Deceive

Key facts

Characteristic

Presence

Skill group

Presence skills.

Test

2d10 + Presence; 11 or lower is tier 1, 12 to 16 tier 2, 17 or higher tier 3. Training grants a benefit and unlocks attempts untrained heroes cannot make.

Overview

Deceive covers the whole con: acting the part of a tax assessor, letting a guard assume you belong, steering a conversation away from the one question you cannot answer. It is a Presence skill because the mark believes the performer more than the words. It comes up in infiltration, bluffing past checkpoints, running a scam, and stalling a suspicious NPC long enough for allies to finish. A single flat falsehood under questioning is the Lie skill instead.

How it works

Characteristic: Presence.

How it is used: Often opposed by the target's Read Person. Tier 3 sells the impression completely. Tier 2 works for now but leaves the target with questions. Tier 1 gets caught.

Edges and banes: A prepared cover, supporting props, or a distracted mark grants an edge (+2). A suspicious or well-informed target, or a story that contradicts visible facts, imposes a bane (-2).

Tips and playstyle

Best for: Face characters and infiltrators who would rather talk past a guard than fight one. Character concepts: Agent career spy, Criminal con artist, Performer who never left the role. Synergies: Dress for the costume, Lie for the moment someone asks a direct question, Culture so the cover matches local expectations.

Frequently asked questions