Should charismatic players have an advantage?

[saskganesh]

I voted yes. It's a social game, so people who add to the social experience will have some game advantage. Now, if something is just shy, well, a good game in the hands of an astute DM can be the catalyst for helping them out of their social shell. But if someone is a "black hole" I would play around them, or better, not play with them at all.

 

[Barastrondo]

The charismatic player will certainly have the advantage in being invited back to the table, whereas the fellow who sucks fun and energy out of the group with his very presence may have a harder time with that. I'm absolutely fine with advantages of that sort being distributed, good as they are for group fun.

The kind of charismatic players I like to play with are quite fine not getting any mechanical advantages for their personal charisma, at least if their actions are any indication. They'll frequently play characters who socially fail from time to time (or even often) because using that charisma to entertain the whole group is more important than using it to Win.

 

[Umbran]

Fellow players merely tolerate him. He sucks a lot of the fun and energy out of the room, just by being there.

I don't generally invite someone to play at my table if I don't like their company, and if my players aren't going to like them, personally. So, first tell me why I'm playing with this person at all, and maybe I can address the question.

 

[GSHamster]

You know, I used to say that highly charismatic players shouldn't have an advantage. But I think I'm changing my mind on it.

It seems to me that we are walking a tightrope between overly mechanical play, where you roll dice for everything, and freeform play, where people can't fall back on the dice, but high charisma players can dominate.

I don't think we can thread the eye of the needle in all cases. So of the two "extreme" outcomes, I think I'd rather have freeform play, even if it means that a high-charisma player might be more effective than she should be.

I think I would rather reserve the dice for combat, and go back to just roleplaying all the other parts of the game.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

*Shrug* I give XP for well played scenes, be they combat or speechifying. The charismatic player is more likely to do things that earn them those bonus XP, the dullard less so.

And, to add a caveat, remember to reward the dullard when he tries to do something exciting. Not just on success, but on the attempt. Get him into a positive feedback loop, and he may improve. (I had a player like that in Spycraft, then he shut up, played along, and is now one of my better players....)

The Auld Grump

 

[Ringlerun]

One player is likable, charming, a joy to be around. He roleplays his character superbly. Everybody likes him. The GM likes him.

Another player is a charisma black hole. He will not speak in-character. Fellow players merely tolerate him. He sucks a lot of the fun and energy out of the room, just by being there.

Should the charismatic player have an advantage in in-game task resolution, especially at character-interaction stuff?

I would not give the charismatic player any in game bonuses but i would be giving the player more role-playing xp points. The same as i would give any player for role-playing their character well.

I guess with the charismatic black hole player i would ask them to bring chips and dip so at least they are contributing in some way to the social experience. I have never played with a person who sucks the life out of a game, but have played with a few who have the personality of a plank of wood.

 

[SSquirrel]

I don't generally invite someone to play at my table if I don't like their company, and if my players aren't going to like them, personally. So, first tell me why I'm playing with this person at all, and maybe I can address the question.

*puts on his "I'm with Umbran" shirt*

Yeah that's the real question of the evening. I don't mind if someone isn't charismatic but they're playing the party diplomat, so long as there's at least a basic attempt. You know, give me a line or 2 and toss a d20. If I'm playing someone who is very dumb, when I'm definitely not, I'll do my best to not come up with plans. I hate puzzles anyway, so I just sit those out on that guy. If no one else is coming up w/ideas, I'll see if I can reason out why he would be coming up w/the plan and sometimes my DM will tell me to give him a roll before I let the plan fly.

I've spent too much time gaming w/people who leave a black cloud in your house when they leave. I'd find someone else to fill that spot at the table.

 

[S'mon]

it sounds like the second guy is someone I wouldn't play with. If he's sucking fun out of the room, he's probably doing stuff we don't enjoy (extreme rules lawyering, drawing people out of immersion, trying to break the system to "win" the game, etc.)

I wasn't thinking of loud obnoxious players, rules lawyers or munchkins. I'm not thinking of shy people either. Sadly some people just have really really low charisma in real life. Players who when they open their mouth, everyone else just cringes and hopes they'll stop talking.*

For the purpose of the poll, I'm more interested in the high-CHA player though, this was just a counterpoint, and obviously most players fall in between my extreme cases.

*Edit: For RPGs we have the 'cat piss man' stereotype.

 

[S'mon]

Those lucky people blessed with charisma should have an in-game advantage, yes.

In the same way, those lucky people blessed with strength should have an in-game advantage in the form of damage bonuses.

And anyone able to hold their breath for more than 90 seconds should gain an additional 10% hit points for their character.

That's a 'no, then? Since tabletop games don't test the real STR/CON/DEX of the players?

 

[S'mon]

I don't generally invite someone to play at my table if I don't like their company, and if my players aren't going to like them, personally. So, first tell me why I'm playing with this person at all, and maybe I can address the question.

Maybe you're playing at a Convention?