Quote from: jibbajibba;675856Utter Bullshit. Amber is good at social mechanics because half the book is dedicated to social mechanics.
Amber doesn't have complex rules for combat, the powers are sketched the entire game is light touch rules. In that context Social interaction gets a huge ammount of rule time.

This is how I rule on social interactions. PC starts roleplayign I start role playing. I get PC to make a skill check. I may make an oppsed role for the NPC. Then we continue to role play and I modify my roleplay based on the result of the roll, not on the quality of the roleplay because its my job to foster better roleplay at my table not to judge the quality of others who may be shy, less outgoing or whatever. As Gm I am the only interface to the world the PCs have every they see, hear, touch, sense or feel comes from me. I can easily modify my responses to a social situation based on the NPC personality the skill check and the proposal, but even when the proposal is ludicrous the response of the NPC can still be in keeping.
"Your Highness please give me your duaghter's hand in marriage," (rolls 19 +30 skill for 49 total)
" Haha my boy and well I might you certainly have the gift of the gab, surely one such as your self must come from noble blood, and yet you appear, if it is not  rude of me to say, as though you are covered from head to toe in pig shit."
"Yeah I had to negotiate my way through a farm yard on the way here."
"Well let us get you cleaned up and into some decent clothes and perhaps we can continue this discussion over dinner. Cuthbert could you escourt these spendid fellows to the guest wing and see to it that they are given all comforts.... etc "
That stuff is a piece of piss to do and the reply of the NPC doesn't depend on my interpretation of the role play it depends on the NPCs interpretation of the skill role. I just translate that at the table.

Likewise I can use social skills on the PCs. Because I am the world and all the sensory data that comes from the world to the PCs I can make an NPC seem kind, good, inviting, noble, weak, selfish. I can equally well make an argument that will pursude the PCs or at least present the argument in the best light.
Compare
"The barmaid smiles at you shyly and comes over towards your table. She brushes a stray curl of dark hair out of her face and you can't help but notice that her hip is pressing a little too hard against your shoulder as she pours you a mug of ale. " Barmaid makes seduction roll 17.
To
"The barmaid looks more than a little surly, she attempts to dazzle you with a smile that would turn milk and then stomps over to your table, invades your personal space and pours a mug of ale. " Barmaid makes seduction roll of 7

This is not complex but it does rely on GM experience. As GMs we bring he world to life I think there is room for some mechanical assistance with that process

Some interesting examples here.


I have observed that players tend to be in two camps in this matter.

One camp expects their skill roll results to be reliable no matter the circumstances.  

The other camp accepts that a particular King may not let a commoner marry his daughter no matter how silvery his tongue is.

Quote from: Bill;676665Some interesting examples here.


I have observed that players tend to be in two camps in this matter.

One camp expects their skill roll results to be reliable no matter the circumstances.  

The other camp accepts that a particular King may not let a commoner marry his daughter no matter how silvery his tongue is.

I think you make a good point, though it is players and GMs.  I also see this in that the former group often wants to use social mechanics to replace roleplaying, and the latter group wants to use them to enhance the roleplay experience.  

also, Many secondary social skills, I mentioned some before, are knowledge-based, and allow the player and GM to share more knowledge about the world based on knowledge the PC would have.