How to play a 19 Charisma

[Li Shenron]

Not only would you have to be a genius, you would have to be either a 20th level middle-aged genius or a 16th level old genius. Either that or you found a RL Headband of Intellect +6 on amazon marketplace.

Yes, I mean that you CAN have a PC with 24-Int early or late (late, probably ), but you are not required to be a genius-player to play that PC.
I don't know, but we try to play in the smartest possible way, while our PCs' Int rolls depend on THEIR Int score.

You can sometimes do something stupid on purpose to better roleplay your character, but as a DM I don't really prevent you from doing something clever if your Half-Orc has Int 3. Why? Because while I am able to simulate a creature less intelligent than me, I am NOT able to simulate a creature more intelligent than me.

This dualism player/character is one of the most interesting aspect of RPG games!

 

[Hypersmurf]

You can just as easily emphasize your fantastic charisma by saying "Queenie walks in with a slight smile on her face, and everyone's eyes just sort of gravitate towards her as she walks to the table. With a nod of her head, she turns to you and...."

This may be just me (hence, this entire post should be considered highly IMO), but as a DM, I'd find the "everyone's eyes gravitate" something of an intrusion into my purview.

NPC reactions - even spear carriers or peasants in the tavern common room - are at my discretion.

A player can remind me of the character's high Cha, and can discuss out-of-game how they feel that for this character, the high attribute manifests itself as a personal magnetism that draws eyes. And as a DM, I would try to have NPCs react to that magnetism appropriately.

But I would find your line above as irritating as if I were a player, and you told me that my PC "couldn't help whistling in appreciation of Queenie's impressive figure". How PCs react is up to a player; how NPCs react is up to the DM. Both should take into account anything that may influence their behaviour, like high Cha, like Intimidate rolls, like Charm Person... but unless you're exuding a Mass Dominate, my personal feeling is that you can't dictate my character's (or characters') reactions.

Please understand - I know this is entirely not-the-point of your post, and I agree that high Cha can manifest in more ways than "chatty and vocal". You just pushed a button of mine

-Hyp.

 

[The Souljourner]

Actually I was thinking the same thing, Hypersmurf. PCs can't dictate NPC reactions, even little peons. That's the DM's job. When I read what he said, I was thinking "Damn, if I were a DM, that would piss me off."

If the DM is a good one, he'll play it up, if he doesn't, just talk to him and try to explain that you'd like it if he could try to play up your Charisma some, seeing as how you're more charismatic than any human who ever lived.

-The Souljourner

 

[Al]

seeing as how you're more charismatic than any human who ever lived.

Wrong! Queenie is more charismatic than any young 1st-3rd level human who has ever existed. Through aging and level-based ability boosts, a 19 Charisma is very possible (indeed, a 20th level venerable character could have started with just an 11 and have 19 by the end of his life.) The maximum ability score attainable for a real-world human is either 23 (physical ability) or 26 (mental ability).

 

[AuraSeer]

The maximum ability score attainable for a real-world human is either 23 (physical ability) or 26 (mental ability).

For Charisma, is that with or without the potential +5 inherent bonus? They're doing wonderful things with plastic surgery these days.

 

[Henry]

The important thing to remember, is CONFIDENCE.

Self-assuredness manifests itself often as a high charisma. People like others who are confident, but not headstrong. If you are not confident in real life, you may find it hard to roleplay this. But just remembering in all situations that the PC feels in control of their immediate surroundings, and that they feel sure how to handle situations that are BEYOND their control, that is the way in which a high charisma is best played.

Beauty can be a factor, as can loquacity (sp?) - but personal power and confidence are the strongest indicators.

 

[Sejs]

I'm sure it's been noted above, but yeah. With a 19 charisma, you don't necessarily have to be a jaw-dropping beauity.. but what you are is a forceful personality. Poised, calm, reassuring, disarming or terrifying depending on how you present yourself. Unless they're hostile, most people will -want- to like you with little effort on your part. If they're hostile, it's not a far step to make them think twice about trifling with you. with +4 on animal empathy, bluff, diplomacy, gather information, handle animal, intimidate, perform, and use magic device checks even animals and (potentially) magic items do what you want them to.

^_^



When you bring the full force of your personality to bear, it's like a hammer to the forebrain.

 

[Enkhidu]

In my opinion, Charisma is the only stat that other players have to play for you.

Let me explain - Charisma (to me) is all about presence - the higher the # the more presence you actually have. This presence doesn't really do anything for you directly, instead it influences other people. So, it's always seemed to me that everyone at the table should know everyone else's CHA, in order to roleplay reactions to that character's behavior.

And example: my character is traveling along with a charismatic, yet foolish, sorcerer. During our adventures together, he suggests a plan that I just know, deep down in my gut, won't work. But, as a player who knows that this sorcerer has a 16 CHA, I adjust for my character's behavior. So, instead of having the character dismiss the plan out of hand, I give it weight - much more so than if the equally foolish barbarian with an 8 CHA were to suggest it. In fact, I might even back the sorcerer's plan!

Simply put, other players need to take that high CHA into consideration.

 

[AuraSeer]

Simply put, other players need to take that high CHA into consideration.

I'd argue the exact opposite. NPCs are affected by Charisma, but the party itself shouldn't be. In the absence of magical influence, a PC's emotions and attitude are as the player determines, regardless of whatever the numbers say.

You can't make a Diplomacy or Intimidate check to alter a PC's attitude. Flat Charisma should be unable to do better.

 

[Enkhidu]

AuraSeer:

Look at it this way - do you have a friend that you just keep listening to, even though you know you shouldn't?

Admittedly, familiarity can severely reduce the effects of CHA in a close relationship (like that of 2 PC's), and I do think a PC should not be able to force a reaction from another PC - but that does not mean that a player striving to create a 3 dimensional character should completely ignore another PC's CHA. Maybe not be ruled by it, but definitely take it into account.