hot tip if you wanna play a warlock or another high charisma character but have an irl charisma of like 10:
there’s more than one kind of charisma. the default always seems to be “suave ladykiller/casanova who can and will knowingly manipulate people and do it with a sly smile”, but that’s not the only kind.
i play a 20 charisma warlock who is… none of those things. she’s kind of shy and easily flustered but she IS extremely good-hearted and kind, and she radiates a certain kind of aura that just makes people want to like her and trust her because they can tell she’s a good person.
don’t feel boxed in by traditional portrayals of charisma and let it scare you away from playing classes you’re interested in.
A great point.
There’s more than one way to play high/low scores for all stats, but i think people struggle the most with Charisma BECAUSE it is so frequently viewed as the “suave smooth talker” trope.
Charisma is literally just your ability to influence how others feel about you - and not just feelings of likability. So while being flirtatious definitely falls into that category, it’s way more broad than that.
Other High Charisma styles
Heart of Gold: This is the example OP mentioned
Class Clown: Just really funny. But actually funny, not mean funny or obnoxious or anything. Just jokes around, tries to get people to laugh, makes jokes and has a good time. People just like to hang out with you because you’re fun.
Intimidating Aura: High Charisma doesn’t always mean people fall over themselves to be with you. Being incredibly intimidating and confidant is its own kind of Charisma. This doesn’t mean you’re mean or overly aggressive - this means you command a respectful presence that makes people want to listen to you and believe you.
Cute/A-dork-able: One of my characters has really high charisma because she’s just a really naive, cute cinnamon roll. She’s not great at talking to people, she’s just so damn cute you can’t help it. This is the appeal that puppies or kittens or other baby animals have - they’re not good at anything, they’re helpless and kinda dumb and it’s so fucking cute.
There’s obviously more than this, but that’s the point. High Charisma =/= High Seduction (or at least doesn’t have to)
I have a player who plays a high Charisma Warlock. He’s incredibly awkward and shy, but naturally imposing and at his core is a good person. So people don’t really argue with him, and as they get to know him more and more just begin to trust him more and more without really thinking about it - because he has high charisma, he doesn’t have to try and get them to trust him, he doesn’t convince them he’s trustworthy. They just end up that way.
