Diplomacy skill? Maybe even a diplomat OCC?

[EmeraldToucanet]

I've been looking through the Rifts books for a diplomacy skill, but no luck so far. I could have sworn there was one in Palladium Fantasy RPG somewhere, but I'm not finding it now either (I must have imagined it). Is there a diplomacy skill hiding somewhere in one of the books? Maybe even a diplomat OCC I could look at?

[taalismn]

I've been looking through the Rifts books for a diplomacy skill, but no luck so far. I could have sworn there was one in Palladium Fantasy RPG somewhere, but I'm not finding it now either (I must have imagined it). Is there a diplomacy skill hiding somewhere in one of the books? Maybe even a diplomat OCC I could look at?

The cloest I remember there to being a Diplomat OCC in Palladium Books was in one of the old Robotech adventure supplements, and that amounted to a 'people specialist' expansion on a NPC who was essentially a drag-anchor(albeit with hidden talents) on the adventure group.
Next after that, I'd argue that the CCW TVIA Inspector from Phaseworld is a good runner-up for a Career Diplomat OCC.
There might be also be a few character paths in Ninjas and Superspies and Aliens Unlimited, especially those dealing with information gathering, like the private detective in N&SS and the Information Broker in the AU Galaxy Guide that could serve as the basis of a good diplomat.
Otherwise, would you might want to do is use the Rogue Scholar with a lot of Legal, Lore, Anthrolopology, and Public Speaking(Grooming as well) skills to do your negotiations for you. Maybe even a Vagabond, Saddle Tramp, Bar Bum, or Saloon Girl with legal training.
Depending on your situation, though, any character with enough smarts, self-control, a high charisma, and the skills I listed above, will and can serve in a pinch if the characters aren't facing draconian punctuality and legal hairsplitting(in which case, have your artillery ready to speak on the way out). In certain circumstances, having a specialist in another field act as an impromptu diplomat can be a good idea; a savvy Operator or Rogue Scientist who can spot opportunity in negotiations("Yes, I noticed your water treatment plant isn't working. Perhaps we can reach an accommodation on that with a trade of services?").

Your 'diplomacy skill' is going to be a combination of skills and factors...your neglected MA(and maybe even your PB), skills like LOre: Legal, Communications: Public Speaking, Technical: Research, Domestic: Personal Grooming are all important to a diplomat in presenting even a weak position as a strong one. And if you regard diplomacy as just another form of warfare, having Psychology and Intelligence are good ideas too. Maybe even Detect Ambush and Streetwise.

[Pepsi Jedi]

Rifts Black Market is supposed to have a "Con man" ooc. That work?

[EmeraldToucanet]

Thanks I'll take a look at some of those.
None of them mention a diplomacy specific skill? Basically I'm guessing they rely on Public speaking and a high MA?
Rifts has tons of skills, but I think when it comes to socially oriented skills this is an empty space that really needs to be filled. Here's why I say this: Public speaking and diplomacy really aren't the same thing, though I can see where having one could benefit the other, depending on the circumstances. Also it isn't really the same as just having a high MA, since good diplomacy takes a lot of knowledge and is a very practiced sort of skill.

[gaby]

I say make it a technical skill instead of a OCC, a number of Occ may need it like a Military officer making first contact or business Person.

I think thers a OCC in Rifts Australia that is like a Politician,I use that for my Politician characters.

[slade the sniper]

I've been looking through the Rifts books for a diplomacy skill, but no luck so far. I could have sworn there was one in Palladium Fantasy RPG somewhere, but I'm not finding it now either (I must have imagined it). Is there a diplomacy skill hiding somewhere in one of the books? Maybe even a diplomat OCC I could look at?

The cloest I remember there to being a Diplomat OCC in Palladium Books was in one of the old Robotech adventure supplements, and that amounted to a 'people specialist' expansion on a NPC who was essentially a drag-anchor(albeit with hidden talents) on the adventure group.

Ambassador Andori Fendal...that guy was a definitely a tool. Just looked through the RDF Accelerated Training Program...there is no OCC in there, and the guy doesn't have any "people skills" other than interrogation...and maybe intelligence.

To create a diplomat OCC, I would search the internet...

http://www.angelfire.com/rpg2/vortexshadow/occ/diplomat.html
http://www.palladium-megaverse.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=101127
http://www.palladiumbooks.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=38588

The last one is the one that I have used.

For a Diplomacy Skill...just call it diplomacy, I would give a base of 40%, and a +4% per level... good diplomats are hard to find

-STS

[Akashic Soldier]

Public Speaking
Wardrobe and Grooming
Law

Seducation (Optional)
Undercover Ops (Optional)

That is all you need to be a diplomat. Well and some good role playing. If you want to be a snobbish noble too. There is a noble or Courteer or some such in PF (rev)

[taalismn]

[To create a diplomat OCC, I would search the internet...

http://www.angelfire.com/rpg2/vortexshadow/occ/diplomat.html
http://www.palladium-megaverse.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=101127
http://www.palladiumbooks.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=38588

-STS

Some good finds there.

[Armorlord]

Thanks I'll take a look at some of those.
None of them mention a diplomacy specific skill? Basically I'm guessing they rely on Public speaking and a high MA?
Rifts has tons of skills, but I think when it comes to socially oriented skills this is an empty space that really needs to be filled. Here's why I say this: Public speaking and diplomacy really aren't the same thing, though I can see where having one could benefit the other, depending on the circumstances. Also it isn't really the same as just having a high MA, since good diplomacy takes a lot of knowledge and is a very practiced sort of skill.

Yeah, there are no such 'social' skills in the Megaversal system. Comes down to what you say and how well your other traits and skills can back that up, be it MA/PB or particular knowledge of the subject at hand, with public speaking just covering how well you deliver your message to a group, good voice projection, enunciation, not stumbling through your speech, etc.
Forgot about Wardrobe and Grooming, good find AS.

More or less the skills/traits are the lens that we pass your intent through, and then we see how the other person feels about it, because diplomacy isn't mind control (We have actual mind control for that. ).

EDIT: Also, wasn't there a CCW Diplomat or Ambassador class of some sort in one of the books?

[Pepsi Jedi]

I know there was a rifter article about super hero politicians. lol "Fire up the vote" or something? You might check there.

[taalismn]

There are just so many factors involved in diplomacy that a single 'diplomacy skill' wouldn't do it justice unless you were doing quick and dirty speed-dating diplomacy with generic paper-cutout NPC mooks.

[earthhawk]

Here's the issue as I see it. There are too many O.C.C.s as it is, and not enough skills to go around. Personally I would just add the Diplomacy skill and base it on one of the mental stats, perhaps IQ and MA. This is what I use to do for the Perception skill.

[taalismn]

Retread an existing OCC, with their starting occupation taking second priority to their diplomatic duties as the situation calls for. That way you don't have envoys who are so narrowly focused that they have NO other abilities beyond being smooth talkers(as in the case of Keith Laumer's Retief of the CDT virtually spineless career diplomats).

[ShadowLogan]

2E RT has Leadership Skill in the Macross Saga SB.

Rulian Translator/Interpreter RCC from WB#21, not a diplomat per say but likely involved with diplomacy

Barter Skill, RUE pg304 is probably the closest to a diplomacy skill. The skill is about bargaining with a focus on direct trade, but could be used for other types of negotiation IMHO.

For dedicated OCC for diplomat I would add:
-language and or Literacy Skills for communication as an optional (so one can communicate w/o need of translator)
-anthropology (for culture background)
-History (allows one to better understand the other side)
-Barter (closest Rifts skill to negotiation)

[earthhawk]

Or just change barter to diplomacy.

[GenThunderfist]

Or just change barter to diplomacy.

Wait...do you mean in name, or remove the skill and put in diplomacy? Because the Barter skill is not Diplomacy. I can't quell an age old war between two nations by getting them to buy my shoes for 3D6+2% more than what they originally offered. Barter and Diplomacy are not the same thing, and unless your "Diplomat" was actually a salesman, some sort of vendor / contractor for a company, or a "Minister of Trade Goods", I can honestly say that I have no clue why they even have Barter as a skill.

[ShadowLogan]

Or just change barter to diplomacy.

Wait...do you mean in name, or remove the skill and put in diplomacy? Because the Barter skill is not Diplomacy. I can't quell an age old war between two nations by getting them to buy my shoes for 3D6+2% more than what they originally offered. Barter and Diplomacy are not the same thing, and unless your "Diplomat" was actually a salesman, some sort of vendor / contractor for a company, or a "Minister of Trade Goods", I can honestly say that I have no clue why they even have Barter as a skill.

Barter is the closest skill in the Palladium system for negotiation. While Barter is concerned with exchange of goods/services it is done through negotiation. Really this isn't much different than negotiating trade deals, arms control, or other endeavors that are negotiated as you are trading.

In 2E RT higher caste Invid get Astrophysics, but noted that it is limited in scope. A similar thing could be done with the Barter skill.

[taalismn]

Or just change barter to diplomacy.

Wait...do you mean in name, or remove the skill and put in diplomacy? Because the Barter skill is not Diplomacy. I can't quell an age old war between two nations by getting them to buy my shoes for 3D6+2% more than what they originally offered. Barter and Diplomacy are not the same thing, and unless your "Diplomat" was actually a salesman, some sort of vendor / contractor for a company, or a "Minister of Trade Goods", I can honestly say that I have no clue why they even have Barter as a skill.

Get creative:
"Okay, how about we trade this district for that coastal port? They don't speak the same language as the rest of the country in that part and that port trades heavily with us anyway...How about we throw in some trade concessions? We buy next year's wine production for a quarter of the Iron Valley's ore production? Relax the tariffs on coke? Hmmmm....if you buy the ore, we can see about it...or if you double your purchases of steel from us, we'll drop the tariffs on finished goods completely. "

[GenThunderfist]

Or just change barter to diplomacy.

Wait...do you mean in name, or remove the skill and put in diplomacy? Because the Barter skill is not Diplomacy. I can't quell an age old war between two nations by getting them to buy my shoes for 3D6+2% more than what they originally offered. Barter and Diplomacy are not the same thing, and unless your "Diplomat" was actually a salesman, some sort of vendor / contractor for a company, or a "Minister of Trade Goods", I can honestly say that I have no clue why they even have Barter as a skill.

Get creative:
"Okay, how about we trade this district for that coastal port? They don't speak the same language as the rest of the country in that part and that port trades heavily with us anyway...How about we throw in some trade concessions? We buy next year's wine production for a quarter of the Iron Valley's ore production? Relax the tariffs on coke? Hmmmm....if you buy the ore, we can see about it...or if you double your purchases of steel from us, we'll drop the tariffs on finished goods completely. "

I'm sorry if you didn't mean that as a joke, but it just reminds me of 8-bit Theater (web comic) where one of the characters is pointing out that Thieves only need pick pocket and that Animal Husbandry actually applies to every situation.

The Animal Husbandry isn't fully explained if I remember correctly, but the Pick Pockets is...

"What is a bank if not a giant pocket?" Or a lock, or whatever the Thief was trying to accomplish.

[slade the sniper]

Get creative:
"Okay, how about we trade this district for that coastal port? They don't speak the same language as the rest of the country in that part and that port trades heavily with us anyway...How about we throw in some trade concessions? We buy next year's wine production for a quarter of the Iron Valley's ore production? Relax the tariffs on coke? Hmmmm....if you buy the ore, we can see about it...or if you double your purchases of steel from us, we'll drop the tariffs on finished goods completely. "

Hmmm, guess my two Master's degrees really are worthless

-STS

[taalismn]

Get creative:
"Okay, how about we trade this district for that coastal port? They don't speak the same language as the rest of the country in that part and that port trades heavily with us anyway...How about we throw in some trade concessions? We buy next year's wine production for a quarter of the Iron Valley's ore production? Relax the tariffs on coke? Hmmmm....if you buy the ore, we can see about it...or if you double your purchases of steel from us, we'll drop the tariffs on finished goods completely. "

Hmmm, guess my two Master's degrees really are worthless

-STS

I attended Father Guido's Eight-Minute University: Economics: Supply and Demand.

And yeah, Master of Library Sciences and I've been working part-time for fifteen years.