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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Aaron L" data-source="post: 3396681" data-attributes="member: 926">Where does this fake division between Source and Descriptor come from??  I can ask the same question about Dexterity; does a high Dex cause a character to be good at dodging, or does a character being good at dodging cause them to have a high Dex?  It's a false dichotomy.  It's how the character is described in game stats.  There's no call to say "shut up and don't worry about it" about this stat any more than there is to say that about high Strength letting you be better able to lift heavy things.    As stated earlier, the quality that is simultaneously generating magical power and physical beauty is Charisma in it's classical, ancient sense: a combination of divine favor and mystical connection to the universe, which can manifest as physical beauty, OR as a forceful personality, OR as raw animal magnetism, OR as charm and wit, OR as a frightening intimidating presence.Or as powerful magical ability.It's the same quality of "divine favor" that medieval kings claimed gave them the right to rule, and supposedly gave them the ability to cure diseases and wounds by laying their hands on their subjects (as the kings of France claimed they could do) and the same quality that the Pharaohs claimed made them both kings and gods.   This is what Charisma has always meant in D&D, ever since Paladins required a 17 Charisma in earlier editions, and now in 3E Paladins get bonuses to their saving throws based on their connection to the divine, and Sorcerers are more magically powerful based on their inherent magical influence... as defined by their Charisma stat.I really don't understand people's resistance to the idea of Charisma and beauty being linked.   It's the beauty and power of the soul shining through to be reflected in the beauty of the face; beauty as more than skin deep.  You don't NEED to have a high Charisma to be beautiful, and you don't NEED to be beautiful to have a high Charisma, but there IS a connection.  If a character has a high CHA stat, then they WILL have great ability in at least one element of the stat's constituent parts.  To do otherwise would to say that your character with an 18 Strength is weak and can't fight and can't ift heavy things.  I'm really baffled by some of the arguments I'm hearing.</blockquote>

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