Diplomacy

Ability: CHA

Check

You can change the attitudes of others (nonplayer characters) with a successful Diplomacy check; see the Influencing NPC Attitudes sidebar, below, for basic DCs. In negotiations, participants roll opposed Diplomacy checks, and the winner gains the advantage. Opposed checks also resolve situations when two advocates or diplomats plead opposite cases in a hearing before a third party.

See also: epic usages of Diplomacy.

Action

Changing others’ attitudes with Diplomacy generally takes at least 1 full minute (10 consecutive full-round actions). In some situations, this time requirement may greatly increase. A rushed Diplomacy check can be made as a full-round action, but you take a -10 penalty on the check.

Try Again

Optional, but not recommended because retries usually do not work. Even if the initial Diplomacy check succeeds, the other character can be persuaded only so far, and a retry may do more harm than good. If the initial check fails, the other character has probably become more firmly committed to his position, and a retry is futile.

Special

A half-elf has a +2 racial bonus on Diplomacy checks.

If you have the Negotiator feat, you get a +2 bonus on Diplomacy checks.

Synergy

If you have 5 or more ranks in Bluff, Knowledge (nobility and royalty), or Sense Motive, you get a +2 bonus on Diplomacy checks.

Influencing NPC Attitudes

Use the table below to determine the effectiveness of Diplomacy checks (or Charisma checks) made to influence the attitude of a nonplayer character, or wild empathy checks made to influence the attitude of an animal or magical beast.

Initial Attitude New Attitude (DC to achieve) Hostile Unfriendly Indifferent Friendly Helpful Hostile Less than 20 20 25 35 50 Unfriendly Less than 5 5 15 25 40 Indifferent — Less than 1 1 15 30 Friendly — — Less than 1 1 20 Helpful — — — Less than 1 1 Attitude Means Possible Actions Hostile Will take risks to hurt you Attack, interfere, berate, flee Unfriendly Wishes you ill Mislead, gossip, avoid, watch suspiciously, insult Indifferent Doesn’t much care Socially expected interaction Friendly Wishes you well Chat, advise, offer limited help, advocate Helpful Will take risks to help you Protect, back up, heal, aid