that you know what to do when you assault it. Wisdom is knowing that even so, you shouldn’t attack the dragon in the first place.
Wisdom is knowing that one should neither a borrower nor a lender be. Intelligence is making a killing on loan-sharking anyway.
Intelligence is developing a super-advanced pen that can write in zero gravity. Wisdom is using a pencil.
Intelligence is when you know something. A fact, a formula, logic. It is an expression of the critical mind.
Wisdom is when you understand something. A person’s motives, the likelihood of an ambush, the many subtleties of art and some magics. It is an expression of the subconscious and instinct.
I was going to post that famous “in pursuit of knowledge/in pursuit of wisdom” Lǎozǐ quote, but then I looked at the Chinese and it doesn’t say shit about knowledge or wisdom.
Intelligence is about learning. Wisdom is about seeing.
James Mendez Hodes sometimes, intelligence wins out?
http://www.snopes.com/business/genius/spacepen.asp
Intelligence is knowing. Wisdom is knowing why.
Intelligence is abstract knowledge (book learnin’), wisdom is concrete knowledge (knowledge based on first person experience)
From the Wisdom entry of the 3.5 srd: While Intelligence represents one’s ability to analyze information, Wisdom represents being in tune with and aware of one’s surroundings.
I still think this is the best one:
Intelligence is knowing that a tomato is a fruit
Wisdom is knowing not to put tomato into a fruit salad