[QueenOfSpades]

Having trouble deciding on a character to begin with, One thing I was curious about. Having experienced a number of servers before this one.

Is the mechanical weakness of a build going to be a huge brick wall in progression on a namely social-PC?

And are the social skills implemented in any way here?

I've been on servers that were forgiving for PC's creating Cloistered Clerics with no combat ability, or socially oriented rogues, Aswell as other servers where such concepts are totally unviable.

After coming from Border Kingdoms, I'm a sucker for Social/Political RP, and I often build my characters with mechanical strength taking a back seat, if I can.

[Karilynn]

Role-playing is encouraged, and notoriety and experience can be earned through role-playing.

Social skills can also be useful in interacting with NPCs.

[The Philosopher]

I would not advise socially-oriented characters. CHA is not a recognized stat, and the skills are situational with DM events and merchants at best, in comparison with skills like Spot, Listen and others which actually do find a use in combat and are universally accepted. Combat-oriented skills and attributes seem to be the only ones that are adhered to in all fields of play. I've yet to see a socially-oriented character get anywhere significant by virtue of his or her skillset, in CvC or CvE - it's mostly just dependant on RP and the taking advantage of opportunities.

[Karilynn]

That depends on your goals. If you enjoy playing a character who is trying to do things more subtlely, and aren't concerned with 'level-grinding', then play that character and enjoy. It may be a little slower in 'leveling', but opportunities can come (via other players, via DM events, etc.). And if there is some specific goal your character wants to achieve or a plot you want to work on putting into place, send a PM to the DM team about it.

[Purulent Carcass]

I have to disagree completely with Philosopher and add that he is mistaken when saying that CHA is not a recognized stat. There are a multitude of uses for it, while not combat situational in most cases, like for instance the turning of undead. It's a completely false statement to say it isn't recognized and implys a failing on the part of the staff to ensure that it has been made useful. Just because Philosopher hasn't seen a socially oriented PC become successful, doesn't mean it hasn't happened.

[Muse]

Personally, from my point of view, CHA is useful in certain builds and useless in other builds. I've seen people who have made a description that says "This character is stunningly handsome" but they have no CHA on their attributes. In spreading word of your faith, for example, as a cleric/paladin/CoT, CHA is very useful. As well as you get a better chance of getting a job from NPC's.
For a legionnare build however, not much needed CHA unless your build depends on it.

[DarkRanger]

Yes, charisma and social skills are actually quite useful in NPC interactions outside of events.

[The Philosopher]

For the purposes of roleplay, Carcass, I'm afraid I haven't really seen it be recognized in roleplay often at all. It's true that CHA plays a vital role on a number of classes' mechanical stats, but beyond that, I see little impact of it on everyday roleplay.

On the skills, I have only had difficulty seeing any social skill roll be accepted in CvC. It's lead me to dumping skill points onto my characters' various social skills purely out of flavour and disregarding the frankly much more appealing and useful universal skills, so as to avoid straining relations with players OOCly.

That has been my personal experience, and it is not intended to reflect on the staff. Others may have differing insight and experiences to offer. I can only speak from my own side of the equation, my own observations, and what they've lead me to do. Take it, as they say, with as much salt as you would like.

[QueenOfSpades]

Thanks for all the feedback.

I'm feeling a little more confidant rolling up my rogue/sorc as a magethief now :) thanks.

[The Philosopher]

I did forget the more important reccomendation, though.

Do try to have fun!