X-Plorers: 

A New Class and a Reaction Table

Here are a couple of related new things for X-Plorers, a role-playing game written by David Bezio and published by Brave Halfling: a reaction table and a new class.  Savvy role-players will recognize that the reaction table is based on similar tables in Holmes and Moldvay D&D, as well as the first edition of Gamma World.  The Contact class is designed to fill a gap in some campaigns.

NPC, Alien, and Creature Reactions

When characters first encounter a non-player character or creature, roll 2d6 and consult this table to determine the NPC or creature reaction.  Add the Presence modifier for one player character who is on the scene.  If the creature or NPC is inclined to hostility, subtract -1 (wary) to -10 (rabid) from the roll.

Score	Reaction
2	Enraged.  Attempts to harm you.
3-5	Threatened.  Fights or evades.
6-8	Cautious.  Holds steady or retreats.  Reroll.
9-11	Open.  Offers hospitality.
12	Friendly.  Commits to aid you.

Contact

Contacts are second-tier members of an X-plorers group, but they are indispensible in missions including contact with unfamiliar cultures (either human or alien).  Contacts are more expert in the social sciences than Scientists.  They are trained to decipher languages, and they have developed strong empathy, which falls short of psychic ability but still gives them an advantage in dealing with creatures.

Table C1: Contact Skills

Level	Ethology	Language	Empathy	Reaction
1	13+	15+	16+	+1
2	12+	14+	15+
3	11+	13+	14+	1 reroll
4	10+	12+	13+
5	9+	11+	12+	+2
6	8+	10+	11+
7	7+	9+	10+	2 rerolls
8	6+	8+	9+
9	5+	7+	8+	+3
10	5+	6+	7+

Ethology (INT):  Ethology is the study of social organization and behavior among animals and sentients.  It can be used like the Scientist’s Sociology skill, but it provides deeper insight into culture and cross-cultural patterns.

Language (INT): Language covers the ability to decipher, understand, and make oneself understood in unfamiliar languages.  It can be used to understand foreign and alien writing systems as well as more exotic forms of communication.

Empathy (PRE):  Empathy is like the Telepathic ability of the same name (see Chapter Y, page 33 in the rulebook).  Through long training in sensitivity, the contact can sense emotions and intentions, and respond in ways that change those emotions and intentions in small ways. 

Reaction (PRE): A successful roll of Empathy improves a reaction roll by the listed number.  A successful Empathy roll also allows the character to attempt to repair relationships that get off on the wrong foot; reroll poor reaction rolls (Threatened result or worse) the listed number of times with any particular creature.

CUSTOMIZATION: The Contact is meant to represent characters like Star Trek's Deanna Troy or Genly Ai from Ursula Le Guin's Left Hand of Darkness.  The class is easily modified to represent any character who is specialized in social skills.  If you want a space merchant or a corporate lackey (like Burke from Aliens), you could trade out Ethology for something like Organizational Behavior and Empathy for something like Haggling or BS Artist.