Ending Combat Diplomatically?

[CyberSpyder]

I've been designing a character that specializes in diplomacy, and so I'm fairly interested in the new rules given for the skill. The attitude DCs appear to be the same, but it does add that a diplomacy check can be made as a full-round action, instead of an extended conversation, by taking a -10 to the roll.

To me, this implies that it is a guideline for diplomacy as a combat action, and that with a high enough skill, I could put a stop to fighting by rendering enemies neutral, or even friendly to me. This isn't, however, explicitly stated, and so I'm not sure. Also, the definition of NPC in this context might be seen as a little vague - humanoids would certainly qualify, but what about intelligent monsters? One would presumably need, in addition, to have a shared language, or some other means of communicating effectively.

What do other people think about this? And is there a solid definition for NPC for this context?

 

[Saeviomagy]

I've been designing a character that specializes in diplomacy, and so I'm fairly interested in the new rules given for the skill. The attitude DCs appear to be the same, but it does add that a diplomacy check can be made as a full-round action, instead of an extended conversation, by taking a -10 to the roll.

To me, this implies that it is a guideline for diplomacy as a combat action, and that with a high enough skill, I could put a stop to fighting by rendering enemies neutral, or even friendly to me. This isn't, however, explicitly stated, and so I'm not sure. Also, the definition of NPC in this context might be seen as a little vague - humanoids would certainly qualify, but what about intelligent monsters? One would presumably need, in addition, to have a shared language, or some other means of communicating effectively.

It sounds like ending a combat is a perfect application of this skill. I'd probably give out situational penalties for degrees of harm, and degrees of victory during the fight
(ie - if you just gave someone a minor injury - penalty. If you've seriously injured most or all of your opponents - bonus).

You need a method of communication.

Beyond that, any monster is an NPC.

 

[candidus_cogitens]

Yeah, it sounds like a good use of the skill. In theory, you could even win your foes over to your side.

 

[clark411]

Just be ready to rapid diplomacy those same NPCs to your defense when players who have been craving a good combat finally pounce your diplomat for ending every encounter. ^_^

 

[Tellerve]

I have a character built very much like yours. He is basically a monk/psionic warrior mix but I wanted him to be calm until it was absolutely necessary to be violent. And then go all out with some pressure point attacks. But yeah, I too would love to use my diplomacy to circumvent combat. However, I also enjoy combat and bet most of the others in the game wouldn't really like me quelling fights before they got to lay some smack down.

Tellerve

 

[CyberSpyder]

Yay, I'm not horribly misinterpreting things, then.

But it almost certainly wouldn't work on non-sentient creatures, so there's a great deal of potential combat remaining.

He'll probably even be able to take part, after a fashion...I'm planning to have two fighter cohorts (the second afforded by the Inspired Leader feat from Dynasties and Demagogues), one a greatsword-wielding Lawful Good Half-Celestial Human, the other a spiked-chain-swinging Lawful Evil Half-Fiend Human. Stylish, I hope.

 

[Majoru Oakheart]

Also, sort of on this topic, do multiple synergy bonuses stack?

i.e. can a 2nd level half-elf bard with a 18 cha have +19 to diplomacy? (5 ranks, +4 cha, +2 half elf, +2 negotiator feat, +2 synergy bluff, +2 synergy knowledge(nobility and royalty), +2 synergy sense motive)

In which case, at 2nd level with no magic items at all, you could, in theory end any combat on an 11 or higher roll as a full round action (turning a hostile creature into a unfriendly one).

This seems like my next idea for a Living Greyhawk character if so. Still, I can see a lot of DMs looking at that and thinking "There's no way that just because you rolled high enough that all the enemies stop wanting to kill you."

Majoru Oakheart

 

[The Souljourner]

Synergy bouses were discussed in another thread, and what we determined was that the bonuses you get from having 5 ranks in another skill have no type.... look at the wording, they give a +2 bonus, but they never actually say it's a "synergy" bonus.


But yeah, I can definitely see my DMs just flat out telling me it wouldn't work, which is the sort of thing that always pisses me off. Don't tell me I can't, tell me it's ridiculously difficult and then let me try, dammit.

-The Souljourner

 

[Tellerve]

I believe you can have all those bonuses stack. I'm not sure, don't have the books in front of me but the DM could rule they are still willing to attack you if they are unfriendly, maybe, *shrugs* I dunno. But +19 is a really high diplomacy so why not have him be able to.

Of course I would have you role-play it out first, quick speech/plead to not fight, and then depending on how well you did modifiy your roll. That way it is still based on those skill ranks and such but good or horrible role-playing can alter it further.

Tellerve

 

[Majoru Oakheart]

Heh. Ya, it's my goal now to get a high level character with lots of ranks in diplomacy, along with magic items designed to increase it, so that even if a DM imposes a maximum penalty of -10 for bad role playing, that I can still tell everyone "Stop fighting and worship me already" and everyone who can hear you suddenly stops fighting you and becomes helpful (or perhaps fanatical if you are using the table from the ELH)

*grin*

Majoru Oakheart