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ShortQuests -- individual adventure modules! An all-new collection of digest-sized D&D adventures designed to plug in to your game.

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Deadguy" data-source="post: 1313827" data-attributes="member: 2480">Crothian, I think it's important to remember that there are some people (and beings) who simply cannot be swayed to serve the character's wishes. They personally might sympathise with them, but they are not acting alone. People who are part of organisations especially might be respectful of the PC but still obey the dictates of their rules or nature.  Think of a city guard captain who might actually like the new PC, and put in a word for her, but the city rules indicate that all strangers must be presented to the magistrates. Just because she's persuaded him, he still feels obliged to obey the rules (that's part of his nature), so teh PCs can't just walk away. That's not unfair to the user of Diplomacy, it's just living with the nature of the 'opposition'.  Likewise the guards sent by the BBEG might be in such fear of their master that they cannot imagine not complying with his wishes. No amount of persuasion can help here - they are genuinely much more afraid of their master than they are friendly to the new PC. (Imagine an opposed Intimidate roll, with appropriate modifiers for brutality and omniscience!)  I personally don't think that the normal uses of the Social Skills can drive a person to behave outside their own natures. So certain people are strongly enough motivated in certain areas that they are not open to persuasion. They believe in what they are doing, and no short conversation is going to persuade them otherwise. That's not unfair to the PC. After all, they would be annoyed if you decided that a persuasive NPC has convinced them to turn themselves over to the authorities, or submit to the BBEG!</blockquote>

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