Question about the Charm/Intimidate in ME1

[himmatsj]

Say you have both options available. Does choosing one over the other lead to different outcomes? Or is it just the style/tone of your reply is different, but the actual outcome is always mostly the same?

[Snow]

Well, it is always different. Charm means people will be more friendly with you, but intimidate means they will be scarred, it also reflects on your character if he is paragon or renegade later in the game and mostly in the next games.

[SwobyJ]

As far as I remember, the outcome is mostly flavor between Charm/Intimidate. What is most important, story-mechanics-wise, is that you've convinced someone, not how you've done it.

Then the white upper-right option is often a 'tried to peacefully convince but failed' and white lower-right option is often a 'gave up on peacefully convincing', both, in many cases, requiring killing someone (or at least not getting a great benefit from a conversation) instead of convincing them.

[SwobyJ]

Keep in mind that a fraction of your Paragon and Renegade points get transferred into ME2 to start off as (as well as your character level and some other things). So being a very Charmer Paragon will at least start you off on that same path at the start of ME2.

[Bizargh]

It mostly depends on the decision provided.

Often, they are different means to the same end, but some can have a lasting effect. For example; "Citadel: The Fan", aka your interaction with Conrad Verner, can conclude with either a Charm or Intimidate option if available to you to help him avert a mistake. You'll meet him again in Mass Effect 2 in identical circumstances as a result of either choice, but whether or not you charmed or intimidated him will be remembered.

Or in other cases, such story mission encounters such as bumping into corrupt cops in Noveria will provide the same outcome; they walk away when you otherwise would've had to fight 'em (Pro-tip: The Renegade option with Wrex present is hilarity!). This particular encounter will never be remembered.

It's a case by case thing.