Social Combat

Humans are social animals, and social fights hold great sway in our lives. Social combat could involve jokes, bluster, displays of smarts and know-how, and just about anything else which could impress the crowd. Unlike other Dramatic Interactions, Social Combat almost invariably involves an audience which you are attempting to win over. You might just be trying to trash-talk a rival, or you might be trying to be the one to win the audience's favor for your own gain (such as seducing some companionship for the night before your rival does).
Engaging in social combat with a "friendly audience" (such as a politician debating her rival in her campaign headquarters) gives the character an edge, warranting an additional edge die.
==Outside Factors==
Hecklers are often problematic in social situations, throwing out comments or questions which could disrupt the flow of the interaction. The heckler might direct his or her comments to one or both parties, and that party needs to react well or risk losing edge dice.
==Skill Use==
* Wits: The ability to think fast and come up with a cunning riposte in an instant can be most useful.
* Knowledge: While not technically a skill itself (see the Skills Module for details on Knowledge), being able to show off your knowledge of a subject could help you bolster your position in an argument.
* Perception: Being able to see through someone's rhetoric to their true motives can be important in winning in the social arena.
* Persuasion: The heart of any social combat is persuasion, whether you're trying to convince your audience or your rival. Persuasion should be considered a “safe skill” for social combat.
* Will: Being able to resist baiting or keep your cool is important to maintaining control in social situations.
==Suggestions for the GM==
As discussed with Interaction Skills, you need to decide how roleplaying and the results of die rolls will come together in an encounter. Your players' words and roleplaying should matter, but so too should their characters' capabilities. Find a balance that works for your game.
Category:Rulebook
Category:Action
Category:Dramatic Interaction