Persuade-(vs-NPCs)
This version of Persuade triggers when a PC tries to convince an NPC to do something. If you, as the NPC, put up resistance and the PC persists, it’s Persuade. Clarify what they want the NPC to do/not do, and challenge their approach if it doesn’t make sense. “How would she know you want her to do that? Do you, like, ask?”
Once the goal is set, decide if the NPC has reason to resist. Consider their instinct, personality, background, wants, needs, fears, etc. If they’ve no reason to resist, they do it. But if the NPC has a reason (even an irrational one), then call for the roll.
On a 10+, weigh the PC’s approach against the NPC’s resistance. If the resistance was weak or the PC’s approach is strong, just have the NPC do it. But if you don’t think the PC’s approach would cut it, reveal the easiest way the PC could convince them.
On a 7-9, the NPC isn’t convinced yet but they’ll reveal a way they could be. You don’t have to make the requirement tricky, costly, or distasteful, but its more fun if you do.
Things that might convince an NPC include:
- A promise / oath / vow
- A chance to do it safely / freely / discreetly
- Appeasing or appealing to their ego / honor / conscience / fears
- A convincing deception
- A better / fair / excessive offer
- Helping them / doing it with them
- Violence (or a credible threat thereof)
- Something they want or need (coin / food / booze / etc.)
- Assurance / proof / corroboration
- Pressure / permission / help from __
- Or anything else that makes sense
Reveal how the NPC can be convinced via their words or reactions, and/or as insights that occur to the PC. It doesn’t have to be easy, or even plausible, but the revelation has to be true.
It’s okay to offer two or more alternatives on how the NPC could be convinced. “He’s waiting for a bribe; a few coppers would do it. Or you could rough him up a bit, you’re pretty sure that’d work, too.”
On a 6-, you might make it clear that the NPC won’t be swayed, interrupt the conversation, and/or end the scene. Or, you might have the NPC comply but with complications (treachery, overzealousness, misunderstanding, etc.). Or maybe the whole interaction offends someone else, upsets the social order, or otherwise generates chaos. Your threat and homefront moves will be helpful here.
Example
The PCs just killed a bunch of crinwin, only to see more pale, unblinking eyes staring down at them. “Ugh,” says Rhianna, “we barely took care of this lot. I try to scare them off. Persuade?”
“Cool. What do you do, exactly?”
“I hoist the nearest crinwin corpse by its head. Glare out at the other crinwin. Then I’ll saw its head off, start yelling, and chuck the head into the woods. And keep yelling.”
Yikes! And yet, the crinwin outnumber them and the PCs are pretty beaten-up, so I think they have reason to resist. Rhianna rolls +CHA and gets an 11. I think that little display was plenty, so I say “They scamper right off and you’re left standing there, covered in black blood. Caradoc, how are you feeling about Rhianna right now?”
Example
Caradoc is keeping watch with Garet, and he pries a bit. “‘You’ve been with Rhianna’s crew for a long time, right? You ever seen anything like… uh, like that?’ I’m trying to get him talking, maybe learn something about Rhianna’s past. Persuade?”
I consider making him roll, but I realize that Garet’s got no real reason to resist. “Sure, but don’t bother rolling, he’s happy to talk. Rhianna, what’s a good story for him to tell Caradoc? Like, a time you did something bloody and ruthless?”
Example
Blodwen crouches down to eye-level with Nia, keeping her distance and holding out some flatbread. “Hey. Hey, are you hungry?”
I’m sure she’s enticing the girl to do something, but I’m not sure what. “Are you, like, trying to get her to come out from the corner?”
“More like I’m trying to get her to trust me and start talking.” Nia is terrified, which is cause to resist, so Blodwen rolls. She gets a 10, and I think about Nia and look at the list of things that could convince her. I think appeasing her fears would do it.
“Her eyes lock on the flatbread, and she swallows, but then her eyes dart to Caradoc, then Rhianna, then her crew. She’s scared of the warriors. You bet she’d calm down if they were gone.” Blodwen asks the others to step outside, and they agree. “Cool. As soon as they leave, the girl snatches the bread and wolfs it down, staring at you. Then she gulps, and says ‘More?’ What do you do?”
Example
Vahid is up in Gordin’s Delve, selling a sphere of silver filigree. Mutra the Teeth has offered two handfuls of silver for it. “Why, this is worth four handfuls of silver at least,” says Vahid. “I could get two handfuls just by melting it down.”
“Sounds like you’re pressing him into giving you more coin for it, yeah? He’s definitely got reason to resist, so roll to Persuade.” On a 10+, I think Mutra would ask for more info about the sphere’s provenance, and give up the silver for the truth or a convincing lie. And on a miss, I think I’d reveal an unwelcome truth, saying that Mutra says no deal but Vahid suspects that he’ll send thugs to try and steal the sphere later.
But Vahid gets an 8, and I go for something distasteful. “Fah! You’d barely get a single handful if you melted thhhis down. But I tell you what… I’ll pay two handfuls now, and if you show my man Gunthhher where you found thhhis beauty, I’ll thhhrow in two more handfuls of silver on his safe return.” He smiles with his too-sharp teeth. “Do we havvve a deal?”