Extreme Diplomacy

[whatisitgoodfor]

Ok, one of my players has just created a character that can, under some, extremely limited, circumstances, make a Diplomacy roll of 78. OMG!

What should I let the character get away with if this actually comes up?

"Give me your kingdom for bringing your daugther back a virgin." Was one of his suggestions.


Also, what would a Bluff of this high allow for?

 

[The Iron Mark]

Well, since they are very limited circumstances, I would allow quite a few stuff to go on.

 

[Gilrion]

"Give me your kingdom for bringing your daugther back a virgin." Was one of his suggestions.

Diplomacy doesn't work like that. It isn't doesn't have a mind-affecting, compulsion magic descriptor, does it? Diplomacy can, with a good roll, make an unfriendly NPC an ally, even someone who will take risks for the him, but giving up a kingdom is something entirely different...
If he were suggestion getting the daughter (for marriage, of course) for saving the kingdom, that might be doable, though. I suggest you take a look at page 149 of the DMG. The most you'll get out of Diplomacy is a Helpful character, which means the NPC will take risks to help the PC (examples given: protect, back up, heal, aid). That's not giving away a kingdom.


As for Bluff, it only allows you to be calm and convincing when saying a lie. A Bluff result of 78 would only make a smarter NPC believe that you believe whatever you are saying. Just because you say the kingdom has fallen and that I should leave my possessions and flee doesn't make it an absolute truth, no matter how convincing you are.

Incidentally, how does he get that 78 result? I'm rather curious...

 

[twjensen]

Going beyond the rules

Well, I think the real question is,
"does a skill check result of 50+ allow for things that are beyond the basic rules?"

Rumor on the Epic level campaign rules is that such things can and do occur with skills at such stratospheric levels. But the point that diplomacy is not compulsion is important.

Personally, I'd leave the King at "helpful" but all the court ladies who witness the amazing grace, poise, charm, charisma and daring of this the King's great champion will swoon, the knights will all want to be best buds with him, etc.. Basically, think Lancelot.

 

[whatisitgoodfor]

You know that part in the DMG or T&B where it talks about pricing custom magic items? It has the price for skill bonuses listed as (bonus^2 * 20gp).

One player decided that he only wanted to play a diplomat, and therefore blew his entire bankroll on a magic item that would boost his Diplomacy roll.

He also took every feat that gave bonuses to Diplomacy and maxxed out the skill.

 

[Artoomis]

Well, he can at least be pretty certain that he will be well-liked - or at least well-respected - by pretty much everyone!

 

[gfunk]

This reminds me of a thread a few months back called "Roleplaying Smackdown." In a nutshell, it has a Psion (Telepath) w/ an ungodly high modifer to Bluff. Anyway, he managed to convince a Great Gold Wyrm that Orcus was outside his lair posied to steal his treasure. Of course, the Psion offered to protect it while the Great Wyrm was gone. After the Wyrm left to fight "Orcus" the Psion made off like a bandit.

 

[whatisitgoodfor]

Hmm. How would this work for said theoretical 78 bluff check:

"Oh, don't mind me Mr. Dragon. I'm just here to clean the cave up a little."

"Oops, sorry, didn't mean to suck any treasure into the vacuum."

"Don't worry, when I get back to the office I'll dig it out for your and get it in the mail first thing tomorrow morning."

 

[Umbran]

One player decided that he only wanted to play a diplomat, and therefore blew his entire bankroll on a magic item that would boost his Diplomacy roll.

Most DMs I know will only allow a character to use half or a quarter of his bankroll on a single item, for just this reason. Remember that the rulebook saying it is possible in theory doesn't mean you have to allow it.

However, if you play it as it is, I don't think that any level of Diplomacy check will allow him to get people to do things that are plainly stupid - like giving over the kingdom. The guy is diplomatic, but not a bender of minds. He can put the best spin possible on the facts, but cannot actually change the facts, if you see what I mean...

 

[whatisitgoodfor]

The guy is diplomatic, but not a bender of minds.

But would it, in fact, be outrageous for the King to allow the character to marry the daughter, help out with Diplomacy for the kingdom and, one day, inherit the kingdom.

IMO, that wouldn't be bending the King's will, that would simply be encouraging the King to do something that is (obviously) in the kingdom's best interest.