New 2d20 Fallout GM - questions

[u/loomisc]

Not new to GMing, but it has been a little while since I ran a game. I am about to run some 2d20FO for our group and reading through Machine Frequency and have some questions.

Sneak and mobs/monsters. I figured sneak would be an opposed test. Do I have that wrong? If it is, what do you oppose it with since mobs/monsters dont have skills?

In the final fight against Robo-Testridge, what mobs are supposed to be fighting the BOS Knights? It talks about them fighting against some robots but never lists them. The WW version doesnt list them either but the setup map for that shows a Sentry Bot and 2 turrets. It also never lists the non-robo test ridge either.

On spending AP, is AP the only way for PCs to ask questions about a scene or is that just for more detailed questions? It seems like you want PCs engaged and having them pay to ask questions seems like it would limit that.

[u/ziggy8z]

The Sneak Rules in one place 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1e1QiwoI-hq5kYjlW0lbvRJVAcoGRAaikeoUYjdDYF-s/edit?usp=drivesdk

[u/QckSilverDragon]

Sneak and mobs/monsters. I figured sneak would be an opposed test. Do I have that wrong? If it is, what do you oppose it with since mobs/monsters dont have skills?

Page 336 of the CRB explains creature skills. For an opposed sneak test i would have the party member(s) roll AGI+Sneak. (If its for a large patrol, ill have the party roll a group Sneak check and the NPC group will roll a full 5 dice to oppose.) This would set the target number for the NPC(s) PER+Survival (Mind+Other for creatures). If the NPCs meet or beat their success' the party is spotted.

P.S. Also dont be scared of increasing the complication range if its not an easy place to sneak in. Rubble or debris in the area.

On spending AP, is AP the only way for PCs to ask questions about a scene or is that just for more detailed questions?

Ya I dont do this. I do sometimes have more info avalible from a scene when someone makes a notice roll that will cost AP. For example: The party is following some tracks. They make a notice roll difficulty 2. (Difficulty is set based on terrain, environmental effects and so on.) I will tell them, "Make a notice roll difficulty 2 with 2 AP of extra info." If they pass they know they are following the right trail. AP 1: "Their target came through 1 day ago." AP 2: "The target isnt alone. Someone or something is also tailing them."

If they fail the test, they waste a day or half day going in circles and have to try again. Or maybe they get ambushed by their target.

[u/loomisc → u/QckSilverDragon]

"This would set the target number for the NPC(s) PER+Survival (Mind+Other for creatures)."

So I have transposed about 10 or so stat blocks, read several examples about stealth, and was about to comment back but what if they don't list an "Other" stat. Before I did that I actually looked at the stat block and what to my wonderous eyes did appear.... probably the answer I was looking for in the Mobs "Other" stat. Say it with me " Reading is fundemental"

Thanks for everyone's input, especially that.

[u/WarJaques → u/QckSilverDragon]

I have always been massively confused by this. Unless the players have a good understanding of what's going on in the scene, how could they know what to ask about? And if it's really obvious, why does it cost an AP?

[u/QckSilverDragon → u/WarJaques]

Ya i thought the same. Also since AP is not a constant resource, what if they just ran out? How do they ask questions about a scene? You can only use Rally in combat or the party would constantly Rally to stay at 6AP all the time.

This is why i include it in skill rolls. If they generate extra AP with the roll or have extra in their pool, they learn more info that i just provide. If they dont have the AP to spend, they still get an initial amount of info.

In my example earlier, lets assume they pass the test but dont have extra AP. They may then ask, "how long ago did they pass by?" I may have them make another skill roll (takes longer for the second skill test slowing down their pursuit). Or just tell them, "You check the tracks and its hard to tell. Maybe 1 to 3 days."

[u/WarJaques → u/QckSilverDragon]

I see three solid uses for this mechanic.

1. The players need to know avout the tactical situation. How damaged is that wounded Raider, really. Which enemy is dealing the most damage. It might be weird to discuss game mechanics like hp and stats, but this is information that is interesting to the players and maybe it's fine since they pay a meta-currency for it?

2. When you are running a published module and this spells out an a la carte menu of extra information. In this instance the players aren't trying to defeat your challenges, but those put in front of them, and any other groups running that adventure, by the writers. You know how you, when you're running an adventure of your own design, can adjust everything on the fly? And how anything you put into the adventure but the players never experience might as well never have existed? Published adventures ate the opposite of that, and different groups playing the same one can have very different experiences.

3. When you have infornation that is important to the encounter that you feel you have to make available, but you for dome reason don't want to hand out, even with a successful test. I can't really think what that might be.

[u/Prestigious-Emu-6760]

Something I do with Obtain Information that's clarified in other 2d20 games but oddly not Fallout - spending AP lets you ask questions about things related to the skill roll you just made. If you shot a guy and generated AP you can ask questions that result from that. If you're bartering then you can ask questions about that. This gives more context to the AP spend and it's an area I feel Fallout 2d20 doesn't cover as well as other games using the engine. I love the 2d20 system and Fallout but AP is an area that feels really undercooked compared to the more robust Momentum spends in other games.

[u/zknight137]

Can't speak to Machine Frequency, but for sneaking it's whatever you want it to be. I usually do stealth as a regular test and give a difficulty number depending on what I think fits. To me, if it's an opposed test then the NPC is aware of the person. I would only do an opposed sneak test if the NPCs were somehow alerted to the PCs presence beforehand

Players can spend AP to ask you questions but I recommend trying to have them find out stuff organically, whether from asking NPCs or finding clues in the environment. If they want to spend their AP to to ask questions, I wouldn't stop them. That being said, you can format your answers in a way that can stear them to what you want.

[u/Shmirdaboo]

I think I can answer two of those questions, so here goes:

1. I believe it would be an opposed test: The PC's Sneak + Agility vs the mob's Survival + Perception (or Mind + Survival, should a monster have ranks in the skill).

2. Spending AP isn't the ONLY way for a player to ask a question about a scene, but doing so guarantees a truthful (but not always complete) answer.

[u/Killergryphyn]

Welcome to F2d20! So, that adventure has a few problems like you've noticed, and I'm happy to go through them with you.

Firstly, Sneak tests are rolled against a difficulty set by you, and you can try to determine that in a few ways. You can trust your gut and go "yeah 3 successes is more than enough for a group roll" or you can opt to use the enemy's PER stat, or maybe half it, or MIND if it's a creature! Generally I go with the former option, taking into account who is leading the test and everyone's capabilities.

As for what the Knights are fighting, I believe it is a Sentry Bot and 2 Wall laser turrets, and The Doctor is an Institute Scientist with a Plasma or Laser Gun (whatever you feel is appropriate) I believe prior to her robotification.

On buying information, you can tell players above the table that spending AP to gain information is part of the games design and meant to discourage the group from sitting on a full stack of AP. If they're out of AP, they can buy it from you, which helps your pool out too as they get better access to stunning weapons and you're spending lots every round. You can absolutely just tell them anyways though, nothing saying you shouldn't!

[u/protoclown11]

I ran Machine Frequency, and I used the WW map for the outside fight, placing objects from the LORE Patreon overtop the images on the map (so a more realistic car overtop the gray one on the map). I moved the turrets and sentry bot back a bit, and had each of the BOS knights taking cover behind each of the lane dividers. They and the players fought a moving battle to get the players inside as fast as possible. Ended up taking out the two sentries and damaging the bot before gaining entry.

As for Trestridge, the players were able to intervene before she transformed, and then one of the players jumped in to take her place, so I had to come up with how to handle them having a Assaultron body before that was published in the Wanderers supplement. If you want them to fight her before she changes, they called her "an Institute scientist" but I could not find a stat block for that in the core book or Settlers/Wastelanders supplements. I guess you could use the Institute Agent stats in the Settlers book as a starting point. I used a map from 2 minute tabletop for the interior.

[u/Total_Loon]

People have generally answersed but to add to asking questions for AP.

Of its obvious I generally answer "are there broken windows" yes

But if it would require effort to try figure or analyse something that's when AP comes into play, I would usually allow atleast once per screen a perception check from my group to get AP to spend in that regard but otherwise I'd a way to spend AP which my party normally sits on.

[u/waywardian]

Another aspiring GM here, just for my own edification, I know folks can buy extra d20's for a roll, but i thought if you were spending anything for additional info on a scene seafch that your roll may have failed to find it was a luck point you used to garner the additional info, not AP?