Influencing PCs (and players)

[apoc527]

This thread arises out of a discussion in the THS forums. Please see http://forums.sjgames.com/showpost.p...2&postcount=27 for my initial question and Vicky's response.

I then answer like this, which is where this thread's discussion can pick up:

Helpful yes, but it acknowledges the same issues I was concerned about--and doesn't really provide a solution. I think, sometimes, simply relying on how the GM portrays an NPC ISN'T the best solution for the simple fact that I am NOT an attractive, charismatic female to whom all my players are attracted and willing to listen to. I think sometimes, you have to take a purely narrative and game mechanical approach to this kind of thing.

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Picking up from there, I think this is a humorous, yet completely serious topic and concern. Not every GM is a skilled improv actor and/or particularly good at acting out NPC actions. Fortunately, there's no requirement in this hobby that you be able to do these things. On the other hand, it presents a problem when you want to have a seriously charismatic NPC (with talents, Empathy, and all kinds of other advantages) interact with the PCs. What if YOU, the GM, slip up and the PCs get immediately suspicuous, even if the NPC would never have screwed up like that? (Let's face it, if we were that smooth, would we be hanging around playing RPGs with our friends? :-) ) I kid, I kid.

At any rate, I think that there are times when it's appropriate to slip out of character as GM, use a bit of the ol' narrative, and roll some dice. After all, this isn't fundamentally different from an NPC wizard using a Mind Control skill on a PC. If the PC fails his Will roll, the wizard gets to make him do stuff. Most players won't complain about that. I see no reason why the same can't be done for the talented social operator NPC -- "You like this person--they are extremely trustworthy...etc"

A good, mature roleplaying group could handle this, and separate the PC knowledge from the obvious player suspicion.

Thoughts? This is very much a Social Engineering issue, so I'm curious to hear from Bill and Kromm if they are around.