Charisma, Persuasion, and Character Creation

[kylecamelot]

Hey, I started the game as a bard because I wanted to do my first playthrough trying to persuade and convince my way through the game. It turns out, however, that your first companion is a bard. I don't mind doing dual bards (I like her character so I'd rather not sit her out,) but I was wondering if it was viable to be another class with high charisma and/or persuasion without killing the build. I don't really want to be a sorcerer, which would be the easy solution haha, so I was hoping to get some insight. Thanks!

[Something completely different]

Paladin.

[Graygan]

Paladins are high Cha builds. Not as high as bards/sorcs, but high enough to have really good face skills.

You will also have some minor healing and good combat ability to boot.

[Ghost]

another option would be multiclass Linzi into Sorc at level 2 so your main can Bard without dissonance

[matthew]

This is one of my main gripes with the game, and starting classes, you don't get much freedom to choose, as you start off with the same NPCs, if you are a Bard, you should have got different chars, if you play as a mage, or a pally, the game should have tailored the NPCs depending on your staerting class.

which is wlaos why been able to create your own, very early is really needed.

[BCGaius]

As mentioned, a Charismadin is quite viable in Pathfinder. You need to focus on Channel and Smite feats, but you can put out a lot of pain with a high-CHA Paladin. Likewise for Cleric, which can be built along similar lines.

[Flip]

Playing a sorc with 20 starting charisma myself and playing with Linzi. I like her utility while my character focuses on blowing everything up. Also then I can focus her skill points on other areas apart from Persuasion (not sure if NPC persuation actually counts or not).

Not sure in Pathfinder but high Cha Paladins where good in the older D&D (thinking NWN 2) for Divine Might Builds. Not sure if that holds true here though

[Belisar]

I feel like the game devs should have included some kind of tutorial on character creation, as a newbie to DND I am entirely put off by this game purely because character creation seems like some kind of an advanced science.

[timechef]

There are also archetypes for Magus and Monk that change their primary attributes to Cha. Though there is an NPC later on that uses that Magus archetype, so you might want to skip that one too.

[Cutlass Jack]

Keep in mind that unlike many similar games you dont need to be the most persuasive member of your team. The game generally uses the highest skill among your team for skill checks.

Also you get Linzi early enough that she can easilly move to another career while you do the bard stuff. Or you can play a different sort of bard like an Archeologist. One of the Magus subclasses works off Charisma, so thats another option.

I like playing high charisma rogue types myself. Nothing is more swashbuckling to me than using persuasion in fights for demoralizing type moves.

Long story short, lots of options.

[Calake]

I'm playing with an Anglekin Asimaar Paladin. Charisma modifier can be used on saving throws, so you can afford to dump Wis on a Paladin. I'm experimenting with dazzling display which uses an intimidate roll against Wis to make intelligent enemies Shaken. With the right feats uses Char, Strength, and (class skill) Persuasion modified d20 against enemies 10 + Wis + Hit Dice. A shaken character takes a –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks. This should in theory work well with the Bard companion who has access to some CC type spells that typically have a Wis saving throw.

[skyst]

Originally posted by Belisar:

I feel like the game devs should have included some kind of tutorial on character creation, as a newbie to DND I am entirely put off by this game purely because character creation seems like some kind of an advanced science.

There are premade characters and an option for the game to build your custom character for you. If you want a tutorial, there's a decade of Pathfinder character creation information available at your fingertips on the world-wide Internet.

[Flip]

Originally posted by skyst:

Originally posted by Belisar:

I feel like the game devs should have included some kind of tutorial on character creation, as a newbie to DND I am entirely put off by this game purely because character creation seems like some kind of an advanced science.

There are premade characters and an option for the game to build your custom character for you. If you want a tutorial, there's a decade of Pathfinder character creation information available at your fingertips on the world-wide Internet.

To be fair this should not be neccessary, this should be provided via either tutorials, manual or ingame encyclopedia.

Big fan of the game but the lack of information provided is probably my biggest gripe. I have done the research but it shouldn't be neccesary, it should be ingame. Especially since things like spell lists are only from TT and that is not an accurate list of what is actually in the game etc and doen't list what they have changed to adapt to computer etc etc

[Locklave]

Fey Druid builds switches Wis for Chr for spells, so you can go all in chr at no loss.

[Monkee]

I made it out of the prologue hoping to take the same approach as you (avoiding direct conflict as a persuasive rogue).

Unfortunately, the entire prologue forces you to fight. The next thing you do after that is get into a random encounter with wolves, and then you're into another forced fight with bandits. I am still waiting for the part where I can go explore, build a proper party that I actually can stat/skill allocate, and take the approach to the game that I want. You know, like a Pathfinder adventure?

[BCGaius]

Originally posted by Belisar:

I feel like the game devs should have included some kind of tutorial on character creation, as a newbie to DND I am entirely put off by this game purely because character creation seems like some kind of an advanced science.

Pathfinder is a particularly dense variant of D&D 3.5, so I can certainly understand having some difficulty with this game's dedication to portraying the ruleset in its entirety.

That said, going into something this complicated, I recommend sticking to something simple while you learn the rules. Either use one of the in-game recommended pre-built options, or make a Human or Half-Orc Fighter with high STR, high CON, 10 or 12 DEX, and 10 in every other stat. Then wear the heaviest armor you can find, use a weapon you like, and take feats in those weapons and armor along with Power Attack and other combat feats that look interesting to you.

It won't win you any awards, but it's an easy, functional character that will let you learn the game as you go.