Lots of people are naturally charismatic people, well versed with the social graces and skilled in the art of manipulation. But some people have centered their entire careers on their ability to win others over. These people are often celebrities living firmly in the public eye, prominent businessmen, philanthropists and politicians, and even film and music stars. Such people possess something more significant that just strength of personality. Stardom, personal fame, bureaucratic leverage,  aristocratic ties — all indicate an ability to attract attention, to lead nations, elicit favors, and seduce and manipulate those who are vulnerable to such manipulation.

In game terms, this ability is called presence — a combination of the character’s personal charisma, public reputation, sense of style, social grace, and sex appeal. Presence is the outward projection of an character’s refinement and sophistication, and shows others that he isn’t just a person worth paying attention to, but a figure of notoriety and social importance in the world.

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USING PRESENCE

In game terms, presence is used to influence people with your celebrity and charisma. In order to use the presence system, an character must have the Jet Setter feat.

There is no inherent DC when making a presence check. To make a presence check, the character must spend one hero point and devote one or more standard or move invoking their reputation, either by speaking, staging a live performance of some kind, or otherwise acquiring his target’s attention. The character names their target and the effect they are trying to achieve (see Presence Actions, below), then they roll a d20, adding their Charisma modifier and any applicable bonuses from feats, talents, as well as modifiers from the table Presence Modifiers, and consults the table Presence Bonuses, to determine the resulting presence bonus. This bonus is applied differently for each of the options described under Presence Actions — see each description for details.

You may spend an additional hero point to increase your d20 roll, as usual.

Presence Modifiers

* Character has had recent public exposure: Characters currently in the limelight — from a political campaign, album or film release, novel debut, or any of a host of other public events — have a much easier time leveraging their celebrity. See the table below for details of how much of a bonus Exposure provides.

Presence Bonuses

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PRESENCE ACTIONS

Each presence action may only be attempted only once per day (whether successful or not). The character must always declare which option he wishes to pursue — and which character(s) he’s targeting, up to a number equal to the maximum number of targets listed in the desired action’s description — before making the presence check. Further, the character must spend the entire time designated in the desired presence action’s description engaged in an activity the GM determines will fulfill the option’s needs (i.e. singing on stage for a dazzle effect or giving an impassioned speech for an inspire effect); if the character is attacked or otherwise distracted in any way during this time, the presence attempt fails and may not be attempted again until the following week.

Note: Unless the GM determines otherwise, these presence actions may only be used against NPCs.

Dazzle

Some people have a way with words that captures the hearts and minds of their audiences. When making a speech, performance, or other public display, the character may make a presence check normally to distract some or all of his audience.
Time Required: 1 minute.
Maximum Number of Targets: 5 × your character level
Modifiers: This presence action requires the targets be able to clearly hear and see the character — if the character is in a noisy or hostile environment without the necessary equipment to facilitate this (i.e. a stage, microphone, etc.), then he suffers a –4 circumstance penalty with his presence check.
Presence Check: If your presence check beats the Will defense of any designated target, that target suffers a penalty with all Initiative and Perception checks for the duration of the performance equal to the characters Charisma modifier. If any target is threatened while distracted in this manner (i.e. a weapon is drawn on them, they’re flanked by the character’s allies, etc.), the character must make another presence check. With success, the dazzle effect continues. If the GM determines that the target is aware that they were duped by the performing character, then their disposition toward that character is worsened by two grades. If this results in a disposition toward the character of hostile or worse, the target may attack the character and their allies (again, per the GM’s discretion).

Inspire

Through a rousing speech and possibly some heroic action, the character inspires others to greater heights of courage and strengthens their resolve.
Time Required: 1 minute.
Maximum Number of Targets: 5 × your character level
Modifiers: This presence action requires the targets be able to clearly hear and see the character — if the character is in a noisy or hostile environment without the necessary equipment to facilitate this (i.e. a stage, microphone, etc.), then they suffers a –4 circumstance penalty with his presence check. Also, the character may broadcast their inspirational message via audio or video broadcast, effectively allowing this presence action to be used at any range, though the bonus and duration are both reduced to half (rounded down) when the character’s words are not delivered in person.
Presence Check: All allies and NPCs who hear the character’s words and whose dispositions toward the character are friendly or better gain a morale bonus to Will Defense equal to 1/2 the character’s presence bonus (rounded up). This bonus lasts for a number of rounds equal to your character level, or until the end of the encounter, whichever comes first.

Overawe

The character throws the weight of their influence and reputation — good or bad — behind their threats.
Time Required: Full-Round Action
Maximum Number of Targets: 1.
Modifiers: None.
Presence Check: This presence action must be coupled with a Persuasion check made to intimidate.  The character adds their presence bonus to the Persuasion check made to determine the intimidate action’s result.

Rally

The character uses their abilities as a public speaker to rally others to their cause or bring them around to their way of thinking.
Time Required: 1 minute.
Maximum Number of Targets: 5 × your character level
Modifiers: This presence action requires the targets be able to clearly hear and see the character — if sthe character is in a noisy or hostile environment without the necessary equipment to facilitate this (i.e. a stage, microphone, etc.), then they suffer a –4 circumstance penalty with their presence check.
Presence Check: For a number of rounds equal to your character level or the duration of the encounter (whichever ends first), the character adds his presence bonus to all Persuasion checks made to influence or alter the disposition of a crowd, as well as to all Persuasion checks made to resolve a dispute.

Seduce

Using suave moves and urbane stories about the high life, the character lures a target into their romantic web.
Time Required: Full-Round Action
Maximum Number of Targets: 1.
Modifiers: None.
Presence Check: For a number of rounds equal to your character or the duration of the encounter (whichever ends first), the character adds their presence bonus to all skill checks made to seduce the target.

Solicit Assistance

The character uses their celebrity to coerce others into granting them special privileges, ranging from handing over pocket money to getting them front row seats at the symphony to “letting them off with a warning."
Time Required: Full-Round Action
Maximum Number of Targets: 1.
Modifiers: None.
Presence Check: The presence check bonus is unimportant for this action. Instead, the character is targeting a DC determined by his desired result, as follows.

While a target may go to great lengths to assist the character, the target will not endanger the lives of themselves or others, nor will they do something that greatly compromises their moral or ethical beliefs. If the character makes such a request, the NPC immediately refuses to assist the character further, and may even notify the appropriate authorities.

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The Price of Fame

Even though celebrities are subject to many special benefits stemming from their popularity, fame is very much a double-edged sword. Celebrities who rely too heavily upon their presence often find it difficult to maintain a low profile, as paparazzi and resourceful enemies exploit rumors and buzz to track these characters down. To represent this effect, each time a character makes a presence check (whether it succeeds or not), the DCs of all Gather Information rolls made to locate this character are reduced by 2. This penalty is cumulative and lasts for one week.