Fate of the Norns

So Etiquette is a skill that not a whole lot of systems have, so I think it’s kind of cool that it exists in norns. The book is a little unclear though on how to implement it, so I’m curious about some of the approaches taken by other GMs.

Is it something where if a PC is about to do something offensive you can call for etiquette check to try and see if they’d know not to do this? Is it something you add to verbal manipulation depending on how the persuasion attempt is role played? Hell, could you use it instead of verbal manipulation? Is it something where players have to explicitly ask something like what is the proper protocol for x?

I like skills that aren’t the generic stuff you can find in any and every system (I’m looking at you perception and sneak), and I really want to give this skill a chance to shine (especially since one of my PCs RPs as super polite and eloquent anyway, and this is a nice way to reward that). I’m just unclear on the best way to do so.

Balasar, since FOTN deals with so many European cultures, religions and regions, Vikings had to learn how to best leverage their bargaining power in foreign lands. If you're in the mythic side of things, 9+ realms upon the world tree also allow you to learn the best way to treat with these higher powers. As such you are correct, this skill had a multitude of uses:
- How not to offend
- Know what matters
- Correct social customs and rituals
- Place the correct value on goods and services
- etc
etc
etc

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Etiquette comes up a lot, and is super fun in use.

As a GM I call for Etiquette from the players whenever they're reporting to or giving account to their Jarl, their Karl, or when they're liaising with an equally ranked foreign power, and anything where customs, politeness, and manner are more important than the words themselves. I've also called for Etiquette when the PCs couldn't speak the same language as the Southern Midgard barbarians they encountered, to see if they could gesture well and patiently figure each other out. They didn't, as it happened, but it was the right skill check.

Etiquette is usually a completely different thing from Verbal Manipulation, which is a fast talking idea, where Etiquette is manners, diplomacy, courtly ritual, and tact. Etiquette is part of what makes social interaction in FotN more complex than "roll Charisma I guess".

//Panjumanju

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"What strength!! But don't forget there are many guys like you all over the world."

That’s a pretty good explanation and I hadn’t thought of using it that way. I’ve mostly been thinking of verbal manipulation as the FOTN analog of persuasion in 5e. I actually rather like this explanation.