While I much prefer to play d20, one thing I liked about the White Wolf StoryTeller system for the Vampire: The Masquarade system was the incredibly real world *usefulness* of the social disciplines that vambires got.
Take a look (my specualtion as to DnD equivalents in brackets):
PRESENCE:
1. Awe - when activate, everybody in the vicinity notices and is impressed by you. Great for getting service at a bar, attaqcting attention at a business meeting, public speaking, etc, etc (Charm Person? High Charisma?).
2. Intimidate - reveal vampire fangs in such a menacing way as to casue enemies to suffer a high chance of running away and in any case causing them to suffer combat penalties. Great if you're ever mugged or threatened at night, etc (Fear?)
3. Fascinate - so charm a person that they become so enamoured with you that they will treat you as a lover, best friend, master, mentor etc. Not full slavery, as you can't do any thing to break the spell by really pissing the subject off and the subject retains his or her own will and mind so its possible for him or her to act in what HE or SHE thinks are your best interests. Also, whan it wears off, your ongoing relationshp with the subest is very prone to go sour unless you trheated him/her really well. I think we can all think of uses for this (though it woud be an ethical mindfield). (Charm Person?)
4. Summon. Mentally call a person to you and they will feel compelled to come. This level of the Presence powe was one that never seemed THAT useful to me.
5. Majesty - You reek charisma, dignity and command respect even from your enemies. It requires an act of will to even think about acting against you. This one would be amazing if you had managment, political ambitions. (Rod of Rulership?)
...
and on it goes...