5
\$\begingroup\$

I usually build characters designed to fill a role the party needs. My group is trying Savage Worlds for the first time, and once everyone else had made characters I realized we didn't have a traditional "face" character, someone who handles most social interactions. I noticed charisma was a stat so I built to optimize that. Now I have a character with a +10(!) Charisma, and I've realized charisma doesn't actually get added to all that many rolls.

How can I build my character to take advantage of charisma as much as possible (including but not limited to combat applications)? The books I'm allowed to use edges from are the core book, Slipstream, and the High Space Character Guide.

\$\endgroup\$

3 Answers 3

8
\$\begingroup\$

"How can I build my character to take advantage of charisma as much as possible?"

Short answer: you cannot further build your character mechanically (except for one Edge from Slipstream). By design, Charisma is of limited, non-combat use, but where it is used it is very powerful.

Long answer: to get to +10 Charisma, you've already maxed out all of the Charisma Edges and taken a Race with a Charisma bonus (the Valkyria race from Slipstream combined with the Attractive, Very Attractive, Charismatic, and Noble Edges from the core). You've already super-specialized your character in that direction (spending several Advances to do so) and there are no more Edges that can boost it.

Charisma is intentionally limited in that it only works for two trait rolls: Persuasion and Streetwise (and a successful Persuasion roll raises the result on the NPC reaction table; two with a raise, but it's capped at that). These are both non-combat rolls. What this means is that you are really, really good at convincing people of things and chatting around to find out information and that general people will always be Neutral or better (the GM can still of course ignore the NPC reaction table and just have someone be hostile. You still have enemies). But aside from boosting your Persuasion and Streetwise, you've more or less maxed out your ability mechanically. You are essentially a well-liked superstar who can get their way whenever they want.

Realize though that there are limits to a high Charisma. Although you can probably talk a great deal on price or get someone to reveal information that isn't common knowledge, having a high Charisma does not equal mind control. No matter how well you persuade someone, they won't let you into a classified building if it means they'll lose their job. More importantly if someone wants to kill you, you might be able to convince them to stop if they are unsure of it, but not if they're hell-bent on killing you, no matter how charming you are. And that's the major limitation: being attractive and charismatic is helpful in social situations, but doesn't matter if someone is trying to kill you. Again, this is by design (and it's how it works in real life).

There is one Edge from Slipstream that you can take that would help fill in your combat weakness. The Femme Fatale/Ladykiller Edge lets you use Persuasion (modified by Charisma as usual) as a Test of Wills during combat. Like other Tests of Wills, this will allow a +2 to your next action against them and possibly Shake them (but not wound). This will help you set up for an attack or aid your teammates, but it won't completely get them to stop. There isn't anything in High Space that modifies Charisma, Persuasion, or Streetwise.

So to sum it up, you're at the end of the line with your high Charisma character. Except for the Femme Fatale/Ladykiller Edge, there is nothing more you can do to build your character, so you will need to get creative and find story reasons for how such a high Charisma can be helpful. Also, it's time to diversify and fill in the weaknesses you've left by spending so many Edges on boosting Charisma.

Finally, I'd recommend talking with your GM about your character. If you were running that character in my game, I'd have a hard time challenging you with a +10 Charisma because you'll blow through most every social situation I try to throw at you and honestly I'd be concerned about that making the game not fun (after all, what's the point of running them?). Savage Worlds isn't really a min-maxing game like D&D and I'd instead suggest that, for the fun of the game, you retrain some of your Charisma-boosting Edges into something else so that I can still make social situations a challenge you.

Or if you insisted on keeping it, I'd make your high Charisma a curse. Like give you an annoying fan who always follows you around, even in combat. Or make it so that people stop you to get your autograph when you are trying to get away. Or have the tabloids telling all sorts of stories about stuff you supposedly did. Just saying, in the hands of a vindictive GM, high Charisma is a curse!

\$\endgroup\$
2
  • \$\begingroup\$ There's also the Reputation Edge in Deadlands (although I realise you can't use it in this game), which allows you to add your Charisma bonus to Intimidation rolls. As a general note, I know several GMs who limit the Charisma bonus from Edges to +4 for the very reasons @Thunderforge discusses above \$\endgroup\$
    – Wibbs
    Nov 22, 2013 at 9:53
  • 1
    \$\begingroup\$ Deadlands also has the Snake Oil Salesman Edge which adds +2 Persuasion and allows the Persuasion Test of Wills like Slipstream's Femme Fatale/Lady Killer. In Savage Worlds, Edges from different settings are not designed to be used together. Some of the Slipstream Edges would be too powerful for Realms of Cthulhu, for instance. \$\endgroup\$ Nov 22, 2013 at 16:35
0
\$\begingroup\$

AFAIK, Charisma doesn't add to any of your trait rolls. It adds to what peoples opinion of you when they first meet you. The GM (should) roll 2d6 for strangers you interact with, adding your Charisma. A successful Persuasion raises the resulting reaction by a category.

With +10 Charisma, pretty much everyone who meets you will bend over backwards to help you with no need to return the favour (usually paid in bribes, favours or other services.) Anyone will give you whatever information you request. With a suitable disguise, you could walk through an army base as a commanding officer, unquestioned.

The downside is, your personality is so strong everyone will remember you. Learn to disguise yourself because tracking you down will be a simple task.

Edit: I just checked the books. We're both right.

Explorer Edition, page 7

Charisma is added to Persuasion and Streetwise rolls, and is used by the GM to figure out how nonplayer characters react to your hero.

Explorer Edition, page 132

When a player character asks a nonplayer character to do something, or tries to use the Persuasion or Streetwise skills, roll 2d6 on the table below and add both characters Charisma modifiers to the roll. This is the nonplayer character’s initial attitude to the hero.

So the Charisma is added to Persuasion, Streetwise and initial attitude rolls. But the original point stands, that you can bluff your way through virtually anywhere.

\$\endgroup\$
2
  • 1
    \$\begingroup\$ I think you may be mixing up your systems. Charisma does affect two trait rolls: Persuasion and Streetwise and the NPC reaction table doesn't work the way you say it does. \$\endgroup\$ Nov 22, 2013 at 5:13
  • \$\begingroup\$ Regarding your edit, you're right for the 2007 Explorer's Edition rules. But in the 2011 Deluxe Edition rules (which are identical to the rules in the Deluxe Explorer's Edition), Charisma is no longer a flat modifier to the 2d6 on the reaction table. Instead, a Persuasion roll (can't be Streetwise), modified by Charisma as usual can potentially improve the reaction table result. So Charisma still helps for that, but indirectly and it's not guaranteed. Since the original poster didn't specify a version, I assume they were talking about the most recent. \$\endgroup\$ Nov 24, 2013 at 4:38
0
\$\begingroup\$

instead of going for +10 Charisma which i personally made the mistake of doing a long time ago. i usually go for a +2 or +4 and branch out from there. having points to spend on a combat skill could save your life for the times your charisma won't be enough to save you. there are other things a Femme Fatale or Ladykiller does and has besides charisma. Watching a few of the older James Bond Movies can give you a good example of a high charisma character who has other uses.

\$\endgroup\$

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .