Social Combat in AS&SH

The following is a summary and conversion of the social combat rules found in Courtney Campbell's On the Non-player Character.

Characters may substitute one of their attacks (regardless of whether melee or missile) to make one of the following special attacks to deal non-lethal damage. Non-lethal damage is not deducted from one's current hit points but is totalled separately; once it exceeds 1/4 or 1/2 of the creature's current hit points, a Minor or Major effect takes place, respectively, depending on the attack type.

Attacks are resolved as follows:

• 1d20 - 4 (base penalty) + Intelligence modifier + Charisma modifier
• target AC equals either (10 - Wisdom score) or (10 - Morale) - 1 per 2 HD; creatures with animal intelligence have +4 AC bonus
• the attacker's Fighting Ability is a key factor; use your character's regular attack matrix to determine success
• successful attacks deal 1d8 points of non-lethal damage, plus the better of your Intelligence or Charisma modifier

N.B.: For the purposes of social combat, Intelligence modifier equals the number of extra languages, while Charisma modifier equals reaction bonus.

There are four social attack types, as described below; note that some creatures may be immune to any or all of these attacks (e.g. automata, zombies, fungi, etc.): 

Fear

• A successful attack forces the target to make a morale check at the end of the round.
• Shaken (Minor): Target receives -2 to-hit and saving throws.
• Frightened (Major): Target automatically flees the encounter.

Anger

• A successful attack grants +2 morale to the target (only once in a single encounter).
• Insulted (Minor): Target is granted +1 to-hit and damage; also, it focuses its attacks on the taunter, if possible.
• Enraged (Major): Target receives +2 further to-hit and damage bonus, +4 AC penalty, and it fights until killed or subdued (effective Morale of 12).

Confusion

• Distracted (Minor): Target hereafter acts last in the round, and its AC is penalised by 1.
• Confused (Major): Target acts as if under the effects of confusion. 

Charm

• Engaged (Minor): The target makes a morale check with an effective Morale increased by +1 for each ally still in combat; failure indicates a new reaction roll and the beginning of a social encounter.
• Enraptured (Major): Target ends fighting; the attacker makes a new reaction roll with +2 bonus.

Below is given a summary of the bonuses granted by character class:

• Fighter: +2 to-hit with either Fear or Anger attacks.
• Magician: +2 to-hit with any one social attack type; using an appropriate spell negates the base penalty.
• Cleric: +2 to-hit with either Fear or Charm attacks.
• Thief: +1 + 1/2 Level to-hit with all social attacks.
• Barbarian: +2 to-hit with either Fear or Confusion attacks.
• Berserker: +2 to-hit with Fear attacks; while raging, immunity to social attacks (cf. Unbreakable Willpower).
• Cataphract: +2 to-hit with either Fear or Charm attacks.
• Paladin: +2 to-hit with either Fear or Charm attacks.
• Ranger: No base penalty, +4 to-hit, and double damage against otherworldly creatures.
• Warlock: +2 to-hit with any one social attack type; using an appropriate spell negates the base penalty.
• Illusionist: +2 to-hit with Confusion and Fear attacks; using an appropriate spells grants +SpellLevel to-hit and deals double damage.
• Necromancer: +Level to-hit with Fear attacks; using an appropriate spell grants +SpellLevel to-hit and deals double damage.
• Pyromancer: +Level to-hit with Fear or Anger attacks; using an appropriate spell grants +SpellLevel to-hit and deals double damage.
• Witch: +4 to-hit with Charm attacks; deals double Charm damage.
• Druid: No base penalty, +4 to-hit, and double damage against animals.
• Monk: +Level AC bonus against social attacks.
• Priest: +2 to-hit with either Charm or Confusion attacks.
• Shaman: +2 to-hit with either Charm or Confusion attacks.
• Assassin: No base penalty, +Level to-hit, and double damage with Fear attacks.
• Bard: No base penalty, +Level to-hit bonus, and double Intelligence or Charisma bonus for damage - with all social attacks.
• Legerdemainist: +2 to-hit with Confusion attacks; using an appropriate spell grants +SpellLevel to-hit and deals double damage.
• Scout: No base penalty, +4 to-hit, and double damage against animals.