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Message: <blockquote data-quote="mmu1" data-source="post: 1510305" data-attributes="member: 319">I wouldn't necessarily replace it with anything, because the system is based around, and it'd be more trouble than it's worth - too many classes depend on it for special abilities and spellcasting. I just don't believe in making people jump through hoops for the sake of a flawed game mechanic.Still, my idea of a better system is one where Charismatic is an advantage and Uncharismatic a flaw. Or, if we're still sticking to d20, a system in which you take, for example, a feat called Born Leader that gives you a +4 bonus on all social skills related to leading people, one called Master Merchant gives you a +4 bonus on checks relating to using social skills in doing business, etc. This, because I don't believe (if we're sticking to real life examples) that the idea of having a "golden boy" who's charismatic and as a result good at seduction, diplomacy, threatening people, bluffing in combat, cheating at cards, dancing, singing, playing an instrument, and using magical devices makes any sense whatsoever. The world's best violin player is not also the greates ladies' man of all time, and a big hollywood star with a million dollar smile doesn't necessarily have what it takes to lead soldiers into combat any better than the next guy. Your invisible professor might be the center of attention when surrounded by colleagues in his field, instead of teaching undergrads because he has to.We're stuck with this crappy system mainly because in 2E, charisma did almost nothing, so instead of saying "what's the best way of fixing this ability system?" the 3.0 designers said (it seems to me): "We want to keep the same six stats for the sake of continuity - how can we make Charisma as important mechanically as some of the other stats?" Not to mention that your examples continue to be absolute caricatures and exaggerations of what it means to have a Charisma of 8 or 20. A 20 means you can convince someone black is white? Get serious, he has the same skill modifier as a 1st level character with maxed ranks and 12 Cha - in other words, nothing special. Someone with an 8 charisma can't stay in business? It's gonna hit the mousy Indian guy who barely speaks a word of English that I've been buying coffee from every morning for the last few years really hard when I tell him he's destined for failure.  :\</blockquote>

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