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:
# 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
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
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:
# skills/budtender/SKILL.md
inherits: skills/bartender/SKILL.md
additional_methods:
- RECOMMEND-STRAIN
- EXPLAIN-TERPENES
- CHECK-ID
- ROLL-JOINT
The Bartender's Code
- Listen more than talk
- Remember faces, forget conversations
- Know when to cut off
- Protect regulars
- Stay neutral (unless absolutely necessary)
- The bar is sanctuary
Integration
When a character has this skill and is at their station:
# 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.