Strategy - Charisma Builds

Charisma builds refer to builds that take 2 points in Charisma, making it their primary attribute. While in traditional RPGs, Charisma maps onto "Rogue" or "Scoundrel" characters, in Choice of Rebels (XoR) Charisma maps onto religious prophets or (possibly) cult leaders. Charisma builds succeed by amassing gargantuan, well-led armies and rebellions beloved across the land. Though all builds can handily succeed at the game, it is my opinion that Charisma builds are both the strongest and easiest to play, as they give the player the most control over his band, and more room for error when going through the Winter.

The first build I will cover is probably the strongest build in XoR, operationalized by how handily it can defeat the Archon and how large a rebellion you will have at the end of the fighting. I recommend all players familiarize themselves with it, as it will generate a character optimized for export when the time comes.

2CHA/1INT Female Aristocrat

Compassionate/Devout/Cosmopolitan

Inner Voice

Uprising Start

Act 1:

Either make Breden a man, or express a sexual interest in Simon when the time comes, so you can meet up with Calea.

Make sure you have a Shayardene family name.

When asked for the reasons for your rebellion, select "Corruption of the True Faith" first and "The way the Hegemony keeps us separated" second.

Make sure you're nice to Breden and the Helots, so you can persuade them to spare the officials when the time comes. Do NOT raid anyone after you leave, this build is trying to win the support of Nobles and Merchants!

Act 2:

Pre-Winter:

Mules to 0

Healthy Diet for Sick, Subsistence for Healthy

“No, I want to be the one”

Winter 1:

Go with both yourself and Breden to beg for mules

Scout for Mules to Steal

Steal mules from Yeomen

Ask Zvad to introduce you to Alaine Leybridge

Send everybody (110 followers) to raid Yeomen for grain/mules

Winter 2:

Sell 1 mule and buy 43 Bushels

Send Breden to beg for mules

Steal mules from Yeomen

Do the Tax Collector raid, and speak to a Noble (Ismene de Galis)

Have the rest recruit from Helots (with Elery)

Winter 3:

Raid both mine and monastery for mules. Bring Elery along to the Mine

Send Zvad with everybody to raid the Tithe Barn, then Scout for another

Winter 4:

Exile Fedrel from the band

Steal mules from Yeomen

Send yourself to recruit from Helots with everybody else

Winter 5

Send Zvad to raid the Tithe Barn again (with all mules)

Have yourself recruit from Helots with everybody

Winter 6

Smuggle the goods for Alaine

Steal mules from Yeomen

Have yourself recruit from Helots with everybody

Winter 7-10:

The band should bug you about rations in Week 7 because you have so much food. You may have to switch them to Healthy for a week, then back to “Healthy for Sick, Subsistence for Healthy” in the next week. You could also do a grain run for 1 bushel, but I consider that gamey.

These weeks are when you should start setting aside enough mules to carry the sick (and a little extra), because the Theurges will try to raid you in earnest. Adjust it upwards per week according to Algarn’s recommendations

When the time comes to raid the Architelone, bring everyone to help, then select “Spare them all.” Then select “Sheathe their weapons…”

Do not raid any more than 1 Tithe Barn during this time period, otherwise you go over the Anarchy threshold to get Simon/Suzane. If you need more food (and you will at one point), raid Yeomen Farms with ~100 guys (5 raiders brings about 3 bushels, so this gets you several dozen), or sell a mule and buy some.

If you’re a gambler at heart (or you sold a mule to get food), you can steal mules from Yeomen again.

These are the kind of numbers you can expect when starting Act 4. Expect some variation based on RNG.

This screen tells you that you've secured both the Noble and Merchant Faction's help. If you don't see this message, you've done something wrong. Note that the number of troops this build faces is 570...actually smaller than your own army, which occurs because of your low anarchy and your mass recruitment! As the battle goes on, you will reduce the enemy to a minimal number of troops. You can actually get them to zero based on RNG (it is more likely if you didn't get overexcited about mauling the poor Yeomen in Act 2...) In any case, you outnumber the enemy so handily that you win in 1 combat round. Of course, you keep all your lieutenants, and hundreds of rebels!

The endgame stats.