Contests to change reaction roll results

[Steve Jackson]

Rather than rules for rerolls and re-re-rolls, how about:

Changing Reactions
A bad reaction roll does not have to be the end of the scene. PCs can make a better offer, change their approach . . . roleplay it! The GM may choose to allow a new reaction roll, though perhaps at a penalty. The “contest” system (p. 00) can be used if the PCs can suggest a way to impress the NPCs.

Secret Reactions
If the characters hire a non-player character as a specialist, lackey, or extra sword arm, the GM may make a secret reaction roll to find out how his NPC really feels about his bosses. This will help him decide how the NPC feels if he’s placed in great danger or given a profitable opportunity to defect.

[JLV]

That seems pretty good at first blush. Really, reaction rolls should serve more as a guide to roleplaying than as a substitute for it.

However, since the burden of roleplaying ALL of the NPCs falls on the GM, I think that having some kind of system in place that allows him to "roll-play" some of it would be a plus -- it enables him to switch up without having to "think" about it too much, and keep the pace of the game fast. Still, maybe that's as simple as the GM building a couple of tables for his own guidance in these matters...

[zot]

Originally Posted by Steve Jackson

Rather than rules for rerolls and re-re-rolls, how about:

Changing Reactions
A bad reaction roll does not have to be the end of the scene. PCs can make a better offer, change their approach . . . roleplay it! The GM may choose to allow a new reaction roll, though perhaps at a penalty. The “contest” system (p. 00) can be used if the PCs can suggest a way to impress the NPCs.

Secret Reactions
If the characters hire a non-player character as a specialist, lackey, or extra sword arm, the GM may make a secret reaction roll to find out how his NPC really feels about his bosses. This will help him decide how the NPC feels if he’s placed in great danger or given a profitable opportunity to defect.

That sounds perfect to me since social contests should work regardless of the situation.