shilsen
Adventurer
In view of the constant discussion of Cha as a dump stat that I see on these boards (see the "Charisma, still the poor stat!" thread), here is my take on using Cha in 3e. All of the following is completely basic stuff, and probably things that many of the DMs posting here already have in effect in their campaigns, so it might only be useful to newer players and DMs. Either way, here goes. As usual, feedback is greatly appreciated.
Charisma in D&D
Of the six ability scores possessed by PCs and NPCs in D&D, inarguably the most troublesome (for players and DMs alike) one is that of Charisma (Cha). A major part of the problem lies in the fact that it is the worst-defined of the abilities, with a number of obvious contradictions between its theory (description) and practice (mechanics) in the game. Such a lack of precise definition automatically leads to a problem common to many, if not most, D&D campaigns, where Cha is often the “dump” stat for characters, and plays a minimal role in affecting the game world, as opposed to the other ability scores, which come into play on a more or less consistent basis. In an attempt to alleviate this problem, here is my take on what Cha means in the D&D game world, and how it may be more consistently and effectively used in a D&D campaign.
What is Charisma?
The PHB defines the ability as follows: “Charisma measures a character’s force of personality, persuasiveness, personal magnetism, ability to lead, and physical attractiveness. It represents actual personal strength, not merely how one is perceived in a social setting.” Right here is one of the inherent flaws in the ability – contradictory definition. Most of the qualities described here are dependent on contextual factors. Physical attractiveness, for example, is almost totally dependent on social perception, and especially in a world populated by physically different species. The “attractiveness” that a gnomish equivalent of Tom Cruise may possess in the eyes of his female counterparts will in most likelihood be lost on any of the nubile half-orc ladies he encounters, and vice versa. This dependence on perception is unique to Cha among the six abilities – the others are all quantifiable in isolation. A medium-sized bipedal creature with 14 Str always has a maximum load of 175 lbs, just as all creatures with 16 Dex are equally and consistently adept at dodging. Keeping in mind this relative uniqueness of Cha as an ability, one can somewhat amend the “actual personal strength” mentioned in the PHB, and describe it as follows: “Charisma is the ability to use one’s actual strength of character to change the world around oneself (primarily in a social sense).” This definition, simple as it may seem, achieves certain things that aid in the use of Cha in the game. Firstly, it sets Cha apart very clearly from the other ‘mental’ abilities – Int and Wis. Whereas Int is the ability to understand and analyze the external world, Wis is the ability to perceive it and also resist being affected by it. Cha, completing the triad, is the ability to affect the external world in turn.
What does high and low Cha mean?
As is true of the other two mental attributes (as opposed to the three physical ones), Intelligence and Wisdom, a high or a low Cha usually means a single thing, but can arise from many reasons. A high Cha essentially means that the character is able to affect others’ opinions and make them more amenable to him by virtue of his force of personality, while a low Cha means that others react to the character in a negative manner. The reasons, as mentioned before, may be extremely varied. A very eloquent speaker or an attractive woman can be highly charismatic. A rude or an ugly person may have a low Cha. It is important to note, however, that Cha measures the sum total of a character’s personality, and some aspects of it may be more attractive than others. An unattractive person can have a high Cha due to other facets of personality (think Winston Churchill or Whoopi Goldberg). Similarly, being just a pretty face will lead to a low Cha character. What is important in Cha is not simply the possession of many qualities, but a willingness to use them in a social context. A character with a strong personality and sense of self will still have a low Cha if he is an introvert and disinterested in dealing with people in a social way. Such an inbuilt emphasis on application by choice is unique to Cha (as opposed to attributes like Str or Wis), and is one of the reasons why it causes problems for both players (roleplaying) and DMs (how to use Cha in the game world).
Part two following...
Charisma in D&D
Of the six ability scores possessed by PCs and NPCs in D&D, inarguably the most troublesome (for players and DMs alike) one is that of Charisma (Cha). A major part of the problem lies in the fact that it is the worst-defined of the abilities, with a number of obvious contradictions between its theory (description) and practice (mechanics) in the game. Such a lack of precise definition automatically leads to a problem common to many, if not most, D&D campaigns, where Cha is often the “dump” stat for characters, and plays a minimal role in affecting the game world, as opposed to the other ability scores, which come into play on a more or less consistent basis. In an attempt to alleviate this problem, here is my take on what Cha means in the D&D game world, and how it may be more consistently and effectively used in a D&D campaign.
What is Charisma?
The PHB defines the ability as follows: “Charisma measures a character’s force of personality, persuasiveness, personal magnetism, ability to lead, and physical attractiveness. It represents actual personal strength, not merely how one is perceived in a social setting.” Right here is one of the inherent flaws in the ability – contradictory definition. Most of the qualities described here are dependent on contextual factors. Physical attractiveness, for example, is almost totally dependent on social perception, and especially in a world populated by physically different species. The “attractiveness” that a gnomish equivalent of Tom Cruise may possess in the eyes of his female counterparts will in most likelihood be lost on any of the nubile half-orc ladies he encounters, and vice versa. This dependence on perception is unique to Cha among the six abilities – the others are all quantifiable in isolation. A medium-sized bipedal creature with 14 Str always has a maximum load of 175 lbs, just as all creatures with 16 Dex are equally and consistently adept at dodging. Keeping in mind this relative uniqueness of Cha as an ability, one can somewhat amend the “actual personal strength” mentioned in the PHB, and describe it as follows: “Charisma is the ability to use one’s actual strength of character to change the world around oneself (primarily in a social sense).” This definition, simple as it may seem, achieves certain things that aid in the use of Cha in the game. Firstly, it sets Cha apart very clearly from the other ‘mental’ abilities – Int and Wis. Whereas Int is the ability to understand and analyze the external world, Wis is the ability to perceive it and also resist being affected by it. Cha, completing the triad, is the ability to affect the external world in turn.
What does high and low Cha mean?
As is true of the other two mental attributes (as opposed to the three physical ones), Intelligence and Wisdom, a high or a low Cha usually means a single thing, but can arise from many reasons. A high Cha essentially means that the character is able to affect others’ opinions and make them more amenable to him by virtue of his force of personality, while a low Cha means that others react to the character in a negative manner. The reasons, as mentioned before, may be extremely varied. A very eloquent speaker or an attractive woman can be highly charismatic. A rude or an ugly person may have a low Cha. It is important to note, however, that Cha measures the sum total of a character’s personality, and some aspects of it may be more attractive than others. An unattractive person can have a high Cha due to other facets of personality (think Winston Churchill or Whoopi Goldberg). Similarly, being just a pretty face will lead to a low Cha character. What is important in Cha is not simply the possession of many qualities, but a willingness to use them in a social context. A character with a strong personality and sense of self will still have a low Cha if he is an introvert and disinterested in dealing with people in a social way. Such an inbuilt emphasis on application by choice is unique to Cha (as opposed to attributes like Str or Wis), and is one of the reasons why it causes problems for both players (roleplaying) and DMs (how to use Cha in the game world).
Part two following...
