Effects of extremely low charisma (possible spoilers)

[wise grimwald]

I have been playing with solo recently with extremely low charisma, i.e. 2 and I was surprised at some of the effects that it had. For instance the Flaming Fist Fighter south of Beregost could not be talked out of attacking me. Good armour from the start without doing anything contrary to my good alignment!
Seconly Xan wouldn't join me. Previously my high charisma has been sufficient to overcome his dislike for too much benevolance. Thirdly, Aldeth in Cloakwood didn't ask for help against the druids, and fourthly, the woman in Baldur's Gate didn't give me the amulet of protection to give to her son.
It certainly makes for a different game. There is not the same overabundance of cash for one thing, and because people do not give you as many gifts, you have to buy equipment that you would normally be given. Worth playing, if you haven't played that sort of character before.

Has anyone else played with a low charisma leader to the party, and if so, have you found other unusual occurences?

[Grombag]

Iirc the thing you refering to is npc reaction.

NPC Reaction

According to the manual whenever you talk to an NPC the computer rolls a random number from 8 to 12. It then adds your Charisma and Reputation modifiers. A high numbered result may bring better rewards but equally could prevent NPCs from offering you unsavoury quests. Although the manual talks about random numbers, I have a theory that the number is actually 10. On this basis you can work out your NPC Reaction value as follows:

value = 10 + (Reputation Reaction Adjustment + Charisma Reaction Adjustment)

The walkthrough of this site shows you alot of these effects of a low npc reaction. Iirc there aren't more effects (access to certain quests, rewards, attacks of people and access to npcs for your party).

[wise grimwald]

Thanks. That explains a lot. I had already worked out that various rewards were given on that sort of basis, but didn't realise that it also applied to quests given until now. I take it then, that there could be some quests that I have missed through always being a good guy with a fairly high charisma.

[Valamyr]

I always thought low charisma made for a very interesting option to explore, but unfortunately most players will never see it because it is very easy to work around it; especially in BG2 with a 18 charisma ring just outside Chateau Irenicus.

I just finished BG1 - found out about Tutu too late in the game to start over, now I almost feel like replaying it to see BG1 in the much prettier BG2 engine - and anyhow, I was fairly low CHA, but I got most maximum rewards by using Imoen and her ever-handy Friends spell to act as the party's PR face.

[wise grimwald]

If Imoen pickpockets Algernon, in the rooms above where you help Marl in Beregost, you have a charisma of 18 straight away. If you do that however, you miss out on some interesting occurences. To whet your appetite, have a character witha low charisma (2 for instance) as your party leader when you talk to Petrine and her relative. You are then offered something which you don't actually get, but because you know that it is there, you have the opportunity to pickpocket it. I only discovered this by accident. There are a few other similar occurences.

[Artemis458]

hi, haivng played IWD a lot, Ive just started playing the BG series, can someone tell me if charisma has any affect on shop prices (as in IWD1+2) or saving throws (like in IWD2)? and also is that answer the same for the tutu version? thanks!

[Daynov]

It affects shop prices, same for tutu.