Speech and Charisma are types of stats in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 that can get you out of most sticky situations. Even the game tells you so in the beginning, that not every confrontation needs to end in violence. Today, we will tell you all there is to know about Speech and Charisma in the game.
How Speech Works In Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
Speech is one of the four main stats in the game, that dictates how most conversations play out. With high speech, you can get out of almost any situation in the game. You can also persuade people to do your bidding, make them see reason, or intimidate them. Of course, you need to be smart as to which tactic to use with whom; you can’t scare a high-ranking guard, but with proper Speech skills you can make him see reason. On the other hand, a lowly peasant sometimes needs tough love instead of a reasonable explanation.
What is Charisma in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2?
Charisma is a secondary derived stat, that influences your reputation and how NPCs in the world will react to your presence. It is important to maintain good charisma, as some people would not even talk to you if they deem you repulsive. You can increase your Charisma by wearing dapper clothes, putting on jewelry, and staying clean. Additionally, you can also brew perfumes to smell good, and use water to wash off any blood on your clothes.
How Do Speech & Charisma Work Together
The simplest explanation is: With a high Speech skill, you will be able to talk your way out of any situation. However, with a high Charisma stat, you won’t even land in certain situations in the first place. Keep an outfit preset that is only for NPC confrontations and town exploration with high Speech and Charisma stats.
You can get better haggling prices (both buy and sell), and people look the other way more often. This maintains your reputation, and in turn gives you further advantages like extended warnings before NPCs become hostile, lower base prices of all items, and improved people persuasion.
A prime example would be an interaction you can have in the early section of the game. When you are talking about the Brunswick armor with the Gaibl, he will ask you why you are interested in it. Here you will be presented with four options:
- “Don’t you think I look like a knight?”
- “I’ll sell it to some knight”
- “I am more interested in that legend”
- “I am interested in it as a blacksmith”
Keeping in mind the points earlier, cater to Gaibl’s personality and profession. The man is a scribe, so if you try to be greedy or a man of lower status than him, he is more likely to put you off. This eliminates options 2 and 4. However, if you present yourself to be a respectable personality or a fellow scholar, he might just help you. This includes options 1 and 3. Now, check to see which option has a higher number stat, and choose that option. In the above image, the character was well-dressed so I chose option 1, and got the desired outcome.
This is the method you must use for each conversation. Consider the NPC’s personality, status, reason for interaction, and your appearance before making a decision. Also, try to assess everything before you start a conversation, as some of them are time-sensitive and require to make a firm decision quickly. Failing to do so results in a random dialog selected by chance which might work in your favor or undermine your reputation. A few reliable items to equip from the early game in Troskowitz are:
- Burgundian Hat – Purchased from Tailor Bartoshek
- Hemmed Hood – Purchased from Tailor Bartoshek
- Leather Gloves – Robbed from Tailor Bartoshek
- Noble’s Quilted Hose – Purchased from Tailor Bartoshek
- Gemstone Silver Ring – Acquired from a nest northwest of Apothecary’s Herb Garden
- Spectacles – Purchased from Merchant Jurg Thömel
You will also be doing a lot of sneaking and selling in KCD 2, to see how to best go about doing that, do check our guide on the topic.
