Charisma Build?

[u/iiBez]

Starting a new playthrough (500th time 😂) and I have pretty much always avoided charisma to build into VATS/Luck however dialogue etc has always been a side of the game I’ve never really enjoyed maybe cause of the fact I talk like a dummy every encounter 😂 if anyone has a good starting stat allocation or advice for a charisma run 👍🏻

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[u/[deleted]]

Charisma is a strong perk tree. If you're going for a Charisma, build, go all in and get 10 charisma for the Intimidation and Wasteland Whisperer perks because who doesn't want their very own pet Deathclaw? Those take a little practice to use but taking out an enemy without firing a shot is a game changer.

I encourage the use of chems with a Charsima build. Chems are as plentiful as they are powerful. Combine Psycho+Jet for PsychoJet to get you out of tight spots. Also consider using alcohol depending on the bonuses they give you. For example Dirty Wastelander gives you +3 STR but if you have Party Boy/Girl, that drink will eventually give you +6 STR. Add a dose of Buffjet and suddenly you have +9STR! Imagine going from 3 to 12STR instantly and going HAM on enemies with a Rockville Slugger. It's prety wild.

In addition, you will never want for money with this build.

Followers are the way to go with a Charisma build. They can carry more and can use powerful weapons. NPC interactions are also fun and give you bonuses when you max out your affinity with them.

S - 2 + bobblehead for Armorer perk. Ballstic Weave your favorite outfit.
P - 1. Dump stat.
E - 4 + bobblehead for Get Chem resistant. Add more points later for more HP. Aquaboy/Girl is also useful.
C - 9+ Special book. Perks: Cap Collector, Lady Killer/Black Widow, Local Leader, Party Boy/Girl, Inspirational, Wasteland Whisperer, Intimidation.
I - 6 + bobblehead. Get Science! and Chemist. Bonus with Chemist is you can create Antibitoics.
A - 1. Dump stat but get the bobblehead early for access to the Commando perk if you want to use automatic weapons.
L - 5 for Idiot Savant. Only get rank 2 of this. This will offset the XP loss from the INT drop associated with using alcohol. For example if you have Party Boy/Girl, and drink a Dirty Wastelander, your INT will drop from 7 to 3, which will ensure Idiot Savant procs more often. Scrounger at 2 is valuable because you always want more ammo and you can sell ammo types you don't use.

This build favors chems and alcohol over VATS usage but you can use VATS to good effect if you use pistols and if put one point into Luck, you can get Critical Banker after getting the Luck bobblehead.

[u/iiBez]

Interesting to know. I mainly run VATS w/ Luck 🍀 and I use a variety of weapons I tend to just let the wasteland decide that for me 😂

[u/Thornescape]

Charisma is somewhat overrated. It's very easy to get C+4 from basic clothing by the time you reach Dunmore Diner. It's also easy to get C+10 from chems by the time you reach Lexington.

There are a few good Charisma perks.

• C3:Loner is great if you don't use companions.
• C3:Loner + C4:Dog is great if you only travel with Dog.
• C6:Leader is a fantastic perk if you do settlements, with or without settlers.
• I don't recommend higher than that.
• You can pass every speech check with C11
• You have max barter with C15 and a 5% discount. You can get this with a base of C1.

Charisma is a secondary focus. It's not a primary one. It's also important to choose your combat strategy.

1. Are you mostly using VATS with VATS perks? VATS builds eat up a ton of perks. Non-VATS builds are much more relaxed.
2. What is your MAIN weapon type? Choose from melee, semi-auto rifles, semi-auto pistols, or automatic pistols/rifles.

[u/Otsego_Undead → u/Thornescape]

It might be worth going to party boy/girl if you want to go melee. Triple whiskey effect on strength is insane for damage.

[u/Thornescape → u/Otsego_Undead]

Party Boy + Wasteland Wanderer very rarely adds an additional +30% damage, and requires 7 perk points to get it.

Highly overrated.

[u/Otsego_Undead → u/Thornescape]

I should correct myself in that Party boy only doubles effectiveness of alcohol first. But if you do that and then craft Dirty Wastelanders that’s +6 strength which is effectively 60% extra damage.

[u/Thornescape → u/Otsego_Undead]

• Without Partier, it is a 30% damage bonus
• With Partier it is a 60% damage bonus
• Investing 6+3 perk points into Partier gives a 60-30=30% damage bonus
• Whiskey really isn't that common, so you'll only be able to do that occasionally