Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lancelot" data-source="post: 6406821" data-attributes="member: 30022">Beauty is not Charisma. Charisma is the ability to influence people; to be a leader; to successfully deceive or to intimidate; to give people an instant impression of likeability; and many other things.Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) in Game of Thrones is probably the highest-Charisma character in the series, despite being the least elf-like. The audience LOVES him, and (despite his physical characteristics) he commands the attention (not all of it welcome) of powerful lords and stunning ladies. Same with Darryl in the Walking Dead - he's (apparently) fairly physically attractive, but he's not the strongest-willed character in the series, nor even a leader-type (in fact, he's explicitly Rick's henchman). But he's incredibly likeable. Same goes for Carol from Walking Dead. Immensely popular and charismatic character, but not conventionally beautiful.Even if D&D elves were absolutely Tolkien elves, I would argue against Charisma. Unless we're talking Silmarillion era (e.g. 1st/2nd Age Noldor), the elves are a retiring people. They're trying to avoid getting involved in the affairs of Middle Earth. Elrond is respected, but he's clearly not leading the fight. Legolas is a follower. Neither is swaying the hearts and minds of the people. Sure, Galadriel is clearly Charisma-high (she ends up swaying even the suspicious Gimli). But she's an exception. The elves in the Hobbit are viewed with deep mistrust, and they don't do anything to win friends and influence the dwarves. Failed Charisma checks all around, during the dwarves' stay in the Elvenking's dungeons.So: they're not leaders. They're not actively trying to influence others. They send the Prince of the Woodland Realm (Legolas, one of the highest ranking elven nobility) along with the fellowship to take orders from Gandalf (roving wizard) and Aragorn (penniless wanderer). Even Boromir likely has higher Charisma than Legolas, as a leader of men and Captain of Gondor.Even if D&D Elves == Tolkien Elves, they're not getting the Charisma bonuses. Sure, Dexterity... they are master archers, graceful beyond mortal capability, running lightly on top of snow. And, yes, I'd give them either Intelligence or Wisdom. Once you've lived a thousand years, you've forgotten more things than a human will ever learn in their lifetime.</blockquote>

Verification