Exanding 'vicious mockery'

Core mechanic

You can attack using:

• Intimidation (CHA or STR)
• Persuasion (CHA)
• Deception (CHA) - both, just to convince to surrender

Attack roll:
1d20 + proficiency + CHA (or STR)  expertise, actor, etc won't apply

Mental Defense:
10 + Wisdom modifier

On hit:
→ 1d6 + CHA psychic damage (non-lethal)

Range: 30 ft
Target: must perceive and understand you

Simple effect (no tracking)

If you beat the target by 5 or more:

→ they make a Wisdom save
(DC = 8 + proficiency + CHA)

• Fail: disadvantage on next attack or saving throw
• Success: no effect + immune to your effects until end of their next turn

Max 1 effect per target per turn

“Social Advantage” (for Sneak Attack, etc.)

You gain advantage if:

• target is distracted / trusting
• target is mentally isolated
• you have leverage (blackmail, authority, identity)

Isolation = no ally within 5 ft who can support them
(no action needed, but allies who are incapacitated or unable to communicate don’t count)

 Quick notes

• Non-magical (unless tied to a spell)
• Low-int creatures: half damage, no effects
• At 0 HP → target is mentally broken (can’t act)

Rogue option

Sneak Attack can deal psychic damage if:

• target is isolated
  or
• you have social advantage

Design goals

• avoid single-roll social wins
• reward CHA builds in combat
• add positioning & teamwork
• keep RP first

Looking for feedback

• Too strong / too weak?
• Smooth at the table?
• Would you use this only for key scenes?

If people are interested, I have a more advanced version (stress, archetypes, etc.)

… this gives me the vibes of being AI generated.

Anyways, it’s pretty bad damage for anything beyond tier 1. I don’t get how you make an attack with a skill check, nor how that feeds into the actual attack roll. The Metal Defence is nonsensical, why cant it be a Wisdom save instead? Having two different rolls required for it to get actual effects other than low damage is pretty bad, there’s a reason why it was dumped in 5.5e

Further problems, the Rouge option is completely unrelated to everything else, how does your sneak attack deal Psychic damage if it’s from a physical weapon? Define isolation, what the hell does social advantage mean?

Positioning has nothing to do with this homebrew and it has nothing to do with improving roleplay. Social builds are anlready good due to them already having plenty of classes (paladin and bard to name a few). Giving them a subpar ability with a bunch of rules stuffed in doesn’t help with anything.

AI helped with the translation-  i'm french.

I use AI to compare the DPR (damage per roll) and to balance, like any designer.

This is a regular attack. Extra attacks, bonuses to damage from class features, etc apply.

The rogue like other classes uses words as a weapon (basic unarmed attack)

Social advantage is an advantage to attacks if you isolate the victim (inverse the regular sneak attack condition) or if you have a prepared situation (balckmail, assassin level 9 and 13 setup).

Well, I just improved social combat as seen in Torg eternity or Witcher. It is like other options in DMG- you use it or not. I just make it modular- it does work in a combat beside regular physical and magical damage.

Quote from mictrepanier1 >>

AI helped with the translation-  i'm french.

I use AI to compare the DPR (damage per roll) and to balance, like any designer.

This is a regular attack. Extra attacks, bonuses to damage from class features, etc apply.

The rogue like other classes uses words as a weapon (basic unarmed attack)

Social advantage is an advantage to attacks if you isolate the victim (inverse the regular sneak attack condition) or if you have a prepared situation (balckmail, assassin level 9 and 13 setup).

Well, I just improved social combat as seen in Torg eternity or Witcher. It is like other options in DMG- you use it or not. I just make it modular- it does work in a combat beside regular physical and magical damage.

 1. Aight

2. And what exact method did you use for DPR? Did you compare it to a fighter with a greatsword, sword and board and stuff like that?

3. You should probably mention that it can be used as part of the Attack action, else the ability is just way too weak.

4. A basic unarmed attack is 1 + str modifier, unless you’re talking about Psychological Attack. The rogue also cannot benefit from sneak attack if it uses a Psychological Attack, it’s not a Finesse or Ranged weapon. I'd recommend you really specify mechanically, because it’s generally pretty vague.

5. The problem is that it doesn’t really fill any hole thats in D&D. There’s no Resolve or anything to further cement it, so it’s basically just a ported in mechanic that feels really complicated for some reason.

Is this something just anyone can do? If so, that makes no sense. An average commoner shouldn't be able to shout at someone and kill them.

2- A rogue with a rogue, a fighter with a fighter. Archetype with a 2d6 basic attack if you forgo defense, as per regular weapons. My system is a little bit under because of the special effet, like vious mockey is under other cantrips damage.

3. This is an range attack per se. With all the regular rules. 

4. Thanks, i'll fix it. Sneak attack definition already include 'ranged weapon attacks'. I don't see exploits- divine smite is for melee attack- this is not a magic or weapon attack, this is special. I'll need help with this detail. Not a core issue, just a hole for min/maxers.

5. All archetypes like courtier, orators, etc, unless you think they can just backstab with knifes... And it is regular combat rules adapted, not new mechanisms.

Do you want me to translate my 5 archetypes and post them here ?  I have some monsters block adapted.

 fixed: help and all magic or mundane effets that grants advantage wont give social advantage

isolating somebody + no way to communicate with others will do  (including being in a lounge conservation and nobody cares for you and the bully intimidating you- but this is not a combat example).

Quote from Maruntoryx >>

Is this something just anyone can do? If so, that makes no sense. An average commoner shouldn't be able to shout at someone and kill them.

 Not kill them. Breaking their morale, removing them fom the debate, the fight. This is not lethal damage.

I have simulated combat simulation an it works fine outside and into regular combat.

I feel like a few of your examples could be given with Intimidation checks instead of basically mental assault. If the guy has high hp he’s just going to stab you to death before you can deal enough damage to knock him out.

It doesn’t fit with roleplaying aspects if it's far more dangerous than making a Persuasion check. I get what you’re trying to do and here’s my suggestion: Create a mental health system instead. Maybe it’s one where if they do enough of things like kill specific allies or do enough of the right checks, they surrender or panic and run away.

Constitution is fine for intimidation as stamina, stress resistance. Persuasion and trickery are usuful in combat for 1 goal: Surrender!  (pc are immuned).

Persuasion would need another HP stat, ws Same rules, other stats. Simple.  Or just use the regular RP for debate, trials, etc. Not the scope here.

I'd urge you to look into Pathfinder 2e's combat-skill actions, they make a whole lot more sense than this.

But it is not d&d. I did not create mechanisms but adapted existing ones.

And PF2 system is not integrated, just an add-on. No damage. Just like Witcher and Torg.