Does Persuasion skill even actually work in this game??

[fishhooks]

I ask because I have a situation where I can use Persuasion...either at 5 or 8 (got xp lying around)...

I don't get any more positive results from approaching the situation with 8 than I do with 5. I thought 8 would get me what I want in most situations, but apparently not. Does Persuaion actually have any impact at all? Or is it just a goof the devs put in to ♥♥♥♥ with us players?

[Stupidity]

It depends. In peace talks it checks your persuasion and your honor and since they don't scale, a decent amount of honor will make persuasion irrelevant.

On the other hand, asking lords to join your faction when you are leader will have persuasion factored against the argument you use. Honor isn't applicable except the rep bonus it may have.

Also, if you wish to marry a lady with rep between 12 and 20 (I know, not very many people are aware of this; 20 relation means no persuasion will be needed, and 8 more visit lady quests of +1 rep each takes at least an extra month and a half during which your lady might be betrothed with someone else), it requires check against persuasion skills. ( [20 - relation] vs [persuasion *2] ). if persuasion * 2 is bigger, the chance to fail is [20 - relation]/[persuasion *2] * 100%. Failing the check results a -1 rep so be careful when you choose.

(Of course, for marriage you won't need it if you have high enough charisma to get good relationship with the lady when you first ask her to court you)

[Asphe]

Originally posted by fishhooks:

I ask because I have a situation where I can use Persuasion...either at 5 or 8 (got xp lying around)...

I don't get any more positive results from approaching the situation with 8 than I do with 5. I thought 8 would get me what I want in most situations, but apparently not. Does Persuaion actually have any impact at all? Or is it just a goof the devs put in to ♥♥♥♥ with us players?

Unmodded, most of the CHA skills are nigh useless. Like Leadership, Looting/Trading... if you don't mind killing more mobs or just doing more quests, you reach the same effect without spending points on skills like these.

Otherwise, the effect IS there. Make a save jsut before making a relationship check with a lord that you usually fail... up your Persuasion... this time you might make it. Also the RNG is involved so it's not a 100% sure thing because you have 10(+4) in Persuasion.

PS Just don't spend points on it, there will be situations where no matter how high it is, the answer is always no. i.e. waste of skill points. Don't try to massage their brains... bash their brains out.

[fishhooks]

Thanks. Yea, I saved right before...it's one of those missions where I have to convince lords from two warring factions to stop hindering the peace process. I've run it a couple of dozen times now, both with persuasion at 5, and at 8. And it doesn't seem to make any difference, based on the results. It seems like the win/lose points is a totally random dice-roll. Sometimes, I get several positive responses in a row with PER at 5, only to have him get tired of talking and end the dialogue. Other times, with 8, I get a couple of -200 right out of the shoot.

That's why I was asking if it even really matters WHAT my level is, since there doesn't seem to be any pattern to success vs level. Frustrating, especially since I already sunk 5 points into it...lol.

@ Stupid Idiot...thanks for the info on the ladies. Since you mentioned them, I have a question or two...

I have one at 33 relations...she actually broke up wioth a suitor she was betrothed to (I like to think it was because of her love for me). Problem is, I don't have any fiefs yet, and am not a vassal. I ask her to elope, and she says she can't go against her family...she's "Conventional"...does that make a difference? Like is there a specific type I should be courting? I'm guessing the "Romantic" types are more easily persuaded to elope, while the "Conventional" and "Moralists" are more difficult. Also, is there any advantage to trying to win an "Ambitious" spouse? Like, will she actually contribute something to my standings?

Thanks

[Darth Cannabis]

Sounds like all you need for the 33 one is to be a lord and vassal. You don't need to have an actual castle, she will just stay in a major city with her family (now your in-laws).

As far as the peronality types go, it is mostly a hint as to what poetry they are gonna most like.
The romantic ones will love certain love ballads more, wheras a wild and untamed type would prefer a battle saga. It also does influence the type of missions they are most likely to give when you talk to them at home about advancing your standing. Some will suggest more direct actions, others will suggest being a peacemaker more.

*Side note* last time I had a relation to 33 I actually ended up marrying someone else. (more prosperous family. Was a choice between 1 brother with a fief, vs a brother, uncle, and father, all with castles and better armies). So yep my wife was 22 relation, and I ended up with a mistress as well.

[fishhooks]

Mistress...lol.

Yea, the one I have on the hook is Lady Glunde...she's from a large, prestigious Nord family. But I'm actually trying to get her to elope (just for the achievement...not that I really care a whole lot about those). But that means I'll basically be hated by her family, doesn't it. Oh well...love hurts.

[Stupidity]

Somehow you need to own a place to marry/elope with a lady. Kind of omnious with today's social view.

[Darth Cannabis]

Originally posted by Stupid Idiot:

Somehow you need to own a place to marry/elope with a lady. Kind of omnious with today's social view.

Well not to marry. I've been a landless vasal/lord with wife before, but to elope yeah. She can't elope and stay with her family.