GURPS Social Engineering

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GURPS Social Engineering (internal cover)

GURPS Social Engineering (William H. Stoddard 2011, 2022) provides detailed rules for every type of common social interaction.

Overview

• A detailed examination of Rank, Status, Reputation, and more, including new options and possibilities for each trait.
• Systems for one-on-one interactions, including using Influence skills and social-perception abilities – as well as both indirect and group interactions.
• An in-depth look at reaction rolls in GURPS, including commercial transactions, requests for aid, searching for people and things, and romance.
• Details on deception – learn how your hero can distract, lie, or assume a false identity . . . or spot such dishonesty.
• Rules for building relationships, including details on how to establish trust and personal loyalty, and new options for Allies, Contacts, Dependents, and Patrons.
• Extensive insight on organizations: how to find, infiltrate, and influence any type of group – including your place of employment.
• Rules for hostile organizations. Discover the mechanics behind arrest, imprisonment, brainwashing, and more.
• Systems for influencing groups of people. Start rumors, influence the media, advertise, conduct psy ops, or get involved in politics!
• Insight into more forceful measures, including intimidation, inciting a riot, taunting, and how to start – or avoid – a fight.

Index

Social Relations In Campaigns

• The Social Contract

Scenes And Subplots

• Incidents; Backgrounds; Plot Support

Social Themes

• School Days; My Day At Work; Buying And Selling; Politics; Love And Marriage; Idleness

Exotic Worlds

• Wainscot Worlds

The Reference Society

• Changing The Reference Society

A Place To Stand

Social Position

• Rank, Status, And Wealth; Balancing Status And Rank
• Reputation; Social Regard And Social Stigma; Other Social Position Advantages And Perks
• Status, Rank, and Society/Government Type

Making an Impression

• Charisma; Appearance; Vocal Quality; Visible Status and Cost of Living
• Giving Offense 20
• Impression Perks; Features

Face to Face

• Complementary Skills

Searching For People

• Hirelings; Jobs; Buyers; Informants; Companionship; Concealed Activities; Known Individuals

Social Perception

• Background; Approachability; Motives; Relationships

Reaction Rolls And Modifiers

General Reactions; Commercial Transactions; Requests For Aid; Requests For Information; Giving Information

• Recreation; Romance
• Influence; Influence Skills; Influence Without Words;
• Substitutes For Influence Skills
• Complementary Skills in Social Interaction; Can't Be Influenced

Indirect Interaction

• Virtual Presence; Voice To Voice; Text

Competitive Influence

• Commercial Rivalry; Debate; Wit, Mockery, And Insults; Romantic Rivalry

Deception

Subtlety; Distractions; Lies; Manipulation; False Identities; Classic Confidence Games

Continuing Relationships

Personal Loyalty; Building Trust; Relationship Advantages; Finding A Master; Loyalty In Play

Exotic Social Traits

• Racial Appearance; Perception and Communication; Alien Reactions; Bridging The Gap; Racial Reputations

The Organization Man

Searching For Organizations.

• Services; Investors; Information Sources; Government Offices

Asking For Benefits

• Organizational Reaction Rolls; Influencing Organizations; Complementary Organizational Skills; Social Engineering; Bribery; Blackmail And Espionage

Continuing Relationships and Careers

• A Private Understanding; Getting A Job; Keeping A Job; Promotion; Being In Charge; The Benefits Of Rank; Relationship Advantages in Organizations

Hostile Organizations

• Capture; Questioning; Trials; Imprisonment; Brainwashing; Drugs And The Will

Moving The Masses

The Mood Of The Crowd

• Direct Observation; Opinion Polls; Dame Rumor; Sampling The Media

Households And Communities

• As Organizations; Searching for Households and Communities; Inner Circles

Direct Influence

• Making Speeches; Entertainment; Working The Crowd; Cultivating A Persona

Indirect Influence

• Advertising and Propaganda; Psy Ops; Applied Memetics

Power Struggles

• The Three Kinds Of Politics; Alliances And Diplomacy; Family Alliances; Economic Rivalry

From Persuasion to Force

• Potential Combat and Reaction Rolls

Intimidation

Between Individuals; Between Gangs; Between Organized Forces

Provoking And Taunting

• Starting A Fight; Drawing Aggression; Creating A Distraction

Talking Your Way Out

• Avoiding A Fight; Negotiated Surrender

The Mind Of The Mob

• Collective Action; Inciting To Riot; Panic; Peacemaking; Enforcing Order

Appendix B: New Traits

• Advantages; Modifiers; Perks; Disadvantages; Skills; Wildcard Skills; Techniques

Related Material in Series

• Social Engineering: Pulling Rank - rules for getting favors, gear, resources, and more... when you really need them.
• Social Engineering: Back to School - For expanded rules on learning and teaching
• Social Engineering: Keeping in Contact - unleash the full power of the Contacts advantage