Charisma

SPECIAL
Charisma
Vault Boy icon in Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas
Fallout / Fallout 2 / Fallout Tactics
Modifies	Non-player character reactions, prices, Speech, Barter, Party Limit (FO2)
Related perks	Cult of Personality, Master Trader, Presence, Divine Favor, Leader
Related traits	Good Natured
Fallout 3
Modifies	Non-player character disposition towards player, Barter, Speech
Related perks	Animal Friend, Child at Heart, Impartial Mediation, Master Trader, Scoundrel
Fallout: New Vegas
Modifies	Non-player character disposition towards player, Barter, Speech, Companion Nerve
Related perks	Animal Friend, Ferocious Loyalty
Van Buren / J.E. Sawyer's Fallout RPG
Modifies	?
Related perks	?
Related traits	?
Fallout version

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“A combination of appearance and charm. A high Charisma is important for characters that want to influence people with words.”— Fallout In-game description

Charisma is one of the seven primary statistics in the SPECIAL character system.

Fallout, Fallout 2 and Fallout Tactics

In Fallout 2, Charisma also determines the number of base companion slots the player character is given. This number is equal to their Charisma score divided by two, rounded down. For example, if the player character has a five Charisma, they can recruit two followers. Please note that the player character can still recruit one follower even with a Charisma as low as one.

Predesigned Primary Charisma-based Characters (PPCC) of Fallout are Albert, and in Fallout 2's case, Chitsa.

In Fallout Tactics, Charisma is, at best, a secondary trait. Due to the nature of the game (i.e. almost exclusively combat-based) it is feasible to complete the game easily with 1 or 2 Charisma with no penalty. The only role is that when the Warrior starts with Charisma of 10, his/her rank is Senior Initiate, rather than Initiate. It is involved with the Barter skill and promotions, and is required for the Leader and Divine Favor perks. A low Charisma, on the other hand, gives access to the Loner perk.

Ways to increase Charisma in Fallout

• Find the Singer random encounter. Speaking with Patrick the Celt and having a high enough Speech will increase Charisma by one.
• Pop some Mentats for a temporary +1 Charisma.

Ways to increase Charisma in Fallout 2

• Install the blue memory module into ACE, then request the following surgery. Your Charisma will be increased by one.
• Take the Gain Charisma perk for another point.
• Having the mirrored shades, obtained from Mason (Salvatore's Bar, you have to kill him) or one of the graves in Golgotha, active in one of your item slots increases Charisma by one point.
• Pop some Mentats for a temporary +1 Charisma.

Fallout 3

Modifies: Speech and Barter Skills, NPC Disposition

Charisma increases the disposition of all NPCs, which makes Speech checks easier. Disposition is also affected somewhat by Karma (most NPCs like good characters more), quests (doing a quest in a way an NPC likes can dramatically boost disposition), and dialog options (being a jerk in conversations can lower disposition a little). Charisma also affects the Barter and Speech skills. Characters who use Speech will want at least a decent Charisma, but adding points to the skill is almost always better than adding points to the score. Characters who do not use the Speech skill have little use for this SPECIAL score.

There are also general Charisma checks in dialogue with some characters, in addition to Speech checks. Avoid wearing things like Enclave Power Helmets, as they deduct 1 point of Charisma while equipped.

Value	Skill Modifiers
1	Barter +2, Speech +2
2	Barter +4, Speech +4
3	Barter +6, Speech +6
4	Barter +8, Speech +8
5	Barter +10, Speech +10
6	Barter +12, Speech +12
7	Barter +14, Speech +14
8	Barter +16, Speech +16
9	Barter +18, Speech +18
10	Barter +20, Speech +20

Charisma-based Perks

Perk	Requirement	Level	Additional Requirements
Child at Heart	4	4
Scoundrel	4	4
Impartial Mediation	5	8
Animal Friend	6	10
Master Trader	6	14	Barter 60

Ways to increase Charisma

Permanent

• Bobblehead - Charisma (+1)
• Intense Training perk (+1)
• No Weaknesses perk (will raise base to 5, if below 5)
• Almost Perfect perk (will raise base to 9, if below 9)

Temporary

• Alcohol (effects do not stack)
  • Beer, scotch, vodka, whiskey, wine (+1)
  • Moonshine (+2)
• Armor and clothing
  • Eulogy Jones' suit, regulator duster, sexy sleepwear, sheriff's duster, Tenpenny's suit, Vance's longcoat outfit (+1)
  • Eulogy Jones' hat, T-51b power armor helmet, Three Dog's headwear (+1)
  • Winterized T-51b power helmet (+1)
  • Ashur's power armor, Leather Rebel (+1)
  • All-nighter nightwear (+1)
  • Grifter's Fit (+1)
  • General Chase's overcoat, Paulson's outfit (+1)
• Chems
  • Ant queen pheromones (+3)
  • Grape Mentats (+5)

Fallout: New Vegas

Charisma in New Vegas modifies Barter, Speech and Companion Nerve. Companion Nerve gives each companion in the party +5% to their damage and armor, up to a maximum of +50% at 10 Charisma.

Regardless of Barter or Speech level, some interactions will not be available if your Charisma is too low (Ex. Corporal Betsy). These ultimately do not have any significant effect on game play, nor do they provide any special bonuses.

Charisma-based perks

Perk	Requirement	Level	Additional Requirements
Ferocious Loyalty	6	6	—
Animal Friend	6	10	Survival 45

Level names and statistics

Value	Name	Companion Armor & Damage	Skill Modifiers
1	Misanthrope	+5%	Barter/Speech +2
2	Old Hermit	+10%	Barter/Speech +4
3	Creepy Undertaker	+15%	Barter/Speech +6
4	Peevish Librarian	+20%	Barter/Speech +8
5	Substitute Teacher	+25%	Barter/Speech +10
6	Cheery Salesman	+30%	Barter/Speech +12
7	Diplomat	+35%	Barter/Speech +14
8	Movie Star	+40%	Barter/Speech +16
9	Casanova	+45%	Barter/Speech +18
10	Cult Leader	+50%	Barter/Speech +20

Ways to increase Charisma

Permanent

• Charisma Implant available at the New Vegas medical clinic (+1)
• Intense Training perk (+1)
• Completing the quest The Apocalypse or The End will allow raising any one primary statistic by 1.

Temporary

• Alcohol (effects do not stack)
  • Absinthe, beer, Jake Juice, scotch, vodka, whiskey, wine (+1 - +3 depending on Survival skill)
  • Irradiated beer, irradiated scotch, irradiated whiskey (+1 - +3 depending on Survival skill)
  • Large wasteland tequila, wasteland tequila (+1 - +3 depending on Survival skill)
  • Moonshine (+2)
• Armor and clothing
  • Bounty hunter duster, regulator duster, sexy sleepwear, sheriff's duster, sleepwear (+1)
  • T-51b power helmet, Eulogy Jones' hat (+1)
  • General Oliver's uniform (+2)
  • Vera's outfit (+1)
  • Dr. Mobius' scrubs (+1)
  • Armor of the 87th Tribe, Ulysses' duster, elite riot gear (+1)
• Chems
  • Mentats (+1)
  • Ant queen pheromones (+3)
  • Party Time Mentats (+5)
• Traits
  • Claustrophobia (+1 while outdoors, but -1 indoors)
  • Early Bird (+2 between 6am and 12pm, but -1 between 6pm and 6am)
• Meat of Champions perk (+1 for 60 seconds after eating a corpse.)
• "Mood Light" (+2 for 12 hours or until the player uses the "Smart Lights")

Notes

• If the player's Charisma stat is the most extreme (highest or lowest), Doc Mitchell will either say "Good to see them bullets didn't affect your charm none." (for highest) or "Huh. Must be some frontal lobe damage." (For lowest)
• It's worth noting that temporary Charisma boosts like alcohol do NOT count towards the maximum amount of companions calculation; if the player is at an odd number like 5, temporarily boosting Charisma will not allow them to recruit another companion if the previous slots are already taken.

Primary statistics Strength · Perception · Endurance · Charisma · Intelligence · Agility · Luck