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darkstorme · 06-16-06, 07:18 AM

@Amberyl Ravenclaw - As established earlier in the thread, physical attractiveness is only a component of CHA - however, "provoking interest" does not really qualify as a CHA reaction. Someone could be appallingly ugly with some sort of physical deformation that provoked a sort of horrified fascination from anyone they talked to.. but would not persuade them to follow with what the peron was saying. As stragen so aptly put it, if they're not physically attractive, they have to get by on force of personality. I would disagree that they need be friendly, however. One thing to consider is that Intimidate is a Charisma-based skill. Case in point: a red dragon.

Red dragons (think of Smaug) can be beautiful. But this alone does not account for the 25-30 CHA an Ancient Red Dragon has. The fact that they have dozens of centuries worth of experience, have a voice so commanding that you find yourself doing what they say before your brain is truly in gear, and (not least) the fact that they could incinerate you, destroy you with spells, or simply squash you flat - these contribute hugely to their Charisma. Add to that the fact that most Ancient Dragons are fantastically well-spoken (after all, when you've got an INT of 25, too, just eating your enemies is so boring), and there you have the explanation for the astonishing CHA dragons display.

Similarly, think of Gandalf, who (since he doesn't seem to use a spellbook often) must have levels in Sorceror. Think, particularly, of when he persuaded Bilbo to leave the Ring behind. Normally a fairly laid-back individual, he calls upon all of his considerable personal prescence and reputation, and you get The Wrath of Gandalf. He doesn't physically threaten Bilbo, or threaten him (explicitly) with magic.. he just allows all of that to be implied in the force of his voice, his presence.

Historically, we have such characters as Henry the Fifth ("Once more into the breach!"), Winston Churchill ("We will fight them on the beaches..."), and Hitler (don't know any direct quotations) as examples of leaders who were not what one would call terribly physically attractive - but who all could persuade men to fight for a cause through force of personality and use of clever rhetoric. Conversely, we have Helen of Troy as the Face that Launched a Thousand Ships - though there were probably underlying political issues, as well.

As an addendum, I would say that anyone who uses L337 in their RPing should get an automatic -8 to all RP CHA checks. *grins*

06-16-06, 07:18 AM	#46
darkstorme Game Master Characters Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 3,149 Thanks: 111 Thanked 728 Times in 511 Posts	Re: Roleplaying Charisma @Amberyl Ravenclaw - As established earlier in the thread, physical attractiveness is only a component of CHA - however, "provoking interest" does not really qualify as a CHA reaction. Someone could be appallingly ugly with some sort of physical deformation that provoked a sort of horrified fascination from anyone they talked to.. but would not persuade them to follow with what the peron was saying. As stragen so aptly put it, if they're not physically attractive, they have to get by on force of personality. I would disagree that they need be friendly, however. One thing to consider is that Intimidate is a Charisma-based skill. Case in point: a red dragon. Red dragons (think of Smaug) can be beautiful. But this alone does not account for the 25-30 CHA an Ancient Red Dragon has. The fact that they have dozens of centuries worth of experience, have a voice so commanding that you find yourself doing what they say before your brain is truly in gear, and (not least) the fact that they could incinerate you, destroy you with spells, or simply squash you flat - these contribute hugely to their Charisma. Add to that the fact that most Ancient Dragons are fantastically well-spoken (after all, when you've got an INT of 25, too, just eating your enemies is so boring), and there you have the explanation for the astonishing CHA dragons display. Similarly, think of Gandalf, who (since he doesn't seem to use a spellbook often) must have levels in Sorceror. Think, particularly, of when he persuaded Bilbo to leave the Ring behind. Normally a fairly laid-back individual, he calls upon all of his considerable personal prescence and reputation, and you get The Wrath of Gandalf. He doesn't physically threaten Bilbo, or threaten him (explicitly) with magic.. he just allows all of that to be implied in the force of his voice, his presence. Historically, we have such characters as Henry the Fifth ("Once more into the breach!"), Winston Churchill ("We will fight them on the beaches..."), and Hitler (don't know any direct quotations) as examples of leaders who were not what one would call terribly physically attractive - but who all could persuade men to fight for a cause through force of personality and use of clever rhetoric. Conversely, we have Helen of Troy as the Face that Launched a Thousand Ships - though there were probably underlying political issues, as well. As an addendum, I would say that anyone who uses L337 in their RPing should get an automatic -8 to all RP CHA checks. grins