Why Doesn't Elan use his diplomacy skill more often?

[Sewblon]

In the introduction to Dungeon Crawlin Fools Elan used his diplomacy skill on two captured goblins to make them helpful. He has never used his diplomacy skill since. Shouldn't he technically be able to make all hostile creatures who understand Common at least indifferent? I know that Elan is an idiot but wouldn't the other members of The Order of The Stick think to have him do that? Even with the needs of drama and comedy taken into account, you would think that Mr.Burlew could make more than one joke about the diplomacy skill since he wrote an article in the Gaming section about how he doesn't like its wording in the rulebooks.
You mean like here (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0101.html), here (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0387.html), or here (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0558.html)? You have a point, but since his diplomacy skill apparently works so well on goblins you would think he could just use it on all the goblins he ever met. The crying threat probably would have worked on me too though.

[BRC]

This answers your question (http://www.giantitp.com/FAQ.html#faq7)

[ericgrau]

The plot doesn't usually make that option available. Even when Elan is asked to convince an NPC of something, he considers it inappropriate.

[theinsulabot]

fight fight fight the raging hordes!!



you suck!

[spectralphoenix]

In the introduction to Dungeon Crawlin Fools Elan used his diplomacy skill on two captured goblins to make them helpful. He has never used his diplomacy skill since. Shouldn't he technically be able to make all hostile creatures who understand Common at least indifferent? I know that Elan is an idiot but wouldn't the other members of The Order of The Stick think to have him do that? Even with the needs of drama and comedy taken into account, you would think that Mr.Burlew could make more than one joke about the diplomacy skill since he wrote an article in the Gaming section about how he doesn't like its wording in the rulebooks. I just hate when a story introduces what is essentially a panacea and never mentions it again.

You mean like here (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0101.html), here (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0387.html), or here (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0558.html)?

[Godskook]

You mean like here (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0101.html), here (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0387.html), or here (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0558.html)?

In order, that's intimidate, bluff, and diplomacy.

[pflare]

Because sometimes it would solve the problem to easily (as someone already pointed out) and sometimes there isn't the right opertunity. Also if this last arc has proven anything its that the oots turn to fighting first instead of using other options ( as pointed out by Celia). But mostly because its Elan and it probably doesn't occur to him.

[Sholos]

Also, it's Rich's world, and if he's using his own rules about diplomacy...

[Kurald Galain]

It's quite possible that Elan has only one rank in diplomacy.

[John Cribati]

Remember, Elan isn't exactly the brightest bulb in the box, and only shows a moment of genius once in a while. If he were constantly able to
a) successfully determine when using Diplomacy would be a good course of action, and b) Successfully use diplomacy when it's required, it wouldn't be "in-character," so to speak.

Plus, using diplomacy would get them out of trouble too much, and he knows that staying out of trouble won't advance the plot. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0556.html)

[Kish]

It's quite possible that Elan has only one rank in diplomacy.
Except that he mentioned in OtOoPCs having spent "a ton" of skill points in Charisma-related skills. Then he completely blew the minds of the two goblin prisoners with a Diplomacy check.

[Kurald Galain]

Except that he mentioned in OtOoPCs having spent "a ton" of skill points in Charisma-related skills. Then he completely blew the minds of the two goblin prisoners with a Diplomacy check.

I can't seem to find that quote - which page is it on?

Regardless, "Charisma-related skills" includes Bluff, Diplomacy, Disguise, Gather Information, Handle Animal, Intimidate, Perform, and Use Magic Device. We do know that Elan has low intelligence (and thus does not have nearly as many skill points as he could have) and that he has decent ranks in several kinds of Perform. And then he completely blew the minds of the one low-HD teenage goblin prisoner with what appears to be an intimidate check.

So yeah, none of the above implies that he needs any ranks at all in diplomacy.

[Kish]

I can't seem to find that quote - which page is it on?
Oh I see. It's in On the Origin of PCs, right before the scene where he blows the minds of the (two) goblin prisoners, by saying explicitly that he's making a Diplomacy check.

Edit: Wait. Not OtOoPCs. Dungeon Crawling Fools, the introduction.

[Kurald Galain]

Oh I see. It's in On the Origin of PCs, right before the scene where he blows the minds of the (two) goblin prisoners, by saying explicitly that he's making a Diplomacy check.
Okay, sure. But just because he explicitly made a diplomacy check once doesn't imply that he has more than one rank in diplomacy.

[Red XIV]

Because he's an idiot. He might not be as much of an idiot as he used to be, but he's still an idiot.

[Lord Seth]

This answers your question (http://www.giantitp.com/FAQ.html#faq7)Am I the only one for who the FAQ displays really strangely? The symbols are messed up; for example, instead of apostrophes, there are periods.

[Dixieboy]

Am I the only one for who the FAQ displays really strangely? The symbols are messed up; for example, instead of apostrophes, there are periods.

No. taking up space

[derfenrirwolv]

Because the DC is modified way, WAY up by the stupid things elan says.