Games with great social rules

[Eyes of Nine]

Hey - what games have good social rules?

Burning Wheel's Duel of Wits is pretty top notch.

Others?

 

[aramis erak]

Burning Wheel, and its derivatives: Burning Empires, Mouse Guard, and Torchbearer.

Less good, but still solid:

• L5R 5e
• FFG SW with the Diplomat Sourcebook
• 2d20 Star Trek Adventures
• 2d20 Dune

If you know how to run it, any of the Cortex Plus/Prime can by inflicting ranked conditions. So can any of the FATE system games ... but many GMs don't grasp that the conflict rules are also intended for social conflict, too.

 

[Fenris-77]

My favorite mechanical framework for running social encounters is Blades in the Dark. Position and Effect is a really strong tool for social stuffs.

 

[SkidAce]

My favorite mechanical framework for running social encounters is Blades in the Dark. Position and Effect is a really strong tool for social stuffs.

I read up on Position and Effect. Could I get a social combat example if you have the time?

 

[RenleyRenfield]

I would like to toss in Infinity (2d20 from Modiphius)

They do such a great job of making social rules matter. You can affect the world in very meaningful ways. And annnddd!! You can use Social Rules at a 'distance' with social networks and connections!

There is so much more too, emotions, and having allies as defenses and...gah so good!

Love it!! Whoever designer you are that made that, thank you!!!

 

[Parmandur]

The Cosmere RPG has solid rules for game fies Social "Scenes" that provide adjudication for contested social interactions.

 

[dragoner]

I liked M-Space's socials, including the conflict pools.

 

[Umbran]

I've had a lot of fun with Fate and Fate Accelerated and social conflicts - it puts them on the same Stress and Consequences footing as physical combat.

I played in a Draw Steel one shot last summer that showed off its social/negotiation rules, which I found quite interesting as well.

 

[zarionofarabel]

Duel Of Wits is definitely at the top. I have a fair number of systems that use either a HP reduction equivalent, or a running tally of successes, to determine who wins a social conflict. Those two options seem to be the norm for systems that feature social conflict rules. Sadly, Duel Of Wits is the only codified system I have ever encountered that has a forced compromise result as the most likely result of a social conflict. Every other system I have encountered that has social conflict rules has a winner takes all result as the only option.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

People really liked Doctor Who's social combat rules, as I recall.