Skill: Salesmanship

[Konrad Venger]

After grading a few threads, I realized that the Skill List doesn't have a specific skill in place for what you could call the commerce sector. People trying to sell fish, or weapons, or skills, or whatever. Maybe this would go under Rhetoric or Persuasion, but the former is more political/emotional and the latter can be used for anything. I'm talking about a skill that is expressed and catered for those PCs who own a business or a trade and convince others to use them and give them money for said services. So, this is what I have so far. Salesmanship The ability to convince other to buy products or services from you. Related to this skill is Rhetoric, Persuasion and Investigation (to better understand a potential customers desires). Skill Progression Novice (1-25): At this level the salesman has a slight gift of gab, but has difficulty identifying advantages and overcoming objections. Their pitches are simplistic and their ability to adapt to a customer's concerns is weak. Competent (26-50): Salesman at this point have been hawking goods and services for a while, and can slip into a relatively smooth sales pitch with any customer. They may know the usual objections or concerns before they're voices, and have a counter ready. At this level the salesman is more effective at selling his product verbally, and making it more enticing to an on-the-fence customer. Expert (51-75): Salesman here are slick as whale oil and burn just as brightly when they launch into speeches about their product. They have an obvious gift for talking people into buying whatever it is they're selling, and know their product inside and out. They can manipulate their customers with flattery and questions, steering them towards the direction they want, and their sales pitches are both passionate and believable (or, at least, they appear to be). Master (76-100): Quite simply, this rare breed of salesman could sell stock in Rysol to Wysar. Seasoned, veteran entrepreneurs like them have a deep knowledge of their product and have heard every opposition, counter-argument, query and complaint... and have bested all of them. Their sales pitches are the envy of political orators and they not only know their product, but are adept at switching between multiple wares. Weapons? Ships? Ladies dresses? It all requires the ability to sell, and at this level, a salesman can shift anything.

[Dove Brown]

How does this interact with Negotiation?

Negotiation is the skill of resolving a conflict through compromise between parties. This includes the fine art of haggling over prices.

[Ball]

Salesmanship isn't a skill it is a set of lores derived off of a number of skills.

[Gossamer]

Haggle is also a skill.

[Attunement]

Proper channels must be taken for lore and skill progression. Sellin something or doing anything business related isn't actually business and sales alone. Through that there is leadership, negotiation, rhetoric, intelligence, Mathematics, organization, Socialization... The list goes on for "x" related scenarios. Try to fit the skills into those when awarding a grade as just salesmanship doesn't cover it, and it would be a headache to those already developed players who have not been awarded the skill.

As ball has stated lore is more important here.

[Aoren]

This is just my two cents, take it or leave it. I mean no disrespect and I can see where the inspiration for proposing such a skill comes from however, I think it is unnecessary.

A business transaction to me is a culmination of several different skills. Those skills being the art of negotiating a good deal, pulling off diplomacy in tight situations, persuading an otherwise doubting mind toward your point of view and impressing them with your turn of phrase and wit through the ability to use rhetorical speech. It is my opinion, and solely that, that a combination of these things is what makes a deal sweet or sour. Use them effectively in conjunction with each other along with your craftsmanship and trade skills and that is what makes you a potent businessman or businesswoman.

[Konrad Venger]

Hmm. Okay, all that makes sense: a culmination of several rather than just one, homogenized Skill. Gotcha.