12-12-2018, 06:06 AM | #21 | |||
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Wellington, NZ
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Re: When do you use Reaction Rolls?
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Rupert Boleyn "A pessimist is an optimist with a sense of history." |
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12-12-2018, 07:12 AM | #22 |
Join Date: Feb 2016
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Re: When do you use Reaction Rolls?
Even without predetermined reactions, I do not think that people will change their principles or their ethics for PCs with high reaction modifiers. A mother may invite the PC to eat dinner with her children but would not invite the PC to eat her children for dinner. Adversaries may be willing to not torture and execute the PC when captured, but they will probably not let the PC go with any of their equipment (to some adversaries, stripping the PC nude before letting them go unharmed may be the height of mercy).
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12-12-2018, 07:50 AM | #23 |
Join Date: May 2007
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Re: When do you use Reaction Rolls?
One "houserule" of mine is, when Player Characters earn a good reaction role (or succeed at an influence roll), but the NPCs' duty, morals, or whatever still require them to oppose the PC, to give the NPCs penalties to any success roles in their attempt to do so (they're trying to stop the PCs, but they're feeling conflicted about it). I feel like this strikes a useful balance between making Reaction Bonus advantages conditionally useless and making them behave like mind control.
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12-12-2018, 08:23 AM | #24 |
GURPS FAQ Keeper
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Kyïv, Ukraine
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Re: When do you use Reaction Rolls?
My opinion as a player about such cases is "If something descriptive is a common source of a penalty, take a disadvantage and at least get points for roleplaying it!".
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12-12-2018, 08:28 AM | #25 | |
GURPS FAQ Keeper
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Kyïv, Ukraine
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Re: When do you use Reaction Rolls?
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12-12-2018, 08:38 AM | #26 |
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Lawrence, KS
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Re: When do you use Reaction Rolls?
In my current GURPS campaign, the social skills monster of the party, Hanno, has Business Acumen 2, Status 1, and Honest Face, which adds up to +4 if everything is just right. He mostly relies on his Diplomacy-17 and Savoir-Faire (High Society)-19. For example, in his current search for a wife, he did very well with one of the prospects with a Disarming Smile roll. . . .
I think "I can buy this; how much will it get me?" may be looking at the matter backward. Yes, it's possible, in GURPS, to come up with reaction modifiers that will give you Excellent reactions from 50% or more of the people you deal with, so that you end up surrounded by passionate devotees who adore you as if you were an incarnate god. Do you want to be playing that character? And will it fit into the GM's idea for a campaign, or will it disrupt it, as you walk through the world recruiting disciples? Or might it be better to aim for less amazing reaction rolls and buy traits that will produce that outcome?
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12-12-2018, 10:20 AM | #27 |
Join Date: Oct 2014
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Re: When do you use Reaction Rolls?
I use reaction rolls when an NPC has no particular reasons to like or dislike a PC, and I treat it as a discount Influence roll.
You meet a random merchant who has no reason to like/dislike you, in a culture with haggling? If you roll well, you have better price than you would normally have, but not as much as with a dedicated Merchant skill. You meet a merchant whose entire family you saved a week ago? No roll needed, he offers you his supplies at the price it cost him to acquire them. You're Not On The List? On a high enough Reaction Roll, the bouncer lets you in anyways, unless he has good reasons not to. If the bouncer doesn't let you in, you have to try shenanigans like illusions, stealthing your entry or bribing him, or other stuff really. On a great reaction roll, you get to claim one person as your bodyguard, provided s/he looks the part. Or you might just call in a Favor or ask a Patron to give you a last minute invitation. You're questioning people about the goings on in town? On a good reaction/carousing roll, you get the good info without incurring too many expenses on drinks and fine food. You're looking for a night of casual fun? Reaction roll, and any fine meals and other similar stuff are "bribes" that are just not called that. You want to convert an enemy mook to your cause? If you have good arguments (say said mook hasn't been paid for three months and you can pay them the amount), on a normal reaction the mook calls in sick just the day you plan your attack, on a good reaction he defects (not necessarily fighting at your side mind you, but at the very least deserting and leaving you alone from now on) and gives you enough info to help you get his friends to defect too, on a great reaction he gives you enough info to get half the enemy force to defect. |
12-12-2018, 02:44 PM | #28 |
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Wellington, NZ
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Re: When do you use Reaction Rolls?
I generally try to do that as a player too.
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Rupert Boleyn "A pessimist is an optimist with a sense of history." |
12-12-2018, 03:48 PM | #29 |
Join Date: Feb 2016
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Re: When do you use Reaction Rolls?
One of the potential issues of a reaction bonus equal to +9/+17 is that it greatly increases the effect of influence skills. Even if the character possessed IQ and used Diplomacy at a default, they would have an effective skill of 13/21 (depending on who they were influencing). A character with Diplomacy-10 would have an effective Diplomacy-19/27.
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12-12-2018, 06:39 PM | #30 |
Join Date: Dec 2005
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Re: When do you use Reaction Rolls?
I only roll reactions if the circumstances are unusual. Enemies are usually starting out at a poor reaction anyhow. So, if a PC is trying to push an npc out of their natural status. For instance a ragged homeless guy trying to walk into a fancy restaurant might get a reaction roll if they talk to the maitre de but an appropriately dressed person would only need a reaction roll if they make an ass of themselves.
Or, I suppose in a broader sense, I only make reaction rolls when I don't clearly know what the npc's reaction would be.
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