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Hi,
I just started with this game and I am solving a dilemma with my character creation. In all RPG I have played so far I always had a melee focused main character. So I created a figther with these stats:

might - 18
constitution - 14
dexterity - 15
perception - 12
intelligence - 4
resolve - 14

But I am worried about dialogue options. I always loved rich dialogues with a lot of options. How important is intelligence for dialogues in this game? And can I use other members of my party (some cleric f.e.) for dialogues instead of my main character (like f.e. in Baldur's gate)?

Thanks for Your advices
Ondrej
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ondrejfabian: And can I use other members of my party (some cleric f.e.) for dialogues instead of my main character (like f.e. in Baldur's gate)?
No, you can only control the main character in conversations, and dialog stat checks always affect your main character.
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ondrejfabian: How important is intelligence for dialogues in this game?
Intellect and Resolve are the most used attributes in dialog stat checks, in my experience - but it's usually enough to have one of them.
E.g. you can either use your persistence and emotional intensity to straightforwardly get people to tell you or do what you want (Resolve stat checks), or alternatively be a smart-ass and get them to spill the beans that way (Intellect stat checks). But the result is usually the same.

The third most common stat check is Perception, which often gives you a third way to get that same result - by noticing something about the person you're talking to, which you can then confront them with.

Might stat checks are also sometimes used to intimidate others in dialog, but that is not always a good choice.

Dexterity is used very rarely in dialog (I remember one instance of using it to jump and put a knife to the other person's throat during a negotiation).

Constitution even less (I can't remember a single instance off the top of my head).
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ondrejfabian: In all RPG I have played so far I always had a melee focused main character. [...] But I am worried about dialogue options.
You won't be able to get all 3 good dialog stats (RES, INT, PER) high while at the same time still being a good melee damage dealer. You'll have to focus on one (or maybe two) of the dialog stats.

For a damage-dealing melee Fighter or Rogue, I'd focus on PER, as it also improves their accuracy and thus makes their melee attacks more likely to hit and crit, and less likely to miss and graze.

For a damage-dealing melee Barbarian, Paladin or Chanter, I'd focus on INT instead, because it boosts their powerful area-of-effect melee abilities.

Of course if you're okay with not doing much damage and being a purely defensive melee warrior ("tank") instead, you can afford to max out multiple of the dialog-heavy stats. Here are videos explaining such character builds I found helpful:
min-maxed tank Paladin with stats 18/16/4/4/18/18
min-maxed tank Chanter with stats 3/19/4/17/18/17
(Note: Chanters may sound like a spellcaster class on paper, but they are actually a pretty passive class in combat and best used as melee warriors).
Post edited September 30, 2015 by archy2
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ondrejfabian: And can I use other members of my party (some cleric f.e.) for dialogues instead of my main character (like f.e. in Baldur's gate)?
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archy2: No, you can only control the main character in conversations, and dialog stat checks always affect your main character.
Except special events, those where you interact with objects (The screen changes). There you can use any of the party for the actions.

Anyway, Obsidian tried to avoid lost of XP if you went by force brute instead of dialogue, so in general archy2's word are true. By the way, there are some options in the menu which could let you see which options for conversation are closed due stats (I like that a lot, help me to choice which class, stats and/or race to focus in the next game).
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Belsirk: Except special events, those where you interact with objects (The screen changes). There you can use any of the party for the actions.
True, scripted interactions are different from dialog.

In scripted interactions, MIG/CON/DEX (i.e. the non-dialog stats) are checked most commonly. However, they usually let you choose which party member should perform an action and get their stats checked, so they are not something you need to consider when building your main character. Because chances are you'll have at least one party member who can succeed at any given scripted interaction. (Unless you intend to solo the game, of course.)
Post edited September 30, 2015 by archy2
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Belsirk: Except special events, those where you interact with objects (The screen changes). There you can use any of the party for the actions.
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archy2: True, scripted interactions are different from dialog.

In scripted interactions, MIG/CON/DEX (i.e. the non-dialog stats) are checked most commonly. However, they usually let you choose which party member should perform an action and get their stats checked, so they are not something you need to consider when building your main character. Because chances are you'll have at least one party member who can succeed at any given scripted interaction. (Unless you intend to solo the game, of course.)
Complementing your answer, don't forget that in the areas from the new expansion Perception and talents (Spells mainly) become a factor too (So, solo become a little more hard)
OK, so if I understand it correctly, all those stats like intelligence, perception etc. will affect, how successfull will I be when I click on one from these dialogue options, but it doesn't affect, how much dialogue options will I SEE, right? In Planescape: Torment, I am provided with ten times more dialogue options with intelligence 20 than with intelligence 8. But in Pillars, I will see always the same amount of dialogue options, but fruitfullness of some answers will be affected by the level of my specific stat?
Simply put, I have no problem, when I try to intimidate someone and fail, because I will have low might, but I will be a really upset, when I will see only a small portion of all dialogue options because of my low intelligence.
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ondrejfabian: OK, so if I understand it correctly, all those stats like intelligence, perception etc. will affect, how successfull will I be when I click on one from these dialogue options, but it doesn't affect, how much dialogue options will I SEE, right?
No, the opposite - it determines which dialog options show up.

And unless you untick the corresponding checkbox in the difficulty settings, You can even see which stat caused which dialog option to show up, and which stats would have given you additional options (though it doesn't tell you what the additional options would have been).

In scripted interactions, on the other hand, you choose to let a party member take a certain action and their stats will determine whether they succeed.
Post edited September 30, 2015 by archy2
Pillars of Eternity is designed in such a way that whatever base statline you choose, it will give you unique opportunities troughout the game, precisely to prevent the situation present in games like Planescape Torment where if you want to see as much dialogue as possible, you put all points towards intelligence which somewhat limits character creation. So whichever stats you choose, you will encounter them as stat checks troughout the game. That being said, there are still stats which are used more often than others - intellect, resolve and perception if I recall correctly. On the other hand, all other stats are used quite plenty in dialogues as well.

There is also no 'chance of success' when using a stat-based dialogue option - if you pass the stat check, you will always succeed.
I understand. So I can still enjoy rich dialogues even with melee based character, just a little bit different than with f.e. wizard or druid. And last question - do You think that very low intelligence (4 of 5 points) is problem in dialogues, when I will have high stats like perception or resolve? I don't want to end like a person, who will enjoy plenty of dialogues full of intimidating and persuading, but will act like a dumb brute answering in simple sentences. I would like to enjoy deep and talkative RPG with mellee based main character, if it is possible.
Don't worry, low INT will get the same options as medium INT. Same for the other stats.
You will never loose access to the normal dialog options - so your char won't sound like an idiot.

The stat checks for bonus dialog options tend to be between 10 and 20, as far as I remember.

PS: Here's an example of what it looks like when extra dialog options are unlocked: http://i.imgur.com/LuV94fR.png
Post edited September 30, 2015 by archy2
Yup, feel free to min/max as much as you want.
OK, thank You very much for your advices. I will stay with my current character.