Hey gang. One of my players is a Charmer, and he purchased the Just Kidding! talent. It allows the PC to flip a Destiny point to cancel out a Despair generated by one of his comrade's social checks. Now, in a recent combat we had, my Mercenary Soldier player rolled a Despair during a Leadership check for his Field Commander talent. My Charmer then used Just Kidding! to counter the Despair from that check--which I objected to. It seemed to me that the Field Commander talent is less of a social check and more of a combat/tactical thing, but my player argued that it fell under the jurisdiction of "social skills." I let him have it and told him I'd look into it before next game.

Now tonight is next game! What would you have ruled in this context?

I'd allow it if the charmer justified in the game how it would work. For example, the mercenary soldier is really stressed out about the situation, and tells whoever what to do like any other leadership check. I would only allow the charmer to use just kidding if the exchange went like this,

Soldier: You will not see your loved ones again until you focus and stop cowering like spineless worms!

Charmer: ... He, he just REALLY wants you guys to focus, don't take it to heart haha, he's an intense guy.

I'm all about the PCs need to tell me what they want to do, and if they can logic something with their skills to where it makes sense in the story I'll allow it as long as it isn't rule breaking. I don't have the rules on me but I'd allow this situation to happen if the charmer convinced me the soldier was really just kidding.

Hope this helps.

I'd allow it because Leadership is a social skill, but I'd like the Charmer to say how his use of Just Kidding! helps in this situation

I'd allow it. It has the range restriction. Plus I don't know how much I'd beat up someone with a Despair result on a Field Commander check anyway, not too earth shattering OP imo.

Definitely a social check.

So the Merc gives a rousing speech with his Field Commander check, but potentially ruins it with an unfortunately timed release of gas...maybe he's blue-milk intolerant. The Charmer, thinking quickly, jumps up from behind the Merc with a wicked grin, making "gas" noises with his armpit. Everybody laughs and think the Merc has a great sense of humour.

I would allow it too.

Leadership is definitely a social skill, using your charm to encourage others to greater deeds. And Field Commander is using your skills at Leading to help coordinate the actions of your team. its not strategy, thats Knowledge Warfare.

So what could a despair on the Field Commander check be? probably an upgrade to an Allies next check, this could be a result of that Ally misunderstanding what the Leader said, but still acting out of turn. This could result in putting them in a disadvantageous position, such as making the next shot a more difficult shot with a third ally now caught in the crossfire!

Just Kidding is there to turn a slip of the tongue around and into a harmless joke or to correct a misspoken word. It could be that something the Charmer has said, or the Charmer quickly reacting to an Allies misspoken words.

So in the case of an Ally mishearing the commands given, the Charmer has recognised that the words spoken where not heard correctly and quickly redressed the issue.

As all the others have said, Leadersip is a ascoial skill. You could interpret it in a way, that the given order was so ridonculous, that even the tactics layman the charmer spotted it.

I'd allow it simply because I can't think of many situations in which despairs on social skills (of which leadership is one) by other members of the party would occur. The ability is already pretty niche, so allowing it whenever it can be argued to be valid is something I could get behind.

Off hand I would allow it. However, I am curious how your merc ended up rolling a Despair on his Field Command check. I don't have a CRB nearby, but seem to recall it having a set difficulty of PPP. What were the circumstances that lead to the check being upgraded?

Off hand I would allow it. However, I am curious how your merc ended up rolling a Despair on his Field Command check. I don't have a CRB nearby, but seem to recall it having a set difficulty of PPP. What were the circumstances that lead to the check being upgraded?

Average check (PP) actually, so even easier. I'd also be curious what circumstance lead to it being upgraded.

Off hand I would allow it. However, I am curious how your merc ended up rolling a Despair on his Field Command check. I don't have a CRB nearby, but seem to recall it having a set difficulty of PPP. What were the circumstances that lead to the check being upgraded?

Average check (PP) actually, so even easier. I'd also be curious what circumstance lead to it being upgraded.

DP flip?

Off hand I would allow it. However, I am curious how your merc ended up rolling a Despair on his Field Command check. I don't have a CRB nearby, but seem to recall it having a set difficulty of PPP. What were the circumstances that lead to the check being upgraded?

Average check (PP) actually, so even easier. I'd also be curious what circumstance lead to it being upgraded.

Oh wow! That means even a modest Leadership check ought to be giving out free maneuvers regularly. I always knew it was a great talent, but turns out it's even better than I thought. Maybe my next character needs to have that talent.

It's pretty great, my Assassin/Merc. Soldier has it. It's even better when you've got the improved version and can use triumphs to grant free actions and have a few ranks of command to add some boost die to the check. It's helped us get our melee monster wookiee engaged quicker. Arguably it's more OP than True Aim. haha