Persuasion - an IFDB Poll

There are many games in which the player convinces someone to do something. This may be by undertaking to perform a quest or exchange an item, by making a threat, or in still other ways; but almost invariably, it will be by giving them a reason they didn't have before.

I am not looking for those games.

What I am looking for: games in which the player can persuade by force of argument -- by showing someone a reason they may not have realised they had, or that a consideration is more compelling than it seemed. For example, they might argue that to do otherwise would be cowardly, or unjust, or shirking an obligation; or that a course of action would not, on the evidence, have the effects they suppose; or that it doesn't serve their interests, or would make them unhappy, or would hurt someone they love.

This doesn't have to be the focus of the game, or even a large part of it. If a game tries to portray reasoned argument or has something to teach about how this might best be done, I'd like to hear about it. If you're not sure if something counts, please err on the side of inclusion, or ask about it -- I don't think there's much IF like this, and would prefer the poll to be too broad than too narrow.

Add a comment

	Alabaster, by John Cater, Rob Dubbin, Eric Eve, Elizabeth Heller, Jayzee, Kazuki Mishima, Sarah Morayati, Mark Musante, Emily Short, Adam Thornton, Ziv Wities 3 votes (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Sam Kabo Ashwell... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --IFforL2... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Malasana... Vote for this game

	Whom The Telling Changed, by Aaron A. Reed 2 votes "Influence your..." [+]"Influence your people towards peace or violence by shaping the telling of a story and offering glosses on its meaning." () --Adam Myers... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --IFforL2... Vote for this game

	shadows on the mirror, by Chrysoula Tzavelas 1 vote (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Sam Kabo Ashwell... Vote for this game

	Tapestry, by Daniel Ravipinto 1 vote "Overcome your own guilt which is now personified" [+]"Overcome your own guilt which is now personified: You do that through reasoned debate. Hesitate or fail to make a valid argument, and your guilt overtakes you." --mjhayes... Vote for this game

	The Master of the Land, by Pseudavid 1 vote "You are an..." [+]"You are an upper-class young woman from a family who has been the subject of gossip recently. You have your own goals. You want to be able to wear pants while studying plants in the forest but first need to get permission (unbelievable, I know) from a respectable figurehead. Then there is the reputation of your family and other things on your mind that you need to address. Over several hours you must dance, talk, debate, and investigate to meet your own ends." --Kinetic Mouse Car... Vote for this game

	De Baron, by Victor Gijsbers 1 vote "You may threaten..." [+]"You may threaten or fight some of the folks you encounter, but you can persuade as well (including the titular Baron, if I remember things right)." () --Molly... Vote for this game

Is there another game that you think should be on this list? Just fill in the title of a game you'd like to vote for.

Poll created on October 12, 2013