If you don't tell me anything I will create whatever I think.

Believe me I'm good at homebrew. You can also create something of your own for these theme.

 

I have a big feat: can you help to improve my social combat ? I created a class though an expansion of Vicious Mockery. it needs help!

 

New unified and fixed post (replace 'authorirty' post : universal attack system + the manipulator | Dungeons & Dragons / Fantasy d20 Spotlight | RPGnet — 30 Years of Independent Talk on Tabletop Roleplaying!

Or in french Systeme universel de combats social + classe de manipulateur - Forum AideDD

OK. What do you want do with this.

I was able to create a class on par with the rogue, if one understands the link fluff.

 

But i Need a simple system to use Skills to exploit traits flaws to do one thing: apply the condition ex: surrender or stress yourself ( non Lethal damage).

This is only for logical intimidation. There are other Skills and traits.

 

Look, you may do this Social Attack thing through a spell.

But I created a new form for social attacks.

Each character has a "social DC". This equals 8 + the characters Charisma modifier and PB.

During a Social Encounter: You can make a social attack against a creature that you are talking to. The creature must succeed on a Charisma saving throw or you gain one of the following benefit against it, depending on what type of attack you did.

Agressive Talk. You gain advantage on your next Intimidation check against that creature.

The Right Word. The creature has disadvantage at it's next Intimidation, Persuasion or Deception check.

During a Combat Encounter: You can make a Social Attack at creature that you're fighting within 60ft. of you as an Action. The creature must be able to your hear you and you two must share a language. If the creature fails it's save it has the following effect.

Shocked. The creature has disadvantage at it's next attack roll, saving throw or ability check.

 

 

I'm a little further- i still don't know if everything is smooth enough and I need help. I asked AI to summarize and translate:

 

 

UNIVERSAL TABLE OF INFLUENCE LINKS

as a Vector of Interaction and Social Combat

Followed by a new class: The Mind Master

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HARMONIZATION WITH DUNGEONS & DRAGONS 5E RULES

INTRODUCTION

This document presents harmonization rules allowing the integration of social classes from the D&D Modern system into a campaign using the rules of Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition.

The objective is to introduce a second axis of conflict resolution—social, cognitive, and psychological interactions—without modifying the foundations of the game, particularly the combat system, saving throws, or action economy.

Social classes use the same fundamental rules as standard classes, ensuring direct compatibility with the existing system.

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GENERAL PRINCIPLES

A Unified System

All mechanics in this module use standard D&D 5e rules, including ability checks, saving throws, advantage and disadvantage, initiative, and action economy.

Distances are expressed in meters using standard system equivalences (1.5 meters per square).

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TWO AXES OF RESOLUTION

The system distinguishes two forms of confrontation:

• Physical combat, using weapons, hit points, and Armor Class (AC)
• Social combat, using Influence Links

Both axes use the same hit point resource. Constitution is expanded here to represent mental endurance.

Social damage represents a form of mental or cognitive attrition that directly affects a creature’s ability to fight.

It represents mental fatigue, cognitive disorganization, psychological pressure, or emotional destabilization.

Hit points are also considered mental resilience against stress. They are treated as non-lethal damage and may reduce a creature to 0 hit points. Being at 0 HP may therefore represent something other than “dying.”

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RULES FOR SOCIAL ACTIONS

Reminder: Personality

(reference section)

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Structure of a Social Action

Social combat should only be used in specific cases where simple narrative resolution with ability checks or opposed rolls is not sufficient.

When a character uses a social action, they follow these steps:

Establishing an Influence Link

Use an appropriate skill such as Persuasion, Intimidation (logical with Intelligence, physical with Strength, or standard with Charisma), Deception, or Performance.

You must identify a credible pressure lever appropriate to the fictional context.

Model the link as casting a net: the target may avoid it. On a hit, you establish an Influence Link exerting pressure on the target.

This link is, by default, range-independent once established, but may be broken or removed by the target or an ally, similar to a physical effect or by removing the original leverage.

Attempting to establish an Influence Link is available to any class or creature.

A maximum of two links per target may exist simultaneously. There is no limit to the number of influenced creatures.

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Resistance

The target may attempt to resist with a saving throw depending on the nature of the link:

DC = 8 + proficiency bonus (if applicable) + ability modifier used (minimum 1)

• Wisdom: mental resistance, fear, pressure
• Intelligence: rationality, confusion, analysis
• Charisma: ego or social status

On a success, the target generally resists the effect, but may still suffer reduced damage depending on class features.

To preserve clarity, a creature may only suffer one active social effect per source at a time. Identical effects do not stack.

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Failure Outcome

A target that succeeds on the saving throw chooses between:

• suffering a negative narrative condition, or
• voluntarily taking stress damage

Social damage follows a simple progression, typically:

1d6 + ability modifier + proficiency bonus (if expertise applies)

This damage is applied directly to hit points, representing mental attrition and psychological breakdown.

For NPC monsters, size modifies the dice:

• Large: 1d8
• Huge: 2d8
• Gargantuan: 4d8

Influence links never replace physical attacks but form a parallel resolution system.

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Range and Constraints

• Standard range: 9 meters unless otherwise specified
• Non-magical
• Affected by cover rules (mental cover represents distraction, crowding, confusion, lack of perception clarity)

Cover grants +2 / +5 depending on severity.

Dexterity saves are replaced by saves of the three mental abilities (Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma).

Any creature with social capabilities may replace one attack in an Attack action or Multiattack with an Influence attempt (maximum one per turn).

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EFFECTS

You may exploit:

• one Influence Link for a minor effect, or
• two links for a stronger effect called Break, representing cognitive or behavioral collapse.

You target personality traits (traits, ideals, flaws).

Each creature has traits ranging from negligible (0 effect) to perfect match (maximum vulnerability or advantage/disadvantage swing).

---

TRAIT TABLE

(official mechanical interpretation preserved)

• Authority / Presence
• Rationality
• Discipline
• Composure
• Social Awareness
• Impulsivity
• Social Isolation
• Structured Ego
• Fragile Authority
• High Empathy
• Distrust

Each trait defines:

• Strength (advantage)
• Weakness (exploitable vulnerability, disadvantage)

---

SOCIAL ACTIONS AND STATES

• Intimidation (Charisma or Strength): targets composure → Frightened
• Logical intimidation / persuasion: targets empathy/social awareness → Charmed (obedience effect)
• Insults: targets authority/ego → Humiliated (disadvantage vs attacker)
• Mind breaking: targets rationality → Confused / Catatonic
• Manipulation (Deception/Performance): targets discipline/impulsivity → Charmed

Debates, speeches, or performances occur over rounds measured in minutes.
Trials occur over hours or years.

Effects may be resisted at end of turn.

States cannot be applied without prior interaction (link, leverage, or explicit condition).

---

MIND MASTER CLASS

Cognitive Mastery

A calm man speaks to his enemy. He raises no weapon. He does not need to. Seconds later, the enemy falters. A fraction of hesitation is enough.

In a narrow alley, a figure waits motionless. It observes, analyzes, then strikes. The fight is already over before it begins.

Across battlefields, opponents break not under force—but under doubt.

Mind Masters believe one truth:
the mind is more fragile than the body.

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CLASS FEATURES

• Hit Die: d8
• Primary Ability: Intelligence
• Saving Throws: Wisdom, Intelligence
• Armor: Light armor
• Weapons: Simple weapons

Skills

Choose 3 from:
Acrobatics, Stealth, History, Intimidation, Investigation, Nature, Perception, Persuasion, Deception

---

INFLUENCE LINKS

You create invisible cognitive threads linking you to targets.
They persist until end of your next turn unless narratively broken.

They require prior analysis (Investigation check) or ally assistance.

---

LEVEL PROGRESSION

(kept as-is in structure; summarized translation below)

• Level 1: Pressure, Break, Intuition
• Level 2: Expertise, Combat intuition
• Level 3: Archetype
• Level 5+: amplified pressure scaling
• Level 6: obvious flaws, mental stability
• Level 9+: exploitation, analysis eye
• Level 11+: destabilizing pressure
• Level 14+: counter-pressure reaction
• Level 15+: rupture state (charm-like collapse)
• Level 20: perfect collapse (stun effects)

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KEY ABILITIES

Immediate Intuition

Rapid analysis ability allowing instant resolution of Intelligence/Wisdom checks (with disadvantage).

Can analyze scenes in seconds and extract clues.

---

Combat Intuition

Intelligence may replace Dexterity for initiative.

---

Pressure (Level 1)

You establish influence links via intimidation or analysis.

On failed Wisdom save:

• psychic non-lethal damage (1d6 + Int mod + proficiency/expertise)
• link established
• target suffers disadvantage on next attack against you

---

BREAK

Requires link + condition.

Adds rupture dice to damage.
Represents cognitive collapse via exploited weakness.

---

Amplified Pressure

Partial success still deals half damage and maintains link.

Reduces target speed by 3m.

---

Perfect Collapse (Level 20)

Once per target per long rest:

• target is stunned until end of your next turn

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ARCHETYPES

Noetarch (ally shaping archetype)

Enhances allies via shared cognitive links.

• enables reaction Help
• transfers Intelligence-based bonuses
• grants training and insight boosts

---

Infiltrator of Fissures

Specialist in exploiting moments of vulnerability.

• bonus vs surprised targets
• identity impersonation mechanics
• psychological strike scaling

---

FINAL NOTE

Pressure and Break are not magical effects, but mechanical abstractions representing cognitive, social, and perceptual interaction systems.

They remain bound by perception, communication, and environmental limitations, and do not create supernatural mind control.

 

I have completed all the abilities but i'll like to see what you will do yourself!

Your version is simple and great, otherwise.

Thanks. The problem is that I don't understand what the social link thing is.

Also believe me, DnD has enough complexity from it's own. I highly encourage you, if you want to homebrew something to do it a bit simple.

Suggestion: Artificer subclass centered around vehicles

I want an universal dnd system, so this is mandatory for 99 percent of real life interactions.

Otherwise, a mass combat system ?

1 creature Equal x units.time and distances scale. Commander triggers Weapon masteries from his Troop or feats. Elite troops have inate wm and feats. Other players can perform missions on other Time scale or specisl ritual spells.same, Scaled timeline.

 

I have an operator class with vector links. For snipers, chariot drivers, fighter pilots or drone operators.

But you have to understand vector links, That are like influence links.

Quote from Whatstray >>

Suggestion: Artificer subclass centered around vehicles

 That's Interesting...