Monsters In Media Res

The Monster Reaction table is my favorite rule of the entire OSR. In fact, I like to use it even outside of its original purpose. For example, when I want nonbinary results (it even uses 2d6, my favorite mechanical roll). But this post is not about that. In fact, it is about using Monster Reaction to further flavor encounters.

Traditional OSR games (especially retroclones like OSE) are extremely lethal in general. That is not an error but a feature. Look at the Monster Reaction table (OSE Classic Fantasy Basic Rule p. 49) carefully. According to it, only about 2-3%* of all the encounters should start right away as combat. Almost 25% of all encounters will have unfriendly monsters but that does no mean that they will attack.

*I suck in statistics, and might be wrong, but I hope you get the point.

That opens up a lot of opportunities. In fact, considering the Monster Reaction table, most creatures met by the party will be busy with something else instead of “patrolling” the dungeon or wilderness (of course, except things like constructs and most undead).

Using regularly the Monster Reaction table is a great to inject a different feeling to your OSR games, but it does require a good deal of improvisation skill by the referee to make it work properly. Here are a few ideas to further inspire your games if you decide to use the Monster Reaction rules. They are not to be used always but should provide some help when you are at a loss on what to do. Obviously, those suggestions also use 2d6.

Monster Reaction Result: 2 or less – Hostile, attacks
2	The creature can talk, even if that is not possible to its species. It will pretend to be neutral, and offer advise, but as soon as it gets the party in trouble, it will attack cruelly and seeking to maim rather than kill. It doesn’t need to roll morale.
3-5	For some reason, the creature enters an uncontrollable berserker rage upon seeing the party. The focus of its rage might be a specific member of the party (maybe it even knows the name of the character), a type of character (elves, clerics, etc.) or something carried by them. It doesn’t need to roll morale.
6-8	The creature attacks but stays on the defensive and tries to hold the party there. It is expecting reinforcements (maybe others of its kind, or help from another monster in the adventure, or even it might be charging up a specific and unique power).
9-11	The creature is wounded from a previous encounter (roll or chose against which monster). Reduce its hit points (-1 to -4 for each Hit Dice) and final XP accordingly. It will stop attacking if the party retreats and it is more vulnerable to morale checks.
12	The creature is maimed (maybe a missing eye, scarred hide, lost natural attack, etc.) by someone like a member of the party. It will seek to avoid that specific member and might have to roll morale if attacked by him. Nonetheless, if it survives, it will desire revenge in the future.

 

Monster Reaction Result: 3-5 – Unfriendly, may attack
2	The creature deeply fears something otherwise innocuous possessed by the party. If it can get rid of it, it would love to devour, kill, or attack the party.
3-5	The creature is just a scout and will attempt to attract the party to its allies. Only then it would risk an attack.
6-8	The creature dislikes the party but desires something else (a treasure, control over a specific place, to defeat another monster). That is more important… at the moment.
9-11	The creature only hesitates because it was wounded in a previous encounter (roll or chose against which monster). Reduce its hit points (-1 to -4 for each Hit Dice) and final XP accordingly. It will try to buy time to heal or find refuge.
12	The creature misjudges the power of the party, believing them to be a lot more powerful than they look. If given proof otherwise it will attack.

 

Monster Reaction Result: 6-8 – Neutral, uncertain
2	The creature is actually an outsider, like the party, and desires some treasure or magic item in the adventure. It may even ally with the party but it will never divide its desired spoils.
3-5	The creature is running from another encounter (roll or chose another encounter). Probably scared. The pursuers will arrive soon.
6-8	The creature will slowly try to flee, but only to keep following the party from a distance, until it makes up its mind.
9-11	The creature just killed another monster (roll or chose another encounter). For now, it just wants to rest or heal. If necessary, reduce its hit points (and XP) to reflect the previous combat.
12	The creature seeks something possessed by the party (food, a new weapon, a component for a spell, or something weird that is otherwise essential to it). It is willing to trade or follow the party for a while to convince them. It will flee if hurt and probably it will be hostile in future encounters.

 

Monster Reaction Result: 9-11 – Indifferent, uninterested
2	The creature is not what is seems and is in fact more powerful than it looks. It could be a shapechanger, spirit, construct, extraplanar, etc. (if in doubt, just change it to a magic creature with a few HD more or make resist to non-magical attacks maybe). It does not understand pretty much anything about the world.
3-5	The creature is obsessed with hunting or killing another monster (roll or choose another monster). If the targeted monster is a potential future ally of the party that is even better.
6-8	The creature is trying to find another of its kind (its mate?), who is trapped or lost in some location of the adventure. Instead of another creature, it might be looking for an item that once belonged to it.
9-11	The creature is completely amnesic or somehow lost.
12	The creature is actually a mirage, illusion, or haunt. It will ignore the party unless interacted in a strange way (through magic, song, riddles, prayers, or offerings). At best, it might offer a place of refuge or rest. At worst, it might curse the party or force them to expend resources.

 

Monster Reaction Result: 12 or more – Friendly, helpful
2	The creature cannot tell the difference between its kind and others (or does not care). For example, if it is an orc, it will believe that all party is composed of orcs. It is possibly mad.
3-5	The creature seeks protection (or revenge) against another monster (roll or choose the monster) and it thinks the party is the answer to that.
6-8	The creature is ridiculously helpful as long as it is fed with something (rations, candles, paper, etc.) or entertained (with songs, fire, etc.). A turn or two without that and the creature becomes agitated. If the situation persists, it might flee but not before attempting to the take its “favorite” character with it (or some item that it believes to be the source of its desire, such as a wizard’s grimoire if it likes paper).
9-11	The creature is completely in love with one member of the party. It is also very possessive and jealous.
12	The creature is a civilized demihuman, polymorphed or cursed in its current form. It cannot tell the party directly of its condition, but only through signs or indirect clues.