A "Social Engineering" suggestion.

[Astromancer]

Not knowing how else to get this suggestion to the author and editors of the up-coming "Social Engineering" book, I'm putting a suggestion here. It's a minor detail, but I think it's worthy.

My suggestion is that the Bardic Lore skill, with manuevers and specialsations, should be discussed along with the other skills. Being able to cite precedent and rules can count a great deal.

Examples: Code Duello was often very complex, being able to shape the fight by adroit manipulation of the rules could be life and death.

Both the Celtic Brehon Laws and the laws the West African Griots taught, were systems of precident. Careful citation of precident, a social manuver if there ever was one, could be powerful.

The Courts of Love used history and literature as precident and law. A knight or Lady wishing to avoid disgrace, or to disgrace a rival, would need a wide range of literature at their finger tips.

In many times and places being able to aptly cite scripture or to quote Shakespeare could win an arguement, or respect. Thus allowing low status characters to be treated as if they were higher status ("They clearly have some education.")

The Bardic Lore skill has many social uses. A raconteur's fund of annecdotes, and sports fan's detailed knowledge of his games history, or a film or opera fan's detailed knowledge of the lives of the stars and directors, are all forms of Bardic Lore.

[whswhs]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

The Bardic Lore skill has many social uses. A raconteur's fund of annecdotes, and sports fan's detailed knowledge of his games history, or a film or opera fan's detailed knowledge of the lives of the stars and directors, are all forms of Bardic Lore.

Well, no, they're not. They're Hobby or Connoisseur skills. Bardic Lore is the skill of remembering the detailed lore of your culture that is preserved in oral form through traditional verses and stories. Once serious knowledge goes into print, the skill of Bardic Lore fades away, as Plato warned.

Bill Stoddard

[demonsbane]

Originally Posted by whswhs

(...) Once serious knowledge goes into print, the skill of Bardic Lore fades away, as Plato warned.

Well said. And there are/were lots of important things that never were written.

Speaking of GURPS Social Engineering, I think social environments that Astromancer is mentioning, like Code Duello, Celtic Brehon Laws, Courts of Love and many others could be well handled with the required setting information and, for the mechanical part of the rules, the suitable character traits as advantages, perks and skills. And still, Bardic Lore could be pertinent to some social enviroments.

[Andrew Hackard]

Thread moved from e23 to GURPS because it's a rules issue, not an issue with e23 itself.