“The Player's Companion extends the core rules by adding a series of new classes, the dwarven machinist and spelunker, the elven ranger, and some human classes - mystic (monk), shaman (druid), and priestess. I'll come out and say it though, the thing that got me fired up with the book-love was the extensive list of templates. (I think they claim there are 144 of them). An ACKS template is basically some pre-selected options that speeds up character generation and gives the character a bit of early flavor. ACKS supports the old school roll-and-go - it's got basic 3d6 in order for abilities and simple classes, like classic D&D. The templates take it the rest of the way, by adding a preconfigured set of starting equipment, starting money, and suggested proficiency selections.”
I think lying NPCs is a perfect example of a space in which rules make the game less good.
Agreed. I fully expect the DM to lie to the PC's at whim and according to plot. But adjudicating when the PCs lie to a NPC can be important, especially when they fail.
I don't think a PC could "fail" to lie to an NPC unless the NPC had evidence of the lie, and in that case, there's nothing to adjudicate. The NPC just reacts accordingly.
Secondly, a lot of this can be handled with the Reaction Roll. But, it has little to do with whether the PC is lying or not. They could be lying and the NPC super friendly or telling the absolute truth and the NPC be hostile.
I would think in the case above, where an NPC discovers a lie a PC told, through the course of events, that would automatically affect further interaction with them. When asking for favors or whatnot, they would get appropriate reactions.
This is how I do it anyways. There's no "insight" skill or whatever. You just lie and the NPC will trust you unless they have reason otherwise. That's how lies work in most cases.
How NPCs respond to a player is handled with a Reaction Roll. If the PC has been caught lying in the past, a negative penalty would be appropriate.
Certain spells can be used to detect lies (or at least find out the truth), such as Commune, ESP, Telepathy, etc.