Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Social Powers

Do you know when social powers are used against you?  What about when they fail against you?  Should there be a required roll? 

Hey, you're not gonna like my answer...  no, you cant notice when people  use social powers.  Knacks are an extension of natural power.  They arent some flashy power that you notice(well some are, will explain those later), but rather the obvious natural powers of someone who possesses those traits.  Just because a legend expenditure and a roll is required doesnt mean that there is any reason for you to "notice."
I know that goes a little contrary to our natural gaming instincts, but someone with overt order is commanding, like super crazy commanding.  If they're able to beat your resist you probably should be doing what they say anyway.  The legend expenditure and use of the power is that extra umph that makes their will be done.

You wouldnt notice that any more then you would notice that someone using uplifting might wasnt just super strong.  Just like you wouldnt notice someone with math genius was "using" it.

You could definitely notice that you acted differently around someone with high socials.  Or that in their presence you seemed more inclined to do what they asked of you, but that shouldnt seem odd in any way, thats what high socials do.  Thats why we follow celebrities and vote for certain politicians or follow certain bosses at work more then others.

A few caveats:
After a while, as long as you have empathy and intelligence, you're gonna figure things out.  You arent gonna figure out that when you're around the charisma guy(although you love being around him) you tend to do what he asks you.   And when you're around the manipulation guy....you tend to do what he says, even if you wouldnt normally do it.  And around the appearance guy....you sometimes find yourself drooling and forgetting where you are.  Then once you know that...you can make decisions about whether you want to hang out with those people regularly  and you know that if you do....things will happen.

And of course there are some knacks that are super flashy and noticeable.  Those should be fairly well stated in the description.  Self healing, Agg part of divine wrath, speed reader, divine splendor.

And as a final note, ultimate perception sees all things.

Double final note.  Its my birthday!!!

1 comment:

  1. I actually like your answer! I'm tired of my storyteller having his NPCs get really upset whenever I try to use social powers. It's like they all know the moment I roll, and act like my character just tried to cheat.

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