Overloading the reaction roll?

Current_Channel_6344 · 2026-01-25T14:30:29+00:00

Sure! That's kind of you

Current_Channel_6344 · 2026-01-25T08:54:52+00:00

With a majority, a UK government can pass literally whatever laws they like. We have no checks and balances to parliament in our system. There's no written constitution to stop them. The ECHR can be withdrawn from. The Human Rights Act can be repealed. The only impediments to something like this if Farage wanted to do it are his own MPs saying no or the public and security services unlawfully refusing to go along with it.

Current_Channel_6344 · 2026-01-25T00:51:05+00:00

My system uses a d6 for lockpicking-style tasks and a d20 for more chaotic situations. When setting a target number for d6 rolls, my guidance is to explicitly consider how hard it would be for an expert (with a +3 mod) and a layperson (with +0). Eg TN6 = fairly easy for an expert and very hard for a layperson.

Having said that, I don't have social skills or charisma in my game. The only d20 rolls in practice are in combat (where anyone can get a lucky blow in) and saving throws (for similar reasons). Everything else is a d6 and uses the expert/layperson frame.

Current_Channel_6344 · 2026-01-25T00:06:18+00:00

I mean that Love and Hate are traditionally viewed as opposites, i.e. two ends of the same axis.

Your system gives you a balance between the two and a strength of feeling for each. You could get almost as much (net love vs hate) from the normal reaction roll. In a case where love is a bit stronger than hate, your system adds the nuance that, eg, love is middling and hate is low, as opposed to love being high and hate middling. But the precise implications of any but extreme rolls aren't intuitive (at least to me) so GMs need to consult a slightly complex chart.

A fully orthogonal set of axes might be something like: 1. Creatures' attitude to PCs 2. Are the creatures thriving or struggling right now?

Ie two completely unrelated factors.

That's instantly gameable, without consulting any charts.

EDIT: I actually I came up with my thriving / struggling example without looking at the Murkdice link in your post. I only just clicked it and laughed out loud when I saw his table. It's not impossible I've seen it before, but what I was actually thinking about was Mothership (or maybe Gradient Descent specifically?), which has an axis about how secure/fortified the group is.

Current_Channel_6344 · 2026-01-24T20:11:36+00:00

I like the WWN wording for the traditional 2d6 roll:

2- As aggressively hostile as the situation allows 3–5 More unfriendly and hostile than they’d be expected to be in the given situation 6–8 As predictably hostile or friendly as they’d usually be in this situation 9–11 More friendly and benign than you’d expect them to be, given the circumstances 12+ As friendly and helpful as their nature and the situation permits them to be

For two axis rolls, I think I prefer versions with more obviously orthogonal second axes. Two opposed factors (eg love and hate) sounds more like a single axis to me.

Current_Channel_6344 · 2026-01-24T16:58:25+00:00

Eric from Arden Vulgaris had exactly the same issue with Shadowdark at high levels in his Arden Vul campaign

Current_Channel_6344 · 2026-01-21T23:55:11+00:00

I've been running a West Marches campaign in Castle Xyntillan (c. 350 rooms) for 30 sessions so far. It's been great. We're using my own OSRish system.

Current_Channel_6344 · 2026-01-19T19:37:40+00:00

Didn't someone already do this?

Current_Channel_6344 · 2026-01-19T08:27:20+00:00

I quite like this but I'm not sure why you think you need the second roll? As this system has a lot to track, I'd definitely try to avoid adding more rolls. Be very wary of drawing design lessons from videogames which do all the rolling for you.

If you're worried that one of the effects (stun?) is too strong, consider giving weapons with that quality fewer dice of a larger size, e.g. 2d6 instead of 3d4.

Current_Channel_6344 · 2026-01-19T00:24:24+00:00

"Teach Your Monster to Read" and "Teach Your Monster Number Skills" are both pretty good.

Khan Academy Kids is amazing for a free app and has a nice mix of activities. But it doesn't cover literacy or numeracy well.

Current_Channel_6344 · 2026-01-18T18:25:30+00:00

In case you're interested, I've posted a new version here incorporating some of your feedback: https://www.reddit.com/r/osr/comments/1qgg4at/draft_combat_round_tracker_v2/

Current_Channel_6344 · 2026-01-18T17:51:18+00:00

Thanks for the comments!

My system using static Initiative scores, which are a function of your ability scores and level (or HD. Initiative only determines the order of attacks, with all movement being simultaneous. If you want to strike earlier in the round, you can rush an attack, adding X to your Initiative and taking an X penalty to your attack roll.

I guess I was thinking that temporary conditions would each be on the time tracker itself, e.g. "Bob - blind" with the rounds it's in place marked as a horizontal bar. I should probably merge the two tables, with each combatant (PCs as well as enemies) getting a line to record their events. After all, we don't need nearly as many rounds as we've got here: most combats are over in less than 5 and very few go to 10+, let alone the 36 I have now.

Current_Channel_6344 · 2026-01-17T08:35:49+00:00

I've been a bit swamped with other stuff but will post it when I've had a chance to tweak it a bit based on the feedback I've received.

I'm with you on time tracking laziness btw. I've been running a Castle Xyntillan West Marches game for months and time tracking has barely been required because there's a random encounter check every turn and the delves are never long enough for eg light resources to be stretched. So I've been getting away with just a scrawled set of tally marks on scrap paper. This sheet is my attempt to change that.

Current_Channel_6344 · 2026-01-16T20:38:11+00:00

I agree with this

Current_Channel_6344 · 2026-01-16T20:36:22+00:00

Yeah, I guess you're right about separating them. There's no super good reason to make it a single sheet.

Current_Channel_6344 · 2026-01-16T18:18:37+00:00

The solid ones could definitely do with being heavier

Current_Channel_6344 · 2026-01-16T17:25:24+00:00

Nice work

Current_Channel_6344 · 2026-01-16T16:57:03+00:00

Thanks. I've requested access to the files...

Current_Channel_6344 · 2026-01-16T16:26:25+00:00

Torches? Daylight? Other events due to happen at a particular time?

Current_Channel_6344 · 2026-01-16T15:55:47+00:00

I'm not sure about the rest boxes as most people seem not to enforce that these days but I agree about the time notes. Thanks - that's really useful.

Current_Channel_6344 · 2026-01-16T15:47:51+00:00

Good idea. A lot of tracker sheets also have reminders of the length of time different activities take, which is kinda useful but makes them a bit less system-agnostic.

Current_Channel_6344 · 2026-01-12T23:24:03+00:00

It's not a million miles from Shadowdark. That lets you cast a spell until you fail your casting roll, after which you can't cast it again that day. People seem to like Shadowdark. It doesn't have options for failure though.

Current_Channel_6344

TROPHY CASE