So I went to Patton Oswalt's reading for his new book. Patton read his book. It was funny. Then there was a Q&A. Questions were asked, answers were given.Patton Oswalt:
Any other questions...?
Zak:
When was the last time you played Dungeons & Dragons, and who with?
Patton:
It was about a year ago with..(and then he points to the friends in the corner of the bookstore that he has been giving shout-outs to all night, only this time they look a little embarrassed)...we had a little mid-life crisis, we started playing old school, Monster Manual, Deities & Demigods Dungeons (points to friend) you were an elf, right? And I was a drunken dwarf. And I played a drunken dwarf. There's an epic poem about the character I played in high school on my book. Or several characters. They kept dying. Do you guys play?
Zak:
Yeah.
Patton:
Who are your players?
Zak:
They're in porn.
Patton:
Oh of course. "Oh my god I need to escape this afternoon. Take me away green slime." Who's the DM?
Mandy:
He is, but I just started DMing.
Patton:
What do you play? Like what's your character?
Mandy:
I'm the cleric!
Patton:
(now he makes the joke about how does everybody have a high charisma but it does it in an ironic self-mocking I-know-this-is-dumb way so it's ok.)
Zak:
Yeah, sometimes, the girls don't seem to grasp the idea that charisma is a dump stat.
Mandy:
I have a low charisma but I just said it's because I'm obnoxious but really hot.
Patton:
So it's like a Kardashian thing, right? Like I wish she didn't talk. Yeah, it's weird people don't realize charisma is totally a dump stat because it's like...
Zak:
(to audience) I'm sorry I ruined this for everyone.
Patton:
Oh yeah, I was about to disappear down a K-hole there. Alright, are there any other questions?
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Addendum: This is what we call an anecdote. The point of it is not to seriously discuss the use of the charisma stat or any other game mechanic. Those attempting to go that way should be aware that they run a severe risk of sounding like Comic Book Guy.
