As I was driving home from work today, this idea came to me. It will be a discussion of how to relate the Charisma score of a character to their alignment. It's less of a new rule as I see it and more of a way to make sense of existing game mechanics. Mods, if you feel this belongs more in the House Rules forum, please move it as you see fit.
I've always been bothered by the nebulous handling that Dungeons and Dragons has given to the CHA ability score. They throw in the characteristics of persuasiveness, force of personality, comeliness, ability to manipulate magical effects at will (Use Magic Device skill and spontaneous casting), and many other factors all into one stat without rhyme or reason. I don't see a justification why a sorceror should have to be either agreeable or attractive to do their job well, nor how dwarves or half-orcs are less forceful in their convictions or make worse leaders. Those matchings of charisma characteristic to ability score value always irked me.
So, just now I thought of making the spectrums of character behavior that are inherent in the CHA ability score link up with the personalities that are inherent in the alignment system. For example:
GOOD: A good character's charisma score relates to their perceived self-interest. A good character with a high CHA score has an easy time convincing others to take an action because the other individual believes the character is truly motivated to help others. For example a paladin of good intentions can use Diplomacy on a baron to lower taxes or a similar action and the baron would consider it because it would benefit him. The paladin would come off as having no interest in the outcome and instead be trying to help the baron out. At the opposite end, a good character with low CHA can be desiring to help people, but always comes off as either too timid or "having an angle." For every attempt he makes to do well for others, it rubs them the wrong way because he wasn't forward enough in trying to help or they see the character as trying to really help themselves and not another person.
LAW A lawful character's CHA score relates to their perceived integrity and ability to follow through on a course of action. High CHA law characters are believed because they always say what they mean and mean what they say. The aura of their integrity is palpable. A low CHA lawful character is simply seen as being anal and sniveling. They like things to be ordered just to make things easy for themselves, but this does not come across to others as having a strong sense of honor.
EVIL The evil aspect of CHA is malice and lack of conscience. An evil character with high CHA can bluff or intimidate well because he honestly comes across as not having a single care for anyone else or how his words or actions affect others. A low CHA evil character is simply seen as craven. No one believes they have the guts to truly take charge and do anything other than save their hides.
CHAOS The chaotic aspect of CHA represents spontaneity and gregariousness. A high CHA chaotic character is quick-witted and skilled in developing reparte and the right things to say. The best bards (chaotic with high CHA) rely on thinking fast on their toes to develop enjoyable and inspiring performances. A low CHA chaotic character is crass and thoughtless. They rapidly stick their foot in their mouth and insult others because they don't think through their actions.
Thus by seeing a character's combination of CHA score on the mortal 3-18 scale and combining it with their alignment a player/GM can develop a unified sense of their personality. Both the alignment and CHA score should affect how other people treat the character and now you can have a direct relation between the two. For some examples:
LG characters run the gamut from the chivalrous paladins whose word is their bond and don't rest until the weak are provided for to the annoying mayor who is trying to do right for his constituents, but comes across as fatuous and only out for re-election.
LN characters spread between the crusading clerics of St. Cuthbert whose honor is beyond reproach to anal-retentive bueracrats who don't stop whining until all paperwork is signed in triplicate
CN characters go from vivacious bon vivants that are a thrill to be around to raving madmen who everyone flees because they're too unpredictable.
CE characters are on a spectrum from the razor-witted criminal masterminds that have formulated a response for your next statement before it has left your mouth to the slimy, craven mooks who will sell their brother into slavery as long as they can live another day.
Much of this seems fairly common sense, but it has some very profound mechanical effects once you codify it in concrete terms:
1) Physical appearance now is severed from CHA and the player can simply choose one as appropriate, or the DM can develop a random attribute for this. However, one can play a vapid, vain yet attractive person or an ugly but good-hearted and true character with these alignment descriptions.
2) The correlation between a high value in any given CHA facet diplayed above and the respective score is proportional to how strong a character's conviction is to effect his/her alignment on the world. Thus, while all good characters mean well, only those with the strength of character to consistently do well for others without regard to themselves will be perceived by other individuals as persuasive/likable. While all evil characters are self-motivated, only those who learn to disregard others reactions and possible hurt feelings can effectively intimidate others with their menace or lie effortlessly through their teeth, etc.
3) This strength of conviction and willingness to impress your alignment/ideals on the world around you is what fuels spontaneous casting prowess. No longer does strict agreeableness or attractiveness correspond to a powerful sorceror or favored soul. Instead, the will to take their beliefs and ideals and impress them upon the world correlates to their proficiency in impressing their will upon the arcane/divine forces around them.
4) When using CHA based skills, it becomes obvious how as a player you can roleplay to your character's strengths; or how DMs can arbitrate a character's shortcomings. If you're a neutral good character, sell your diplomacy attempt as being what best for everyone, don't overstress your honor or try and give ultimatums. Thus, iff your subject feels your alignment come through (the CHA modifier moves the roll to a success), they'll believe that you have their interests in mind and be more inclined to agree. If as a DM you find a evil PC failing an intimidate attempt, you can roleplay the NPC's reaction as being insulted and commenting how the PC doesn't have the gaul to truly harm him.
It's not a perfect 1:1 ratio, but when you sit down and spell it out, it makes developing a character's attitudes easier and makes CHA less of a dump stat if you are trying to achieve a certain personality. I just wanted to put these musings out there and gauge everyone's reactions. Any comments?
I've always been bothered by the nebulous handling that Dungeons and Dragons has given to the CHA ability score. They throw in the characteristics of persuasiveness, force of personality, comeliness, ability to manipulate magical effects at will (Use Magic Device skill and spontaneous casting), and many other factors all into one stat without rhyme or reason. I don't see a justification why a sorceror should have to be either agreeable or attractive to do their job well, nor how dwarves or half-orcs are less forceful in their convictions or make worse leaders. Those matchings of charisma characteristic to ability score value always irked me.
So, just now I thought of making the spectrums of character behavior that are inherent in the CHA ability score link up with the personalities that are inherent in the alignment system. For example:
GOOD: A good character's charisma score relates to their perceived self-interest. A good character with a high CHA score has an easy time convincing others to take an action because the other individual believes the character is truly motivated to help others. For example a paladin of good intentions can use Diplomacy on a baron to lower taxes or a similar action and the baron would consider it because it would benefit him. The paladin would come off as having no interest in the outcome and instead be trying to help the baron out. At the opposite end, a good character with low CHA can be desiring to help people, but always comes off as either too timid or "having an angle." For every attempt he makes to do well for others, it rubs them the wrong way because he wasn't forward enough in trying to help or they see the character as trying to really help themselves and not another person.
LAW A lawful character's CHA score relates to their perceived integrity and ability to follow through on a course of action. High CHA law characters are believed because they always say what they mean and mean what they say. The aura of their integrity is palpable. A low CHA lawful character is simply seen as being anal and sniveling. They like things to be ordered just to make things easy for themselves, but this does not come across to others as having a strong sense of honor.
EVIL The evil aspect of CHA is malice and lack of conscience. An evil character with high CHA can bluff or intimidate well because he honestly comes across as not having a single care for anyone else or how his words or actions affect others. A low CHA evil character is simply seen as craven. No one believes they have the guts to truly take charge and do anything other than save their hides.
CHAOS The chaotic aspect of CHA represents spontaneity and gregariousness. A high CHA chaotic character is quick-witted and skilled in developing reparte and the right things to say. The best bards (chaotic with high CHA) rely on thinking fast on their toes to develop enjoyable and inspiring performances. A low CHA chaotic character is crass and thoughtless. They rapidly stick their foot in their mouth and insult others because they don't think through their actions.
Thus by seeing a character's combination of CHA score on the mortal 3-18 scale and combining it with their alignment a player/GM can develop a unified sense of their personality. Both the alignment and CHA score should affect how other people treat the character and now you can have a direct relation between the two. For some examples:
LG characters run the gamut from the chivalrous paladins whose word is their bond and don't rest until the weak are provided for to the annoying mayor who is trying to do right for his constituents, but comes across as fatuous and only out for re-election.
LN characters spread between the crusading clerics of St. Cuthbert whose honor is beyond reproach to anal-retentive bueracrats who don't stop whining until all paperwork is signed in triplicate
CN characters go from vivacious bon vivants that are a thrill to be around to raving madmen who everyone flees because they're too unpredictable.
CE characters are on a spectrum from the razor-witted criminal masterminds that have formulated a response for your next statement before it has left your mouth to the slimy, craven mooks who will sell their brother into slavery as long as they can live another day.
Much of this seems fairly common sense, but it has some very profound mechanical effects once you codify it in concrete terms:
1) Physical appearance now is severed from CHA and the player can simply choose one as appropriate, or the DM can develop a random attribute for this. However, one can play a vapid, vain yet attractive person or an ugly but good-hearted and true character with these alignment descriptions.
2) The correlation between a high value in any given CHA facet diplayed above and the respective score is proportional to how strong a character's conviction is to effect his/her alignment on the world. Thus, while all good characters mean well, only those with the strength of character to consistently do well for others without regard to themselves will be perceived by other individuals as persuasive/likable. While all evil characters are self-motivated, only those who learn to disregard others reactions and possible hurt feelings can effectively intimidate others with their menace or lie effortlessly through their teeth, etc.
3) This strength of conviction and willingness to impress your alignment/ideals on the world around you is what fuels spontaneous casting prowess. No longer does strict agreeableness or attractiveness correspond to a powerful sorceror or favored soul. Instead, the will to take their beliefs and ideals and impress them upon the world correlates to their proficiency in impressing their will upon the arcane/divine forces around them.
4) When using CHA based skills, it becomes obvious how as a player you can roleplay to your character's strengths; or how DMs can arbitrate a character's shortcomings. If you're a neutral good character, sell your diplomacy attempt as being what best for everyone, don't overstress your honor or try and give ultimatums. Thus, iff your subject feels your alignment come through (the CHA modifier moves the roll to a success), they'll believe that you have their interests in mind and be more inclined to agree. If as a DM you find a evil PC failing an intimidate attempt, you can roleplay the NPC's reaction as being insulted and commenting how the PC doesn't have the gaul to truly harm him.
It's not a perfect 1:1 ratio, but when you sit down and spell it out, it makes developing a character's attitudes easier and makes CHA less of a dump stat if you are trying to achieve a certain personality. I just wanted to put these musings out there and gauge everyone's reactions. Any comments?
