Logic & Ethics (sage study)
Logic & Ethics is a sage study in the field of Humanities which provides knowledge in the systemic and effective application of argument, permitting a character with this skill to propose a valid argument that has the potential to sway the opinion of the listener, with an understanding that there must exist support for the argument being proposed.
The study is meant to serve as a support for role-play and absolutely not as a stand-in for it. Fundamentally, the character is responsible for the creation of the argument that is proposed; the skill does not assume that this has been done. Following the creation of the argument, the practicality of the argument must be considered. Does the argument include a reasonable chance (better than 50%) of improving the circumstance of the listener? If it is judged in numbers that the listener has less than an even change of being detrimentally affected, it is presumed that the listener does change his or her mind, without a die roll being made.
As an example, a wanderer with no personal investment in their community or religion may be convinced to turn their back upon their beliefs; but this would never be possible for a peasant living in a village where everyone had those beliefs, because he would certainly be shunned. A rich man might be convinced to surrender a sum of money dependent upon his wealth, but never enough to cause that man an inconvenience. A friend may be convinced to travel along with the party, but not if this seemed likely to result in death for the friend. In each case, the character's proposal should reflect the realities of the situation.
The character is limited at lower levels of knowledge regarding who can be changed in their opinion — and to some extent, to what degree. Persons can be convinced not to abandon their responsibilities, to promote named persons, to back propositions, to give way when their situation is unethical, to embrace a healthier and more decent life, to give up addictions or accept certain realities and so on.
