I've built a highly intelligent, highly charasmatic but otherwise useless character in Fallout NW.
I'm about 1/4 through the main quest...at Novac, with a few dozen side quests, and I have yet to think 'gee, I'm sure glad I've put all those points into speech'.
I mean, other than convincing Good Spring citiziens in Ghost Town Gunfight to come to my aid, I have had not one chance to use my speech skills...
Does it come into its own more late game?
I'm thinking about playing FO3 as a charismatic character. Does it pay off in FO3 more? I can't remember...