This isn’t about turning RP into dice-only. It’s about giving players tools to strategize, clear win/loss conditions, and gamefeel for roleplay that matches the rigor of combat and exploration. It also helps GMs adjudicate complex social scenes with less vagueness.
Social Intrigue is a structured framework for handling complex social encounters in Dungeons & Dragons 5e. It transforms conversations into tactical exchanges, allowing players to influence, deceive, interrogate, or inspire others through defined mechanical interactions—just as they would in combat or exploration.
Unlike casual roleplay, Social Intrigue is triggered when stakes are high, opposition is active, and outcomes matter. It introduces tools such as Resolve, Disposition, Motivations, and Social Maneuvers, enabling players to strategize in dialogue-heavy scenes. Each turn, characters act with purpose—whether unraveling lies, defending their honor, or shifting public sentiment.
This system is ideal for political courts, courtroom trials, tense negotiations, secret dealings, or moments when words can shape the world as much as steel.