Video games, especiallyRPGs, are often power fantasies, which is why charisma often takes a back seat to guns, spells, swords, muscles, and anything that makes an enemy’s head explode.
The ability to sway others with words is often the key to power in the real world. Some of the most dangerous and influential people alive have done so via their words alone, without ever lifting a weapon.
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Some video games have attempted to weaponize charisma and turn it into an ability that can be used by the player. Tabletop RPGs have been doing this for decades, dating back to the Charisma stat inDungeons & Dragons, which only got stronger over time.
These are the video games where personality is power, where words can make armies march, and friends sacrifice themselves for the player.
10Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
Defeat Demons With Friendship
Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
As an inheritor of the D&D 3rd edition rules,Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteoushas several Charisma-based classes, some of which are among the best in the game.
These Charisma classes include the Bard, Oracle, Paladin, and Sorcerer. There are also many Charisma archetypes of other classes to choose from.
As the leader of the crusade, having a high Charisma/Persuasion score is incredibly useful, as there are plenty of circumstances where talking can resolve a situation over bloodshed.
Wrath of the Righteous is a game about gathering allies for the crusade so they can defeat the demonic horde once and for all. Having a high Charisma will make that process considerably easier, as the protagonist won’t be alienating potential comrades with bad dice rolls.
9Fallout 4
A Charismatic Vault-Dweller
Charisma has had an inconsistent history throughout theFalloutfranchise, beng highly effective in some, and weak in others.
InFallout 4, it’s smart to for personality, asCharisma is incredibly useful, partly due to how it increases the number of allies players can have in their settlements. It also boosts the effectiveness of party members.
Charisma builds can use Intimidation to force enemies to stand down. This is useful on the harder difficulties or during the early game when supplies are low.
The Wasteland Whisperer Perk is also highly useful, as it gives players the chance to control a monster. This even includes the mighty Deathclaw, assuming the check is passed.
8Vampine: The Masquerade - Bloodlines
Seduce To Avoid Bloodshed
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines
While theVampire: The Masqueradetabletop RPG is known for being a much more social experience than D&D, its first video game still forces the player into combat.
The end portion ofVampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlinesis especially bad for difficult boss fights. So, players need to have some combat skills.
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That being said, having points in Persuasion and Seduction can make the early game much easier.
Seduction makes it easier to procure blood and even has a few gender-specific quest solutions. Meanwhile, Persuasion outright lets you complete certain quests while avoiding combat, as well as earning better rewards.
7The Outer Worlds
A Reliable Crew To Do Your Bidding
The Outer Worlds
The Outer Worldswears its Fallout inspiration on its sleeves, which extends to weaponized charisma.
In The Outer Worlds, the Charm stat can drastically improve thepower of party members. This is because Companions have special abilities with a recharge timer. A Charm reduces the recharge, letting Companions use their best skills more often.
Not only that, but Charm also influences how the various Factions in the game will respond to the player. The higher the Charm, the bigger the benefit when faction missions are completed.
This opens up more quests, makes items cheaper to purchase, and makes it harder to alienate factions in the run-up to the ending.
6Neverwinter Nights 2
Roll For Charisma Check
Neverwinter Nights 2
The original Neverwinter Nights was light on story and heavy on combat. Its sequel switched things around, giving players more options for roleplaying and story divergence.
As Neverwinter Nights 2 used the 3rd edition D&D rules, the Charisma stat became vital, as it was tied to some of the strongest classes in the game, notably the Sorcerer.
Charisma was also tied to the skills that could be used to avoid combat. In this case, a Neverwinter Nights 2 character can bypass a ton of encounters by passing Bluff, Diplomacy, and Intimidation checks.
It’s impossible to totally avoid combat, but a diplomat player can preserve their resource for when they actually need them, by talking their way out of fights.
5The Shadowrun Trilogy
A Mercenary With Etiquette
Shadowrun Returns
Shadowrunis all about mercenaries for hire who complete dangerous missions in acyberpunk worldfilled with futuristic and supernatural horrors.
This might not seem like an ideal game for a charismatic character, but there are plenty of instances where enemies can be bribed by a charming hero.
There’s also the Etiquette system, which can provide unique dialogue options, with Security being among the best in the trilogy, as it lets the player bypass enemies.
There’s also the Shaman class, which uses Charisma for its spirit spells. These can let the player use powerful animal totems, which can heal and buff allies.
4Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magic Obscura
A Steampunk Smooth Talker
Arcanum: of Steamworks and Magick Obscura
RPGs, especially tabletop ones, often tie their difficulty to their action economy. The character or enemy that can perform more actions per turn will often have a major advantage in battle.
In Arcanum, the Charisma stat is the best way to make the most out of the action economy. Why? Because Charisma determines the maximum number of party members that can be used.
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Not only that, but maxing out Charisma will also prevent party members from leaving the player altogether.
Anyone who wants to rock through the dangerous steampunk world will have a much easier time if they’re packing a full party of adventurers, all willing to die for the protagonist.
3Planescape: Torment
Nameless, But Not Without Eloquence
Planescape: Torment
The earlyBaldur’s Gateand Icewind Dale games didn’t make this list, because they’re from an era of D&D when Charisma was considered a dump stat and was barely used.
Planescape: Tormentwas the exception to this, seeing as it was a much more character andstory-focused gamethan the other Black Isle Studios RPGs.
In Planescape: Torment, a mental attribute build is highly desirable. This is because it’s not just Charisma that influences dialogue options, but Intelligence and Wisdom as well.
Maxing out the three social stats gives you a ton more dialogue options, some of which can offer alternate ways of dealing with dangerous situations, or net you better rewards in combat.
2Vampire: The Masquerade - Swansong
Sharp Fangs, Sharp Tongue
Vampire: The Masquerade - Swansong
Vampire: The Masquerade - Swansongis much more of a crime-solving and puzzle game than Bloodlines. It has the same stats and disciplines as the Vampire: The Masquerade tabletop RPG, but with room to level up.
In Swansong, it’s advised to go the Persuasion route, considering how many characters there are to interact with throughout the game.
The Disciplines that influence the minds of others, including Dominate, are also highly important, as knowledge is power in Swansong, and extracting information is key.
The physical Disciplines, like Fortitude, make it easier to survive damage, but the ability to charm and influence people is the best way to reach the ending.
1Baldur’s Gate 3
Personality Is Power
Baldur’s Gate 3
Baldur’s Gate 3is the culmination of decades of improvements of CRPGs based on tabletop games.
Gone are the days of power gaming and min-maxing builds to survive dungeon crawls. In Baldur’s Gate 3, the gift of the gab trumps all.
Having a high Charisma stat is not just beneficial for thebest spellcasting classes(Sorcerer and Warlock), but it lets players avoid many dangerous encounters.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is a game that shows players the dice rolls, so they can finally see how having a high Charisma helps them.
A character who talks their way out of situations is not only viable in Baldur’s Gate 3, but is one of the best options in the game, especially for those who want to get the most out of the story.
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