History Main / CharmPerson

* ''Literature/EmpireOfTheVampire'': All highblood vampires radiate some kind of a dark aura, a sensory pressure which either draws or repels every mortal around them, without exception, like wolves walking among flocks of sheep. Most bloodlines can further channel this supernatural charisma buff into some kind of mind control, and all of them can command their wretched cousins to some degree. The vampires' [[{{Dhampyr}} ''paleblood'']] offspring also inherit this power, though their is much more subdued.

* ''Literature/EmpireOfTheVampire'': All highblood vampires radiate some kind of a dark aura, a sensory pressure which either draws or repels every mortal around them, without exception, like wolves walking among flocks of sheep. Most bloodlines can further channel this supernatural charisma buff into some kind of mind control, and all of them can command their wretched cousins to some degree. The vampires' [[{{Dhampyr}}''paleblood'']] offspring also inherit this power, though their is much more subdued.

** This may be a Time Lord trait, as Professor Chronotis in "Shada" also displays it, causing people to think that despite his eccentric behaviour and dark secret that he 'seems like such a nice old man', and completely beneath suspicion or dislike. Even when he tricks the other characters, they let him get away with this behaviour because he seems so harmless. Of course, [[CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass he is the opposite of harmless]].

Named after the magic spell "Charm Person" from ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' and its many, many variants.

* The Russian mini-series ''Wolf Messing: Seeing through time'', based on the (fictionalized) biography of the supposed Polish-Jewish psychic Wolf Messing, has the titular character do this several times. The first time is quite by accident, when he runs away from home as a boy and sneaks on a train to Warsaw. When caught by the train conductor, he gives the man a piece of paper, who stamps it as if it's a ticket. Later, he unintentionally causes the conductor to jump off the moving train. His abilities are shown to [[NoSell not work]] on a few strong-willed individuals, including the MagnificentBastard Baron Heinrich Canaris, who keeps hounding Messing through the latter's life, first in order to get the psychic to help him with gambling and then trying to capture him as an [[SecretPolice SS]] Standartenführer. Another memorable use of this ability has Messing do it ''from another room'' to 4 Nazis in order to simply walk out of a German prison.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'', with a high enough Speech stat, you can convince people to do just about anything. (well, as long as you get a chance to, anyway). Similar to the ''Planescape'' examples above, having high (or extremely low) stat scores can also unlock unique dialogue options. ''Fallout 3'' changed many non-stat based charm, persuade and intimidation -type options to have a chance to fail, though, this was reverted in ''New Vegas'' and un-reverted in ''Fallout 4''.

** Charm Person and Suggestion. There are several levels of enchantment spells in ''D&D''. Charm Person merely makes the target perceive you as an ally (like the Jedi mind trick), Suggestion forces the target to perform a single task, and Dominate Person puts them under your complete control. There are countless other charm or compulsion spells with more specific effects.
*** As many a DM has had to explain, however, Charm Person ''only'' makes the target perceive you as a friend, and is not an outright mind control spell. They can be convinced to do small favors, maybe loan out some money or tools, but they won't switch sides or throw away their lives for you.
** Weirdly, it's very rarely acknowledged just how frightening the diverse array of mind-altering powers the Enchantment school of spells grants a wizard, up to and including [[MoreThanMindControl charming a person so thoroughly that they will kill themselves without hesitation if so commanded]]. In contrast to {{Necromancy}}, which is always seen as an evil magic, [[UnequalRites Enchantment has no negative moral connotations whatsoever]].
*** There is one exception: in the ''Literature/{{Dragonlance}}'' setting, Enchantment is considered just as much BlackMagic as Necromancy. This may be because the Kingpriest of Ishtar, an infamous tyrant, exploited Enchantment spells to maintain an iron grip upon his empire, using them to root out "thoughtcrime".

* ''TabletopGame/ChangelingTheLost'' has the Contracts of Vainglory, which range from "I bear the mantle of authority, so you're more inclined to listen to me" to "I'm so unnaturally beautiful that you couldn't possibly bring yourself to hurt me" to "I think I'll pull a [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Galadriel]] and go so horrifically pretty that you run screaming."
* In Steve Jackson Games' ''TabletopGame/InNomine'', Impudites, a Band (type) of demons has this ability, it causes the victim to see the demon as his or her close personal friend, making them more likely to go along with what the demon wants them to do (and also allowing the demon to steal their [[LifeEnergy Essence]]. The Ethereal Song of Attraction has a similar effect, making the victim passionately obsessed with the performer.
* ''TabletopGame/MutantsAndMasterminds'' has Emotion Control: Love which essentially works like a hyped-up version of Diplomacy, shifting people's attitudes to you, possibly from outright hostility to fanatical obsession.
* ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'' has a fair number of abilities like this, of course. One [[DemonLordsAndArchdevils demon]] has the power to make anyone who sees [[WhenSheSmiles her smile]] fall in love with her permanently.
** There are other, less-than-standard variations; Flawless Brush Discipline makes a Solar's handwriting so beautiful that those who read it will fall in love with the writer.
* The basic Mind Control power in the ''TabletopGame/HeroSystem'' isn't ''technically'' limited in this fashion, but the more an intended effect goes against the subject's own usual nature, the more the roll of the Mind Control dice needs to beat the target's EGO score by to take effect -- and the easier it normally is to break out again, too. Thus, smart mind controllers are encouraged by the system to choose the subtle approach over simply clobbering their victims into submission with mental brute force.
* ''TabletopGame/WarhammerFantasy'' and ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'': The Chaos god/dess of desire, Slaanesh, is so beautiful no mortal can look at hir and not immediately be enthralled.
** ''TabletopGame/WarhammerFantasyRoleplay'''s second edition campaign ''The Thousand Thrones'' revolves around a young mutant boy named Karl, born with the magical ability to make people become absolutely loyal to him [[CompellingVoice the moment they hear his voice]]. Unfortunately, [[PowerIncontinence he can't actually control the power]], unwittingly becoming the figurehead of a horde of religious fanatics that believe him to be a manifestation of the god Sigmar, and the rightful ruler of the Empire. Notably, individuals following Karl's mob rationalize their inexplicable loyalty by convincing themselves that he'll somehow solve their ''personal'' grievances with society.

* ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}''

* ''Manga/CallOfTheNight'': Vampires are able to [[VampiresAreSexGods naturally attract]] people in order to suck their blood. Some of them, like Haruka, take it a step further and hypnotize their prey to put them to sleep first, which has [[DudeShesLikeInAComa sinister implications]] after all the times that sucking blood is compared to copulation by Nazuna.

* HilarityEnsues when Dracula uses this in ''Film/DraculaDeadAndLovingIt''. He pretends it's a Transylvanian method for helping with insomnia. The problem is it works exactly as he ''says'' it should work in that Renfield starts to doze off before he can be hypnotized.

* Mind Control with the Suggestion limitation or high levels of Charisma do this in ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}''.
* The Presence discipline in ''TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade'', and its successor Majesty in ''TabletopGame/VampireTheRequiem''. Low-level powers involve drawing the attention of everyone in the room and causing a person to spill all their secrets; higher level powers involve summoning a person from a great distance away and being untouchable because you are ''so very pretty''. Dominate is more like MindControl.

* ''LightNovel/TheDeathMageWhoDoesntWantAFourthTime'''s main character has a [Death-Attribute Charm] skill that specifically affects those who have an affinity to Death-Attribute mana, like undead and races with undead parentage, or those suffering from extreme negative emotional states. Those under its effects can go from anywhere from seeing him as slightly charismatic to MoreThanMindControl worship depending on how much sanity they still retained before being affected.

* ComicBook/{{Gambit}}, depending on who's writing at the time, he has a degree of "hypnotic charm" that even [[EvenTheGuysWantHim works on men]]. However, it ''doesn't'' work if the charmee knows about it.
* Stacy X of the ''ComicBook/XMen'' comics had {{pheromone|s}} powers that could induce bliss and stimulate bodily sensations and functions allowing her a certain amount of control over her enemies.
* ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'': ComicBook/PoisonIvy's {{pheromones}} tend to work like this. She can also use more direct MindControl through toxic kisses (when they don't just kill outright). The scope and effects of these powers are DependingOnTheWriter.
* ComicBook/TheEnchantress, who's fought ComicBook/TheMightyThor among others, has the power to seduce people and give them a kiss that puts them under her control.
** Her little sister Lorelei has similar spells. Like in ''ComicBook/LokiAgentOfAsgard'' she needed a bit of cash so she sat in a speed dating event and magically charmed the would-be suitors to give her their wallets.
* Part-time ''ComicBook/TheAvengers'' ally Starfox a.k.a. Eros has this as his signature power. Oh, he may also be a [[HumanAlien Titanian Eternal]], but he's ''primarily'' known for being able to make people (especially but not limited to of the female persuasion) feel good.

* One of the more insidious powers of ComicBook/DoctorStrange arch-foe Shuma-Gorath. Shuma-Gorath is a terrifying immortal EldritchAbomination more malevolent than most demons and more powerful than most gods. Yet the moment it manages to gain a permanent foothold on a world, its denizens will quickly be compelled to revere it.
* ''Franchise/WonderWoman'' [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1942 Vol 1]]: When Ares bestows Helen Alexandros with power to make her the first Silver Swan any man who saw her was instantly awestruck by her beauty, and would be inclined to obey her and go out of their way to aid her.

[[folder: Fan Works]]

* In Dean Koontz's "Demon Seed" a super-computer can control people in this way, using its artifical voice. At the end the computer has been beaten but continues to try to influence people. [[spoiler: We then find they've cut off the voice and all its messages are being printed out and have no effect]]

* In ''LightNovel/TheWeaknessOfBeatriceTheLevelCapHolySwordswoman'', Tselika has this ability due to being a succubus. She can charm anyone who sees her, [[spoiler:even if it's through a video recording. This makes her dangerous even to a modern army]].

* One former Psi-Cop on an episode of ''Series/BabylonFive'' used this effect to his advantage. Garibaldi figured it out and figured out a way of defeating it if he were to fall victim to it.
* ''Series/DoctorWho''
** It has been suggested that the Doctor has this ability. This power may be due to his low-level telepathy. In fact, the Doctor may have used to this power to allow Harriet Jones ([[RunningGag former Prime Minister]]) to get ousted in the first place. The novelisation of "Shada" strongly implies this as well, even showing the internal monologue of someone who can't understand why they instinctively trust this poorly-dressed, funny-looking stranger and feel a burning desire to follow him around to ask him helpful questions.

* Raina in ''Series/{{Cleopatra 2525}}''.
* Bo in ''Series/LostGirl''

* In the ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' episode [[Recap/SupernaturalS02E05SimonSaid "Simon Said" (Sp2, Ep05)]], Andy and his twin can compel others to do what they want.
* ''Series/TheMagicians'': An example rather steeped in FridgeHorror reveals that a prominent politician is actually a [[spoiler: demigod]] whose [[LovedByAll universal adoration]] is due to his unconscious use of mind control on everyone he's interacted with ''during his entire life''. Being forced to accept this fact (which itself implies he's never once had a genuine relationship (let alone real love) with anyone and the realization that he's also primed to be a {{Tykebomb}} is one heck of a [[TraumaCongaLine bomb to drop]].
* Vampires from ''Series/TheVampireDiaries'' can compel humans. The Original vampires from ''Series/TheOriginals'' can compel humans, other vampires and vampire-werewolf hybrids.
* On ''Series/{{Haven}},'' this is the Trouble that runs in the Brody family. The patriarch of the family has used the Trouble to become the town mayor, and is a consumate politician. Witnessing his death triggers the Trouble in his son, Chris, who is an introverted misanthrope and absolutley ''hates'' the attention.

* ''Series/TheMagicians'': An example rather steeped in FridgeHorror reveals that a prominent politician is actually a [[spoiler: demigod]] whose HundredPercentAdorationRating is due to his unconscious use of mind control on everyone he's interacted with ''during his entire life''. Being forced to accept this fact (which itself implies he's never once had a genuine relationship (let alone real love) with anyone and the realization that he's also primed to be a {{Tykebomb}} is one heck of a [[TraumaCongaLine bomb to drop]].

* ''Manga/ChainsawMan'': [[spoiler:Makima's CompellingVoice powers includes a side-effect that causes the victim to fall hopelessly in love with her. For instance, Aki is infatuated with her, but when asked to say what he likes so much about her, he is unable to say. And later, a still alive Reze, Quanxi and Katana Man preparing to kill Denji for her affection]].