Diplomacy

[Morten Helles]

> When Felix was complaining I thought of something else:with the
> Diplomacy proficiency one can have a tremendous advantage on his Dip
> actions. But with a regular NWP check with a result of 20 , the very
> skilled guy gets a blunder. Would there not be a specific blunder
> roll for every regent who attempts a Dip action, say a d20 with an
> 18, 19 and a 20 a blunder or something (a regent without the NWP)?
> Base

I follow your logic: How can a skilled diplomat screw up, while an
unskilled can't? If I really have to defend to the rules, I'd say that
only a skilled diplomat knows how to really screw things up:

Consider an Anuirean regent sending a skilled and an unskilled diplomat
east into Khinasi on an important mission. The unskilled diplomat will
probably be very nervous and listen carefully and respectfully to all
that is said, trying real hard to avoid blunders. This, however, will
result in only in average diplomatic performence.

Now, the skilled diplomat will use every thing he knows about diplomacy
as it is taught at the finest schools in Anuire. He will take charge,
and immediately and effectively get to the point as is expected of a
diplomat in Anuire. However, the khinasi diplomats will surely be
offended by this rushing of things and be irritated at the dominance the
"skillled" Anuirean diplomat.

I know this little story may sound silly, but it stresses the point that
because of arrogance, cultural ignorance, having a bad diplomatic
reputation etc. a skilled diplomat might indeed perform much worse than
an unskilled diplomat.

Morten.

+

[Seb Berendse]

When Felix was complaining I thought of something else:with the
Diplomacy proficiency one can have a tremendous advantage on his Dip
actions. But with a regular NWP check with a result of 20 , the very
skilled guy gets a blunder. Would there not be a specific blunder
roll for every regent who attempts a Dip action, say a d20 with an
18, 19 and a 20 a blunder or something (a regent without the NWP)?
Base
************************************************** ***********************
Sebastiaan G.P. Berendse
148530@student.fbk.eur.nl

There is a world just around the corner of your mind
where reality is an intruder and dreams come true.
You may escape into it at will, you need no secret password,
magic wand or Alladins Lamp, all you need is your own imagination...
************************************************** ************************

[James H. Jenkins]

I say have the unskilled guy make his check at -4, for non-proficiency
penalty. He may be quiet and listen, or open up his mouth, and REALLY
BLOW IT!

Witness George Bush puking all over the Japanese Prime minister some
years ago.

What a media circus THAT turned out to be.

The diplomat's benefit is that he/she knows pretty much what is up.
The untrained guy could blow treatiues, accidentally give away state
secrets, anything. That's my 2 GB.

- - James H. Jenkins

[rmclark@ocean.st.usm.ed]

Morten Helles said:
>
> Consider an Anuirean regent sending a skilled and an unskilled diplomat
> east into Khinasi on an important mission. . .
>
> Now, the skilled diplomat will use every thing he knows about diplomacy
> as it is taught at the finest schools in Anuire. He will take charge,
> and immediately and effectively get to the point as is expected of a
> diplomat in Anuire. However, the khinasi diplomats will surely be
> offended by this rushing of things and be irritated at the dominance the
> "skillled" Anuirean diplomat.
>

but isn't diplomacy based upon a prior knowledge of a culture? Most
current diplomatic personnel are preferred to have experience in that
culture as well as speaking the language. Isn't it a lack of such
information that leads to diplomatic incidents? In our own past (U.S.),
when traders began interacting with natives in alaska, the custom of
sharing a wife with the visitor caused consternation and dismay to the
accompanying missionaries.

hmm....

the possibilities abound for role-playing and personal hooks to intice
the whole party...


later,

Robert M. Clark II