Thursday, March 26, 2026

Making the reaction table a percentile table of silliness

The party encounters a dungeon Vulcan and 
they bond over a shared love of Landru
I was curious about the Mentzer Basic reaction rolls. They use 2d6, but have up to further rolls. It felt like too much, so I figured out the percentage chance for each one and spitballed some reasons why it goes that way. I was imagining porks and dungeon dinos for some reason. Hopefully I covered a gamut of monster interactions with PCs.

First the original table, then my percentile version.
2: Immediate Attack

3-5: Possible attack, roll again*:
  2-8: Attack
  9-12: Uncertain, roll again*:
    2-5: Attack
    6-8: Leave
    9-12: Friendly
6-8: Uncertain, roll again*:
  2-5: Attack
  6-8: Negotiate, roll again*:
    2-5: Attack
    6-8: Leave
    9-12: Friendly
  9-12: Friendly
9-11: Possibly friendly, roll again*:
  2-5: Uncertain, roll again*:
    2-5: Attack
    6-8: Leave
    9-12: Friendly
  6-12: Friendly

12: Immediately Friendly

And now for my version

d100  Reaction How it goes (until the PCs bungle it up)
01~03AttackCharges right at you! Maximum hatred! Diehard morale!
04~21AttackAggressively rears up, decides you ain't all that, and launches in!
22~23AttackUncertain circling turns into a sudden strike! #youJustGotProbed
24~35AttackInitial hesitation leads to hostility! "Why are you blinking like that?!"
36~41AttackCurious Sniffing or negotiations break down into combat.
42~43AttackApparent friendliness was a ruse or misunderstanding.
44~46LeavesMonster decides you aren't worth the trouble. You been working out?
47~55LeavesAfter a tense standoff, the monster stalks away.
56~58LeavesMonster considers an alliance, but chooses to exit. Maybe impress it later.
59~60FriendlyJeering, hackles, or growls give way to curiosity.
61~66FriendlySuccessful negotiation leads to a bond. Let's kill together!
67~78FriendlyHesitation resolves into a helpful attitude. Temporary alliance?
79~80FriendlyUncertain at first, but comes to accept you. Racism is over!
81~97FriendlyNaturally amicable encounter. Licks you or compliments dress.
98~100FriendlyImmediate and enthusiastic friendship. Hello, I'm not creepy! I have a gift for you!

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4 comments:

  1. I like the associated monster miens with the results! Helpful prompts at the table.

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  2. This is a common misread of the rule. The reason for multiple rolls is so that after each the party can do things to get bonuses on their next roll. It says this in the rules text but not the rules table.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh? TIL. I need to crack open the book again.

      Delete
    2. Yeah. I dunno i guess its buried in the rules text or something but it is 100% there

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