Roleplaying your dump-stat

[AFGNCAAP]

Well, the only other hint I could add to the rest of this advice is: think of the skills tied to Charisma.

Most likely, unless the guy puts ranks into a skill, he's all thumbs when it comes to most anything dealing with people. Probably says the wrong thing when trying to Gather Information or Intimidate people, for example.

I think there's a broad spectrum of personalities possible, but the key thing is that there's just something about the PC's personality that gets on other's nerves.

For example, I'm playing a PC in Eberron with a "dump stat" Cha--he's a gnome wizard. THe character looks like a gnomish version of Riff-Raff from Rocky Horror Picture Show, with the grating voice of Zorak from SG:C2C/Brak Show. He's crude, rude, and feasibly insane (though wickedly smart). He's prone to insult others for the sheer enjoyment of it (very Zorak-like attitude), and say and do things that get others to pause in shock, disbelief, or sheer disgust (He's CN, BTW, and possibly on the way to CE).

 

[Stalker0]

Three are 3 ways I see to roleplay a bad charisma:

1) Quiet, Introvertiveness. You should only do this if you yourself don't like to talk a lot during games, else this will get quite boring for you.

2) Brash, rude, annoying, etc. The classic dwarven sterotype

3) My favorite, the lack of persuasiveness. Basically, act normal, in fact, act charismatic. Talk to people, give heroic speeches, etc. Its just that nobody buys it. You talk as smooth as silk to a woman and she just walks away. You give a heroic speech and everyone just shrugs and goes about their business. You'll want to talk with your dm and your others players to make this one work well.

 

[LostSoul]

There's another option that's a little weird...

Just because you have a low Charisma on your sheet doeesn't mean that the PC is a low charisma character. It means that, when you roll dice, you are less likely to make people like you, tell convincing lies, you have no dragon blood in you (can't cast sorcerous spells), etc.

When you don't have to roll dice, you can be like James Bond.

Look at Boba Fett. All badass and stuff, right? Then he gets taken out by a blind Han Solo. When he has to roll dice, he sucks. When he doesn't, he's badass.

 

[Paraxis]

Charisma 7 and fun to roleplay the first thing that comes to mind is Dr. House. Really if you have never watched the show catch an episode and you'll see what I mean. He says whatever comes to mind with no real regard to social consequences but of course he pulls it off because he is almost always right that Int score of 18+ comes in handy here. But just always telling people what you think and not caring about others feelings is a real good negative charisma penalty.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

There's another option that's a little weird...

Just because you have a low Charisma on your sheet doeesn't mean that the PC is a low charisma character. It means that, when you roll dice, you are less likely to make people like you, tell convincing lies, you have no dragon blood in you (can't cast sorcerous spells), etc.

When you don't have to roll dice, you can be like James Bond.

Nah. That's bad roleplaying. Using Cha as a dump stat but still roleplaying as if you were James Bond - unless you do state and make clear beforehand that no one is supposed to buy it. No matter what he says, people will get it wrong and ignore/dislike him.

But just acting as if the Cha were 10 higher, assuming that "rolling bad" is all there is to it? Come on!

 

[Einan]

I'm currently playing a monk with a 9 charisma and I play him as very inscrutable. He tends to talk in parables which sound ridiculous and mean nothing. People just tend to shake their heads and ignore him.

"Let us be like the fallen leaf which floats gently down and makes little splash in the frozen pond. Or like the fish, who is."

Einan

 

[Merkuri]

Based on what the Cha modifier is used for in game, I like to think of of Charisma as your "force of personality". If you have a high Charisma you are a very memorable person who probably knows how to manipulate people. If you have low Charisma you are a wallflower, somebody whose name won't be remembered five minutes later. A low Charisma character is probably shy and introverted, as some others have said above. They will probably walk at the back of the party when in town and not speak to NPCs unless spoken to. They will probably talk mostly with other party members, who they've become comfortable enough with to open up. If you have a high Wisdom or Intelligence, you'll probably find yourself the type of character who stands behind the party leader and whispers advice in their ear.

 

[LostSoul]

Nah. That's bad roleplaying. Using Cha as a dump stat but still roleplaying as if you were James Bond - unless you do state and make clear beforehand that no one is supposed to buy it. No matter what he says, people will get it wrong and ignore/dislike him.

But just acting as if the Cha were 10 higher, assuming that "rolling bad" is all there is to it? Come on!

If something is important in the game, then you will roll. If it's not important, you don't roll.

If you roll, the penalty will show up. If it's not important, then who cares? Describe it how you please.

 

[theemrys]

In my games I really push to play the character per the stats... if you have a low Cha, you're expected to roleplay them that way.

We had a character in a previous game who was an elf with a 6 Cha. It was one of the more memorable characters we've ever had. He was gruff, mean, and ugly. He was a rogue and former pirate... and decided to travel with the humans because "at least he was prettier than them". (At least that was how he viewed it as an elf). All in all, he was a lot of fun for the team and he really hammed up the stat. It was also really funny when he decided to bluff his way into the enemy castle... walked up to the hobgoblin guards and made some rather rude comments... (netted a 4 on his bluff)... the hobgoblins rolled a 1 on their sense motive (no modifier)... and let him in figuring he was just one of the boss' henchmen... The player got bonus xp for roleplaying the character right.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

Charisma 7 and fun to roleplay the first thing that comes to mind is Dr. House. Really if you have never watched the show catch an episode and you'll see what I mean. He says whatever comes to mind with no real regard to social consequences but of course he pulls it off because he is almost always right that Int score of 18+ comes in handy here. But just always telling people what you think and not caring about others feelings is a real good negative charisma penalty.

Not to derail the thread but House is also excellent at manipulating people and that'd be a higher charisma (or ranks in bluff).
Me and a friend got into a nerdy argument about weather House had a low charisma or not. We couldn't come to a consensus.