Reaction Rolls & Morale Checks

The higher the roll, the better the reaction.
Roll 3d, add modifiers, then refer to the Reaction Table.
You can substitute an Influence Roll for a Reaction Roll.

See Full Reaction Table at the bottom of the page.

Quick Reference Reaction Rolls Table

• Personal Appearance and Behavior: advantages and disadvantages.
• Skills: Successful roll against an appropriate skill (Administration to deal with bureaucrats, Carousing when partying, etc.)
  • Diplomacy, and Fast-Talk give an auto +2 to reactions at skill 20+.
• Species/Racial or National Biases: usually penalties.
• Appropriate Behavior by the Players: a good approach should be worth +1 or more! An inappropriate approach should give the party -1 or -2.

Influence Roll Instead of Reaction Roll

• pick one Influence skill:
  • Diplomacy, Fast-Talk, Intimidation, Savoir-Faire, Sex Appeal, Streetwise.
  • Then roll a Quick Contest: Influence skill chosen vs. target's Will.
    • A success nets you a Good response. Using Diplomacy the GM also rolls a regular Reaction Roll and uses the better of the two reactions.

Commercial Transactions:
-1 per 10% by which proposed price favors the PC, relative to the fair price.
+1 per 10% by which proposed price favors the NPC.
+1 if the PC has Merchant skill at any level.
+2 if the PC has Merchant skill at level 20+.

Never below 50% of fair price, unless NPC has a plan…!

Potential Combat Reactions:
When meeting a group of armed strangers…!
+1 to +5 if the PCs seem notably stronger than the NPCs.
-1 to -5 if the PCs seem notably weaker than the NPCs.
-2 if the PCs have no language in common with the NPCs.
-2 if the PCs are intruders on the NPCs’ home turf.

Request for Aid
+1 if the request is very simple.
-1 to -3 (or more) if the request is very complex or unreasonable.
-1 if the request would inconvenience the NPC or cost him money.
-2 or more if the request would endanger the NPC’s job or social status.
-1 or more if the request would physically endanger the NPC. This depends on the degree of the risk and the bravery of the NPC!

Information Requests
-1 for a complex question; -2 for a very complex question.
-3 if the NPC thinks it’s none of the PCs’ business!
-3 or more if an answer would endanger the NPC.
+1 to +4 if the PCs offer a bribe. To be effective, a bribe must be appropriate in size; use the Money Talks rule for Contacts (Soc), reading the bonus as a reaction modifier. It must also be discreet. Not everyone will take a cash payoff. You don’t offer a newspaper reporter a $50 bill – he would be insulted – but buy him a good dinner and he’ll appreciate it.
+2 to +4 if the NPC is a librarian, historian, scribe, teacher, etc. Most such people are naturally disposed to help any seeker of knowledge.

Note: If the NPC is a professional information dealer, roll for a commercial transaction instead. If the PCs are interrogating the NPC, they must use the Interrogation skill.

Loyalty
When the PCs hire someone, the GM should determine his loyalty. This determines only the NPC’s attitude – not his competence. Loyalty reactions are known to the GM, but not to the players (unless they successfully use Empathy (M)).
The GM should record each NPC’s loyalty secretly, and let it guide him in determining all that NPC’s later behavior. Note that loyalty can change; see Changes in Loyalty (p. 519).
+1 per 10% the PCs offer above the going pay rate.
-1 per 10% the PCs offer below the going pay rate.
+2 or more if the PCs are serving a cause that the NPC believes in, or a leader to whom the NPC is very loyal.

• or - as appropriate for the PCs’ reputation in the area (if any).

Morale Check

When NPCs are losing a fight make a Reaction Roll as a Morale Check. A 13 (Good) or higher indicates fleeing or surrender, not sudden friendship.

Reaction Table