A generic game engine combining described character traits with numeric skills, and using metagame currency to provide players expanded agency.
3
votes
1answer
61 views
Converting Command skill from Rogue Trader to Fate Core
My group worked hard to get through the first two ranks in our Rogue Trader campaign, but we keep finding new flaws in the d100 system used by FFG. Finally we've decided to try out more likeable (and ...
24
votes
5answers
350 views
Spoilt for choice: helping traditional-system players adapt to narrative-control games
My group teethed on D&D 3.5 and loved 4e, but now we're eager to take advantage of FATE's more narrative- and character-driven philosophies. However, on our first (DFRPG) game last night, my ...
31
votes
2answers
425 views
If someone is “Out of Ammo,” can they still shoot until compelled?
Let's say someone creates the Aspect Out of ammo by running everywhere, making the other character fire all his bullets.
Can this character still fire until someone compels Out of ammo?
Is it the GM ...
17
votes
3answers
141 views
Should long Aspects be split?
In Fate games I sometime come up with Aspects that are relatively long and could well be two separate Aspects. Are such Aspects good in terms of gameplay, or would it be better to split them?
An ...
13
votes
2answers
381 views
Are we doing mild consequences and stress right?
After reading through the book and reading up on consequences, i can't help but feel that we might be treating stress and mild consequences the wrong way. Say we've just been in a fight, after the ...
33
votes
3answers
348 views
Shame him into not shooting: multiple stress tracks in a single conflict
If you insult the hitman enough, will he stop shooting at you? It doesn't seem likely, but that brings into play a question about whether some stress tracks are "more important" than others: If you ...
19
votes
3answers
418 views
What makes up the core FATE?
I am trying to get to know FATE a little bit better, but I am afraid even the official site isn't helping me understand everything:
On the resources page there is a "Fate 2.0" download, which I ...
27
votes
20answers
3k views
What can I use in place of Fudge Dice?
If someone doesn't have any fudge dice, what are the best methods to replace them and why?
Term: Fudge Dice are six sided dice with two sides labeled with a +, two sides with a -, and two sides that ...
7
votes
2answers
191 views
What skills would a DFRPG PC roll when playing a video game?
In an upcoming session, one of the PCs will be babysitting a pre-teen video gamer. I expect that we'll be modeling a PvP scenario and want to roll some dice; whether as a conflict or a contest I don't ...
21
votes
4answers
598 views
How do I explain stress to a d20 crowd?
In the next month or so I'm going to start running the Dresden Files RPG soon with a group that has most of its experience in D&D 3.5 and 4e. We're all new to FATE, and I tried to explain the ...
8
votes
2answers
245 views
How does stress for magical effects work outside of a conflict in the Dresden Files?
In The Dresden Files RPG, mental stress is accrued for casting spells. As you cast spells, you become more mentally fatigued. The mental stress track is cleared at the end of the conflict- so if you ...
5
votes
2answers
350 views
What happens when a character's feeding stress track is maxed out?
I've got a player playing as a White court Vampire, and with the template they have a feeding dependency. Let's assume that he ends up going for a while and not feeding and his stress track goes over ...
10
votes
1answer
267 views
Do you have to reveal your NPC's aspects?
Important NPCs may have hidden aspects that PCs are supposed to assess somehow before using them: can such a NPC invoke one of his hidden aspects without the GM revealing it to the players?
Example:
...
6
votes
2answers
140 views
What is the physical stress cap for a Diminutive Size creature with Claws?
Consider the lowly garden gnome. He's got the Diminutive Size [-1] power, which means he is
Wee. [...] When your size is a factor in combat, you can only inflict 1 physical stress per attack (but ...
8
votes
2answers
255 views
How does the Catch affect your Stress Track in relation to Supernatural Toughness?
Last night, my players were battling a hob, who had 4 stress boxes, plus 4 more from his inhuman toughness. One of the characters hit the Hob before they knew it was fae and did 5 stress. The ...
8
votes
2answers
195 views
Can there be mechanical disadvantages in Compels?
In FATE, compels of aspects are primarily a narrative tool, and as such don't usually have mechanical trappings in the consequences. But is this a hard and fast rule? I saw someone ask this ...
10
votes
1answer
259 views
What happens to the fate point after a character invokes an aspect?
In DFRPG, characters can invoke another character's aspects by spending fate points. When a character does this, does the fate point go to the GM, or does it go to the character whose aspect was just ...
7
votes
1answer
143 views
How do environmental conditions and scene aspects stack in FATE?
How do aspects and environmental conditions stack?
An example probably is useful for discussion. In the, Spirit of the Century rulebook (FATE), it gives the Darkness aspect as an example of a scene ...
10
votes
2answers
294 views
How does adding Aspect Scope in Dresden Files change the feel of the game?
I was listening to a podcast for Diaspora, and they were talking about aspect scope. Basically, in Diaspora, this sets scope on the Aspects available, and only one Aspect per scope can be used on any ...
12
votes
4answers
284 views
How can I keep track of Aspects and Powers?
I'm going to begin running a Dresden Files Roleplaying Game campaign in a group that has no FATE or Fudge experience (myself included); we've largely been running D&D 3.5 and 4e. What are some ...
16
votes
3answers
366 views
How to model an absolute condition in Fate?
I'm thinking of running FATE, and read in one book (I think it's Dresden Files RPG) that Aspects can replace situational modifiers. However, situational modifiers in other games take place all the ...
6
votes
1answer
158 views
The mechanics of Aspects on weapons/armor?
Fate Core suggests one way to differentiate weapons and armor is by giving each one an Aspect. Daggers could be Quick, for instance, and maces could be Armor Piercing. I really like this idea. My ...
7
votes
3answers
128 views
Does the Poisoned aspect stack?
The "Venomous" effect (a [-2] optional addon for the Claw power) lets the character maneuver to place the "Poisoned" aspect on a target.
In each subsequent exchange, the target
must roll ...
10
votes
3answers
252 views
When changing a PCs actions based on an aspect, is it better to Compel or Invoke for Effect
We had an interesting combat last night; the PC was a very tough Changeling in the back of a limo glamoured not to be visible, and he was attempting to protect another passenger in the back of the ...
29
votes
4answers
923 views
How do I introduce an inexperienced player to the FATE combat system?
One of the things that I love about the FATE system is how flexible it is; even given the less than crunchy nature of the system, you have options galore. That's given one of my players analysis ...
7
votes
4answers
154 views
Adjusting aspects based on attendance
A crucial part of most FATE play is having aspects that relate to the other PCs at the table. What happens when your group's attendance fluctuates wildly? If Bob has aspects relating to Mary and Joan, ...
3
votes
2answers
111 views
Can the GM pass an NPC's tag to a PC?
Mike (a PC) takes the mild consequence Jittery from a ghost's mental attack, granting the ghost a tag on that aspect. Soon after, Andy (another PC) rolls Intimidate (as a social attack) to tease Mike ...
1
vote
1answer
75 views
Do aspects caused by fallout grant tags?
A powerful but unskilled sorcerer throws a fireball at Harry, but draws in more power than he can hope to control. Being a selfish, cowardly (ie, typical) villain he lets the power loose as fallout ...
8
votes
5answers
204 views
Is making someone afraid a social or mental attack?
I'm reading the Night Fears adventure, in which a group of teenagers dare each other to spend a night in a haunted house. The ghosts in the house attack the teens' mental stress tracks, and the result ...
24
votes
4answers
717 views
Should the GM in Dresden Files be telling us what the target numbers are for thaumaturgy spells and skill checks?
In the Dresden Files game I'm in, the game master never tells us the target numbers for thaumaturgy spells and skill rolls. We roll, he tells us whether we succeeded, life goes on. I've heard this ...
12
votes
3answers
311 views
Tips and pitfalls for a variable-size group
My gaming group has very fluid attendance. From week to week it's been known to fluctuate between ten and two players, usually hovering around three to five. I've become reasonably adept at building ...
6
votes
4answers
435 views
Looking for a nice magic system to convert to FATE
I'm playing around a lot with the FATE system at the moment (particularly with Diaspora) and I'm now looking at how I might apply it to a fantasy setting. What I'm looking for is a nice magic system ...
11
votes
3answers
171 views
Preparing a one-shot with FATE
I was thinking of doing a one-shot Fate game the next time my main group is missing folk. I'd be using the new Fate Core rules. None of us have ever played any version of Fate before, but we're all ...
11
votes
3answers
249 views
In Dresden, and Based Solely on the Stats Listed, Are the Vampire Courts' Physical Strength the Same?
I have a question regarding the courts of vampires regarding their physical strength based solely on the stats provided by the book Our World.
When I listened to the books and read some of the game ...
31
votes
4answers
344 views
What policies should be made at the start of a campaign, to define the desired game experience and avoid bad feelings later?
My group and I work on the assumption that a game system's default assumptions are its manifesto, and that by choosing a system we are choosing to let its assumptions stand except where we institute ...
7
votes
2answers
112 views
How do vampires work exactly?
Do they have to be feeding to use their abilities? Or do they only feed to recover from Hunger stress after using their abilities and failing the stress attack at the end of the scene?
6
votes
1answer
160 views
How can I turn invisible?
I'm learning DFRPG, having no prior experience with the FATE system. One thing I really like is the idea that we can --and should-- create our own stunts and powers... but I'm not sure I've really got ...
13
votes
1answer
206 views
What concrete rules can you point a GM to that is stuck in non-storytelling paradigms for Fate?
Inspired by a response to my answer to Can you concede by dying in Dresden Files?, I was wondering what concrete rules can you point a GM to that is stuck in non-storytelling paradigms in Fate?
I ...
8
votes
1answer
170 views
How can I estimate difficulty in a FATE based game?
In a recent game of Diaspora, I pitted three of my "5 cap" player characters against four "3 cap" and one "4 cap" character in physical combat, and was surprised to see that the characters came away ...
7
votes
1answer
62 views
Diaspora two handed melee weapon
In Diaspora the two handed stunt for melee says "Weapon is designed for two-handed use and is awkward in the hands of those not sufficiently strong. The wielder may amplify his Skill check with his ...
8
votes
1answer
153 views
Creating (Aspect) Advantages in Conflicts
I'm somewhat familiar with Fate v2, and I recently backed the Fate Core Kickstarter to get an early PDF of the rules.
I have a couple questions concerning "Creating an Advantage" in a Conflict, ...
14
votes
4answers
470 views
Modeling a “Bob” in Dresden Files
I'm running a Dresden Files game, and I think my PCs need a Bob. Because I need a mouthpiece and exposition engine.
But the description of Bob in Our World is skimpy at best, equating him to just a ...
5
votes
3answers
119 views
When should I put an NPC card on the table?
I'm running a game of Diaspora, which is my first FATE based game. The manual talks about playing with everything in the open and I'm all for that, but when should I actually make up a card for an ...
11
votes
5answers
350 views
I want to design and write a setting book. Where do I start?
I want to design and write a professional quality setting book for FATE 3.0, with the possibility of adding custom mechanics later and turning it into a full on game of it's own. I have the outline of ...
10
votes
5answers
302 views
What is expected from NPC profiles that are written for-profit?
I'm considering putting some of my spare time into writing detailed NPC profiles and making them available for a small price (around 50p or 75 cents each, with bundle deals) on DriveThruRPG. Releases ...
7
votes
2answers
201 views
Modeling poison in FATE (Dresden Files)
How does poison work in FATE?
Secret, previously administered poison (say, in a drinking class) is an aspect that, like most investigation aspects, doesn't expire 'next turn' but will sit and wait.
...
11
votes
2answers
568 views
Simplest online, interactive platform to play Dresden Files RPG on?
I am looking to start an online Dresden File campaign, and looking for a web client to play the game on. For this I need
Online chat
Keeping track of players' stats (which both Gm and players can ...
4
votes
1answer
75 views
In Fate Can you Generate Multiple Spin from One Roll?
The Diaspora SRD says
If you exceed your opponent when you make a defensive roll that does not have any effect other than being a successful defense, you don't get shifts. Instead, for every ...
5
votes
2answers
133 views
Who wins ties in FATE?
CRoss and I were playing a FATE game (Diaspora) recently and we rolled a tied number for attacking and defending with beam weapons.
What happens when attacker and defender tie?
8
votes
5answers
352 views
In FATE, can action descriptions be revised after die rolls to apply aspects?
In FATE, you can utilize aspects to improve your die rolls, granting bonuses or re-rolls. However, you can choose to apply aspects after the die has already rolled. Does one revise the description of ...
