Has anyone given thought to the equivalent of physical criticals for social encounters? Stress may threaten madness but something where "that particularly cutting remark stays with you" - perhaps a Cowed condition for rest of day etc., or just a "Distracted Condition" with penalty to initiative and observation?

I like social encounters to be menacing in their own right. Inspired by having a PC demolished by a Rank 5 noble in social combat recently.

Rob

Sounds fine.

A overwhelming intimidation - frightened etc

Overwhelming charm - Love or hero worship

Only two social checks I can think of atm. I know there are a few social action cards, but most use the same skills.

Also you could think on the critical failures, for 2 or more chaos stars, they can be quite fun.

Also, a npc who has been cowed, in the future could become your greatest enemy. Nobles are quite good at this. Vengance.

I was actually laying in bed thinking off this just the other night (it helps me sleep). A lingering effect of this kind of thing would be very interesting. I've done away with "duel of wits" and essentially all social encounters are "shame/duel of wits/influence" wrapped into one.

Lingering Criticals:

frightened

annoyed

pestered

irritated

undignified response

idiocy

loneliness

stupified

lied to

lost

confused

unjustified something or another

Disempowered

crushed

wrapped around your finger

obligated

lost glory

dejected

unimportant

freed from guilt

Ideas from the smallville rpg: The essences of your character: Duty, Glory, Justice, Love, Power, and Truth.

I think a lot of ideas can simply be gotten from a psychology book or the insanity cards themselves.

These could be so general or multi-titled as the implications are probably from the following "Influence" perform stunt actions:

Intimidate-Fellowship or strength

Seduce

Guile

Bribe

Interrogate

Politics

Leadership

etc.

jh

I often use the condition cards for similar purposes. There are several that can be used as criticals in social situations. Such as rattled, cowed, frightened, demoralized and so on.

I like the conditions and often hand them to player characters as a lingering effect (the rest of the day, end of the encounter or similar).

Here are the D&D 5th edition rules encapsulated on the subject: http://community.wizards.com/forum/dd-next-general-discussion/threads/4019016

You might get some ideas from "the worst game evAr for any rules beyond combat trying to now do something with it."

jh

I'm sorry if I can't see the Norscan war mammoth in the room, but I have to wonder how these criticals would be triggered.