Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Jikuu 02-08-08, 09:56 PM	How many ways can one roleplay a lower Charisma score? I know that the two biggest ways are to have some physical defect (scar, missing ear, etc.) or be impolite, gruff, what have you. Are there other manners of reflecting this? For a more practical example, my cohort has Int 12, Wis 14, Cha 8. We've been playing this off for a time as his inability to properly talk to women. It's a "Sam's the man" kind of syndrome. Could this be proper reflection of his low Charisma? Thanks in advance.
Firaeki 02-08-08, 10:02 PM	Yeah, I'd say that's a good example of low Charisma. Shyness, rudeness, inability to control what one says (open mouth, insert foot), stuff like that would all fall under low CHA to me.
Orchomenos 02-09-08, 12:27 AM	Talking with a weird voice: slutter, from the nose, too loud or too high. Just "trying to not be there". You don't speak unless addressed to, and even then this is just yes or no answers. It's not that you're not intelligent, you're just sure no one would listen to you.
I_roll_ones 02-09-08, 02:43 AM	Or, they simply cannot convey ideas well. They use the wrong word, ramble on, try to back track, or give an example that makes no sense. Not someone you really want to avoid(Well, you might want to avoid talking to him if he's boring), but you're not going to let him do negations or try to convince someone anytime soon.
Mad_Jack 02-10-08, 03:23 PM	I had a dwarven thief back in the earlier editions who had a very low charisma, and I played her as being borderline autistic. She just didn't interact very much with the world around her and had absolutely no force of personality whatsoever... People with low charisma are the ones who walk into a mostly empty restaurant and still can't get the waitress' attention even though she walks past every two minutes. They fade into the wallpaper. When they try to get noticed, they do it in the most ill-advised way. That half-orc who just flipped out in the tavern and started yelling was probably sitting at the bar trying to order an ale for twenty minutes because people either just dismissed him or purposely ignored him because of his race. Most of the time, people with low charisma tend to overcompensate for their lack of force of personality by either turning inward completely and trying to be invisible, or by pushing things too far, i.e., saying something random just for the sake of having said something, being a bit too loud, overly clingy, etc. They try too hard to fit in. Conversely, someone with low charisma might have too much personality - they simply don't understand that the world is a separate thing from their perception of it. They either aren't able to or don't comprehend the need to alter their behavior in accordance with the situation at hand. They say and do whatever they like without consideration for the consequences. It never occurs to them that other people may feel differently about things than they do. And then they get angry or defensive when people get upset with them when they say or do something inappropriate, because they have no comprehehsion of having done something wrong. Lol - Just look all over the internet for examples of people with low charisma... :D
Roivas 02-10-08, 03:32 PM	Another facet of charisma is the ability to cow and dominate others. Someone with a low score will be more likely to get pushed into doing something they don't want to do [even if it goes against their better judgment, high wisdom] and get bullied verbally without ever having a witty retort. The high charisma is the way to go in my mind but the challenge of playing a low charisma character can always be fun. Enjoy.
Orchomenos 02-11-08, 09:38 AM	I know that the two biggest ways are to have some physical defect (scar, missing ear, etc. or be impolite, gruff, what have you. ) Beware, scars can be increase the charisma. For example, a veteran paladin could take pride in his numerous scars he inherited from past battles. The same way, a Chaotic bard could make a point in being impolite. Who would listen to someone who enter an ill-repute tavern and order "A glass of water please. Did anyone told you you had amazing eyes, milady?" Such a character would for sure start a tavern-fight...
CrimsonDeath 02-11-08, 05:00 PM	Also, some of the least charismatic people I've met insist on braying orders at people constantly. Just because they have good ideas and loudly broadcast them doesn't mean people enjoy following those instructions.
Green_eyes 02-12-08, 06:52 AM	Mental Disorders are also nice.