On being Feared

[whswhs]

Originally Posted by evileeyore

Yes, a 'Bad' reaction roll becomes 'Very Bad'.

I have no idea where you get that. In the first place, a failed attempt at Intimidation does not produce a Very Bad reaction roll; you only get that with specious Intimidation, and there's nothing to suggest that Social Regard (Feared) is specious. In the second place, I don't think that the intent can be to literally turn a reaction roll into an Influence roll, where the only possible outcomes are Good and Bad (or Very Bad); I think that it still has to be possible to roll a Very Good, or Neutral, or Poor reaction—but whatever you roll is interpreted AS IF you had been threatening the person with harm.

So the question is, in what way is being limited to producing fear problematic? How does it decrease your options in dealing with people? Specifically, how does it work when you're hiring somebody, and the GM has made a reaction roll to check their loyalty?