A generic game engine combining described character traits with numeric skills, and using metagame currency to provide players expanded agency.
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 ...
31
votes
2answers
423 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 ...
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 ...
29
votes
4answers
922 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 ...
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 ...
24
votes
4answers
716 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 ...
24
votes
5answers
349 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 ...
21
votes
4answers
597 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 ...
21
votes
1answer
735 views
How does attacking someone work?
OK, I keep going around in circles. In Dresden Files RPG, how do you work out punching someone vs using a knife/sword/weapon vs using a gun?
19
votes
3answers
409 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 ...
17
votes
4answers
391 views
When Are Aspects Not Necessary?
Let's say that I'm running a game of Starblazer Adventures, and my players are being chased by bad guys with blaster pistols. They run into a ruined temple which I describe as being full of ancient ...
17
votes
3answers
139 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 ...
16
votes
3answers
590 views
Noncombat Characters in Combat?
So we played Dresden Files RPG, using a set of premade characters. One of these characters was an investigative paranormal detective type build, which worked extremely well (maybe too well?) in the ...
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 ...
16
votes
4answers
609 views
Sleep spell in DFRPG
Has anyone here put together a "Sleep" spell in the Dresden Files RPG yet? One of my PC wizards (we're playing a "Submerged", or high-powered game) has a sleep spell as a Rote, and I wanted to see if ...
15
votes
4answers
300 views
Can concessions inflict a worse effect on the conceding character than the attacker intended?
When playing the Dresden Files, my Wizard (and other magic practitioners) tend to overpower their spells, not taking into account the foes that they are facing, i.e. 8 shifts of power vs a plain ...
15
votes
2answers
260 views
How does the OGL relate to the FATE system?
I was looking at the SRD for Spirit of the Century, and I noticed the Wizards of the Coast OGL license at the bottom of the document. I did a bit of digging, and FATE states that it is a derivative of ...
14
votes
3answers
337 views
Explaining the need to use Fate Points for Aspects
How would you explain the need to use Fate Points to tag an Aspect, for newcomers to the system? Some players are asking me "If I have the Aspect 'As strong as Hercules', don't I automatically get a ...
14
votes
1answer
231 views
Is there a limit to how many Fate Points can be spent in a single round?
Suppose we're playing the Dresden Files RPG, and one of the characters decides to go for broke. He wants to use fate points on 4 seperate aspects that are relevant, for a whopping +8 to the result. ...
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 ...
13
votes
1answer
205 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 ...
13
votes
4answers
209 views
How can I model corrupting items in FATE?
The One Ring from Lord of the Rings has the property that it corrupts (or tries to corrupt) those around it. They desire its power and do things that they normally wouldn't to get at it.
I was ...
13
votes
2answers
366 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 ...
13
votes
1answer
389 views
How long does Thaumaturgy take?
I get the point that thaumaturgy takes time as opposed to the quick and dirty evocation arts, but how much time hasn't really been spelled out, unless I'm missing it. I've been coming up with my own ...
12
votes
7answers
534 views
Dealing with a problem player not playing to their character aspects
A player in my Dresden Files game joined the group with a kick-in-the-door, "shoot-first-ask-questions-later"-style cop. The character had some fairly "meh" & a couple of potentially OK aspects. ...
12
votes
8answers
571 views
How valid is lying to players about the rolls they are making in The Dresden Files?
In last weeks Dresden Files game, the players followed the bad guy using a tracking spell, and found him in the projects at an apartment that they knew little about. Seeing his car, they decided to ...
12
votes
3answers
310 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 ...
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 ...
12
votes
3answers
443 views
Do consequences grant you Fate points when compelled by opponents?
I've run a quick search though the site and I didn't seem to find this topic covered, so I'm asking:
In Dresden Files RPG when an opponent compels one of your consequences against you (spending a ...
12
votes
4answers
391 views
Must compels be negative in FATE?
Are GM Compels meant to be necessarily negative? And are they to have an immediate effect, or get the PCs into a situation?
Examining other accounts of compels, it seems that most of the examples ...
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 ...
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 ...
11
votes
3answers
242 views
How to preserve player generated content?
I currently lead a Diaspora group. Diaspora is a hard science fiction Fate-based RPG which allows and basically depends on the generation of content like worlds, cultures, NPCs etc. by the players.
I ...
11
votes
2answers
302 views
Is a GM meant to compel when the player has no Fate Points Remaining?
So we tried out the Dresden Files RPG earlier. Overall, we had a great time. Some issues came up, though. Specifically, when you compel an aspect, the player has the choice to either accept the ...
11
votes
3answers
169 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
4answers
397 views
Pitfalls and Gotchas of running Dresden Files RPG with round-robin GMs
I really like how in Diaspora, character and cluster creation explicitly allows for everyone (GM included) to have a character tied into the other PCs and the setting, so that anyone can take up the ...
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 ...
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 ...
10
votes
4answers
336 views
What is the reasonable limit to a Declaration?
So in the Dresden Files RPG, one can spend a fate point, invoke an aspect, and make a declaration. I'm having trouble coming up with a reasonable set of guidelines as to the scale and scope of ...
10
votes
4answers
184 views
How do you handle the use of unrelated skills in the Dresden Files?
Back into the breach with our weekly Dresden Files game, and because of the lapse in time between sessions/people missing as much as anything else, I had some unique situations occur.
One of the ones ...
10
votes
3answers
438 views
How does social stress work?
I've read through the DFRPG book, but I'm still now quite sure how, or when, you should use the social stress track. When should a player take social stress, and what do you roll for the attack and ...
10
votes
1answer
258 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 ...
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:
...
10
votes
2answers
315 views
Prolonging spells in Dresden Files
I have 2 questions on spell duration for the Dresden Files RPG:
Is it possible to cast a shield spell that has no duration as a rote, but then prolong the shield on my next turn?
Can you prolong an ...
10
votes
1answer
260 views
What exactly are advances in FATE?
I'm looking through my copy of Legends of Anglerre for this, and also searched the Spirit of the Century SRD, and I'm completely stumped as to exactly what an "advance" is. In both instances the terms ...
10
votes
3answers
251 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 ...
10
votes
2answers
296 views
In FATE, what is the relative value of each characteristic?
There are a lot of FATE variants out there, but most have a few common types of characteristics in common: a number of aspects, a base number of fate points (refresh), skills/abilities, stunts, and ...
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 ...
9
votes
1answer
297 views
Are Changelings With Sponsored Magic subject to the Laws of Magic?
In Dresden files, say you have a Changeling with Seelie Magic. The Changeling has a positive refresh, and thus has free will.
If the changeling uses Seelie Magic to kill another mortal, have they ...
9
votes
1answer
180 views
How would a fate “engineering” combat work?
The conflict system in FATE is generalizable to all sorts of conflict. In a game (SotC/dresden hybrid from a rules perspective) my friend and I are playing, we plan to wage a gang war via controlled ...
