Difference between revisions of "Nekomimi-Maiden/SocialCombatRedux"
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This system intends to use my Composure rework of Appearance as well.<br> | This system intends to use my Composure rework of Appearance as well.<br> | ||
| + | === Social Influence === | ||
Social influence is normally levied as a dramatic action, which typically takes up to one minute per social attack, but may be performed as a speed 6, DV -2 miscellaneous action in normal combat, though this imposes a -3 internal penalty. The Monologue action is added to normal combat as well, as a Speed 6, DV -2 action that gives +1 die to the following social influence every second tick, which may be aborted early for a partial benefit.<br> | Social influence is normally levied as a dramatic action, which typically takes up to one minute per social attack, but may be performed as a speed 6, DV -2 miscellaneous action in normal combat, though this imposes a -3 internal penalty. The Monologue action is added to normal combat as well, as a Speed 6, DV -2 action that gives +1 die to the following social influence every second tick, which may be aborted early for a partial benefit.<br> | ||
| − | When attempting social influence, the intent of the influence is stated first. Generally, this is compelling a particular behavior - " | + | When attempting social influence, the intent of the influence is stated first. Generally, this is compelling a particular, specific action or behavior - "Form an alliance with my nation". "Buy wares from me". "Believe my report of an army camped to the south". "Form an intimacy towards me". The character declares any charms she intends to use on the social influence, and the target [or targets] choose their form of resistance.<br> |
| − | When subjected to social influence, the target should write down a "Commitment Track" for | + | When subjected to social influence, the target should write down a "Commitment Track" for the influence in question. This is typically equal to their Conviction; however, intimacies, Virtues rated at 3+, and their Motivation can modify the track:<br> |
* Relevant Intimacies add or subtract 1 Commitment Level, depending on whether the influence harms or supports the subject of the intimacy, in addition to any MDV modification. | * Relevant Intimacies add or subtract 1 Commitment Level, depending on whether the influence harms or supports the subject of the intimacy, in addition to any MDV modification. | ||
* A relevant Virtue at 3+ adds or subtracts 2 Commitment Levels, as with Intimacies. Convincing a very Compassionate person to take an action that benefits many is easier, while convincing them of the justification of wanton slaughter is far harder. | * A relevant Virtue at 3+ adds or subtracts 2 Commitment Levels, as with Intimacies. Convincing a very Compassionate person to take an action that benefits many is easier, while convincing them of the justification of wanton slaughter is far harder. | ||
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After the form of defense is chosen, if the target has not completely negated the influence [whether through Virtue or an appropriate social defense charm], the character rolls her social attack, subtracting the appropriate MDV. If any successes remain, they are applied to the target's Commitment track for the influence in question. If the target has the option of spending willpower, such as if they applied their Parry MDV, they may pay the appropriate cost [usually 1wp, though some charms can increase the cost to resist] and roll their Willpower; every success reduces the 'damage' to the track by one level.<br> | After the form of defense is chosen, if the target has not completely negated the influence [whether through Virtue or an appropriate social defense charm], the character rolls her social attack, subtracting the appropriate MDV. If any successes remain, they are applied to the target's Commitment track for the influence in question. If the target has the option of spending willpower, such as if they applied their Parry MDV, they may pay the appropriate cost [usually 1wp, though some charms can increase the cost to resist] and roll their Willpower; every success reduces the 'damage' to the track by one level.<br> | ||
| − | Once the target's Commitment track is filled, they are subject to the influence and must act appropriately. | + | After spending two willpower in defense of a single track, the subject waives the cost of willpower to resist natural mental influence; they automatically get a Willpower roll when defending with PMDV, and can spend one Virtue channel and no willpower to completely ignore natural mental influence against that track. Unnatural mental influence, however, always costs Willpower to resist.<br> |
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| + | Once the target's Commitment track is filled, they are subject to the influence and must act appropriately. They will take reasonable actions to fulfill the influence to the best of their ability, though influence is limited by your connection to the target:<br> | ||
| + | Influence against a target with no intimacy towards you can compel behaviors that would not bring undue harm or inconvenience to the target; this is called Casual Influence. A guard would open a door under the assumption you're allowed inside, but would not give you the keys to the manor and free reign. A shopper could be convinced to purchase something that would not severely impact their finances. A soldier might loan you a knife, but would not hand over his sword and breastplate. Directly harming their intimacies or motivations, or requiring rolling of their virtues, is impossible with Casual Influence.<br> | ||
| + | Influence against a target who possesses an intimacy towards you, or who has been compelled to act as though they possess such for the scene via prior Casual Influence, can compel behaviors requiring a greater degree of trust or fear; this is called Intimate Influence. The soldier might be cowed into handing over his sword, though he might flee afterwards. A shopper could be convinced to buy a single item beyond their means, if they believed it possessed sufficient value. A character can take actions that might bring indirect harm to an intimacy, or force them to roll a virtue.<br> | ||
| + | Unnatural Mental Influence bypasses the need for an intimacy and has far fewer limitations. Unnatural Influence can make a target do or believe nearly anything. Only Unacceptable Orders are forbidden.<br> | ||
[work in progress] | [work in progress] | ||
Revision as of 19:57, 29 June 2011
With MUCH credit to WoD: Mirrors, which has provided the basic founding idea for building this...
Rewritten System: Social Influence
The current social combat system in Exalted, while certainly superior in concept to other systems such as D&D's "Diplomacy DC 50 to make my lifelong nemesis embrace me as a brother", is severely lacking in certain aspects. While willpower makes sense for a heroic character to be able to use to resist social influence, the all-or-nothing nature of it with only potential Limit when resisting unnatural mental influence once a scene, is a very poor stick indeed. This rewrite intends to incorporate the idea of graduated levels of success into Exalted, permitting people to protect core ideals from social influence while still being susceptible unless they perform a truly heroic effort to resist the words of the Chosen.
This system intends to use my Composure rework of Appearance as well.
Social Influence
Social influence is normally levied as a dramatic action, which typically takes up to one minute per social attack, but may be performed as a speed 6, DV -2 miscellaneous action in normal combat, though this imposes a -3 internal penalty. The Monologue action is added to normal combat as well, as a Speed 6, DV -2 action that gives +1 die to the following social influence every second tick, which may be aborted early for a partial benefit.
When attempting social influence, the intent of the influence is stated first. Generally, this is compelling a particular, specific action or behavior - "Form an alliance with my nation". "Buy wares from me". "Believe my report of an army camped to the south". "Form an intimacy towards me". The character declares any charms she intends to use on the social influence, and the target [or targets] choose their form of resistance.
When subjected to social influence, the target should write down a "Commitment Track" for the influence in question. This is typically equal to their Conviction; however, intimacies, Virtues rated at 3+, and their Motivation can modify the track:
- Relevant Intimacies add or subtract 1 Commitment Level, depending on whether the influence harms or supports the subject of the intimacy, in addition to any MDV modification.
- A relevant Virtue at 3+ adds or subtracts 2 Commitment Levels, as with Intimacies. Convincing a very Compassionate person to take an action that benefits many is easier, while convincing them of the justification of wanton slaughter is far harder.
- If the action goes against the target's Motivation, the Commitment track is doubled after all other modifiers. If it supports their motivation, it is halved after all other modifiers.
The target of social influence has several means of resisting available to them.
First, they may use their Dodge MDV, attempting to shut their mind and heart to the influence. This is generally superior to Parry MDV due to the inclusion of Essence and the high potential rating of Willpower, but it carries a critical flaw; any influence that passes their DMDV cannot be resisted with Willpower or Virtues.
Second, they may instead use their Parry MDV, choosing an attribute and ability combination appropriate to refusing the particular influence to set their MDV. If their Parry MDV is defeated, they may still spend Willpower afterwards in order to reduce the influence that gets through, but may not channel Virtues to reist.
Third, the target can choose a Virtue appropriate to resisting the influence, such as Valor to ignore an attempt at intimidation, Temperance to resist seduction or temptation, and so on. They spend the willpower cost to resist the influence as well as a single channel of that Virtue, and the influence is completely negated.
Alternately, the target can accept the influence without resistance; this willing acceptance of someone else's command [and not having to take responsibility for their actions] grants the target one temporary Willpower, though they may not gain this benefit more than once a scene.
Social defense charms may also be used in this step as well.
After the form of defense is chosen, if the target has not completely negated the influence [whether through Virtue or an appropriate social defense charm], the character rolls her social attack, subtracting the appropriate MDV. If any successes remain, they are applied to the target's Commitment track for the influence in question. If the target has the option of spending willpower, such as if they applied their Parry MDV, they may pay the appropriate cost [usually 1wp, though some charms can increase the cost to resist] and roll their Willpower; every success reduces the 'damage' to the track by one level.
After spending two willpower in defense of a single track, the subject waives the cost of willpower to resist natural mental influence; they automatically get a Willpower roll when defending with PMDV, and can spend one Virtue channel and no willpower to completely ignore natural mental influence against that track. Unnatural mental influence, however, always costs Willpower to resist.
Once the target's Commitment track is filled, they are subject to the influence and must act appropriately. They will take reasonable actions to fulfill the influence to the best of their ability, though influence is limited by your connection to the target:
Influence against a target with no intimacy towards you can compel behaviors that would not bring undue harm or inconvenience to the target; this is called Casual Influence. A guard would open a door under the assumption you're allowed inside, but would not give you the keys to the manor and free reign. A shopper could be convinced to purchase something that would not severely impact their finances. A soldier might loan you a knife, but would not hand over his sword and breastplate. Directly harming their intimacies or motivations, or requiring rolling of their virtues, is impossible with Casual Influence.
Influence against a target who possesses an intimacy towards you, or who has been compelled to act as though they possess such for the scene via prior Casual Influence, can compel behaviors requiring a greater degree of trust or fear; this is called Intimate Influence. The soldier might be cowed into handing over his sword, though he might flee afterwards. A shopper could be convinced to buy a single item beyond their means, if they believed it possessed sufficient value. A character can take actions that might bring indirect harm to an intimacy, or force them to roll a virtue.
Unnatural Mental Influence bypasses the need for an intimacy and has far fewer limitations. Unnatural Influence can make a target do or believe nearly anything. Only Unacceptable Orders are forbidden.
[work in progress]
