Guards Persuasion

[r3b0rN]

Does 'I have a secret task' ever work ? I have 18 + 2 speech whereas the guards have only 15 and still the option fails everytime. Did anyone ever have success with persuasion attempt on a guard ?

[littlesake]

what are you trying to do?

you can talk your way out of stealing but not murdering in town square during day time when everyone witnesses it...

you can see it on your compass bar on top...if its only a bounty (a bag of coins), the you are ok...if its jail bars, then you are screwed...

[r3b0rN]

I tried to aim at the guard and then sheathed my bow but it was too late. I did pay him but I was wondering if the options for speech, charisma and fear actually work. I thought having higher numbers on the scale is what determines your success rate.

[littlesake]

they do work...but the success rate also depends on the nature of your crime...

I know that you cant convince the gurads to let you go for murdering in broad day light ... but not sure aiming at is such a severe thing though...but as I said you can check it by looking at the top bar...if its jail bars, you have to serve your terms...

[Enola Gay]

in the first few hours of the game it did, now it never does.

[Drakzen]

It's worked once for me.

Though I have threatened a bailif and some guards and they succeded which was very amusing since my Henry Is mostly lightly armoured xD

I believe the higheer numbers just give you more of a chance at success.

[Revolucas]

Tutorial for speech tells you that it's not only the skill roll that matters, it's how you look. If you are dirty with a bloody sword you aren't going to convince a noble or guard. Different outfits have different effects on certain NPCs. Also, reputation plays a role as well.


Straight from the tutorial:

It's not just about the stats though; the outcome is influenced by other factors, e.g. your reputation, whether you are dirty or bleeding, etc. If you can't outdo the nimble tongue of a merchant, for example, you may want to poison him first and than he will be easier to persuade. Or if you lead a guard away from his friends, he'll be easier to intimidate.

[Skaldy]

Always a success for me,

[PurpleMonkeyDishWasher]

Originally posted by Revolucas:

It's not just about the stats though; the outcome is influenced by other factors, e.g. your reputation, whether you are dirty or bleeding, etc. If you can't outdo the nimble tongue of a merchant, for example, you may want to poison him first and than he will be easier to persuade. Or if you lead a guard away from his friends, he'll be easier to intimidate.

Was having trouble with this. Never seemed to work so I tested this out when I shot a rabbit too close to the herbalist in the woods and she freaked out. Got stopped in town about "killing someone's livestock."

Kept failing the persuasion until I decided to let a lightly armored guard that was far from backup approach me. Intimidation worked like a charm when he can't call his buddies.

Tested it again. Even isolated from backup, a guard in plate armor won't be intimidated even by my bloody mace. Changed tactics. Threw on my fanciest garb and told him I was in service to Sir Radzig and he best watch his tone. Worked like a charm.

In short, depends on the guard catching you. Alone and lightly armored, intimidate. Tough and has buddies close by, pretend to be an outraged noble.