My 2 cents to the discussion.
1. If you went through all the trouble to describe your character and it was accepted until it caused some (IMO) meaningless friction it shows a bit of thin-skinned-ness on the part of all involved. Man up and deal with the gruff old man being gruff.
2. It's my opinion that player should never, never ever, be able to lean social rolls against fellow players. Tabletop RPGs are about playing not only what you want to play, but in a way, are actually capable of acting out. If one player wants to be a gruff old man who might eventually have a kinship with the fellow PCs and another player wants to be a glamorous face who can lead the party then they need to actually be capable of that. Otherwise what one player wants to play can get cut into and disassembled by another players weight of dice.
I've played in a tabletop game where the GM allowed opposed social rolls, the social-boosted player happened to be horrible at actually acting or making convincing arguments but excellent at stacking various plusses against the rest of the party. The group disbanded quickly because we didn't like being the "Social Monkey and his various goons" party.
Edit: Let me explain my view of social skills, maybe it might help someone.
I like your mentality, however as a GM, I have a lot less patience than I used to for arguments at the table (Maybe I'm now becoming the Grumpy old man?
)
If two PC's, in character, are at loggerheads over an issue and it's hogging game-time, I definitely call for a social roll, audjudicate accordingly, and move on.
I've come to accept this method after having too many sessions abandoned because PC's (*cough* Stubborn Players) couldn't agree on a course of action, and spent tens of minutes, hours (and in one case, weeks) arguing. As a GM, I consider it a fair call to say:
'
Enough. This is a game world, with game rules, which are now being applied.'
Hell, in SR4, the
Leadership skill has the
Persuasion specialisation. What the hell is that for, if it's not to convince your fellow PC's onm a particular course of action
'Errr, I don't think that's a good idea.'
'
Sure it is!' (rolls Leadership/Persuasion)
'Grumbles, OK, we'll try it your way, but this better work!'
Can it cause Player friction? Yes.
However seeing as I only use it when Player/PC friction is already past a certain point, so for me it has certainly solved more problems thatn it causes....
