See also: Skills
You can make the untrue seem true, the outrageous seem plausible, and the nefarious seem ordinary. The skill encompasses cunning, fast-talking, misdirection, forgery, disguise, and outright lying. Use a Deception check to sow temporary confusion, pass as someone you're not, get someone to turn their head in the direction you point, or pass faked documents off as genuine.
Special: You can Take 10 when making a Deception (except for Feinting in combat), but you can't Take 20.
Time: A deception takes at least a Standard Action, but can take much longer if you try something elaborate. Disguises that require major changes to your physical outline, or forged documents with many safeguards, can take hours or even days.
Retry: Generally, a failed Deception check makes the target too suspicious for you to try another Deception in the same circumstances. For Feinting in combat, you may retry freely.
Deceive[]
When you want to make another character believe something that is untrue, you can attempt to deceive them. You can deceive a target in one of two ways: by producing a deceptive appearance or by communicating deceptive information.
Favorable and Unfavorable Circumstances weigh heavily on the outcome of a Deception. Two circumstances can weight against you: the Deception is hard to believe, or the action that the Deception requires the target to take goes against the target's own self-interest, nature, personality, or orders.
If it's important, the GM can distinguish between a Deception that fails because the target doesn't believe it and one that fails because it just asks too much of the target. For instance, if the Deception demands something risky of the target, and your Deception fails by 10 or less, then the target didn't so much as see through the deception as prove reluctant to go along with it even if they believe it's true. If you're Deception check fails by 11 or more, they have seen through the Deception (and would have done so even if it had not placed any demand on them).
A successful Deception check indicates that the target reacts as you wish, at least for a short time, or the target believes something that you want them to believe. For example, you could use a deception to put someone off guard by telling them someone was behind them. At best, such a Deception would make the target glance over their shoulder. It would not cause the target to ignore you and completely turn around. Alternatively, you could use a Deception to make a Starship captain believe that they have orders to take their vessel to Tatooine. If successful, the captain would carry out their new "Orders" even though that would take quite some time, but as soon as he encounters contradictory information (such as receiving contradictory orders from their real commander, or arriving at Tatooine and discovering that no one sent for them) they will realize that they has been fooled.
| DECEPTION | CHECK MODIFIER | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|
| Simple | +5 | A Simple Deception work's in the target's favor or matches the target's expectations, and it requires nothing you don't have on hand.
Simple Deceptions include convincing a junk dealer to buy some stolen Droids; disguising yourself as someone nonspecific of similar Species, size, and gender; and creating a false ID that will pass casual inspection but not careful scrutiny. |
| Moderate | +0 | A Moderate Deception is believable and doesn't affect the target much one way or another, and you have most of the props you need.
Moderate Deceptions include convincing a suspicious guard that you're not a thief; disguising yourself as a member of another Species or gender; and creating a false ID good enough to pass visual security but not electronic screening. |
| Difficult | -5 | A Difficult Deception is a little hard to believe, puts the target at some kind or risk, or undergoes scrutiny.
Examples include convincing a group of thugs that you're willing and able to beat them in a cantina fight, forging transponder codes, impersonating an officer well enough to give troops orders, and creating false official documents good enough to pass electronic screening. |
| Incredible | -10 | An Incredible Deception is hard to believe, presents a sizable risk to the target, or requires passing intense security.
Incredible Deceptions include convincing a reputable Starship dealer to buy a stolen Imperial shuttle, impersonating someone well enough to convince an old friend, and forging false credits. |
| Outrageous | -20 | An Outrageous Deception is almost too unlikely to consider or requires materials you just don't have.
Outrageous Deceptions include impersonating a Jedi (without Force Sensitivity) well enough to fool another, claiming to be the Emperor in disguise and giving orders to Stormtroopers, and forging important documents with no proper tools or examples to work with. |
In some cases, you convey both a Deceptive Appearance and Deceptive Information. For example, if you created a falsified document (such as an official report, a letter from a senator, or orders from a military commander), you have to produce something that looks authentic (Deceptive Appearance) while also creating believable content (Deceptive Information). In this case, make a single Deception check and compare it to both the target's Perception check and Will Defense. Similarly, you might disguise yourself as an Imperial general (Deceptive Appearance) and then give false orders to a Stormtrooper (Deceptive Information). In this example, you make a Deception check ahead of time to create the disguise and another Deception check at the time you give the Stormtrooper their new orders.
Deceptive Appearance[]
When you produce a Deceptive Appearance, such as disguising your appearance or producing forged documents, make a Deception check opposed by the Perception check of any target that sees the Deception. If you succeed, that character believes that the appearance is authentic. If you fail, that target detects the Deception.
Creating a Deceptive Appearance requires at least 1 minute (10 rounds) for Simple Deceptions, 10 minutes for Moderate Deceptions, 1 hour for Difficult Deceptions, 1 day for Incredible Deceptions, or 2 weeks (10 days) for Outrageous Deceptions.
You can rush and create the Deception in less time (treating it as if it were one step easier, to a minimum of Simple), but you take a -10 penalty on your Deception check. In all cases, make a single Deception check at the time you create the Deceptive Appearance and compare your check result to the Perception check of any character who encounters it.
Deceptive Information[]
When you communicate Deceptive Information, such as telling a lie or distorting facts to lead the target to a false conclusion, make a Deception check against the Will Defense of any target that can understand you. If you succeed, the target believes that what you're telling them is true. While most cases of Deceptive Information are either verbal or written (requires the target to understand you), you can Deceive with gestures, body language, facial expressions, and so forth.
Communicating Deceptive Information requires at least a Standard Action for Simple Deceptions, a Full-Round Action for Moderate Deceptions, and 1 minute (10 rounds) or even more for Difficult, Incredible, or Outrageous Deceptions.
You can rush and communicate your Deception in less time (treating as if it were one step easier, to a minimum of Simple), but you take a -10 penalty on your Deception check. If your Deceptive Information is written, recorded, or otherwise preserved for later viewing, your original Deception check result is compared to the Will Defense of all targets who later read or observe your Deception.
Create a Diversion to Hide[]
You can use Deception to help you hide. A successful Deception check that equals or exceeds the target's Will Defense gives you the momentary diversion you need to attempt a Stealth check while the target is aware of you.
If you are the Pilot of a Vehicle, you can make Deception checks to Create a Diversion to Hide. Add your Vehicle's size modifier and Dexterity modifier to your Deception check, and take a -5 penalty if you are not Trained in the Pilot skill.
Feint[]
Make a Deception check as a Standard Action to set the DC of your opponent's Initiative check. If you beat your opponent's roll, that target is treated as Flat-Footed against the first attack you make against them in the next round. You take a -5 penalty against non-humanoid creatures or against creatures with an Intelligence lower than 3.
If you are Trained in Deception, you can Feint multiple targets at once as a Full-Round Action. You can target any number of opponents who are clearly visible and who are within 6 squares of you. Each target beyond the first imposes a -5 penalty on your Deception check. You roll just once to set the DC for your opponents' Initiative checks. Any opponent whose roll you beat is treated as Flat-Footed against the first attack you make against them in the next round.
If you are the Pilot of a Vehicle, you can make Deception checks to Feint. Add your Vehicle's size modifier and Dexterity modifier to your Deception check, and take a -5 penalty if you are not Trained in the Pilot skill. If you successfully Feint against a target, it is considered Flat-Footed against only your first attack, not those of any Gunners on your Vehicle.
Additional Deception Applications[]
The following applications of the Deception skill are compiled from the subsequent Reference Books released for Saga Edition:
Alternative Story (Trained Only)[]
Reference Book: Star Wars Saga Edition Scum and Villainy
Whenever you fail a Deception check to convey Deceptive Information or a Deceptive Appearance, you can immediately attempt a second Deception check to avert suspicion. This second check is at a -10 penalty.
Cheat (Trained Only)[]
Reference Book: Star Wars Saga Edition Scum and Villainy
When you Gamble, you can use Deception to improve your chances to win. However, you risk getting caught. When Gambling against other characters, you can substitute your Deception check for your Wisdom check, but your opponents are entitled to a Perception check to catch you in the act. If the Perception check result equals or exceeds your Deception check, they detect your cheating.
Gambling against the house is far riskier. If your Deception check fails to beat the location's security (DC 15 for common locations, DC 25 for good locations, and DC 35 or higher for the best), you are caught and the house responds as appropriate.
Create a Diversion to Hide an Item[]
Reference Book: Star Wars Saga Edition Force Unleashed Campaign Guide
You can use Deception to help you quickly hide an item while you are being observed. A successful Deception check that equals or exceeds the target's Will Defense gives you the momentary diversion you need to attempt a Stealth check to hide the item on or near your person while the target is aware of you.
Feign Haywire (Droids Only)[]
Reference Book: Star Wars Saga Edition Force Unleashed Campaign Guide
You can simulate a Droid going haywire by popping open some of your access panels, moving erratically, and making an assortment of electronic and mechanical noises. As a Full-Round Action, you can make a Deception check, comparing the result to the Will Defense of all targets within line of sight. If the result of the Deception check is equal to or greater than a target's Will Defense, that target is considered Flat-Footed against you.
If you take any Action, the Deception ends at the end of your turn, and targets are not considered Flat-Footed against you after the Deception ends.
Innuendo (Trained Only)[]
Reference Book: Star Wars Saga Edition Scum and Villainy
You can use Deception to transmit a secret message to another character Trained in Deception. You do so by using subtle hand gestures, slipping in code words, and using body language. The DC depends on the complexity of the communication. A simple message in which you convey general concepts is a DC 10. Complex messages that involve multiple steps or complicated information start at DC 15 and can rise as high as DC 25.
Any character who can both see and hear the transmitted message is entitled to a Perception check to decipher the message. The DC is equal to the Deception check DC. The Gamemaster can modify the DC for environmental factors such as loud noise, dim lighting, and distance.