Social Engineering

[vicky_molokh]

Originally Posted by whswhs

I'm willing to talk about why I think I'm a suitable person to write such a book, if that has any interest for you. Or I'm willing to watch as you discuss what you would want in a book on social position, reactions and influence rolls, and related topics, and maybe steal topics for the revision.

Bill Stoddard

Remind me, were you the one responsible for the alternate social rules in Mysteries? If so, I have my doubts. You're cool when it comes to fluff and settings and all that, and you shine as a GM, but as soon as rules show up, you become mediocre. (Notably, there were some very dubious points in Fantasy and Supers.)

((WARNING: Very tired and sleepy, so forgive me if I misremembered who wrote what books.))

[Langy]

What points in Supers, Fantasy, and Mysteries did you dislike, Molokh?

[vicky_molokh]

Originally Posted by Langy

What points in Supers, Fantasy, and Mysteries did you dislike, Molokh?

I'm speaking without re-checking the books, but I remember that whswhs' explanation of Field Sense differed from Kromm's, that Fantasy produced large numbers of dubious numbers (primarily in the vehicle section) and a strange, underdescribed IA enhancement, and my rants about Mysteries can be found in older threads, more than once.

[whswhs]

Originally Posted by lexington

Can you at least confirm that it has something to do with social engineering?

"Something to do with" would be fair. But this book uses the expression rather more broadly.

Bill Stoddard

[whswhs]

Originally Posted by vicky_molokh

I'm speaking without re-checking the books, but I remember that whswhs' explanation of Field Sense differed from Kromm's, that Fantasy produced large numbers of dubious numbers (primarily in the vehicle section) and a strange, underdescribed IA enhancement, and my rants about Mysteries can be found in older threads, more than once.

I'm just not getting into this with you. If you're eager to decide that my work is valueless before ever seeing it, go in peace. I'll talk with the other people.

Bill Stoddard

[b-dog]

Well if you listen to ideas for your book then I would like to suggest a few. I think it could be useful to "warm up" those that the social engineer wants to control with mundane advantages first before using supernatural powers. FREX a succubus could use Sax Appeal to weaken the Will of a person before using her Mind Control powers, the same is true of a bard who could play beautiful mundane music first to weaken the Will of the listeners so that his spells would be less likely to be resisited. Scaring PCs first could also weaken the Wills of PCs so that an Elder Thing or demon would have an easier time making the PC go insane or get possessed.

[lexington]

Originally Posted by b-dog

Well if you listen to ideas for your book then I would like to suggest a few. I think it could be useful to "warm up" those that the social engineer wants to control with mundane advantages first before using supernatural powers. FREX a succubus could use Sax Appeal to weaken the Will of a person before using her Mind Control powers, the same is true of a bard who could play beautiful mundane music first to weaken the Will of the listeners so that his spells would be less likely to be resisited. Scaring PCs first could also weaken the Wills of PCs so that an Elder Thing or demon would have an easier time making the PC go insane or get possessed.

Like deceptive attack as applied to influence skills.

[Gizensha]

Would 'memetics at all TLs' be a bit too obvious a guess/suggestion? ^^

[NineDaysDead]

Originally Posted by whswhs

Or I'm willing to watch as you discuss what you would want in a book on social position, reactions and influence rolls, and related topics, and maybe steal topics for the revision.

Long term effects from social rolls, e.g you've made your "win friends" roll agianst the NPC by a lot, now future social rolls are easier against them.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Johan Larson

So we can do without the whiskey?

Given that Bill hates even the smell of alcohol, and I believe may have never had a drink in his 50+ years, I think whiskey is the wrong choice.