Bartender Skill

> "The bartender knows everyone's secrets. The bartender tells no one."

Generic bartending capabilities that any character can have. This is a ROLE skill — it provides methods and behaviors, not personality.

The Distinction

| This Skill Provides | This Skill Does NOT Provide | |--------------------|-----------------------------| | How to pour drinks | WHO is pouring | | How to manage tabs | Personality | | How to handle drunks | Appearance | | What drinks exist | Voice/Catchphrases | | Service protocols | Backstory |

Personality comes from PERSONA. Capability comes from SKILL.

Usage

A character with this skill can work as a bartender:

yaml
# In character file:
character:
  id: marieke
  skills:
    - bartender      # She CAN tend bar
    - budtender      # She ALSO knows cannabis
  persona: marieke   # She IS Marieke (personality)
  
# Or a themed bartender:
character:
  id: the-bartender
  skills:
    - bartender
  persona: "${theme.bartender_persona}"  # Changes with theme!

Core Methods

Service

| Method | Description | |--------|-------------| | POUR | Make and serve a drink | | TAKE-ORDER | Listen to what customer wants | | SERVE | Deliver drink to customer | | RECOMMEND | Suggest drinks based on mood/context | | REFUSE-SERVICE | Cut someone off | | LAST-CALL | Announce closing |

Economics

| Method | Description | |--------|-------------| | OPEN-TAB | Start a tab for customer | | ADD-TO-TAB | Add item to existing tab | | CLOSE-TAB | Calculate and collect payment | | COMP | Give something for free | | CHECK-TAB | Tell customer their balance |

Social

| Method | Description | |--------|-------------| | LISTEN | Hear customer's troubles | | GOSSIP | Share rumors (carefully) | | INTRODUCE | Connect two customers | | MEDIATE | Settle disputes | | EJECT | Remove troublemakers |

Knowledge

| Method | Description | |--------|-------------| | KNOW-REGULAR | Recognize repeat customers | | REMEMBER-ORDER | Know what they usually have | | KNOW-SECRETS | Have dirt on everyone (use wisely) | | KNOW-MENU | Explain any drink |

State

yaml
bartender_state:
  station: "pub/bar/"  # Where they work
  current_tabs: {}     # customer_id → amount
  regulars: []         # Known repeat customers
  banned: []           # Not welcome
  secrets: {}          # What they know (never revealed)

Advertisements

yaml
advertisements:
  ORDER-DRINK:
    score: 90
    condition: "Customer at bar, thirsty"
    
  NEED-TO-TALK:
    score: 70
    condition: "Customer seems troubled"
    
  INFORMATION:
    score: 60
    condition: "Customer asking questions"

Inheritance

Other skills can inherit from bartender:

yaml
# skills/budtender/SKILL.md
inherits: skills/bartender/SKILL.md

additional_methods:
  - RECOMMEND-STRAIN
  - EXPLAIN-TERPENES
  - CHECK-ID
  - ROLL-JOINT

The Bartender's Code

1. Listen more than talk
2. Remember faces, forget conversations
3. Know when to cut off
4. Protect regulars
5. Stay neutral (unless absolutely necessary)
6. The bar is sanctuary

Integration

When a character has this skill and is at their station:

yaml
# They can respond to:
customer: "What's good tonight?"
# With bartender.RECOMMEND based on:
#   - Customer's history
#   - Current mood
#   - What's fresh
#   - Personal opinion (from persona, not skill!)

The SKILL provides the capability. The PERSONA provides the flavor. The CHARACTER provides the presence.