Persuade

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(see also Interpersonal Skills: Disambiguation)

 Persuade (10%) 

Use Persuade to convince the target about a particular idea, concept, or belief through reasoned argument, debate, and discussion. Persuade may be employed without reference to truth. The successful application of Persuade takes time; at least a half an hour. If you want to persuade someone quickly, you should use Fast Talk.

Depending on the goal expressed by the player, if the investigator takes sufficient time, the effect may linger indefinitely and insidiously; for years perhaps, until events or another Persuade turn the target's mind in another direction.

Persuade may be used for bargaining, to haggle the price of an item or service down. If successful, the seller is thoroughly convince that they have struck a good deal.

Opposing skill/Difficulty level:

See Charm, Fast Talk, Intimidate, and Persuade Skills: Difficulty Levels

Pushing examples: getting close and personal to advance your argument or appeal to the target's reason; demonstrating through logical reasoning and examples, in detail; using carefully preplanned suggestion techniques (possibly also subliminal messages) to make the target as receptive as possible; putting on a grand show (staging, fireworks, free gifts, free drinks, bribes, etc.) in order to really push your point of view front-and-center for a group of people.


 * Remember that this is Persuade; if the investigator begins to take an alternative approach, the Keeper may ask for a different skill to be used. If threats are used, it may become Intimidate; or if the investigator is relying on befriending the target, it may become Charm. Switching from one to the other to gain a second roll still constitutes a pushed roll.

Sample Consequences of failing a Pushed roll: the target takes great offense and refuses to have any more to do with you; your bribe worked and the target signed the forms - however in the cold light of morning they feel they have been duped, and now their solicitor has employed a private eye to find out what you're up to, or is suing you for malpractice; the target doesn't like your big talk and, from out of nowhere, they pull a knife on you; you persuaded the security guard to turn a blind eye to your robbery - however they lose their job and, wracked with guilt, they commit suicide (the full implications of your actions hit you and you lose Sanity for causing the death of an innocent).


 * If an insane investigator fails a pushed roll, they may be found later on a street corner trying to convince passersby of their argument or bizarre point of view.