How the 2d6 reaction roll works

How does a monster react to the characters’ presence? Sometimes we know: the hungry owlbear attacks, the wise sphinx converses. But sometimes we don’t know, or we want to shake it up. Or we want to be surprised as DMs too. In that case, the 2d6 reaction roll is a simple and effective tool to gauge monster (or NPC) reactions.

Here’s how I use the technique. When the characters encounter a monster, I roll 2d6 and consult the table below:

Sometimes that’s it. On a low roll the monster immediately attacks. On a high roll, it is friendly. If the roll comes out somewhere in the middle, the characters have a chance to react. They might calm the monster down, or offer it food, or try to persuade the cautious NPC. I usually have them roll an Ability check to see if they’re successful. If they are, they defuse the situation. If their roll fails or isn’t quite high enough, we can roll the 2d6 again to see how the monster or NPC reacts. With the -4 or +4 modifier the table quickly brings the monster to attack or become friendly.

Make random encounters interesting

The best use case for the 2d6 reaction roll is to spice up plain random encounters. My random encounter tables will often just have a monster as an entry, like “owlbear.” But that by itself isn’t a very interesting encounter. However, if I then roll the reaction 2d6, suddenly I add another layer, a dynamic element to the encounter. Perhaps the owlbear is cautious. Why is it cautious? Maybe it’s already wounded from a fight with another adventuring group. The reaction roll can inspire further details for a wandering monster encounter.

Sometimes I even use the 2d6 reaction roll to plan an encounter during prep. I know the party will stumble upon an adventuring band from a rival faction. What’s their attitude? I can roll 2d6 during my prep to start fleshing out the encounter.

2d6 reaction roll for monsters and NPCs

The 2d6 reaction roll can work for monsters and NPCs. What’s the town guards attitude when the characters encounter them at the gates? Roll 2d6 and find out. The procedure is the same, although instead of outright attacking on a low roll, the town guards might raise the alarm instead.

Often we know a NPC’s attitude. But sometimes we’re not sure, or we want to be surprised. The contained randomness of the 2d6 roll is a great tool to spice up interactions between characters and monsters, and characters and NPCs.

The simplest version: high is good, low is bad

Sometimes we don’t need all the details of the 2d6 reaction roll. Maybe we just want to know generally what the pirate king’s attitude is towards the characters when they first meet him in his floating castle. Roll 2d6 and look at the number: high is friendly, low is hostile, and the middle is indifferent. Sometimes that’s all we need for quick inspiration for how to start an encounter with a monster’s or NPC’s attitude.

A tool of randomness for improv D&D

The 2d6 reaction roll is a great tool for an improvisational style of D&D. We don’t need to have all the social nuances of an encounter with a monster or an NPC figured out. Often the contained randomness of a 2d6 roll provides just the right amount of variety and surprise we need to spice up our game.

Print the 2d6 reaction roll table out, or stick it in your digital notes to have it ready at all times.