Social Engineering

[Icelander]

Originally Posted by whswhs

At this time, whether there will be a playtest is not known to me.

Oooh...

This sounds like a crunch heavy book, introducing more detailed rules for something that is currently lightly defined. As such, I think that it would invite serious problems not to do the utmost to identify and correct potential flaws in the work before publication.

[Gizensha]

Originally Posted by whswhs

At this time, whether there will be a playtest is not known to me.

As to the scope of the book, you can infer that from what has already been said, and especially from the mention of GURPS Martial Arts. This is a book about things adventurers can do with social skills. Now, adventurers can try to change their societies, and sometimes succeed, so it will discuss what you might call the strategic parts of social engineering;

Does that include the two cultures competing with each other, with the PC's trying to help the expansion of one culture into an 'enemy' culture, and how multiple cultures interact when in the same area - Basically a cultural version of Mass Combat? Or, if not enough pages, will it lay the foundations for a hypothetical GURPS Cultural Conflict to follow?

(And, yes, I know that you can't discuss specific content, just think of these as 'I'd be interested in these things' statements)

but it will be more about the tactical parts, or direct social interaction.

And will this include how to handle situations where the PC's know aspects about another culture (Due to both cultures existing within the same 'area' but for very distinct groups of people), but haven't had chance or need to internalize and/or use them? (Note I may be using the term culture differently from the way GURPS uses it there)

[Kromm]

Originally Posted by Exeter

Can anyone (Dr. Kromm, Bill, or anyone else "in the know") give an idea of what this book's definition of "Social Engineering" would be?

"The title of the book." That's really the whole deal. Yes, the book will address social topics. Mostly, though, we thought that title sounded cool.

("They call him 'The Sand Spider.'" "Why?" "Probably because it sounds scary." Just like that.)

[Not another shrubbery]

Originally Posted by Icelander

This sounds like a crunch heavy book, introducing more detailed rules for something that is currently lightly defined. As such, I think that it would invite serious problems not to do the utmost to identify and correct potential flaws in the work before publication.

Maybe it is just the "engineering" bit? I would not think there would be any question for the need of playtesting if the book was all that crunchy.

[Refplace]

Originally Posted by Kromm

With my blessing.

A consequence of Fantasy coming long before Low-Tech and High-Tech were written . . . and for that matter, before even the earliest, sketchiest draft of Vehicle Design. Bill used 3e stats converted as best as they could be converted at the time. The limitation was the state of the art, not the artist.

Bill didn't write that book.

I chose Bill for this book because he's just about the only GURPS writer I'm certain has run successful GURPS campaigns that were largely or entirely about social interaction. I think that speaks volumes about his suitability here! And I don't particularly think that Bill has a problem with crunch . . . he can't predict the future (which would've helped with Fantasy) or control other writers' minds (say, to make Lisa Steele write things you didn't like in Mysteries), but he does ask me before making rules calls (e.g., as in Supers), and has written his share of perfectly good crunch in such works as Steampunk, Steam-Tech, Covert Ops, and both editions of Low-Tech. And his playtest credit on Powers and Additional Material credits on High-Tech and Thaumatology weren't earned by not being good with rules.

Kudos for the backup and IMHO unneeded but welcome clarification.
I like most of the stuff written by most everyone but I think Supers was the biggest improvement between 3e and 4e.

[NineDaysDead]

Originally Posted by whswhs

Now, adventurers can try to change their societies, and sometimes succeed, so it will discuss what you might call the strategic parts of social engineering;

Will these rules interface with the ones in Infinite Worlds page 105-106?

[robertsconley]

Originally Posted by whswhs

My Manse campaign dealt with a lot of that sort of thing: young aristocrats courting and being courted, political debates by the council of house leaders, a formal ball, a servants' masked ball, a soldiers' lacrosse tournament and dance, a bachelor party for a soldier who was getting married, and a duel to the death between two house leaders, among other things.

I wish you good luck with this. If Social Engineering gives some good systems and guidelines for these types of situations then it will be well worth the money.

I know that for a long time I didn't give GURPS Mystery a look and then when I read it in a store I found it to be way more useful then as a source books for running Agatha Christie/Sherlock Holmes style campaigns (Which I thought it was at first). I bought it on the spot.

Hope GURPS Social Engineering turns out to be the same way for social interactions.

[robertsconley]

Originally Posted by Zed

See Quick Primer by Old School Gaming about a different perspective on social game mechanics.

It is a great piece of writing however it is nice to have some guidelines as not everybody has equal ability to referee everything. GURPS Mystery I felt was great at explaining how to incorporate mysteries in any genre and some of the sections were very informative to me. If GURPS Social Engineering anything like that I will get it in a heartbeat.

[Anders]

Originally Posted by Kromm

My general experience is that engineers being social usually do bring the whiskey.

What bonus would bringing catnip for the authors' cats bring?

[Sense of Duty (Kittens)]

Perhaps it will explain what the reaction bonuses measure. I have a sense of what things like 6 ohms or 10 HP are, but I always wondered what and how much +/- 1 to a reaction roll was supposed to measure.

Edit: Is there an ETA for publication?