Social Encounters (Rules) (GM Core)

Details on how to run a social encounter, and the differences between a social and combat encounter, appear under Social Encounters. The setup for a social encounter tends to be less detailed. For the NPCs involved, you'll just need statistics for their social skills, Perception, and Will. These use the non-combat level of the creature, based on the creature's social skills, not its combat level. You determine the challenge of a social encounter based on this non-combat level. You also need to decide the objective or consequences of the social encounter—what the PCs can achieve and what happens if they fail—and the form of the challenge. It might be an online debate, a private meeting with a powerful person, or some kind of contest. Just like with combat encounters, think about the environment, with a particular eye toward the other people around. Is there a moderator the PCs can sway? Are they in an expensive private room in the hottest nightclub or at a crowded coffee shop? Is the atmosphere oppressive? Hopeful? You might find the PCs' goals end up being quite different from what you initially thought they would be. Fortunately, social encounters are adaptable. Thinking of their likely objective helps you construct the scene in your mind more easily but shouldn't limit you. Social Encounter Examples These are just a few challenges you might want to play out using social encounters. Broadcasting a slippery villain's deception on the infosphere Brokering peace between warring star systems Convincing a dragon to trade a vidgame from their horde Convincing a megacorporation to allow their employees to unionize Convincing a planet's leaders to defend against an invasion Convincing another team to help you win a cooking contest Ending a tense standoff where everyone's weapons are out Engineering a mech to impress the judges at an exhibit Getting a desperate bank robber to free a hostage Getting more infosphere followers than a rival idol Persuading a crime syndicate to trust a rival gang Petitioning for admittance to a magical university Proving someone's innocence in front of a judge Rousing a group of threatened protesters to hold the line Securing a major contract over a rival corporation Tricking a swindler into contradicting their past lies Turning a commander against their underhanded lieutenant Turning a smuggler away from a life of crime Urging a lawmaker to vote on a law that would hurt their constituents Winning a debate about a contentious topic in a chat room