Summary
Generally speaking, RPGs offer countless opportunities for creative expression and freedom, particularly when it comes to crafting the player’s character. Recent heavy-hittersStarfieldandBaldur’s Gate 3have reminded the gaming community of that more than ever, as they make it clear just how many paths this sort of game can offer to players looking for meaningful role-playing experiences. Now,Starfieldfurther cements this idea.
In the case ofStarfield, players can role-playany number of archetypes, beginning their stat journey in the character creation menu and reinforcing or diverting away from their chosen path throughout the game.Baldur’s Gate 3offers similar opportunities for unique and creative character builds, as even though the options available for customizing a character’s appearance are relatively sparse, the choices for backstory, personality, and class-building are virtually endless. Although both these games offer a ton of appealing character archetypes to build and explore, there is one that seems to get more attention than most.
RELATED:Mass Effect 4’s Companions Will Be Leagues Ahead of Starfield’s
Why Charisma-Focused Builds Are So Popular in Starfield and Baldur’s Gate 3
Since bothStarfieldandBaldur’s Gate 3offer deep and satisfying combat systems with valuable rewards, it may be natural to assume that players would gravitate toward builds centered on strength or weapons expertise. While this is certainly the case for some players, and bothBG3andStarfieldoffer plenty of cool weaponsand abilities that incentivize combat prowess, it’s not uncommon for players to approach these games in a more pacifistic, story-focused way.
For these players, characters that boast high levels of charisma and persuasive powers grant a terrific gaming experience. When building this sort of character, there is often a far greater premium placed on dialog-specific skills or abilities compared to those benefiting physicality (HP, endurance, etc.) and damage-dealing capabilities.
Essentially, these characters are better suited to talk their way into and out of a number of different situations, whereas other characters might take a more aggressive approach. A player may choose this option for their character for a number of reasons, as it can allow them to better engage with both hostile andfriendly NPCs inStarfieldandBaldur’s Gate 3,and it opens the door to additional role-playing opportunities, as not every imagined character will be a run-and-gun soldier.
Additionally, some players may find that they can squeeze more narrative juice out of a game if they play with a charismatic character. With a combat-focused character, many encounters can turn violent straight away, but a charismatic character can talk to NPCs instead, potentially learning more about their backstory or the situation they find themselves in. Even if the conversation eventually turns sour and devolves into violence, the player can still feel somewhat satisfied with the additional dialog options that they wouldn’t have experienced otherwise. In the case ofStarfield, where so many Easter eggsrevolve around speaking with NPCs, this can be a gratifying way to play the game.
Of course, it can be argued that building a character solely around the charismatic archetype can limit the player in other ways. While a combat-centric character might miss out on certain lines of dialog, one who eschews fighting in most scenarios won’t get to experience the full extent of the game’s combat systems.
For example, a player who maxes out charisma-based skills and abilities inStarfieldcan be ineffectual in certain combat situations, and won’t be able to effectively wield certain weapons. Still, it’s a testament to bothBG3andStarfieldthat this is even a viable option, and it sets a high bar forfuture RPGs likeThe Outer Worlds 2. As players continue to explore these massive titles, it’s possible that even more unique builds and archetypes could come out of the woodwork.
Starfieldis currently available on PC and Xbox Series X/S.
MORE:Starfield’s Longevity is a Blessing and a Curse
