Charisma: Can we learn it?

[Guver]

I'm the Director of a 100% realistic game, cinematic = 0% :).
Now, one of the characters started with 1 level of Charisma (5 points), and after 2 sessions of play, he wants to increase it to the second level (10 points).
Now, he has the points... but it's charisma an improvable Advantage?
What would you say?
Would say "yes, but in 8 more sessions?"

Thanks in advance,
Guver.

[Guver]

And what about ambidexterity?

[Kalzazz]

Id be willing to allow it

Id definitely allow Ambidexterity since I think off hand weapon training is very gainable (I have this for a couple things), and it says 5x Off Hand Weapon Training can convert to Ambidexterity

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Guver

I'm the Director of a 100% realistic game, cinematic = 0% :).

"Director"? It seems weird to me that you want to use a cinematic stand-in for "Game-Master" but the game isn't cinematic.

Now, one of the characters started with 1 level of Charisma (5 points), and after 2 sessions of play, he wants to increase it to the second level (10 points).
Now, he has the points... but it's charisma an improvable Advantage?
What would you say?
Would say "yes, but in 8 more sessions?"

In a super simultationist game, I don't even know if I'd allow Charisma at all. What does it really represent that isn't better covered by Appearance, Talents, and points in Influence Skills? At any rate, it seems to be inborn, so no I wouldn't allow him to improve it.

Originally Posted by Guver

And what about ambidexterity?

Ambidexterity can be learned. In the past left handed people were often trained to be ambidextrous rather than "sinister". However it's usually just cheaper to get the Off Hand Weapon Training perk.

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by Guver

I'm the Director of a 100% realistic game, cinematic = 0% :).
Now, one of the characters started with 1 level of Charisma (5 points), and after 2 sessions of play, he wants to increase it to the second level (10 points).
Now, he has the points... but it's charisma an improvable Advantage?
What would you say?
Would say "yes, but in 8 more sessions?"

Thanks in advance,
Guver.

Charisma is fundamentally social confidence and subtle mannerisms. It isn't impossible for it to change over time.

[ThomasSmith]

I'm reasonably confident that ambidexterity is quite learnable, although generally people follow the pattern of learning to be ambidexterous for specific tasks before growing accustomed to using either hand.

Charisma is also learnable. I would say that Appearance is essentially inborn, but Charisma is confidence and mannerisms. Voice is more well-known as a thing to learn; voice training can give someone that resonant voice and clear speaking style. Actors and singers should have the Voice advantage even if they weren't "born with" it. (They should also have the Penetrating Voice perk, something granted by most voice training.)

[Guver]

"Director"? It seems weird to me that you want to use a cinematic stand-in for "Game-Master" but the game isn't cinematic.

Yeah, I'm used to the word dungeon-master, for all my D&D years, and wasn't sure of how Gurps "DM" is called. LOL.

In a super simultationist game, I don't even know if I'd allow Charisma at all. What does it really represent that isn't better covered by Appearance, Talents, and points in Influence Skills? At any rate, it seems to be inborn, so no I wouldn't allow him to improve it.

At some point I agree with you. I think it is inborn, but nowhere on the book says so... so I had my doubts. Regarding the "don't allow charisma at all". I don't agree, Charisma is something that exist in real life, and thus should be allow in a realistic game. Otherwise it would be better marked as alien or supernatural.

[Turhan's Bey Company]

Originally Posted by Guver

At some point I agree with you. I think it is inborn, but nowhere on the book says so... so I had my doubts.

To some extent, that's up to the individual GM. Some things are, some aren't, and some depend on the GM's judgment.

Originally Posted by Guver

Regarding the "don't allow charisma at all". I don't agree, Charisma is something that exist in real life, and thus should be allow in a realistic game. Otherwise it would be better marked as alien or supernatural.

That's also left up to the individual GM. Only things which are clearly on the other side of the edge of reality (extra heads, x-ray vision, etc.) are marked as such. The remainder is stuff which is clearly real, stuff which might be real, and stuff which is probably real but only to a certain extent. Charisma, for example, is effectively a specialized talent (small-t; I'm not arguing it's a version of the Talent advantage) for making a good first impression. Is that real? Maybe. I can see people having that; I certainly can't prove that it isn't real. Can it be learned? Well, if it's real to begin with, I can't see why it couldn't be acquired later in life.

Were I to run a highly realistic campaign (never, ever gonna happen, so this may be bad advice), I'd let any social or psychological trait which was allowed at all to be learned after the start of play. However, I'd limit the rate at which such traits could be acquired. I'd probably use the learning rules, treating any social activity as "on the job training" time for picking up social traits.

[PK]

Originally Posted by Guver

I'm the Director of a 100% realistic game, cinematic = 0% :).
Now, one of the characters started with 1 level of Charisma (5 points), and after 2 sessions of play, he wants to increase it to the second level (10 points).
Now, he has the points... but it's charisma an improvable Advantage?
What would you say?
Would say "yes, but in 8 more sessions?"

Yes, it's definitely improvable. At heart, Charisma is a mix of confidence and an intuitive understanding of social graces and psychology. All of that is learnable/trainable. Now, I can understand you not wanting him to ramp up after two sessions, but that's up to your play style. Personally, I think going from +1 to +2 is a pretty small change -- it actually becomes more difficult to believe as the numbers grow higher. So if you say two play sessions for +2, you might want to say four more before +3, another eight more before +4, and so on.

Originally Posted by Guver

And what about ambidexterity?

Certainly. Off-Hand Weapon Training is a 1-point perk (changed from the Basic Set) for any skill, and when someone learns 5 of them, the GM should allow them to switch it over to Ambidexterity -- once you learn how to do enough things with both hands, it's easy to carry that training over to everything.

Originally Posted by Guver

Yeah, I'm used to the word dungeon-master, for all my D&D years, and wasn't sure of how Gurps "DM" is called. LOL.

Usually just GM, for Game Master, like most RPGs.

[Agramer]

If you have trouble with "spikes" in PCs advancement after cashing in CPs,easiest thing is to say that any CP investment to any advantage,skill..etc can be made by only 1 CP/game session.
That way you wont get peasant character learn how to defeat 10 enemy's with sword after 3 sessions ;).

Also,time-line of advancements will have more "natural" feel.

Ambi and Charisma are both learn able.

If unsure what charisma is ,some really good explanations are above in posts,you can look at it as opposite of Shyness(one cripples your social interactions...other improves them.....and both can be dealt with(bought off /or up).