I just sent a very long email to a pen pal and then I saw a snippet of a conversation on Discord…
“Charisma is not a dump stat!” concludes Peter as we talk about some spells and Ghoul agrees: 💯!
So now I’m thinking about one of my changes to Basic D&D that I really like: I use reaction roll table with more results.
Back in 2014 Peter was already blogging about the reaction roll table. Welcome to the big hamster wheel of blogging. Always running and yet never there.
But now open your 1983 Mentzer Basic Set, Dungeon Masters Rulebook, and turn to page 22. Yes, look at that *triply-nested monstrosity*. – Riffing on 2d6: Reaction Rolls
Riffing on 2d6: Reaction Rolls
Hah, yes indeed. So that’s not the complexity I’m looking for. I want a simple 2d6 roll to help me run the encounter. I started using my own table back in 2014, too:
We used to avoid fights due to scouting, asking around, sneaking. These days we split the opposition, win some over, craft deals, build alliances and fight the rest when there is no more talking left to do. – 2014-08-21 No Dice
Now I’m thinking: my reaction roll table is pretty specific for the kinds of encounters that come up in my games. Are there perhaps other tables?
Here’s Moldvay’s table in the “Basic” column and my table in the “Meeting” column. What would three or four useful columns be, for your own campaigns?
Also note how a lowly +1 Charisma bonus already stops all immediate attacks by intelligent monsters. Is this how you run your game? I want this to be how I run my games.
+-----+--------------------------------+-------------------+---------------------+-----------------------+---------------+----+ | 2d6 | Basic | Meeting | Intrigue | Weather | Gambling | ?? | +-----+--------------------------------+-------------------+---------------------+-----------------------+---------------+----+ | 2 | Immediate attack | Attack | Betrayal | Blizzard or hailstorm | 100% in debt! | | 3 | Hostile, possible attack | Robbery | Blackmail | Heavy rain | 100% loss! | | 4 | (same) | Threats | Insults | Rain | 50% loss | | 5 | (same) | Surly | Indignation | Drizzly | 25% loss | | 6 | Uncertain, monster confused | Confused | Withdrawal | Cloudy | 10% loss | | 7 | (same) | Unsure | Delay | Occasional clouds | unchanged | | 8 | (same) | Weighing the odds | Consultations | Windy | 10% win | | 9 | No attack, monster leaves or | Take no risks | Allowances are made | Sticky | 20% win | | | considers offers | | | | | | 10 | (same) | Work together | Cooperation | Hot | 2× | | 11 | (same) | Friendly | Success | Friendly | 5× | | 12 | Enthusiastic friendship | Helpful | Victory | Perfect! | 10× | +-----+--------------------------------+-------------------+---------------------+-----------------------+---------------+----+
Don’t use the “Meeting” column for actual meetings. Or if you do, please post a report on your blog. 😆
#RPG
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In our game, saves are based on the six abilities, and we’ve recently houseruled it so that for mind control type spells, you use charisma save instead of wisdom save.
– Sandra 2022-08-10 07:51 UTC
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In my games, Charisma modifies your reaction rolls when interacting with mortals, but Wisdom modifies your reaction rolls when interacting with immortals (in addition to granting a bonus to all saves).
– Alex 2022-08-10 08:54 UTC
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For a review of older reaction roll tables, see Marcia B.’s blog post, Before and Beyond D&D Reaction Rolls.
Before and Beyond D&D Reaction Rolls
– Alex 2022-08-14 12:29 UTC
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This post reminds me of the GURPS reaction roll rules, in which the kind of encounter adjusts the effects of the reaction: commercial transactions, requests for aid, etc. There are effectively different columns for different kinds of events. It’s worth a look. (This is expanded even further in the GURPS Social Engineering sourcebook.)
– Tom Van Winkle 2022-09-02 17:22 UTC
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GURPS passed me by but I like the title „social Engineering“.
– Alex 2022-09-03 17:39 UTC