Today's #TTRPG hot take (I haven't had one in a while): I don't care if you are the most charismatic, smoothest talker, best public speaker, whatever. If your character does not have the same qualities backing up whatever roll they're making, your performance doesn't mean shit. Even if they do, your performance won't decide the outcome. That's what the dice are for.
@rivetgeek
I disagree with the idea that a bad die roll should turn a great speech by a player into a terrible speech by a character.
The point of gaming is fun. A great speech by a player is fun, and deserves recognition. If the game rules offer rewards like the "bennies" of _Savage Worlds_, a great speech with a terrible die roll might be rewarded with a bennie.
/1
@rivetgeek
"That was a great speech; take a bennie. But for some reason the guard took it wrong. 'Well you sure are a fancy talker, but I'm still not taking your bribes. Well, actually, I'm taking it, as evidence against you.' "
If the rules don't provide anything like bennies, a great speech should mitigate bad dice.
/2
@rivetgeek
"That was a great speech. So instead of reporting you to the warden, the guard pockets your bribe, says, 'Thanks', and goes about his business without letting you talk with the prisoner."
However, I strongly approve of your point about best possible outcomes. If the king was absolutely not going to budge, refusing to budge, with a laugh at the characters' impertinence for asking, might indeed be the best possible outcome.
/end