I really, really hate "roleplay it out". Last time I was in Greyhawk, I had to convince the queen of Celene that one of her ministers was plotting against her, and the DM based my success *entirely* on my own fumbling attempts to ad-lib an in-character speech.

I didn't do well. =P

So as a rule I like social mechanics. But you have a point about the mind control problem as well. Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with Weapons of the Gods or God-Machine Chronicles, and I didn't really follow your explanation of what you're doing instead.