DM introduces Comeliness at the last minute... [Archive] - Wizards Community

DM introduces Comeliness at the last minute... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
skooB_neddibroF
03-06-08, 11:25 AM Well actually after we had already started. We started a new campaign last night and I had already fleshed out a backstory and character description. Halfway through our first session the DM says "Everybody roll 3d6 and tell me what your charisma modifier is." I had a total of 6. He consults the Comeliness chart and basically tells me my PC is unattractive. My unfortunate roll aside, I wasn't too happy with the fact that my PC, whom I described as handsome, popular with the ladies but not unreasonably so (not James Bond, maybe Han Solo) was now reduced to his appearance determined by a last (or late) minute dice roll. Naturally the guy I usually argue with anyway told me I was being a crybaby but, of course, his guy had a 12 (which was not even above average, what a F'd up chart). I'd have been upset if I had gotten my max at 19 (lthough maybe not as much) because it still wouldn't have matched the backstory I had for my PC. I intentionally assigned my ability score rolls so that I would have a higher Charisma than Constitution just to fit the story I had come up with. Charisma is that stat dump where so many people put their worst roll, I just wanted to do something different. I felt like handing the DM my character and saying "Tell me about my character." Not sure what my point here is, just wondering how other people handle their character's appearance.
Luis_Dragunov
03-06-08, 01:42 PM Your DM is a dick. Sorry, but he is. Comeliness or Appearance scores are stupid. What purpose do they have in-game? How do you improve them? Do your looks improve as you battle monsters? Does your body rearranges itself as you learn to be more beautiful?

That aside, I recommend talking with your fellow players and try to dissuade your DM from such a stupid notion as a Prettiness score, especially AFTER character creation.

Anyway, if you can't, it's okay. It doesn't matter what you look like. You have charisma. that's what will be driving your Bluff, Intimidate, etc etc. Turn it into your favor. I don't really know how this Comeliness score goes but, if you can post it here, maybe I could make some suggestions to soften the unexpected blow to your character.
I_roll_ones
03-06-08, 01:46 PM House rules BEFORE the game, not after. Did you roll your stats beforehand? If so, you should probably be able to redistribute them, unless you rolled for them in order.

Normally, I think of it as beingonly semi-related to the CHA score. Charisma is many things, and if I have low or average, then something suffers if my character is pretty. If CHA is low, then it's likely to be bad or their personality is so awful people run away from them. If it is high, they might only be average looking but rather convincing.
Luis_Dragunov
03-06-08, 01:55 PM Well, Charisma says it has something to do with appearance - but it does not say it means you're pretty, only that you're distinguished. This means that with 16 Charisma, you can be a flaxen-haired beauty or a grim, one-eyed pirate or simply joe-average who can enter a room and imediately eyes fall upon him.

Beauty, in itself, is fluid. Even among creatures of the same race not everyone has the same turn-ons and patterns of beauty. Charisma is your self-confidence, your ego, how engaging and personable you are when you relate to others.

Han Solo, for example. Yeah, he's somewhat cute but he's no model, no oiled-up beefcake - but he's engaging, charming and irresistible. Transplant another personality into his good looks and it just wouldn't be the same.
Firaeki
03-07-08, 09:39 PM With CHA and attractiveness, there's really only a small tendancy for high in one to be high in the other, and vice versa.

Look at Cleopatra, for example. Everyone knows that despite myth, she was pretty fugly. However, she was persuasive, bold, charming and convincing. People loved her and were attracted to her DESPITE her looks, as opposed to because of them.

But then again, Luis is right. Not everyone finds the same thing attractive. Its entirely possible that one person's taste and another's would be completely different, even if racially identical. Another example: I have a friend who finds the typical orc's face practically arousing, while most of the people I know find them moderately unattractive at best.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
skooB_neddibroF 03-06-08, 11:25 AM	Well actually after we had already started. We started a new campaign last night and I had already fleshed out a backstory and character description. Halfway through our first session the DM says "Everybody roll 3d6 and tell me what your charisma modifier is." I had a total of 6. He consults the Comeliness chart and basically tells me my PC is unattractive. My unfortunate roll aside, I wasn't too happy with the fact that my PC, whom I described as handsome, popular with the ladies but not unreasonably so (not James Bond, maybe Han Solo) was now reduced to his appearance determined by a last (or late) minute dice roll. Naturally the guy I usually argue with anyway told me I was being a crybaby but, of course, his guy had a 12 (which was not even above average, what a F'd up chart). I'd have been upset if I had gotten my max at 19 (lthough maybe not as much) because it still wouldn't have matched the backstory I had for my PC. I intentionally assigned my ability score rolls so that I would have a higher Charisma than Constitution just to fit the story I had come up with. Charisma is that stat dump where so many people put their worst roll, I just wanted to do something different. I felt like handing the DM my character and saying "Tell me about my character." Not sure what my point here is, just wondering how other people handle their character's appearance.
Luis_Dragunov 03-06-08, 01:42 PM	Your DM is a dick. Sorry, but he is. Comeliness or Appearance scores are stupid. What purpose do they have in-game? How do you improve them? Do your looks improve as you battle monsters? Does your body rearranges itself as you learn to be more beautiful? That aside, I recommend talking with your fellow players and try to dissuade your DM from such a stupid notion as a Prettiness score, especially AFTER character creation. Anyway, if you can't, it's okay. It doesn't matter what you look like. You have charisma. that's what will be driving your Bluff, Intimidate, etc etc. Turn it into your favor. I don't really know how this Comeliness score goes but, if you can post it here, maybe I could make some suggestions to soften the unexpected blow to your character.
I_roll_ones 03-06-08, 01:46 PM	House rules BEFORE the game, not after. Did you roll your stats beforehand? If so, you should probably be able to redistribute them, unless you rolled for them in order. Normally, I think of it as beingonly semi-related to the CHA score. Charisma is many things, and if I have low or average, then something suffers if my character is pretty. If CHA is low, then it's likely to be bad or their personality is so awful people run away from them. If it is high, they might only be average looking but rather convincing.
Luis_Dragunov 03-06-08, 01:55 PM	Well, Charisma says it has something to do with appearance - but it does not say it means you're pretty, only that you're distinguished. This means that with 16 Charisma, you can be a flaxen-haired beauty or a grim, one-eyed pirate or simply joe-average who can enter a room and imediately eyes fall upon him. Beauty, in itself, is fluid. Even among creatures of the same race not everyone has the same turn-ons and patterns of beauty. Charisma is your self-confidence, your ego, how engaging and personable you are when you relate to others. Han Solo, for example. Yeah, he's somewhat cute but he's no model, no oiled-up beefcake - but he's engaging, charming and irresistible. Transplant another personality into his good looks and it just wouldn't be the same.
Firaeki 03-07-08, 09:39 PM	With CHA and attractiveness, there's really only a small tendancy for high in one to be high in the other, and vice versa. Look at Cleopatra, for example. Everyone knows that despite myth, she was pretty fugly. However, she was persuasive, bold, charming and convincing. People loved her and were attracted to her DESPITE her looks, as opposed to because of them. But then again, Luis is right. Not everyone finds the same thing attractive. Its entirely possible that one person's taste and another's would be completely different, even if racially identical. Another example: I have a friend who finds the typical orc's face practically arousing, while most of the people I know find them moderately unattractive at best.