How about splitting the stats in two categories?
1) Combat stats (with every perk apart from the one mentioned in point 2)
- Strenght
- Dexterity
- Intelligence
- Constitution
- Speed
- Perception
2) Interaction stats
- Intimidation
- Reasoning
- Charming
- Thievery (perhaps)
People would be able to create a certain characer build for combat situations without having to worry to make a useless character in interaction/communication (like a dumb warrior).
But perhaps the "interaction stats" could also be turned into the traits and talents system (which will be most likely reached anyway).
In the old D&D rulesets Charisma was the stat which contained stats like intimidation, reasoning and charming. But as you are creating a new ruleset/system, you apparantly want to sophisticate that classic persuasion/communication system and that's a good decision I think. But imo it shouldn't be interwoven with the mostly combat skills. These stats are important for your dual-dialogue system, so why not making them more important in your ruleset?
It would stay a solid system with a higher focus on communication and interaction. Just think it over.
And yes, all stats should stay clearly passive. They should never be seen anywhere in combat or dialogue except of their outcome. Stats and rulesets have to work in the background.
