New - some general questions

[Pen242]

Hello,

I'm really new at this. I just have a few (maybe dumb) questions for the pros out there.

1. Is there an official roll or check a character does to determine if a NPC is lying? Like a perception type check?

2. A cleric or magic user loses the ability to recast a spell once it's cast, correct? Ex: a level 1 magic user gets a small amount of spells. Once he casts them, they're gone until he rests. Is this correct? So, level 1 magic users are really weak at first.

3. If a character is surprised, do we roll for initiative after the round where he can't attack or before?

4. Is it hard to find online games of BFRPG on Roll20 or wherever else?

[mTeasdale]

First, welcome to the forums ! For the answers :

1. Not really, you could use an ability check for that if you want though.

2. That's correct. A first level magic-user is weak, but take into consideration than some spells like sleep are really powerful and can save the party easily. Also, remember that a first level MU have the same chance hitting a monster than a fighter : use those flaming oil flasks.

3. Unless I played wrong for the last years, I'm pretty sure than in BFRPG we're supposed to roll initiative each round.

4. Can't answer to that, never tried online games.

[Pen242]

Thank you!!!

[Metroknight]

Here is a roll20 search for BFRPG Games that are currently recruiting players.

[Longman]

1. Is there an official roll or check a character does to determine if a NPC is lying? Like a perception type check?

Not to my knowledge. That's left up the GM.

You could use the reaction roll system. If it's a potential ally someone the PC is trying to rope into service, use the retainer reaction table for retainers. If it's some one who might potentially be hostile to the PCs if the lie fails, use the monster table. Adjust results according to the situation.

You could also use an opposed ability roll (Cha vs Wis) but that idea isn't really in the core rules. Or, just do as mTeasdale says and use either an Int ability roll or a Cha ability roll in the optional rules.

In short there is no definite way to work that out. It's a good question. Some very good GMs I know do nothing at all. (If the PCs can't work out if someone is lying, that's their problem!). That attitude is a bit harsh in a PbP, though.

2 - yes, and yes, spellcasters are weak at low levels.

3 - work out the results of the surprise round, then roll for initiative.

[Solomoriah]

Magic-users are not weak. First level characters are weak, but magic-users are really no worse off than anyone else. If you think otherwise, you haven't looked at the actual numbers. I suggest you read my blog post on the subject:

http://basicfantasy.org/blog/?p=151

Detection of lying NPCs is easy... if the GM's lips are moving, the NPC is probably lying.

Actually, in a PbP, it's pretty easy. I read the player's posts carefully... if they are paying attention, asking intelligent questions, then I give them more information (including perhaps some hints that the NPC is lying, or even telling the truth). If the players are not asking good questions, I feel okay not giving them good answers.

In a surprise situation, you only roll initiative if some of the party is not surprised (i.e. elves in some cases). Surprised characters do not get to roll initiative until they are free to act (no longer surprised).

[SerGavin]

1st level magic users, in a way, are perhaps the most powerful class in a party of lvl 1s, depending on the spells they know. For instance: Sleep is the best spell ever, of all time. That is of course, until you meet something or someone immune to it's effects. At that point charm person and magic missile become your friends.

[Longman]

Magic-users are really no worse off than anyone else. If you think otherwise, you haven't looked at the actual numbers. I suggest you read my blog post on the subject.

Your blog post is abut whether magic-users are weak compared with other characters. I think the OP was primarily interested in questioning the "spells known per day" mechanic and making sure that he had it right. It does take some new players - like the OP - time to get used to the fact that their magic-user character can cast so few spells without having to rest.

[Solomoriah]

Longman, your statement that "spellcasters are weak at low levels" makes it sound (to me, at least) as if they are weaker than other characters; I'm just pointing out that it is not the case, at least not on the average.

[Longman]

Oh. My response was really to verify that the OP had understood the spell rules correctly, and to agree that low level spellcasters are indeed "weak" compared to what someone steeped in epic fantasy might be expecting.

I think people new to RPGs sometimes come along expecting that their spellcaster characters will be Gandalf right from the outset - and they find it hard to understand why their characters seem so feeble in comparison.

I've seen that attitude expressed a few times with thieves, too. "I wanted to be Lara Croft. Instead I have 4 hit points and my chance to hide in shadows is 10%? I really suck at this!"

But no, I didn't mean that mages are weak compared to everyone else. They just need to rest up a lot.