Social Influencing

Background

Social Influencing is one's ability to manipulate other characters using some form of charm. This has several uses in the form of manipulation. Whether it be to manipulate how an opponent fights, thinks, or to get info from them that the user would want or need, striking fear into an opponent, or gaining an ally. This can be used in a number of ways via their looks, natural charm, or their way of speaking.

This is not only useful for combatative purposes but for also getting information, gaslighting people, making life easier for oneself, getting out of tricky situations, and resolving conflicts.

Applications

Social Status

This type is not mainly through the way someone speaks, but due to the high level of positions or reputation they have naturally. For characters like these they do not need to be good with words but merely their social status allows them to control invidiual or groups of people.

• Examples
  • Mister Satan (Dragon Ball): Mister Satan uses his high social status of being the strongest person in the world to convince everyone to give their energy to him (realistically Son Goku) to help him defeat Majin Buu.

Rule Through Fear

This can at times overlap with Intimidation, but it's not the same thing. In cases like this it applies to high level figures that use very fearsome methods to get what they want, putting fear into the hearts of the people and making them less likely to do actions. An example of this can be found with Gotham in the Justice Lords world, where Gotham has made it where even the smallest offenses will have one locked up, making everyone live in fear. Another example would be the Queen from Alice in Wonderland, where her punishments are so severe for doing the most simple crimes that her subjects live in fear, scared of doing anything wrong. This can also include acts such as fearmongering.

Deception

Characters can decieve another peson and lead them in a wrong direction through giving them something convincing in return that doesn't actually exist. The most common way is when a character promises things to another character if they do something for them in returna nd them betraying them in the last second or leading them into a trap all along. This can be done through bluffing, misdirection, impersonating another character or pretending to haave some good relation with another charcter, etcetera.

• Examples
  • Captain Jack Sparrow: Jack is famously known for his many different forms of deception, deceiving both enemies and allies alike to the point that it's impossible to tell which side Jack is truly on.
  • Walter White (Breaking Bad): Walter has in many cases used deception and deceit to come out alive in many situations where he should've been killed.

Negotiation

Characters are able to negotiate with other characters to get out of situations or get things out of a deal. This requires masterful wordplay and convincing skills as it essentially requires them to be a negotiator that can get exactly what they want without having to give too much up in return.

• Examples
  • Captain Jack Sparrow: Jack is a masterful negotiater, being able to make people that are his enemies or hate him agree to deals where they must pay him for his efforts.

Leadership

This can overlap with Social Status however leadership can exist within things like a low class group too. These characters possess the qualities of a true leader, being able to motivate their people, coordinate attacks well with them, and make the best plan for the people they lead, making sure to keep them in the best situations.

Charisma

Frisk is able to speak with and do actions with monsters in order to get them to no longer want to fight.

Characters can make people trust or believe them through their charisma alone. A common example of this is many guys/many girls liking a girl/a guy due to her/his looks and personality, allowing them to sway the masses due to this alone. They can also just be someone that looks cute, handsome, or beautiful with characters commenting on it. Characters with this are not inherently manipulative nor does this require them to be manipulative, though many manipulative people do use this to their gain.

• Examples
  • Frisk (Undertale): Frisk uses their charisma to speak with and do actions with the monsters in order to get them to no longer want to fight.