EXPRESSION
Description: This is your ability to get your point across clearly, whether through conversation, poetry, or even in 140 characters or fewer. Characters with high Expression can phrase their opinions or beliefs in a manner that cannot be easily ignored (even if their opinions are misinformed). As such, this Talent covers all manner of communication, where getting your point across and being understood by your audience matters. This includes both creative writing, such as poetry and screenplays to owner’s manuals, speech writing and debate.
Allowed Specialties: Punditry, Poetry, Debate, Sermons, Lecturing, Creative Writing, Speech Writing, Technical Writing
Rules: In most cases, getting your point across is a simple Manipulation + Expression roll vs a difficulty determined by what you’re trying to accomplish. Eating the Irish is a harder sell than rocking the vote.
Expression is typically paired with Charisma for Poetry, Punditry or Sermons, with Manipulation for Debate, with Wits for Creative Writing (including satire), and with Intelligence for Lecturing or Technical Writing. You are free to suggest alternatives.
A character with the Speech Writing specialty can roll Intelligence + Expression (difficulty 7) to write a speech or prepare a statement ahead of time. Success on this roll reduces the difficulty of the subsequent speech by one. This could be a sermon, lecture or a Leadership roll. Failure has no effect.
Story Example: Whose story will the Prince believe — yours or your enemy’s? Roll Manipulation + Expression, resisted by your rival’s Manipulation + Expression.