Mastering Persuasion in Kingdom Come: Deliverance: Choosing Between Highborn and Lowborn

In the immersive world of Kingdom Come: Deliverance, dialogue and persuasion play pivotal roles in shaping your journey through the gritty and authentic representation of medieval Bohemia. One of the critical decisions that players face early in their adventure is choosing between the Highborn and Lowborn perks. This choice significantly influences one's ability to navigate the social and political landscapes through speech. Here, we dive into the intricacies of these perks, providing insight into which might best suit your playstyle and narrative desires.

Understanding the Perks: Highborn vs. Lowborn

Upon reaching level 4 in the Speech skill, players are presented with a choice: the Highborn perk, which enhances dialogue outcomes with the upper echelons of society, or the Lowborn perk, granting similar advantages but within the common folk. It's a decision that further refines how you interact with the world's diverse inhabitants, from nobles to blacksmiths, each bearing their own perspectives and insights crucial to the rich storytelling of Kingdom Come: Deliverance.

The distinction is clear: Highborn targets your ability to influence more affluent and influential characters, such as noblemen, merchants, and officials. In contrast, Lowborn focuses on the more abundant, everyday interactions with artisans, commoners, and the working class. The choice reflects not just a gameplay mechanic but an opportunity to align your character's persuasive abilities with the narrative paths and relationships you are most drawn to.

Why Opt for Highborn?

The Highborn perk isn't merely about prestige; it's a strategic tool that potentially opens doors otherwise closed or difficult to access. Interacting with Kingdom Come's higher society can often lead to quests with substantial rewards, crucial alliances, or pivotal information that can alter the course of your story. The additional +3 to your Speech skill in these interactions can mean the difference between success and failure in crucial moments, particularly as these characters tend to present more challenging persuasion checks.

Characters influenced by Highborn include but are not limited to the Nobility, Officers, and Priests, each playing significant roles in the main and side quests that often carry greater weight and consequence in the narrative journey. A successful speech check with these individuals can yield benefits far beyond the immediate dialogue, affecting political landscapes and economic opportunities and even opening new narrative paths.

Why Consider Lowborn?

On the flip side, the Lowborn perk caters to those who find value in the wisdom and opportunities the common folk offer. This choice is far from undermining, as many quests, bargains, and crucial game moments arise from interactions with the working class and artisans of Bohemia. The +3 boost in Speech when engaging with characters such as blacksmiths, tailors, and commoners can significantly enhance negotiations, trades, and information gathering, often at a more frequent pace than those afforded by Highborn.

Furthermore, embracing Lowborn can enrich the game's realism and your character's relatability, aligning with a hero who is 'of the people' and navigating their challenges alongside them. This can also lead to unique questlines and interactions that high society would typically overlook, providing a fuller, more grounded perspective of the world and its struggles.

Making Your Choice: Strategy and Role-Play Considerations

Ultimately, the decision between Highborn and Lowborn reflects personal playstyle and narrative preferences. For those drawn to the machinations of power, politics, and the allure of noble society, Highborn offers a path that aligns with these interests, emphasizing the game's grander, more influential engagements. In contrast, Lowborn appeals to players who value the rich tapestry of everyday life, seeking a connection with the game's broader populace and the myriad stories they hold.

Regardless of your choice, it's important to remember that Kingdom Come: Deliverance rewards exploration, experimentation, and engagement with all facets of its world. Whichever perk you choose, plenty of opportunities exist to hone your persuasive skills elsewhere, ensuring a rewarding experience as you navigate the complex social and political landscapes of medieval Bohemia.

As you ponder this decision on your journey through Kingdom Come: Deliverance, consider what kind of story you wish to tell and the legacy you want to leave behind. Whether among the nobles of high society or the common folk toiling in the fields, your words have the power to shape the world around you.