Fallout 3: Failing Speech Checks and liking it...

[Caradhras]

Just a thought, but I'm beginning to think that failing Speech checks yields far more satisfying results at times. On most occasions it is better to succeed in which case you get extra XP and more rewards. Nevertheless failing is not without rewards of its own.

It can open optional quests, for instance in Moriarty's saloon,

Spoiler!

if you fail to convince Moriarty you'll be able to visit Silver in Springvale.

It increases both realism and immersion. From that perspective being able to convince anyone to do almost anything is less satisfying than having the satisfaction of failing to convince them.

In Megaton,

Spoiler!

you can convince Leo Stahl to give up drugs by succeeding a Speech check. I always felt that it was a bit awkward. I can't imagine a junkie mending his ways because some guy or gal from a Vault told him that it was bad and that he was ruining his life. In my last game I was actually glad I failed because it felt like my character was just stating the obvious and that Leo discarded what my character had to say which IMO made sense. My character felt that he had done what he could for that guy, he didn't feel that bad about buying chems from him.

Let's face it, if a total stranger walked up to you in the street or in a bar and started to talk you into something, it would be quite unlikely that you would agree to what he asked let alone listen to what he had to say.

With that in mind I think I'll enjoy failing my Speech checks in the future.

[chevalier]

Yeah, Speech checks no longer feel like a quest failed. Sometimes the results are even more satisfying than actually passing the test.

[Caradhras]

I wouldn't invest too many points in that skill unless I wanted to RP some sort of guru/ self help expert (now that I think about it that would be a rather nice concept).