Persuasion
(Lying, Charm, Diplomacy, Bribery, Manipulation)
Persuasion is the art of getting someone to listen to you and believe what you’re saying. It encompasses a range of techniques, from telling the truth in a convincing way to bending the truth or outright lying to achieve your goals. Each specialization within Persuasion focuses on different aspects of this skill, allowing you to tailor your approach to the situation at hand.
Lying
Lying is the ability to tell falsehoods with such sincerity and attention to detail that others believe you, even if they should know better. This specialization is opposed by Assessment (Detect Lies).
| Description of the Lie | Modifier |
|---|---|
| The lie is believable | No modifier |
| The lie is somewhat unlikely | (shift-1) |
| The lie is far-fetched | (flip-1) |
| The lie is practically unbelievable | (shift-1) (flip-1) |
| You have some kind of (faked) corroborating evidence | (flip+1) |
Results:
- Success: The target believes the lie, acting as if it were true.
- Failure: The target is skeptical but may not openly challenge you, depending on the situation.
- Failure by a Large Margin: The target knows you are lying and may react negatively, potentially calling you out or becoming hostile.
Charm
Charm involves saying the right things at the right times to gain a level of comfort with an individual. It can be used to make friends, shift attitudes from negative to positive, or gain information. Successful Persuasion checks using Charm can lead to various advantages. Charm is opposed by Discipline (Resist Charm).
| Description of the Interaction | Modifier |
|---|---|
| The target is initially neutral or indifferent | No modifier |
| The target is initially hostile or suspicious | (flip-1) |
| The target is in a good mood or predisposed to like you | (shift+1) |
| You are offering something of value or interest | (flip+1) |
Results:
- Success: The target is charmed, resulting in a positive shift in attitude or a willingness to help.
- Failure: The target remains neutral or only slightly warmed to you, with no significant change in attitude.
- Failure by a Large Margin: The target is put off by your attempts at charm and may become hostile or distrustful.
Diplomacy
Diplomacy is a mix of compromise and leverage to reach a mutually beneficial arrangement. Depending on the situation, Diplomacy can be opposed by different skills, such as Discipline, Assessment, or even Persuasion. The GM should determine which skill is most appropriate.
| Circumstance | Modifier |
|---|---|
| The target is hostile to you | (flip-1) |
| The target is unfriendly to you | (shift-1) |
| The target is indifferent or doesn’t know you | No modifier |
| The target is friendly to you | (shift+1) |
| The target really likes you or stands to gain from the negotiation | (flip+1) |
Results:
- Success: You reach a mutually beneficial agreement or convince the target to see things your way.
- Failure: The target remains unconvinced, leading to a stalemate or a refusal to agree.
- Failure by a Large Margin: The target becomes more entrenched in their position or may react negatively to your diplomatic efforts.
Bribery
Bribery allows a character to offer something of value to get what they want, often bypassing normal procedures or gaining favors. Bribery is opposed by the target’s Assessment or Discipline, depending on the situation.
| Description of the Bribe | Modifier |
|---|---|
| The bribe is valuable and appealing to the target | (flip+1) |
| The bribe is of moderate value but still useful | No modifier |
| The bribe is of little value or risks the target’s position if accepted | (shift-1) |
| The target is morally opposed to bribery | (flip-1) |
Results:
- Success: The target accepts the bribe and complies with your request.
- Failure: The target rejects the bribe but does not report it.
- Failure by a Large Margin: The target is offended or reports the attempted bribery, potentially leading to serious consequences.
Manipulation
Manipulation is a blend of various persuasion techniques, using elements of lying, charm, and diplomacy to convince someone to do what you want, often without them realizing they’ve been influenced. Manipulation is opposed by Discipline or Assessment (Sense Motive), depending on the situation.
Results:
- Success: The target is successfully manipulated into doing what you want, often believing it was their own decision.
- Failure: The target remains unconvinced or does not follow through with the intended action.
- Failure by a Large Margin: The target realizes they are being manipulated, leading to distrust or hostility.