Editing Skill Descriptions (section)

==DIPLOMACY== 
CHA, INTERACTION
You’re skilled in dealing with people, from etiquette and social graces to a
way with words and public speaking. Use this skill to make a good impression,
negotiate, and win people over.
Check: You can change others’ attitudes with a successful Diplomacy
check. In negotiations, all participants roll Diplomacy checks to see who
gains the advantage. Opposed checks also resolve cases where two advocates
plead opposing cases before a third party.
Diplomacy can influence an NPC’s attitude. The GM chooses the character’s
initial attitude based on circumstances. Most of the time, people are
friendly or indifferent toward heroes, but a specific situation may call for
a different initial attitude. The DCs given on the Interaction table show
what it takes to change someone’s attitude with a use of Diplomacy. You
don’t declare a specific outcome; instead, make the check and compare
the result to the Interaction table to see what you’ve accomplished. A
low roll may actually worsen the subject’s attitude!
A fanatical NPC is willing to do anything the character wants. The
fanatic state lasts for one day, plus a day per point of the character’s
Charisma bonus. Fanatics can’t have their attitudes adjusted using
interaction skills and have a +20 bonus to resist attempts to intimidate
them.
Try Again: Generally, trying again doesn’t work. Even if the initial check
succeeds, the other character can only be persuaded so far. If the initial
check fails, the other character has probably become more firmly committed
to his position, and trying again is futile. At the GM’s discretion, you
can try again when the situation changes in some way: you find a new
approach to your argument, new evidence appears, and so forth.
Action: Diplomacy is at least a full-round action. The GM may determine
some negotiations require longer (perhaps much longer).
==DISABLE DEVICE== INT, MANIPULATION, TRAINED ONLY, REQUIRES TOOLS
You can disarm or sabotage various devices, both mechanical and electronic.
Check: The GM makes Disable Device checks secretly so you don’t necessarily
know if you have succeeded.
• Open Lock: You can pick conventional locks, finesse combination
locks, and bypass electronic locks. You must have a lockpick set (for a
mechanical lock) or an electronic tool kit (for an electronic lock). The
DC depends on the quality of the lock.
LOCK TYPE (EXAMPLE) DC
Cheap (briefcase lock) 20
Average (home deadbolt) 25
High quality (business deadbolt) 30
High security (branch bank vault) 40
Ultra-high security (bank headquarters vault) 50
• Disable Security Device: You can disable a security device, such as an
electric fence, motion sensor, or security camera. You must be able to
reach the actual device. If the device is monitored, your attempt to
disable it will probably be noticed.
When disabling a monitored device, you can prevent your tampering
from being noticed. Doing so requires 10 minutes and an
electronics tool kit, and increases the DC by +10.
DEVICE TYPE (EXAMPLE) DC
Cheap (home door alarm) 20
Average (store security camera) 25
High quality (art museum motion detector) 30
High security (bank vault alarm) 35
Ultra-high security (motion detector at Area 51) 40
INTERACTION
ATTITUDE MEANS POSSIBLE ACTIONS
Hostile Will take risks to hurt or
avoid you
Attack, interfere, berate, flee
Unfriendly Wishes you ill Mislead, gossip, avoid, watch
suspiciously, insult
Indifferent Doesn’t much care Act as socially expected
Friendly Wishes you well Chat, advise, offer limited help,
advocate
Helpful Will take risks to help you Protect, back up, heal, aid
Fanatic Will do anything for you Fight to the death under
overwhelming odds
ATTITUDE
INITIAL NEW ATTITUDE
ATTITUDE HOSTILE UNFRIEN. INDIFF. FRIENDLY HELPFUL FANATIC
Hostile 19 or less 20 25 35 45 150
Unfriendly 4 or less 5 15 25 35 120
Indifferent — 0 or less 1 15 25 90
Friendly — — 0 or less 1 15 60
Helpful — — — 0 or less 1 50
CHAPTER THREE: SKILLS MUTANTS & MASTERMINDSTM ROLEPLAYING GAME
SKILLS 47
• Traps and Sabotage: Disabling a simple mechanical device is DC 10.
More intricate and complex devices have higher DCs. You can use
Disable Device to defuse explosives like the Craft (mechanical) skill.
If the check succeeds, you disable the device. If the check fails by 4 or
less, you have failed but can try again. If you fail by 5 or more, something
goes wrong. If it’s a trap or explosive, you set it off. If it’s some
sort of sabotage, you think the device is disabled, but it still works
normally.
When you sabotage simple devices, you can rig them to work normally
for a while and then fail some time later, if you choose.
• Disable Technology: At the GM’s discretion, you can disable any technological
device (see Chapter 7) with a DC 30 skill check. You can also
disable technological creatures, like androids or robots, with the same
check, but the subject must be helpless for you to make the check.
Try Again: Yes, though you must be aware you have failed in order to try
again.
Action: Disabling a simple device is a full-round action. Intricate or complex
devices require multiple rounds. Reducing a multi-round task to one
round increases the DC by +20.
Special: You can take 10 when making a Disable Device check. You can
take 20 to open a lock or disable a security device, unless you are trying
to prevent your tampering from being noticed.