Re: Influencing PCs (and players)
 

I like to roll reactions for these, out of pure nerddom, to see if their opinion can be changed. The difference between a gun ho cop kicking in your door, or his buddy wishing they'd just knock. Also it determines how tight the cuffs are.

Re: Influencing PCs (and players)
 

I don't really like the "successful influence attempts penalize opposed rolls" mechanic.

For example, suppose the Smooth-Talking Gorgeous Babe is trying to charm her way out of being arrested, and let's also suppose she's not willing to fight or flee the cops. Well, if the arresting officer is a PC, nothing stops him from going through with the arrest. Sure, if she struggled, she could claim that he's at a -7 (or whatever he lost by) to grapple her, but no roll is needed to cuff an unresisting subject, so the mechanic doesn't come into play - and my credibility meter bottoms out when I try to imagine a cop earnestly trying to cuff the STGB, but flailing about helplessly like a Keystone Cop because of his huge minus.

The only thing I think can handle this sort of thing well is metagaming (in the sense of telling players when an influence attempt is made on their PCs, and what the results were) and having players willing to respect the results of influence attempts with their roleplaying choices, even when the resulting choice is disadvantageous ("whaddya mean you let her go!?"). I'm in a group that does this and we mostly haven't had problems with it.

Re: Influencing PCs (and players)
 

OTOH, he might get -7 and screw up protocol somehow, giving an opportunity to maybe (depending on further events) let her off on a technicality. It doesn't need to have immediate results.

Re: Influencing PCs (and players)
 

I don't conceal roll results in my games. I expect my players to be aware of the mechanics and meta as well as roleplay. As such? NPC uses Influence skill on PC, quick contest occurs, NPC wins by 5. PC takes a 5 point penalty on any/every roll that runs counter to what the NPC wants the PC to do until the player goes along with it or the situation changes enough that its' no longer relevant. The player is quite aware that they are taking a penalty, the size of the penalty and that I will apply the penalty ruthlessly. I do this to NPCs as well, mind, in those cases where they aren't subject to reaction rolls and for much the same reason. Typically, players go along with the influence unless they think it is important to do otherwise.

Re: Influencing PCs (and players)
 

The problem with Influencing the PCs seeming silly is that people are leaving out the bit where the GM exercises a little judgment when deciding where the penalty applies . . . it isn't a blanket penalty to everything the person who succeeded at the Influence roll doesn't want the person he inluenced to do! To paraphrase the rule, "The GM should apply the margin as a modifier to appropriate rolls – be creative!"

In the cop example upthread, the GM would have to be uncreative and using epicly poor judgment to have the modifier apply to a roll to restrain the NPC. That doesn't even make sense. This mechanic addresses social influence, not combat and physicality. What about applying a penalty to the officer's roll against something like Law (Police) to avoid making a gross procedural error that will see the NPC released at the station – or the cop's self-control roll for Lecherousness, if he has it, to avoid making a really bad error? Or just to his Per roll to notice evidence sitting right there on the car seat, or another NPC sneaking up on him? As the GM, I'd probably make a secret Law (Police) roll at -7, and if it failed, have the first words from his supervisor be "We need to talk . . ." as the NPC smiles and walks out scot-free. That, or have the thuggish NPC he didn't notice (Per-7) beat him with Stealth, Taser him, and leave him on the roadside.

Re: Influencing PCs (and players)
 

Re: Influencing PCs (and players)
 

Several very good ideas here, what with the creative use of penalties from a missed roll and pre-set reaction.

An idea I am going to put on the table:

Pre-Set Reactions: Instead of rolling the results, you simply pick the base number. The Princess is generally happy with the PCs, so she starts with Reaction 12 and bestows her thanks in the form of jewelry and sincere thanks to everyone...except for two guys. She's got an Intolerance towards oaffish buffoons who think they are far better than they really are, so the guy who has been acting the oaffish buffoon only gets an 8 -- she grudgingly gives him the reward everyone else gets and quickly moves on to the next guy, muttering thanks as she puts room between the idiot and herself...and the next guy is that dashing +6 Reaction guy with the dreamy Voice as well (another +2), giving him a Net 20, and she shyly smiles at him, gives him _twice_ the thanks, and suggests that he should come visit her in the courtyard before the band of adventurers leave. If that results in ribbing from the other heroes or something a little less chaste than a talk in the courtyard, or both!, kind of depends on the nature of your campaign. ;)

Re: Influencing PCs (and players)
 

TBH This is coming up in a campaign of mine... and I handle it by presenting the NPC exactly as the players expect the NPC to be... Why NOT make them likable, friendly and even helpful? Even if it's to dump them in the pool later? PCs only know what you let them... so let the wool slowly be pulled over their eyes over time, and eventually, they won't know why they were betrayed... Even the most paranoid player will eventually give in.

Re: Influencing PCs (and players)
 

Because sometimes they're supposed to be intimidating, sexy, or charismatic demagogues.

Re: Influencing PCs (and players)
 

I would certainly apply to any interrogation roll to keep her from immediately asking for a lawyer. And of course, the shoddy evidence collection would hurt the prosecutions case.

To say nothing of the roll the jury will end up making to decide if she is guilty or not.