Charisma != Beauty?
- Thread starter Azure Trance
- Start date
In my campaign, there is a separate 'Appearance' attribute which is rolled as such:
3d6 + Charisma Mod.
This means that whilst you could have a very good looking person with Charisma 6 (max. App 16) or a very charismatic person that doesn't look so nice (Cha 18, App 7) but yet the trend is upwards as Charisma increases.
NB Exception: Charisma bonuses from aging do not affect Appearance.
3d6 + Charisma Mod.
This means that whilst you could have a very good looking person with Charisma 6 (max. App 16) or a very charismatic person that doesn't look so nice (Cha 18, App 7) but yet the trend is upwards as Charisma increases.
NB Exception: Charisma bonuses from aging do not affect Appearance.
Charisma does not make one beautiful, Charisma is more than that, it is appeal, leadership, attitude, wit, charm, body language, communications, and a lot of ofter things. Beauty is a part of that, it helps but does not make up the whole.
Charisma is a package deal. I try to discuss it with my players and let them know that it will have more of an effect dealing with NPCs and other players.
Example...
If a player comes up with a plan, the other players may not listen to him/her because of their charisma score or may if the player has a high score (that was a bad stupid plan...why did we listen to him!).
You could break the score down into parts, saying this is attractiveness, this is wit & charm, this is leadership, but that can be done during character background.
Charisma is a package deal. I try to discuss it with my players and let them know that it will have more of an effect dealing with NPCs and other players.
Example...
If a player comes up with a plan, the other players may not listen to him/her because of their charisma score or may if the player has a high score (that was a bad stupid plan...why did we listen to him!).
You could break the score down into parts, saying this is attractiveness, this is wit & charm, this is leadership, but that can be done during character background.
I agree that Charisma and Beauty are separate and ought to be represented by two independent stats. Even an extremely ugly person can obtain a favourable reaction from others. If he/she has a high charisma he/she can elicit pity, but low charisma would probably mean he or she would be treated with disgust. By contrast a beautiful person with high charisma would be almost 'revered' while a beautiful person with a low charisma would educe jelousy.
RangerWickett said:
This is wrong on SOOOO many levels (even epic) but as she is using mind powers it is still wrong!
Henry
Autoexreginated
Would people PLEASE quit posting that picture! 
All I have left are dry heaves...
Seriously, Charisma and Beauty really should have LITTLE to do with one another. I have met in my life (and many of you probably have, too) the occasional person who is physically attractive, but they have let that factor go to their heads, and are emotionally and spiritually bankrupt. They are offensive prima donnas (or dons) who belive that no one could possibly be as good as they are, because of their physical attractiveness, and the status it brings. This is an excellent example of a person with a very high physical attractiveness, but very low skills of personal interaction. We all bring up the Hitler and Napoleon examples, but how about the "Stuck-up Supermodel" stereotype? The current value system which places beauty as a high priority skews the kind of characteristic that charisma seeks to convey.
All I have left are dry heaves...Seriously, Charisma and Beauty really should have LITTLE to do with one another. I have met in my life (and many of you probably have, too) the occasional person who is physically attractive, but they have let that factor go to their heads, and are emotionally and spiritually bankrupt. They are offensive prima donnas (or dons) who belive that no one could possibly be as good as they are, because of their physical attractiveness, and the status it brings. This is an excellent example of a person with a very high physical attractiveness, but very low skills of personal interaction. We all bring up the Hitler and Napoleon examples, but how about the "Stuck-up Supermodel" stereotype? The current value system which places beauty as a high priority skews the kind of characteristic that charisma seeks to convey.
Azure Trance
First Post
Reb said:this is a interesting topic so I would have to say that the general problem is that there is no beauty rating but how would you play a good looking dumb blond? by what you most of you are saying it would be a low CHA. but I would say low WIS & INT. with a high CHA.
Perhaps just an even Low WIS, INT and CHA ... but hoy boy, look at that skull bikini!
LuYangShih
First Post
Charisma does not include beauty in any way, for me. One of the main reasons is the fact beauty is such an undefinable thing. For example, I heard a story once about a foreigner who was visiting the Eskimos. Now, the Eskimo Chief wanted to impress him, and so he had his wife cover herself in whale blubber, strip herself naked, and offer herself to him. He was disgusted.
One of the other Eskimos bashed him on the head, and accidentally killed him. He said, "I only meant to bash his head a little." The Eskimo was enraged that the foreigner would refuse such a beautiful offering.
Now, if beauty is that different among the cultures that exist here on Earth, how much different would it be in a place like Faerun, or Kalamar, where you not only have numerous different cultures, but different races as well. The reaction to the Illithid picture here is a good example, Illithids have a high Charisma, yet they're considered one of the most repulsive races in D&D. I just don't think beauty should have any affect on Charisma because of that.
One of the other Eskimos bashed him on the head, and accidentally killed him. He said, "I only meant to bash his head a little." The Eskimo was enraged that the foreigner would refuse such a beautiful offering.
Now, if beauty is that different among the cultures that exist here on Earth, how much different would it be in a place like Faerun, or Kalamar, where you not only have numerous different cultures, but different races as well. The reaction to the Illithid picture here is a good example, Illithids have a high Charisma, yet they're considered one of the most repulsive races in D&D. I just don't think beauty should have any affect on Charisma because of that.
I'm A Banana
Potassium-Rich
How do you play a good looking, dumb blonde?
Depends.
HIGH Cha: She can influence people with her beauty. She knows how to *use* it, at least on an instinctive level, even if she does sometimes have trouble concentrating hard enough to tie that chainmail bikini. She may not even be aware of her own beauty, but people rush to make her smile anyway.
LOW Cha: He's cute, but obnoxious. He likes to flex in your face, and show off for the LADIES (or the particularly 'elfin' gents). He's a twit, and it shows. He can't use his beauty in any constructive way, and he just tends to fade into the backround.
OR
He could be a shy beauty. Not bright. Not intuitive. But amazingly handsome. He just has trouble distinguishing himself, speaking up, being assertive. He can't but his natural good looks to use, because he's too timid.
They'd all be interesting characters to play in their own right (especially if that high Cha babe was a telepath...mwahahahaa).
Depends.
HIGH Cha: She can influence people with her beauty. She knows how to *use* it, at least on an instinctive level, even if she does sometimes have trouble concentrating hard enough to tie that chainmail bikini. She may not even be aware of her own beauty, but people rush to make her smile anyway.
LOW Cha: He's cute, but obnoxious. He likes to flex in your face, and show off for the LADIES (or the particularly 'elfin' gents). He's a twit, and it shows. He can't use his beauty in any constructive way, and he just tends to fade into the backround.
OR
He could be a shy beauty. Not bright. Not intuitive. But amazingly handsome. He just has trouble distinguishing himself, speaking up, being assertive. He can't but his natural good looks to use, because he's too timid.
They'd all be interesting characters to play in their own right (especially if that high Cha babe was a telepath...mwahahahaa).
