Host
The Host is the social specialist - charismatic, charming, and skilled at reading people and handling negotiations.
Overview
Role: Focused Specialist - Social Expert
Specialty: Social (negotiating, charming, persuading)
Narrative: You’re the face of the restaurant, skilled at reading people and handling any social situation with grace and charm.
Mechanical Identity: Automatic +2 to Social stat + 2 points to distribute. This makes you the best negotiator and diplomat in the party.
Character Sheet
See Character Sheet Design for complete sheet structure. See Character Mechanics for resolution rules.
Identity Section
Character Name: [Choose your Host’s name]
Role: Host
Role Description: Social specialist who handles negotiations, charms clients, and ensures every interaction goes smoothly.
Exploration Stats
The Host gets automatic +2 to Social + 2 points to distribute:
Foraging: [ ] (distribute your 2 points)
- Finding and identifying ingredients in the wild
- Knowing what’s edible and what’s valuable
Combat: [ ] (distribute your 2 points)
- Fighting creatures for protein
- Defending the party from threats
Social: +2 (automatic specialty bonus)
- Negotiating with merchants and NPCs
- Charming, bribing, or persuading
Point Allocation: You have 2 additional points to distribute between Foraging, Combat, and Social.
Resolution: Roll d20 + stat bonus when facing exploration challenges.
Example Stat Distributions
Pure Host (Max Social)
- Foraging +0, Combat +0, Social +4
- All points invested in social challenges
- The ultimate diplomat and charmer
Host-Forager (Market Expert)
- Foraging +2, Combat +0, Social +2
- Negotiates for ingredients AND identifies quality
- Perfect for merchant-heavy dungeons
Host-Fighter (Enforcer)
- Foraging +0, Combat +2, Social +2
- Talks first, fights if necessary
- Intimidation through presence
Balanced Host (Well-Rounded)
- Foraging +1, Combat +1, Social +2
- Great at social, decent at everything else
- Team player who can support anywhere
Cooking Stats
[TBD - Cooking mechanics not yet defined]
Specialty Bonus: +4 to presentation and plating during cooking
- You make dishes look beautiful and appealing
- Expert at the final touches that impress critics
Individual Progression
Personal Reputation/Level: [ ]
- How skilled you are as a Host
- Your personal progression as a social expert
Personal Money/Wages: [ ]
- Your individual earnings
- Separate from the restaurant fund (see Restaurant Sheet Design)
Personal Equipment
Owned Gear/Tools:
- Fine dining utensils
- Presentation tools
- Elegant serving ware
- [Add equipment purchased during progression]
How to Play the Host
Your Role in the Party
Social Specialist:
- You volunteer for social challenges
- You negotiate with merchants, rivals, and NPCs
- You charm your way through obstacles
Party Face:
- Your +2 Social specialty bonus makes you the best negotiator
- You should be rolling for social encounters whenever possible
- Your expertise opens doors others can’t
Relationship Builder:
- You build connections during exploration
- You secure better deals and avoid fights
- You represent the restaurant’s reputation
Strengths
✅ Best negotiator - Your +2 Social specialty is unmatched ✅ Avoid violence - You can talk your way out of fights ✅ Cooking support - Your +4 cooking bonus helps during plating/presentation ✅ Better deals - You negotiate discounts and access to rare ingredients
Weaknesses
❌ Specialized - Only automatic bonus in one stat (Social) ❌ Foraging/Combat - You need to invest points or rely on teammates ❌ Narrow focus - If social encounters are rare, your specialty doesn’t shine
Tips for Playing
During Exploration:
- Always volunteer for social encounters
- Negotiate with merchants for better prices
- Charm rivals and NPCs to avoid fights
- Build relationships that might pay off later
During Cooking:
- Handle presentation and plating
- Make the dish visually stunning
- Your +4 bonus makes you crucial during final touches
During Progression:
- Invest in presentation gear to enhance your specialty
- Consider reputation-building upgrades
- Build connections in high-class restaurants
Host in Different Modes
Solo Play (NPC Host)
As an NPC in the Chef’s crew:
- Provides +2 Social bonus during exploration
- Handles social encounters, merchants, and rivals
- Gives +4 bonus during plating/presentation in cooking
Group Play (Player Host)
As a player specialist:
- You’re the social expert - own that role
- Volunteer for all social encounters
- Be the face of the party
- Make every dish look stunning
Example Host: Marcel the Charming
Character Name: Marcel Stat Distribution: Foraging +0, Combat +0, Social +4 (Pure Host) Concept: An impossibly charming host who can talk their way through anything
Personality: Smooth, confident, always smiling, sees every interaction as an opportunity
Play Pattern:
- Volunteers for every social encounter
- Talks first, always
- Negotiates for better deals and rare access
- Makes every dish a work of art
- Completely avoids combat
Equipment: Silver serving platter, fine dining toolkit, elegant pocket watch