Charismatic Question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Charismatic Question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Sadistic_Monk
12-03-03, 01:45 AM I haven't been here since August so I'm not sure where to put this so I'll put it here.

I need to know how to play a character with a higher Charisma than me as a player, especially when talking to people and knowing just what to say. How do I pull this off?
Sephraem
12-03-03, 03:05 AM Funnily enough, that's a very difficult question to answer. Other than saying charismatic people tend to be self-assured, there's little help I can give unless you are more specific about your character.

For example, a charismatic but stupid character would find it easy to get, and hold attention, but have little of substance to contribute to a conversation. Perhaps a very visual kind of 'charisma'.

A charismatic and intelligent character might be extremely eloquent and virtually mesmerise those around him with his 'clever words'.

In a some senses, it's more about how other people react to you, than how you play it.

If you'll forgive me being obtuse. In my drama class we use 7 basic archetypes to gain impressions of people and characters. These archetypes are king, hero, hag, innocent, virgin, trickster and mother. The king is the king, not because of anything he does, but because of how other people react to him. He is unafraid (the hero will protect him) and can expect all the attention his power and authority affords.
FriendoftheDork
12-03-03, 03:58 AM as a general rule it's hard to play a character with greater charisma than yourself. But to allow you do to so nonetheless, ask the other players if they can act as if you were generally more handsome (not just for opposite sex) and likeable than in real life.
It's not easy, as most players simply pictures you in whatever armor or robes your character is wearing. But you might as well try.

But more importantly, ask the DM if he can have npcs react to your character based on charisma. And try to convince him to allow diplomacy rolls etc. where your charisma comes into play.
Sussin
12-03-03, 10:35 AM don't forget for you to use some quick witty remark in character, you yourself can spend 10 minutes thinking of what you're going to say and justhave it come out quick for your character. Mind you if it takes you 10 minutes to think of something to say the other PCs might get a bit impatient
Tzor
12-03-03, 11:39 AM Charismatic people are self assured, say the right things at the right time, know how to project their vision to others.

Don't know how to do that? Well I don't know all the details of thrust, parry, and reposte, but that has never stoped me from playing a rapier wielding fighter.

So the exact details are not important. You really don't need to convince anyone about the thing you are doing. Instead you need to convince the DM that your character can convince another character about the thing you are doing.

Emotional appeals are often good: "Think of the children."
Arrangement of facts is also good: "If we attack the dragon in the narrow tunnel it can't fly."

If that fails ... smile. Charismatic people have that "special smile" that you see all the time on TV and in the movies. :D
StormKnight
12-03-03, 01:07 PM I agree that a high Cha is in some ways more about how people relate to you than how you relate to them. Ever seen a group in which one person says something five times and no one listens, then another person says the exact same thing and everyone goes "oh, great idea!"?
If you're a high Cha character the statements you make should carry more weight (both to PCs and NPCs) than the exact same statements from others of lower Cha.
Ask for GM advice in social interactions. If you want more roleplaying in interactions, rather than saying, "I convince the gaurd to let us in" and pointing out your high Cha, point out your high Cha and ask your GM what kind of persuasion you think will be more effective on this person - part of having a good Cha is knowing how to approach people. When the GM tells you she's eyeing your moneypurse more than your charming smile, you know bribery is a good route to take.
Dasein
12-03-03, 02:44 PM The problem with that is that many of these abilities are also tied to skills. You'd use bluff to convince the guards to let you pass, and you'd use diplomacy when dealing with a group of strangers and so on. While charisma certainly helps with those skills, it is the skill that is really important.

Also, keep in mind that a character with a high charisma need not be personable and nice - a sorcerer with a charisma of 20 could be a misanthrope. He may have a very strong sense of self-identity (hence the high charisma), but not get along with other people, and as he has isolated himself off in some desolate tower honing his magical abilities, he's forgotten what few interpersonal skills he once had.

Dasein
Callorissi
12-03-03, 03:14 PM The way that we handle high Charisma in our campaigns is through Bluff and Diplomacy checks. Charisma is the leading modifier in these skills (we also use a Comeliness Stat which alters the Charisma Mod). Whenever a situation arrises where the character needs to interact with someone else (ie bartering to reduce the price of goods, selling other goods, trying to obtain information from a bartender, etc....) the character explains to the DM what they would like the character to say, and then the character makes a Bluff or Diplomacy check (whichever is more relevant). The DM makes a Sense Motive check which is modified by the DM to relate to the NPC's experience. If the Bluff/Dipolmacy check beats the Sense Motive, then the interaction result is changed in the character's favour.

If the Sense Motive beats or matches the Bluff/Diplomacy result, then the results are changed in the NPC's favour.

Sometimes the actual words used by the player can also have results which will add or subtract from the NPC's Modifier.
(ie the character may have said something which will make the NPC suspicious = +5 to the NPC Sense Motive result.)

Hope that this post makes sense.
Vlorich San'cheh
12-03-03, 05:43 PM To play a High CHA char you must speak in....
Ye Olde English.
"You fiendish knave, I challenge thee"
"Have at thee, though goblin of sorrowful ages"

etc, etc.

or be super escited ALL the TIME!!! (like a valley girl.)
"Oh no you didn't..."
"What ev' " and so forth
Findail
12-03-03, 06:42 PM Typically, a successful Charisma check modifies NPC attitude by one step, then a successful Diplomacy check modifies attitude by one more step. So both are important, and each is only half as effective without the other.
TheJester from Winchester
12-03-03, 09:18 PM My dear good Sir if you dont know how to play a high Charisma,
take it from me that tis no easy task ,but if I were you asking this same question the answer you would seek is dear to us.

In short talk lightly in rhymes and in short strong convinceing mannors.

Sales men do it all the time just take key from them.

I play Charasmatic Chars all the time I normaly play Bards or Sorcerers.

Here is one thing I said the other Day.

This gem is not worth 800 gold for Sir if I were to go to any lovely jewel and ask it how much she would purchase this for she would say to me, My good fellow you have not need to sale me fine things your smile is enough for me.

So if my smile satisfies her this gem has to be worth my smile for it is as lovley as me.
Malruhn
12-03-03, 09:18 PM Thank you for being honest! Thank you for actually posting a personal flaw... that you may not have as high a stat as your character!!

This has been a pet peeve of mine since I started. Between people that couldn't out-lead a small soap dish trying to play characters with 18 charismas to those who's IQs were about equal to zip-lock baggies trying to play a character with an 18 INT score... AAaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!

My vote, and my suggestion if you were in my game, would be to start talking in third person when the stat may impact your interaction. Instead of "I say, "Hi, purty baybee!"", and then praying... Just say "I greet the pretty woman with an appropriate greeting, please keep in mind my Charisma score."

Granted, it isn't as much role playing as role narration... but until you get more confident, give it a try.

I always have played and DMed that CHR was very important, so the guy with the silver tongue and the character sheet with a 5 CHR got penalties when talking, but the shy nerd got big bennies when playing with a character with high charisma scores.

Malruhn
Ranger of the Golden Sunrise
Slayer of the Possessing Demon
Princeoflowlight
12-03-03, 09:42 PM In our game, Charisma is how others react to however you play your character. You can quip all you want, but if you have low Cha, people are just going to find you annoying. But if you have high Cha, that's what people like about you.
Addi83
12-03-03, 10:30 PM If you think playing a more charismatic person than yourself is hard, try playing someone with way more int or wisdom than yourself, now thats hard.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Sadistic_Monk 12-03-03, 01:45 AM	I haven't been here since August so I'm not sure where to put this so I'll put it here. I need to know how to play a character with a higher Charisma than me as a player, especially when talking to people and knowing just what to say. How do I pull this off?
Sephraem 12-03-03, 03:05 AM	Funnily enough, that's a very difficult question to answer. Other than saying charismatic people tend to be self-assured, there's little help I can give unless you are more specific about your character. For example, a charismatic but stupid character would find it easy to get, and hold attention, but have little of substance to contribute to a conversation. Perhaps a very visual kind of 'charisma'. A charismatic and intelligent character might be extremely eloquent and virtually mesmerise those around him with his 'clever words'. In a some senses, it's more about how other people react to you, than how you play it. If you'll forgive me being obtuse. In my drama class we use 7 basic archetypes to gain impressions of people and characters. These archetypes are king, hero, hag, innocent, virgin, trickster and mother. The king is the king, not because of anything he does, but because of how other people react to him. He is unafraid (the hero will protect him) and can expect all the attention his power and authority affords.
FriendoftheDork 12-03-03, 03:58 AM	as a general rule it's hard to play a character with greater charisma than yourself. But to allow you do to so nonetheless, ask the other players if they can act as if you were generally more handsome (not just for opposite sex) and likeable than in real life. It's not easy, as most players simply pictures you in whatever armor or robes your character is wearing. But you might as well try. But more importantly, ask the DM if he can have npcs react to your character based on charisma. And try to convince him to allow diplomacy rolls etc. where your charisma comes into play.
Sussin 12-03-03, 10:35 AM	don't forget for you to use some quick witty remark in character, you yourself can spend 10 minutes thinking of what you're going to say and justhave it come out quick for your character. Mind you if it takes you 10 minutes to think of something to say the other PCs might get a bit impatient
Tzor 12-03-03, 11:39 AM	Charismatic people are self assured, say the right things at the right time, know how to project their vision to others. Don't know how to do that? Well I don't know all the details of thrust, parry, and reposte, but that has never stoped me from playing a rapier wielding fighter. So the exact details are not important. You really don't need to convince anyone about the thing you are doing. Instead you need to convince the DM that your character can convince another character about the thing you are doing. Emotional appeals are often good: "Think of the children." Arrangement of facts is also good: "If we attack the dragon in the narrow tunnel it can't fly." If that fails ... smile. Charismatic people have that "special smile" that you see all the time on TV and in the movies. :D
StormKnight 12-03-03, 01:07 PM	I agree that a high Cha is in some ways more about how people relate to you than how you relate to them. Ever seen a group in which one person says something five times and no one listens, then another person says the exact same thing and everyone goes "oh, great idea!"? If you're a high Cha character the statements you make should carry more weight (both to PCs and NPCs) than the exact same statements from others of lower Cha. Ask for GM advice in social interactions. If you want more roleplaying in interactions, rather than saying, "I convince the gaurd to let us in" and pointing out your high Cha, point out your high Cha and ask your GM what kind of persuasion you think will be more effective on this person - part of having a good Cha is knowing how to approach people. When the GM tells you she's eyeing your moneypurse more than your charming smile, you know bribery is a good route to take.
Dasein 12-03-03, 02:44 PM	The problem with that is that many of these abilities are also tied to skills. You'd use bluff to convince the guards to let you pass, and you'd use diplomacy when dealing with a group of strangers and so on. While charisma certainly helps with those skills, it is the skill that is really important. Also, keep in mind that a character with a high charisma need not be personable and nice - a sorcerer with a charisma of 20 could be a misanthrope. He may have a very strong sense of self-identity (hence the high charisma), but not get along with other people, and as he has isolated himself off in some desolate tower honing his magical abilities, he's forgotten what few interpersonal skills he once had. Dasein
Callorissi 12-03-03, 03:14 PM	The way that we handle high Charisma in our campaigns is through Bluff and Diplomacy checks. Charisma is the leading modifier in these skills (we also use a Comeliness Stat which alters the Charisma Mod). Whenever a situation arrises where the character needs to interact with someone else (ie bartering to reduce the price of goods, selling other goods, trying to obtain information from a bartender, etc....) the character explains to the DM what they would like the character to say, and then the character makes a Bluff or Diplomacy check (whichever is more relevant). The DM makes a Sense Motive check which is modified by the DM to relate to the NPC's experience. If the Bluff/Dipolmacy check beats the Sense Motive, then the interaction result is changed in the character's favour. If the Sense Motive beats or matches the Bluff/Diplomacy result, then the results are changed in the NPC's favour. Sometimes the actual words used by the player can also have results which will add or subtract from the NPC's Modifier. (ie the character may have said something which will make the NPC suspicious = +5 to the NPC Sense Motive result.) Hope that this post makes sense.
Vlorich San'cheh 12-03-03, 05:43 PM	To play a High CHA char you must speak in.... Ye Olde English. "You fiendish knave, I challenge thee" "Have at thee, though goblin of sorrowful ages" etc, etc. or be super escited ALL the TIME!!! (like a valley girl.) "Oh no you didn't..." "What ev' " and so forth
Findail 12-03-03, 06:42 PM	Typically, a successful Charisma check modifies NPC attitude by one step, then a successful Diplomacy check modifies attitude by one more step. So both are important, and each is only half as effective without the other.
TheJester from Winchester 12-03-03, 09:18 PM	My dear good Sir if you dont know how to play a high Charisma, take it from me that tis no easy task ,but if I were you asking this same question the answer you would seek is dear to us. In short talk lightly in rhymes and in short strong convinceing mannors. Sales men do it all the time just take key from them. I play Charasmatic Chars all the time I normaly play Bards or Sorcerers. Here is one thing I said the other Day. This gem is not worth 800 gold for Sir if I were to go to any lovely jewel and ask it how much she would purchase this for she would say to me, My good fellow you have not need to sale me fine things your smile is enough for me. So if my smile satisfies her this gem has to be worth my smile for it is as lovley as me.
Malruhn 12-03-03, 09:18 PM	Thank you for being honest! Thank you for actually posting a personal flaw... that you may not have as high a stat as your character!! This has been a pet peeve of mine since I started. Between people that couldn't out-lead a small soap dish trying to play characters with 18 charismas to those who's IQs were about equal to zip-lock baggies trying to play a character with an 18 INT score... AAaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!! My vote, and my suggestion if you were in my game, would be to start talking in third person when the stat may impact your interaction. Instead of "I say, "Hi, purty baybee!"", and then praying... Just say "I greet the pretty woman with an appropriate greeting, please keep in mind my Charisma score." Granted, it isn't as much role playing as role narration... but until you get more confident, give it a try. I always have played and DMed that CHR was very important, so the guy with the silver tongue and the character sheet with a 5 CHR got penalties when talking, but the shy nerd got big bennies when playing with a character with high charisma scores. Malruhn Ranger of the Golden Sunrise Slayer of the Possessing Demon
Princeoflowlight 12-03-03, 09:42 PM	In our game, Charisma is how others react to however you play your character. You can quip all you want, but if you have low Cha, people are just going to find you annoying. But if you have high Cha, that's what people like about you.
Addi83 12-03-03, 10:30 PM	If you think playing a more charismatic person than yourself is hard, try playing someone with way more int or wisdom than yourself, now thats hard.