Charismatic Druids

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 11:23 pm

Is it just me or has anybody else ever wondered why druids must have a high charisma.... I mean.. given that they are most likely wandering about the wilds gathering herbs and talking to animals..
I don't know, I've never quite been able to figure this one out. I can understand why paladins and bards require a high charisma.... but druids...

FireLighter · Post by **FireLighter** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 11:28 pm

[QUOTE=dragon wench]Is it just me or has anybody else ever wondered why druids must have a high charisma.... I mean.. given that they are most likely wandering about the wilds gathering herbs and talking to animals..
I don't know, I've never quite been able to figure this one out. I can understand why paladins and bards require a high charisma.... but druids...

[/QUOTE]
What animal would see some hideous monster coming and want to stay and chat?? just my reasoning

Skuld · Post by **Skuld** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 11:43 pm

That's my only problem with Cha. I see it as a mental stat not physical or even a combination. You can have a hideous dude that's charismatic. I perceve charismatic people as smooth talkers, not beautiful people. That's why I like the SPECIAL system. It's got 4 physical atributes and for mental ones. each with their counterpart: Str - Int, Con - WillPower, Dex - Perception, and Beauty - Charisma. That systems distinguishes between a persons looks and their personality, while DND as far as BG games are concerned does not. But to answer the question I think a Druid would have to be pretty persuasive(charismatic) to be able to live in such harmony with the animals and even have one as a companion. On another note cha(in 3E) is important to a lot more characters than it is in AD&D. Bards and Sorcerors use it to determine spellcasting abilities, while in the BG games Bards rely in Int and Sorcerors are free of a determining stat; and Paladins and Clerics use cha to determine the Turn Undead level. Oh well.

Morbent · Post by **Morbent** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 6:57 am

In 3rd ed, CHarisma is some knid of inner power, and that's why some classes have more need of it. Can't say I totally agree, but that's the way it is.

Anyway, I guess WotC (or whoever was in control back then) decided to give druids a minimum CHA of 15 because of the reasons they used in 3rd ed. I know that would be somewhat stupid, because Druids don'T need any Cha in 3rd edition (As far as I know anyway, I don't play pnp D&D much...)

SP101 · Post by **SP101** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 8:09 am

Druids have a sort of "animal charismatic aura", and that's why the animals don't fear/attack them. That's why being a druid require a high Cha. IMO.

Raumoheru · Post by **Raumoheru** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 10:31 am

thats why i like Vampire: The Maquerade.

Physical Attributes: Strength, Dexterity, Stamina (Constitution)
Social Attributes: Charisma, Manipulation, Appearance
Mental Attributes: Perception (Wisdom), Intelligence, Witts (More Wisdom)

as you can see it is more detailed and breaks more broad stats into different catagories like Wisdom and Charisma

Morbent · Post by **Morbent** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 10:40 am

[QUOTE=Raumoheru]thats why i like Vampire: The Maquerade.

Physical Attributes: Strength, Dexterity, Stamina (Constitution)
Social Attributes: Charisma, Manipulation, Appearance
Mental Attributes: Perception (Wisdom), Intelligence, Witts (More Wisdom)

as you can see it is more detailed and breaks more broad stats into different catagories like Wisdom and Charisma[/QUOTE]

White Wolf's is probably the most accurate system I know of.

Contrarily to what you said though, Wits isn't like Wisdom at all, it's more your characters fast thinking than anything else.

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 10:58 am

[QUOTE=Morbent]In 3rd ed, CHarisma is some knid of inner power, and that's why some classes have more need of it. Can't say I totally agree, but that's the way it is.

Anyway, I guess WotC (or whoever was in control back then) decided to give druids a minimum CHA of 15 because of the reasons they used in 3rd ed. I know that would be somewhat stupid, because Druids don'T need any Cha in 3rd edition (As far as I know anyway, I don't play pnp D&D much...)[/QUOTE]

In 3rd edition, animal handeling is a charisma skill, so charisma certainly helps a druid.

Charisma is tied to many skills/abilities in 3rd edition, so it is not important but it is very usefull (much more then in 2nd edition).

Gwalchmai · Post by **Gwalchmai** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 2:25 pm

[QUOTE=Xandax]In 3rd edition, animal handeling is a charisma skill, so charisma certainly helps a druid.

Charisma is tied to many skills/abilities in 3rd edition, so it is not important but it is very usefull (much more then in 2nd edition).[/QUOTE]I always felt that the Cha requirement for Druids in 2nd ed. was simply there so that there would be another reason to requre it, and to somehow set Druids apart from clerics. Really, they were just fishing for a reason to have Cha as a valid stat.

However, speaking as someone who tends to identify himself with the Druid class, I can see that a high Charisma is not so much a requirement for the class than it is a 'natural' result of following the Druid way....

Galuf the Dwarf · Post by **Galuf the Dwarf** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 7:35 pm

[QUOTE=Gwalchmai]I always felt that the Cha requirement for Druids in 2nd ed. was simply there so that there would be another reason to requre it, and to somehow set Druids apart from clerics. Really, they were just fishing for a reason to have Cha as a valid stat.

However, speaking as someone who tends to identify himself with the Druid class, I can see that a high Charisma is not so much a requirement for the class than it is a 'natural' result of following the Druid way....

[/QUOTE]

From the looks of things, Druids also may have to been charismatic to disuade other humanoids from despoiling natural settings (preferrably forests).

Side Note: In case anyone would wonder, I identify myself by the Ranger, Paladin, and Mage classes.

VonDondu · Post by **VonDondu** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 10:18 pm

[QUOTE=Gwalchmai]I can see that a high Charisma is not so much a requirement for the class than it is a 'natural' result of following the Druid way....

[/QUOTE]
I've noticed that Druids tend to take the attitude, "Do things our way or we'll kill you." Is that what you mean?

Galuf the Dwarf · Post by **Galuf the Dwarf** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 10:31 pm

[QUOTE=VonDondu]I've noticed that Druids tend to take the attitude, "Do things our way or we'll kill you." Is that what you mean?

[/QUOTE]

That's practically what I said.

Skuld · Post by **Skuld** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 11:06 pm

Makes enough sense for me. Roleplay wise that is, but as far as actual gameplay goes it's still rather useless AFAIK.

Gwalchmai · Post by **Gwalchmai** » Tue Jul 20, 2004 10:00 am

[QUOTE=VonDondu]I've noticed that Druids tend to take the attitude, "Do things our way or we'll kill you." Is that what you mean?

[/QUOTE]No, no, no! Druids who follow Nature's way become at one with the Beauty of Nature! They are athletic and self-sufficient. They are rugged individualists with winning smiles and helpful attitudes! They have a deep appreciation for all the joys and loveliness to be found in the world. They are honest and lack any deceitful cunning that you might find in those big, dirty cities. They are as cute and cuddly as a new-born wolf puppy!

That’s what I mean.

Ned Flanders · Post by **Ned Flanders** » Tue Jul 20, 2004 12:36 pm

[QUOTE=Gwalchmai]No, no, no! Druids who follow Nature's way become at one with the Beauty of Nature! They are athletic and self-sufficient. They are rugged individualists with winning smiles and helpful attitudes! They have a deep appreciation for all the joys and loveliness to be found in the world. They are honest and lack any deceitful cunning that you might find in those big, dirty cities. They are as cute and cuddly as a new-born wolf puppy!

That’s what I mean.

[/QUOTE]

and they float on clouds smoking their pipeweed frolicking in their fruit boots.

VonDondu · Post by **VonDondu** » Tue Jul 20, 2004 1:16 pm

[QUOTE=Gwalchmai]No, no, no! Druids who follow Nature's way become at one with the Beauty of Nature! They are athletic and self-sufficient. They are rugged individualists with winning smiles and helpful attitudes! They have a deep appreciation for all the joys and loveliness to be found in the world. They are honest and lack any deceitful cunning that you might find in those big, dirty cities. They are as cute and cuddly as a new-born wolf puppy![/QUOTE]
And then they kill you if you don't do things their way?

That's what I mean.

fable · Post by **fable** » Tue Jul 20, 2004 3:03 pm

And then they kill you if you don't do things their way?

No. First, a lightning bolt. Then, if you don't learn, they kill you. Mercy is an important part of the druidic personality.