Roleplaying low Charisma [Archive] - Wizards Community

Roleplaying low Charisma [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
GoodKingJayIII
11-27-03, 02:44 PM I know the question looks pretty simple. Heck, it's even answered in the PHB. But I ask for lack of experience. Most characters I play have average to high Charismas. I love those types of characters.

But in an upcoming game, I'll be playing a character with these mental stats: Int 17, Wis 16, Cha 6. I'm not entirely sure how I should approach this character, other than being reclusive to the extreme. I was wondering if anyone had any helpful experience they could offer, when they've played a character with similar stats?

Thanks all!
MoogleEmpMog
11-27-03, 03:07 PM With such a high wisdom, a lot of my favorite low-Cha characters wouldn't make much sense.

I normally play a low-Cha character as either:

a) A used-car-salesman type, abrasive, agressive and utterly obnoxious - who almost always gets his way by sheer pig-headedness.

or

b) An arrogant intellectual who despises mere peons for their insufficient minds and lack of knowledge, and who always proposes the clearly, self-evidently superior solution to a problem in such a way as to convince his despicable flunkies, the so-called other PCs, to not take his brilliant advice.

I can't see either of these characters having a high Wisdom (although both tend to be high Intelligence).

Depending on your class and alignment, your character could just be an out and out eccentric, like a mad hermit who for some reason joined up with the PCs.

He could always be ready with an insightful but hideously insulting put down (such as to the party's wealthy patron... or the party's wealthy patron's wife...), be uninterested in mundane matters like coherent speach or bathing, and be inordinately fond of seemingly irrelevant and pathetic jokes that do relate to the matter at hand and are actually hilarious, just not to a mere human mind. This character could actually manage a CG alignment, if he had a good heart beneath his outrageous exterior, but he's obviously a natural fit for CN.
Araciel
11-27-03, 03:42 PM play it as though you always know the answers (high int) and always understand whats going on (high wis) but do not like to talk to people, those you see as below you, (everyone). you hate repeating yourself and think it a waste of time to talk to anyone with an int or wis score more than 2 points lower than yours, as they are "out of the loop"
Israfel666
11-27-03, 05:03 PM A humble monk-like character who understands and perceives way more than he/she says and than others think.

OR

A good thinker, but who is totally unable to explain his ideas (one such person is among my best friends).

OR

An antisocial hero. (Heck, a pity you aren't Italian... Adriano Celentano's character in The Curmudgeon is a perfect example of this).
Aenigma
11-27-03, 05:21 PM Maybe his face was burned in his youth, because his home was burning like a torch in the still, cold, damp, misty air of the place he lived after he tripped a candle when his parents were away from home.

You could have him wear a mask in public. He would be very uncertain of his position towards other people and fears that they will scorn him.

However, because he is away from the chaos and troubles of the life out in the streets, he has time to think about the world at large, and all the consequences of what good and evil are, and of course learn the basics of the Art by himself. He surrounds himself with books who are his only friends and thinks.

That's where your party comes in. He fears them and distrusts them in the beginning, but in the adventure they will become his friends (well most likely, perhaps there some gnome that plays bad tricks on him, hurting him even when it's not his/her wish)

Just my €0.02

Aenigma
Gralphid Blackstripe
11-28-03, 05:44 PM Have you ever read the Belgariad by David Eddings? If so, the Sorcerer Beldin would be a great example of a high int, high wis, but low Cha character.
GoodKingJayIII
11-29-03, 11:03 AM Thanks for the suggestions everyone. They all look good so far. I have not read the Belgariad, Gralphid, but I'll look for it.

If it helps flesh out the character more, he's been dealing with strange, maccabre dreams lately. He thinks they are prophetic in some form or another, but can't quite put his finger on why... mostly the dreams are nonsense, but they really freak him out. I think extreme reclusiveness and insecurity will play a big role in this character's development.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
GoodKingJayIII 11-27-03, 02:44 PM	I know the question looks pretty simple. Heck, it's even answered in the PHB. But I ask for lack of experience. Most characters I play have average to high Charismas. I love those types of characters. But in an upcoming game, I'll be playing a character with these mental stats: Int 17, Wis 16, Cha 6. I'm not entirely sure how I should approach this character, other than being reclusive to the extreme. I was wondering if anyone had any helpful experience they could offer, when they've played a character with similar stats? Thanks all!
MoogleEmpMog 11-27-03, 03:07 PM	With such a high wisdom, a lot of my favorite low-Cha characters wouldn't make much sense. I normally play a low-Cha character as either: a) A used-car-salesman type, abrasive, agressive and utterly obnoxious - who almost always gets his way by sheer pig-headedness. or b) An arrogant intellectual who despises mere peons for their insufficient minds and lack of knowledge, and who always proposes the clearly, self-evidently superior solution to a problem in such a way as to convince his despicable flunkies, the so-called other PCs, to not take his brilliant advice. I can't see either of these characters having a high Wisdom (although both tend to be high Intelligence). Depending on your class and alignment, your character could just be an out and out eccentric, like a mad hermit who for some reason joined up with the PCs. He could always be ready with an insightful but hideously insulting put down (such as to the party's wealthy patron... or the party's wealthy patron's wife...), be uninterested in mundane matters like coherent speach or bathing, and be inordinately fond of seemingly irrelevant and pathetic jokes that do relate to the matter at hand and are actually hilarious, just not to a mere human mind. This character could actually manage a CG alignment, if he had a good heart beneath his outrageous exterior, but he's obviously a natural fit for CN.
Araciel 11-27-03, 03:42 PM	play it as though you always know the answers (high int) and always understand whats going on (high wis) but do not like to talk to people, those you see as below you, (everyone). you hate repeating yourself and think it a waste of time to talk to anyone with an int or wis score more than 2 points lower than yours, as they are "out of the loop"
Israfel666 11-27-03, 05:03 PM	A humble monk-like character who understands and perceives way more than he/she says and than others think. OR A good thinker, but who is totally unable to explain his ideas (one such person is among my best friends). OR An antisocial hero. (Heck, a pity you aren't Italian... Adriano Celentano's character in The Curmudgeon is a perfect example of this).
Aenigma 11-27-03, 05:21 PM	Maybe his face was burned in his youth, because his home was burning like a torch in the still, cold, damp, misty air of the place he lived after he tripped a candle when his parents were away from home. You could have him wear a mask in public. He would be very uncertain of his position towards other people and fears that they will scorn him. However, because he is away from the chaos and troubles of the life out in the streets, he has time to think about the world at large, and all the consequences of what good and evil are, and of course learn the basics of the Art by himself. He surrounds himself with books who are his only friends and thinks. That's where your party comes in. He fears them and distrusts them in the beginning, but in the adventure they will become his friends (well most likely, perhaps there some gnome that plays bad tricks on him, hurting him even when it's not his/her wish) Just my €0.02 Aenigma
Gralphid Blackstripe 11-28-03, 05:44 PM	Have you ever read the Belgariad by David Eddings? If so, the Sorcerer Beldin would be a great example of a high int, high wis, but low Cha character.
GoodKingJayIII 11-29-03, 11:03 AM	Thanks for the suggestions everyone. They all look good so far. I have not read the Belgariad, Gralphid, but I'll look for it. If it helps flesh out the character more, he's been dealing with strange, maccabre dreams lately. He thinks they are prophetic in some form or another, but can't quite put his finger on why... mostly the dreams are nonsense, but they really freak him out. I think extreme reclusiveness and insecurity will play a big role in this character's development.