Did some forum searching and found some extended discussions from a year ago on this topic. Was interested to hear what folks have to say now about it.

Like others, I'm finding it hard to see the real relevance of the social skill cards when they appear to do exactly the sort of things I'd have social skill checks do off the cuff. Keep in mind I'm only reading and prepping for our first game right now so havent play tested any of them.

So do you just learn what all of the social action cards do and then somehow penalize skill checks attempting the same thing without the card? To some extent I've had the same thought about a few of the combat cards that do things that I would naturally expect to see pcs attempt via stunt.

Any new advice on this subject?

Generally I see social skill cards as a possibility to influence future actions. As with winning smile, you'll get bonuses to social checks if you succeed effectivly making you better at social actions. Fear Me! is another example, sure you could intimidate but I would not give a character who succeeded at an intimidate check only a fear rating as the card does. Scrutinise gives you information about the NPC that I as a GM would not give up to a simple Intuition check.

I see the cards as a "better way" of doing the social stuff. So just making skill checks should not be as powerful as the cards as a general rule. I'll come back with more examples when I have time to review the social cards some more.

Basically what he said. Simple skill checks allow you to succeed in a marginal fashion. Social skill cards allow you to succeed at a greater degree and often add in extra results. Like causing fear on an intimidation check for example.