Socialization


Socialisation.png


Skill Scale Down 2021

This skill has been impacted by the Skill Scale Down. The impact of this for this skill is as follows:

  • This skill remains. It will be gaining knowledge from other skills.
  • All knowledge for Persuasion, Negotiation, and Sociology now counts as Socialization Knowledge.
  • Knowledge from Rhetoric may be counted as Socialization knowledge - or as Writing
  • For how to deal with XP, please see the page Skill Scale Down 2021 for links, information, and a player guide.
  • The scope of this skill now includes appropriate aspects of what was previously covered by Rhetoric, Negotiation, Persuasion and Sociology. Please ensure that you take this into account going forward.

Overview

Socialization is a skill that measures a person's skill at relating to and building relationships with strangers. Socialization concerns the building of a rapport and also awareness of social cues, and also the ease with which that is done. It is practiced in both a short-term (ie: immediate effect / in the moment) and long term (planning and organisation, maintaining relationships over cycles/arcs) manner.

As such, stronger socialization skill can benefit all the other sorts of interactive and socially driven skills, specifically with acquaintances. Socialization is almost a Logistics skill for relationships; it helps the pc to make sure that, in social groupings with non-friends, no acquaintances, colleagues, etc feel neglected and assists with the level of organisation which maintaining useful relationships takes. It benefits the socialite, spy or soldier, for example, all of whom function in a group.

There is no doubt that socialization goes hand-in-hand with many other skills. When used in a short term / immediate manner (eg: in a crowd / group situation), it links with skills like Detection and Persuasion. When used in a more long-term logistical organisation of relationships is helped by skills like Intelligence and Tactics.

Functions of Socialisation

Immediate Moment: In a group situation, the socialisation skill affords the pc the ability to understand the nature of, and function in, the group. It helps with 'working the room', with making sure that each person feels that they have been treated equally - or, of course, in deliberately making sure that a group member is excluded.

Short Term: This might be a situation where a pc is in a group situation for a length of time, or on a mission or journey. Here, the socialisation skill will help the pc to manage their part within the group and to influence group dynamics.

Long Term: In the long term, Socialisation really comes into its own as an organisation of relationships skill. From the shop keeper who needs to keep a good relationship with suppliers, to the Order of the Adunih member who has to maintain working relationships with large numbers of people. It is also, of course, very helpful in the reality of "office politics".

Skill Ranks

Novice (0-25)

At the lowest levels of socialization skill one may have difficulty in building a rapport with new people or reacting to social cues from people outside their circle of friends. They may have to try extra hard to have their existing friends feel understood and acknowledged. They will often have trouble keeping tabs on newer friends and reacting skillfully to social cues. In large groups, they may not be able to ensure that they give everyone time and / or may behave awkwardly. However, they will be able to 'work the room' slightly, either by making sure that they have a chat / socialise with a few people they didn't know, for example. This level of socialisation is much better at maintaining relationships in the immediate moment or short-term and is usually fairly limited.

Competent (26-75)

Once reaching competence in socialization, the character will have more success at blossoming relationships outside their intimate circle of family and friends. They will have a secure network of loose contacts and acquaintances with whom they can relate to and attract to their side. It is at this level that the character will begin to focus their socialization efforts one way or another. Will they maintain more business-minded relationships or a cadre of loyal converts through seduction and rhetoric? Or perhaps they will have begun to form a network of contacts through intelligence. The sort of relationship is only limited by a person's skill to maintain the interests of just such a nature. They’ll react more adroitly to social cues, although the appropriateness of their reactions will often rely on their knowledge of etiquette or else the expectations of the other person. So support skills such as etiquette and psychology come into their own here as well.

Expert (76-150)

As an expert socializer, the character will have no trouble getting along with just about anyone and is able to recall details of these friends and acquaintances with utmost ease, further strengthening their bonds and efforts to build the relationships. They'll have a wider circle that they can call on in times of need, and perhaps even be able to entice their loose acquaintances to help them in times of extreme need. Few can stay angry at an expert socialite for very long, and if they do, it's easily smoothed over by whatever means the socialite has to convince them that they're better off just staying friends with the individual. At this level of expertise, the socialite will be able to relate to large groups of people, entertaining and attracting many to their side. They can generally rely on attracting the company of others, and being able to relate to new people as if they'd known each other for a much longer time.

Master (151-250)

A master socialite can be everyone's friend. Through raw charisma, they can relate to and form relationships easily and almost without effort. Even the most egregious gaffes can be smoothed over and played off as an amusing joke, or an intentional point, to where those who'd normally be offended might be charmed by it instead. At this level of skill, a master socialite will be able to facilitate relationships with a large variety of people, without regard for the services/favors/endearments that were rendered to the socialite. They are able to build and improve relationships by sheer charisma alone, although ancillary social skills help direct the sort of maintenance that is most effective.

Progressing Socialization

Socialisation Knowledge

The collapsible below has examples of Skill Knowledge for this skill. If you are unsure of what Knowledge is, please check the Knowledge Primer for details. Please remember that our Peer Reviewers will be checking to make sure that your Knowledge claim is appropriate to what you have learned in the thread and ensuring that you are not duplicating knowledge.

A guide to knowledge can be found here (this link takes you to the site) and the person reviewing your thread will do so following the steps laid out in the Peer Reviewer Guide. If you wish to use one of these knowledge in your request, please ensure that it is appropriate to your thread.

Socialisation

  • Socialization: Letting the audience choose the song
  • Socialization: Crossing cultures through celebration
  • Socialization: Looking at the bigger picture of a whole event
  • Socialization: Working a crowd.
  • Socialization: Using small talk to persuade

Subcategories

This category has only the following subcategory.