Which Skills for Persuasion?

[Samothdm]

Let's say a character has to stand in front of a group of people and present something he's found in an ancient text or journal. What skill(s) would he use:

* Perform
* Profession (relevant to the topic being discussed)
* Knowledge (relevant to the topic being discussed)
* Something else?

What if he instead writes a scholarly journal about the topic? Which skill then?

 

[Henry]

Is he trying to convince them that they need to do something?

Diplomacy.

Is he trying to educate them on it?

Either Profession (Education) or a Knowledge Check in the appropriate category.

 

[Samothdm]

Thanks - that helps.

I'm thinking also of something like a business-person who has to make a presentation to his co-workers or to his management. What skills would be appropriate for that?

Also - what about the writing thing? I'd think a professional writer would be Profession (Writer), but if someone's just drafting a scholarly thesis about a particular topic, what skill would he use?

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

I think I'd go with dual checks in both presenting and writing cases.

Presenting I'd use Perform (oratory) and Knowledge (Subject) - with subject obviously being whatever the topic is.

Writing I'd use Perform (writing) and Knowledge (subject). I think writing should come as much from personality as from pure intelligence. To write persuasively would seem to require some sort of charisma based check.

Actually, persuing my new, 3.5 PHB I see that storytelling is listed under Oratory in the Perform skill, so maybe I'd use Perform (oratory) in both cases.

It's quite possible to be a very impressive speaker, and have your facts totally wrong.

 

[Mercule]

I'll second Henry's thoughts.

Diplomacy is such a general-purpose social skill that I almost think it needs to be broken apart. OTOH, I'm not sure that its component parts would stand well on their own.

 

[William Ronald]

I think Diplomacy should be the key skill for persuasion. A Knowledge check for educating someone on a topic would also be advisable.

It also might be wise to use a few buff spells for brief speeches.