Persuasion

Persuading individuals.

Ability Score(s): Rhetoric + Voice

Usage: Used for persuading individuals to your side of an argument or point of view. Usually Persuasion checks are made as opposed checks against the target's Mental Defense but skills may be used at the GM's discretion for an opposed roll.

Targets have penalties or bonuses usually influenced by how receptive they are to you and how much they already like you. Most start at "neutral" which applies no penalties or bonuses. Characters who are amicable to you take a -5 to their Mental Defense (or their opposed roll) and characters who like you take a -15 instead. Characters who are uncertain about you receive a +5 and characters who dislike you receive a +15.

There are two alternate states of mind which are one step beyond the normal relationships; love, and loathing. Love is when someone is truly and utterly devoted to you, or even (if the situation calls for it) is fanatically infatuated with you - this love isn't always romantic and can be platonic in nature. Characters who love you take a -30 penalty to their Mental Defense (or opposed roll). The opposite of love is loathing, which characterizes a seething hatred for a specific individual - one which has gone to irrational extremes to demonize them. Characters who hate you receive a +30 against this.

Coaxing Bribe
You can attempt to bribe someone who may be willing to listen to coin over your words themselves. Bribe pricing is determined by the GM, and if the target you're attempting to bribe would be willing to listen if coin were introduced you are able to make your bribing check. Depending on how much the target wanted for a bribe, you are able to offer more or less for bonuses or penalties. Offering more imparts a +4 bonus to the check (or a +10 if is over 1.5x the original asking price. On the other hand, offering less imparts a -4 penalty to your check (or -10 if you offer half or less of their asking price).