What are Your Favorite Social Conflict Rules for Fudge?
Today Iām not posing content, but instead I am asking for content. I want to know how you handle social conflicts in Fudge games. Or if you do not have any special method of dealing with social conflicts via Fudge then tell me about how other games handle social conflicts.
I am asking so that I can use or convert this material for my Pudge project, so do not be shy with your suggestions. Should Fudge have separate rules for handling social conflicts? Do other games have better methods for dealing with in-game social conflicts? I need suggestions, and input from fans of Fudge and RPGs in general. Please take a moment to think about this and then leave a comment below with a suggestion or tip!
Thanks to everyone who responds! I really appreciate your help with this, and you will be mentioned in the Pudge credits once it is completed.
As a fudge newbie, I have to ask: is there a repository of fidge social conflict variants I can take a gander at?
I really wish I could type fudge right.
{include usual rant about having a stat removes a function from the player and onto the mechanic. Having a Trust stat means that I The Player don’t have to trust you.}
Normally I handle it as a GM technique, as I don’t want to have most social interaction be handled with dice. The exceptions are the usual bluff/sense motive/diplomacy/intimidation skills – I don’t want the players actually doing that to each other. So when they do try to act out some parts of it, I reward them by fudging the target difficulty down – the only way to fail most of the time is to botch.
Not a rule, just a technique. Not all roleplaying should be rewarded with an FP for every instance…
@Matt Schillinger: I do not know of a good social conflict system for Fudge. I was hoping that others would suggest one so as to expand my knowledge of the possibilities. š
@Keith: Yeah, I’m ignoring that rant.
The problem with a technique is that it is subjective to the GM’s experience as to when it will be used. There is nothing wrong with using a technique instead of rules, but you are trading freedom and control of the flow of the game for common ground. The players do not know what footing they have going into the situation until you enact the technique of your choice upon the situation. Rules for social conflict may limit the options in the game, and will impact the pace of the game as well, but everyone is aware of what is expected of them and how the process will unfold.
Since the purpose of Pudge is to create a modular system that GMs will be able to choose which rules to include and which ones to exclude I think having optional social conflict rules is an enhancement and not a limitation.
Okay then, let’s try this:
for PvP social conflicts, the GM calls for dice when the players start re-iterating their points (or when the rest of the group seems tired of the discussion). GM states stakes as established in the discussion and asks the *other* player if that sounds fair, and repeats for the other player (if the point is clear to the opponent). If all are agreed, the roll is from 0 modifier. If one side says that the other makes a good point or has conveyed their ideas poorly, then a +1 or -1 modifier stands for that side.
For social conflicts with an NPC, if the GM can concede that the player has made a good point or played out the conflict well, then they should receive a positive modifier.
Beyond that, I’d just use the social conflict rules from the Diaspora SRD if you need something more robust.
@Keith: That is starting to take shape into actual rules. Still primarily a technique, but I can see how it could develop int a complete rules system with some effort. Thanks for the tip about Diaspora’s SRD! I’m checking that out now.
@Matt Schillinger: Keith did exactly what I was hoping that this post would promote. Looks like we should check out the Diaspora SRD! http://www.vsca.ca/Diaspora/diaspora-srd.html š
Further thought on this:
http://www.halfmeme.com/nicotinegirls.html is all about social conflict in the way I’m thinking of social conflict. Fudging it would be trivial, without moving player function onto dice alone.
In general, stabbing someone in the hope with your ennui is to be avoided IMNSHO.