D&D 5E Using social skills on other PCs

[clearstream]

I didn’t question the value, I said I don’t see support for it in the rules.

Taking the text as a whole (rules and guidelines together), it's supported and valuable then.


[Posted to better put my intended meaning.]

 

[HammerMan]

If you can’t see the difference between an action impeding a character’s ability to do something and an action forcing them to do something by their own volition, I don’t know what to tell you,

how is it diffrent? other then there is no way to safely LARP the physical action...

 

[clearstream]

how is it diffrent? other then there is no way to safely LARP the physical action...

At this point one might feel confident that the poster does not know what to tell you, as to the putative difference.

 

[HammerMan]

I wouldn't use mechanical resolution if a PC wanted an NPC to fall in love with them. Love is something that won’t and can’t be resolved by a d20 die roll. I think that love lies outside of ability checks to test or determine.

yes and no... I mean I showed up to my first date with my now fiancé doing my best (admittedly not that good) to impress her to get her to have a second date. On that second date I tried real hard to connect with her because I know that she was (and still is) WAY out of my league. I put in the work I showed up, I cared, I listened, I did everything I could to get her to connect with me... I must of rolled a nat 20 to get a 19 with my cha mod, cause 3 years later she said yes...

Even in games that have more robust social interaction mechanics that more clearly affect PCs, love is rarely, if able, on the table in a singular die roll. In Pendragon, for example, a knight’s trait of Chastity/Lust can be tested. So a knight can be overcome with Lust that risks their Chastity; however, this is not love. In Monsterhearts, a character can become “turned on” by a PC or NPC but this too is not love.

yeah I don't think a single roll works for love at all... but over years many can (and in my case I must have had some hott rolls)

 

[Bill Zebub]

I wouldn't use mechanical resolution if a PC wanted an NPC to fall in love with them. Love is something that won’t and can’t be resolved by a d20 die roll. I think that love lies outside of ability checks to test or determine.

Why?

Of all the ways to influence or manipulate somebody, which ways can be resolved with mechanics, and which can't? Why is "intimidate" in a different category than "seduce"?

Are there other types of influence that you think are off limits?

 

[Aldarc]

Why?

Of all the ways to influence or manipulate somebody, which ways can be resolved with mechanics, and which can't? Why is "intimidate" in a different category than "seduce"?

Are there other types of influence that you think are off limits?

You are moving the goal posts - whether you realize it or not - by pivoting from "love" to "seduce."

 

[Bill Zebub]

You are moving the goal posts - whether you realize it or not - by pivoting from "love" to "seduce."

Oh, sorry, that was unintentional.

Ok, love then. Why is it an exception? Are there others? Is “seduce” not an exception?

I’m genuinely curious because I believe love, seduce, persuade, intimidate, enrage, amuse, deceive, etc. should all be handled the same way.

 

[clearstream]

Oh, sorry, that was unintentional.

Ok, love then. Why is it an exception? Are there others? Is “seduce” not an exception?

I’m genuinely curious because I believe love, seduce, persuade, intimidate, enrage, amuse, deceive, etc. should all be handled the same way.

It does seem fair to me, to consider how extreme the emotional ask is. Just as DMG 244 has a simple 3-step scale for the size of the ask.

I might easily influence someone to make room for me to sit down in the bus. It might be harder for me to win their undying devotion.

 

[Bill Zebub]

It does seem fair to me, to consider how extreme the emotional ask is.

And who gets to decide that?

Once again, I assume the person at the table best equipped to make that call is the character’s player.

 

[clearstream]

And who gets to decide that?

Once again, I assume the person at the table best equipped to make that call is the character’s player.

If an NPC is attempting to woo a PC, then the PC should get to make the call. I might still call for a check at various points to indicate how compelling the wooing was. Stochastically informing the emerging narrative.

[EDIT I just had a horrible picture of me as DM having to act out the wooing. It's beyond the Pale: no player can ask that of me!]