Why are animals' charisma scores so low?

[Jal Dorak]

James Jacobs wrote:

It's also unclear just how much personification a human is projecting onto an animal when someone says "this animal is very charismatic."

I happen to think cats are VERY adorable, but I know plenty of folks who think they are not. Adorability isn't a function of the cat's Charisma score, as a result, but a function of personal preference in the person observing the cat.

Which would humorously imply the person doing the projecting has a LOW Charisma score...

[Atarlost]

Stereofm wrote:

Set wrote:

Or intelligence, if you cannily convince him of the size and superiority of your army, seizing upon his lack of knowledge on tactical or military matters to sound like more of an authority than you are.

Or wisdom, if you intuit and take advantage of his own uncertainty or lack of trust of his allies, and play against that weakness, using his own doubts to ensure his defeat before the first blow has even landed.

Yeah, you can be as intelligent or wise as you want and make great points like those above ... but you will achieve nothing if you cannot get it across the other party.

And THAT's why an ambassador needs a high charisma. No, in truth it needs all three if he wants to be effective.

Substantive diplomacy has a lot less to do with charisma than with reputation. The most charismatic diplomat in the world will fail if he's talking to someone who thinks the king he serves is feckless. On the other hand when you're Ghengis Khan and you're threatening to do to this city what you've done to the last thirteen cities you've had to siege it doesn't matter who carries the message.

Nothing makes people consider peace like a reputation for total war. Nothing makes people consider alliances like a reputation for honoring alliances. Nothing makes people want to open trade like selling things the decisionmakers want to buy.

[TOZ]

James Jacobs wrote:

Which actually means that if you want the REAL reason animals have low Charisma scores... you'll have to ask Monte Cook, Jonathan Tween, or Skip Williams. We merely carried that over from D&D into Pathfinder. I've given my reasons why I agree that animal Charisma scores are middling between their Intelligence and Wisdom above... but I have no idea if that gels with the design theory of the guys who wrote 3rd edition D&D.

Well, you've got their numbers, right? Why don't you give them a call and get back to us? ;)

[Jal Dorak]

TOZ wrote:

James Jacobs wrote:

Which actually means that if you want the REAL reason animals have low Charisma scores... you'll have to ask Monte Cook, Jonathan Tween, or Skip Williams. We merely carried that over from D&D into Pathfinder. I've given my reasons why I agree that animal Charisma scores are middling between their Intelligence and Wisdom above... but I have no idea if that gels with the design theory of the guys who wrote 3rd edition D&D.

Well, you've got their numbers, right? Why don't you give them a call and get back to us? ;)

Dateline: Paizo Messageboards!

James Jacobs, ace roleplaying reporter cracks another mystery!

[Benchak the Nightstalker]

Shouldn't he delegate this job to Tom Rex?