Oh yeah, someone said the "S" word.
Anyway, I was thinking of creating fairly simple social combat of sorts, especially the kind that does NOT involve nobles.
This is really just for those run of the mill inquiries, but I don't want to just leave it at "you passed your charm check, here's everything I know!".
So...
Make it an extended opposed challenge. Based on the information that a person might be after and the perceived challenge of acquiring it. So build a tracker three four or five spaces along.
You can use almost any skill for these challenges, because **** it we might as well get everyone in on the roll. However:
Using non-social skills requires a context, but if said context is good, the test is easier, but generally these tests are two to three challenge dice harder. (I talk shop about weapons with the old soldier.)
Using the same skill twice in succession twice over the course of the same action also incurs a penalty, of between one and two challenge dice.
Your "opponent" gets to counter role, to try and make your own rolls more difficult and potentially knock the tracker back, depending on his own desires for what they want from the conversation. They may want money, favors, or to subtly imply something without saying it. An intuition check would obviously go wonders here to finding out what their needs are from this. Anyway, thoughts? I don't want to make anything too set in stone so that's why this kind of rough. But yeah, input welcome.