And HERE we are!
All Avatar'd up and ready to go. (I think!) ;P
The major changes are:
-Background aspect is now His Mother's Songs(as per your suggestion)
-Guest star aspect 2 changed to Fae Luck (Because I liked the name 'Singing down the House', but couldn't think of any ways to invoke it!)
-Added 'Inhuman Recovery' along with Inhuman Speed to simulate his Fae hyperactivity.
-Added 'Catch: Fae Weakness(es)' (+2) for Inhuman Recovery,
I did not specify WHICH Fae weaknesses, Or what (exactly) his mother is, and intend to play it as if Danny has not discovered these yet, so you can introduce it as you wish. (If you like that idea, otherwise we can set it now if you prefer) I was thinking that Cold Iron is ok, but ANY iron (like Harry's common nail that he used on Mab) would be too much? But I confess that I myself so not know of any other 'common' Fae weakness besides Cold Iron.
Total FATE Points: 9
Adjusted Refresh: 4
EDIT- I copied teh actual Game stats for Inhuman Speed from another player, But can someone show me the actual game stats for Inhuman Recovery? Thank you! :D
And HERE we are!
All Avatar'd up and ready to go. (I think!) ;PThe major changes are:
-Background aspect is now His Mother's Songs(as per your suggestion)
-Guest star aspect 2 changed to Fae Luck (Because I liked the name 'Singing down the House', but couldn't think of any ways to invoke it!)
-Added 'Inhuman Recovery' along with Inhuman Speed to simulate his Fae hyperactivity.
-Added 'Catch: Fae Weakness(es)' (+2) for Inhuman Recovery,I did not specify WHICH Fae weaknesses, Or what (exactly) his mother is, and intend to play it as if Danny has not discovered these yet, so you can introduce it as you wish. (If you like that idea, otherwise we can set it now if you prefer) I was thinking that Cold Iron is ok, but ANY iron (like Harry's common nail that he used on Mab) would be too much? But I confess that I myself so not know of any other 'common' Fae weakness besides Cold Iron.
Total FATE Points: 9
Adjusted Refresh: 4EDIT- I copied the actual Game stats for Inhuman Speed from another player, But can someone show me the actual game stats for Inhuman Recovery? Thank you! :D
Just to let you know, you can't 'Net Out' a power to 0. So if you have the Inhuman Recovery then the Catch is worth +1. If you later get another toughness or recovery power (defenses develop) then the weakness Catch will improve (becoming more of a common problem but giving you more additional points ~ it is a trade off of power for more weakness).
A good +1 Fae Weakness might be opponents wearing their clothes inside out. Another possibility might be towards people that have said thank-you.
Just to let you know, you can't 'Net Out' a power to 0. So if you have the Inhuman Recovery then the Catch is worth +1. If you later get another toughness or recovery power (defenses develop) then the weakness Catch will improve (becoming more of a common problem but giving you more additional points ~ it is a trade off of power for more weakness).
A good +1 Fae Weakness might be opponents wearing their clothes inside out. Another possibility might be towards people that have said thank-you.
Ah. Ah-HAH! I knew I read that somewhere,... ;P
Thank you Smerg, I shall correct that, my total remaining refresh rate should be 3 then. Still good! :)
If you can help me fill in the details then that would be great.
I'll process and generate some initial game threads later today.
Doctor Carding (Torolf)
Concept: Forgotten Arcane Linguist
Trouble: Torn Between Two Worlds
Background: At Home with Dead Stuff
Rising Conflict: Thirst for Knowledge
First Story: Ice Cold Discipline
Guest 1: I Watch Out for My Friends
Guest 2: Pick on Someone Your Own Size
Nathanial Halsay (Davi the Eccentric)
Concept: Recovering Outsider Scholar
Trouble: The Cracks Still Show
Background: Price is No Barrier to Knowledge
Rising Conflict: Saw the Walker Beyond Sight
First Story: Over Prepared for the Apocalypse
Guest 1: Only Rivals in the Library
Guest 2: ?
David Monroe (DM Barcas)
Concept: Savvy Retired Cop
Trouble: Runs Towards Danger
Background: Seen It All
Rising Conflict: Connected the Dots
First Story: Enchanted Dagger
Guest 1: Stormy Partnership with Monoc Securities
Guest 2: ?
Pernilla Tharaldson (Songdragon)
Concept: Daughter of the Valkyrie
Trouble: Forbidden to Die Peacefully
Background: Weapon of the Norse
Rising Conflict: Always Fighting the Good Fight
First Story: Agent of Monoc Securities
Guest 1: Troll Slayer
Guest 2: A Striking Beauty
Aximeus (Valegrim)
Concept: Wandering Demi-God
Trouble: Code of the Hero
Background: Child of the Greek Gods and Orphan of Man
Rising Conflict: Noble Purpose
First Story: ?
Guest 1: Making Your Business, My Business
Guest 2: Everyone was Kung Fu Fighting
Danny Kaye (Ragadolf)
Concept: Struggling Fae Spellslinger
Trouble: A Summer Changeling in Winter’s Court
Background: His Mother’s Songs
Rising Conflict: Child of Two Worlds
First Story: I’m Dating a Teenage Triad
Guest 1: All the World’s a Stage or Loving the Spotlight
Guest 2: Fae Luck
Hannah (Ithuriel)
Concept: Changeling Oracle
Trouble: Knows Too Much
Background:
Rising Conflict:
First Story: Lead Singer for ‘Blood of the Witch’
Guest 1:
Guest 2:
(Divine Shadow)
Concept: The Forgotten Prince of Autumn
Trouble: Raised as aSidhe Knight
Background: Mother’s Wisdom
Rising Conflict: Fey Smith
First Story: My Father’s Hammer
Guest 1:
Guest 2:
Aside from another enchanted item and maybe a potion or two, Conan is ready.
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I've had more trouble making this character than any in ages. It is close to finished, but not quite. I'll get back with some backstory tomorrow.
Deirdre Harlowe
Concept: Banshee Bartender
Trouble: Knows Too Much to be a Free Agent
Background: Haunted by My Mother's Ghost
Rising Conflict: Ran with a Bad Crowd
First Story: Lead Singer for Blood of the Witch
Guest 1: ?
Guest 2: ?
One of the aspects still needs to be something that covers Cassandra's Tears as it is required to take a slot.
I completely changed the power profile once I settled on banshee as her changeling type- also because I thought I was too close to some other characters. It's like this now:
Cassandra's Tears: -1
Human Guise: -0
Claws: (needle like teeth) -2
Breath weapon (sonic) -2
Ghost Speaker: -1
I'll probably need to shuffle some skills around to accommodate that, but I'll have to push that back to tomorrow.
I've had more trouble making this character than any in ages. It is close to finished, but not quite. I'll get back with some backstory tomorrow.
Deirdre Harlowe
Concept: Banshee Bartender
Trouble: Knows Too Much to be a Free Agent
Background: Haunted by My Mother's Ghost
Rising Conflict: Ran with a Bad Crowd
First Story: Lead Singer for Blood of the Witch
Guest 1: ?
Guest 2: ?One of the aspects still needs to be something that covers Cassandra's Tears as it is required to take a slot.
I completely changed the power profile once I settled on banshee as her changeling type- also because I thought I was too close to some other characters. It's like this now:
Cassandra's Tears: -1
Human Guise: -0
Claws: (needle like teeth) -2
Breath weapon (sonic) -2
Ghost Speaker: -1I'll probably need to shuffle some skills around to accommodate that, but I'll have to push that back to tomorrow.
I like the new focus on the character with the new power suite. It does give a nicely different feel to the character.
Sorry for the wait for writing my guest star in divineshadow's story. I just had a bit of trouble coming up with an aspect.
Nathanial Halsey in My Father's Hammer
It was a simple plan; cross over into the NeverNever, collect the data, and leave the way he came. He wasn't going to deviate from the plan just because he found some guy trying to fight an ogre by himself. No reason for both of them to get flattened. But when he passed by again, he saw something shocking: the man won. He wasn't in good shape, but it was amazing enough that he survived. So, out of respect for the man's accomplishment, Nathanial helps drag the man back to a hospital.
Aspect: Survival is a Virtue
This would make the timeline of the fight this:
2. Nathanial sees fight, decides to stay uninvolved, leaves
3. Conan gets involved, helps divineshadow win fight
4. Nathanial comes back, sees that divineshadow won, decides to help him out.
Yeah. Like I said, it took a while to come up with the aspect. To clarify, I meant that he respects few things more than the ability to have the worst things happen to you and get back up. Fortitude would be the virtue he admires the most, if you go by White Wolf's definition of the virtues. I'd come up with a few examples of how this could be used, but this post is long enough already.
Let me know if this list is correct and current of Aspects. Right now I have Avatar lists of six players that have posted since I asked if people were ready to get started playing. This list is important because Aspects are such an important part of the FATE system.
Pernilla Tharaldson (Songdragon)
Concept: Daughter of the Valkyrie
Trouble: Forbidden to Die Peacefully
Background: Weapon of the Norse
Rising Conflict: Always Fighting the Good Fight
First Story: Agent of Monoc Securities
Guest 1: Troll Slayer
Guest 2: A Striking Beauty
Smerg for the most part...
I was wondering (just minor tweaks)...
in the Concept... looking for something to spice up the mere Daughter of the Valkryrie... or do you think it is enough? (ie... adding Favored, ... Out to Prove Herself? or the like?)
Trouble: Trying to work the Fate part of Valkyrie in... would Prophesied to Die Violently work as the same, or do you think the current is fine?
Otherwise, pretty set...
For Runes... Could I use a rune be used to temporarily enchant a weapon? (example: make an axe a flaming axe?)
Fully understandable. Glad you are back with rest of the world Divineshadow.
I may open up other game threads but initially going with one game thread.
The story is starting with the players at a galla for the Royal Ontario Museum as part of their Halloween program.
Woo-hoo!
And the fun begins! :)
Seriously, I'm with Ithuriel and Adastra about learning the system. But seeing as it is a 'storytelling' system, and Pbp is (in my humble opinion,) the perfect cooperative storytelling medium, I'm excited to see it in action!
Smerg; I'm also looking to 'tweak for flavour' my Aspects, but whether we change the names or not, I think you get the idea! ;P
See you all on the inside! :D
EDIT-DIvineshadow; Welcome back to the land of the electronically living! :)
I was wondering (just minor tweaks)...
in the Concept... looking for something to spice up the mere Daughter of the Valkryrie... or do you think it is enough? (ie... adding Favored, ... Out to Prove Herself? or the like?)Trouble: Trying to work the Fate part of Valkyrie in... would Prophesied to Die Violently work as the same, or do you think the current is fine?
Otherwise, pretty set...
For Runes... Could I use a rune be used to temporarily enchant a weapon? (example: make an axe a flaming axe?)
One thing to remember is that Aspects are not 'set in stone'. They change with you as you develop your character. An aspect that starts as Daughter of the Valkryie may later become Daughter of Brunhilda Queen of the Valkryie or Daughter of the Apocalypse of the Valkyrie. These changes would be the result of events and discoveries of your character.
When you come to certain milestones of the game you are allowed to make an alteration or replacement to an aspect. This allows you to resolve arcs of your character and develop new arcs. If you started out as friend of Mickey you might later choose to hate Mickey and finally after Mickey has died you may choose to have an aspect around a new friend.
Further to this, is that this is all a starting point for all us with a new system. I am going to be more lenient on aspect, skill, power, and stunt changes at this point of the game as we are really playing with what works and what doesn't inside of the system.
If you want to change or adjust an aspect then let me know; so, I can stay on top of what is the current list.
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Yes, you can use a Rune to alter the 'appearance' of the damage. With your level of skill, I don't think you can improve really on the damage of your hammer. A rune causing your hammer to flame would be a temporary maneuver to satisfy a catch possibly for a round of combat.
We are treating Runes like potions so they are essentially evocation spells that you have paid the mental stress to prepare ahead of time. What you can accomplish with an evocation spell is generally what you can do with your runes.
Sorry for the wait for writing my guest star in divineshadow's story. I just had a bit of trouble coming up with an aspect.
Nathanial Halsey in My Father's Hammer
It was a simple plan; cross over into the NeverNever, collect the data, and leave the way he came. He wasn't going to deviate from the plan just because he found some guy trying to fight an ogre by himself. No reason for both of them to get flattened. But when he passed by again, he saw something shocking: the man won. He wasn't in good shape, but it was amazing enough that he survived. So, out of respect for the man's accomplishment, Nathanial helps drag the man back to a hospital.
Aspect: Survival is a VirtueThis would make the timeline of the fight this:** spoiler omitted **
Yeah. Like I said, it took a while to come up with the aspect. To clarify, I meant that he respects few things more than the ability to have the worst things happen to you and get back up. Fortitude would be the virtue he admires the most, if you go by White Wolf's definition of the virtues. I'd come up with a few examples of how this could be used, but this post is long enough already.
This looks fine as an Aspect to me.
If you want to change or adjust an aspect then let me know; so, I can stay on top of what is the current list.
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Yes, you can use a Rune to alter the 'appearance' of the damage. With your level of skill, I don't think you can improve really on the damage of your hammer. A rune causing your hammer to flame would be a temporary maneuver to satisfy a catch possibly for a round of combat.
We are treating Runes like potions so they are essentially evocation spells that you have...
Alright then... I will keep Pernilla's aspects as they are... and see where it leads us.
Okay. Just getting an understanding of how runes will work.
Will not have a chance to post in the IC tonight... I will post when I get home from work tomorrow around 9am est.
I have first post in the IC game thread from four of the eight players.
Just a reminder, you don't have to have your character 'finalized' to post.
Five aspects, a list of skills, and a proposed list of powers and stunts is enough to get started. I am sure there will be shake down for everyone as we get rolling with the new system.
Sorry for the wait. I've always had trouble with my first post in a thread.
Okay- character profile here.
I wrote in the guest staring slot for Danny Kaye. I don't see one for Aximeus to write myself into yet. Let me know if I am wrong- might be back in the thread and I missed it.
Ragadolf- because you might find it useful, triad just means Chinese mafia. It isn't the name of the organization. Also if your guy is hanging with the ladies there, you probably want to call refer to them as Chinese or possibly Asian rather than Orientals. Oriental kind of fell out of favor when used to refer to a person some ways back. It's along the same lines as using colored to refer to a black person- kosher forty years ago, not appreciated now. Not trying to be the PC police there, just letting you know that since your guy is dating a mafia dudes (two) daughters they wouldn't like it.
Hey, Rags. Still your turn over in Sleeper.
Hey, Rags. Still your turn over in Sleeper.
Dangit! I thought I posted that yesterday?
(I was pretty tired, I might have THOUGHT I did)Thx!
Okay- character profile here.
I wrote in the guest staring slot for Danny Kaye. I don't see one for Aximeus to write myself into yet. Let me know if I am wrong- might be back in the thread and I missed it.
Ragadolf- because you might find it useful, triad just means Chinese mafia. It isn't the name of the organization. Also if your guy is hanging with the ladies there, you probably want to call refer to them as Chinese or possibly Asian rather than Orientals. Oriental kind of fell out of favor when used to refer to a person some ways back. It's along the same lines as using colored to refer to a black person- kosher forty years ago, not appreciated now. Not trying to be the PC police there, just letting you know that since your guy is dating a mafia dudes (two) daughters they wouldn't like it.
Nice background Ithuriel, thx for the guest star!
Also thx for the 'PC' ness.(I knew what Triad was, just didn't come through in my writing very well.)
;P
But good point about the oriental/Asian/Chinese, etc. I personally never worry about PC very much, but it WOULD kind of stand out if I had a conversation in public using common slang from 40 years ago! ;D
Looks like everyone's made their rolls, I believe. Any chance I might glean some information from Investigation?
Okay- character profile here.
I wrote in the guest staring slot for Danny Kaye. I don't see one for Aximeus to write myself into yet. Let me know if I am wrong- might be back in the thread and I missed it.
Ragadolf- because you might find it useful, triad just means Chinese mafia. It isn't the name of the organization. Also if your guy is hanging with the ladies there, you probably want to call refer to them as Chinese or possibly Asian rather than Orientals. Oriental kind of fell out of favor when used to refer to a person some ways back. It's along the same lines as using colored to refer to a black person- kosher forty years ago, not appreciated now. Not trying to be the PC police there, just letting you know that since your guy is dating a mafia dudes (two) daughters they wouldn't like it.
All good and the points all check out.
Am i in game thread A?
Fully understandable. Glad you are back with rest of the world Divineshadow.
I may open up other game threads but initially going with one game thread.
The story is starting with the players at a galla for the Royal Ontario Museum as part of their Halloween program.
with changes
Am i in game thread A?
We're all in Game Thread A right now. It's only called that because we'll probably need a game thread B at some point.
Am i in game thread A?
Fully understandable. Glad you are back with rest of the world Divineshadow.
I may open up other game threads but initially going with one game thread.
The story is starting with the players at a galla for the Royal Ontario Museum as part of their Halloween program.
Yup, everyone can participate in game thread A at the moment. Choose one of your aspects and get involved.
:)
Question about starting Fate points.
Do we begin a game with our 'total refresh' number of Fate points? (In this case 9)
OR, do we begin the game with our personal, remaining refresh total? (In Danny's case, 3)
I'm off to read the basics of the Fate system so I'll have a clue about invoking, tagging,etc aspects when we get to our first encounter! :)
Your Refresh is how many Fate points you start with. That's why stunts/powers cost refresh, to keep things somewhat balanced. (And also to show how having more power makes you more beholden to your nature because you have to accept compels because you don't have the fate points to spare on not accepting them.)
EDIT: What you can do with aspects:
-Invoke: If you think an aspect would help you with something you're doing, spend a Fate point and either get +2 to the roll or just reroll it. For example, if I had the Fists of Justice aspect and I was punching a criminal, I could invoke the aspect to get a bonus to my Fists roll.
-Compel: If the GM thinks you should be doing a certain thing because of your aspects, he can try to Compel that aspect. Either you accept the compel and gain a fate point, or you refuse it and lose a fate point. You can still haggle over what you'd be compelled to do if you want. Multiple aspects can be compelled at the same time if both are making your life more difficult. For example, if I had the Easily Angered aspect, the GM could tell me I really should be punching that guy who insulted me in the face right now. Since I don't want to punch that guy in the face right now, I spend a point to refuse.
(Note that, if you act in accordance with you aspects without the GM waving a point in your face even if it makes your character's life difficult, he's going to give you a point anyway because you acted like the aspect was compelled even if it wasn't. Since we can't really do Compelling very well in pbp, we're just going to have to act like our characters would and take the delicious Fate points. I assume we can handle that.)
-Also note that you can Invoke someone else's aspects if their aspects (or any aspects tied to that scene) are relevant to the roll. For example, I know that vampire has the Hatred of the Holy aspect, so I shove a cross in his face, spend a fate point to invoke that aspect and shoot him in the chest. However, since I know bullets can't hurt him, I only use it to set up an aspect for my next example.
-If you roll something to set up an aspect on someone, you can Tag it to invoke it once for free. You can pass off the free invoke to someone else, but only if the effects could reasonably be passed on. (Can't pass In My Sights if you're aiming at someone, but you can let someone else take Spritzed in Holy Water if you just tossed holy water on something.)
For example, I'm still fighting that vampire and I decide to just stake him now. To do this, I tag Shot Through The Heart (And I'm To Blame) (Which I rolled to set up earlier in the scene) to say that my earlier bullet hole gives my stake an easier path to his heart and thus a +2 bonus to my roll. Also, I gave love a bad name.
Question about starting Fate points.
Do we begin a game with our 'total refresh' number of Fate points? (In this case 9)
OR, do we begin the game with our personal, remaining refresh total? (In Danny's case, 3)
I'm off to read the basics of the Fate system so I'll have a clue about invoking, tagging,etc aspects when we get to our first encounter! :)
Davi has things right.
The simple answer Ragadolf is that Danny starts with 3 Fate Points. 9 - 6 (for Stunts and Powers) = 3 Fate Points to start.
A couple of other things with usage of Fate Points.
You can invoke Aspects of your companions to help you. For example Only rivals in the Library is owned by Nathaniel but it could be used by Doctor Carding spending a Fate Point if the scene and usage involved the pair of them like constructing a ritual together to stop a monster. Doctor Carding could also use that aspect and spend a Fate Point to 'contact' Nathaniel (should he not be present) and 'invite' Nathaniel into a scene.
This leads to another part of aspects. Players can spend Fate Points in relation to 'Invoking for Effect'. The Player can suggest to the GM something is 'fact' in a story and spend a Fate Point. The new 'fact' has to be related to the aspect invoked and the GM is the final arbiter of whether this new 'fact' is true. For example, in the previous example, Doctor Carding having been compelled by a GM to go look at a spooky house decides to say that before he arrived at the house he contacted his friend Nathaniel to show up and assist him with the investigation. Doctor Carding spends the Fate Point and the GM will likely grant the statement and make it 'true' and allow Nathaniel to join Doctor Carding.
This is why I suggested that I wanted at least one of each player's story aspects to involve other characters. It makes it easier to contact your friends and when you are together, you can more easily operate as a team.
Cool thanks for this info on background mechanics of fate points; is really neat that you can invoke your fate point for someone else's aspect.
Very cool indeed!
I read this in the online version of the rules, but you guys putting it 'in plain English' makes so much more sense! ;)
It's a new day, so I continue to explain the aspect rules. Now, how to find out something else's aspects.
1. Just guess. Just spend a Fate point and try invoking it. If the scene is obviously different than the aspect you're trying to invoke(if you're trying to invoke Dark Shadows but the GM forgot to mention that the room was Brightly Lit), you get your point back. If you guessed wrong and guessing wrong tells you something important (if you try invoking Hatred of the Holy on another vampire, but it turns out to be a different type), you still spend the point because you learnt something important.
Also of note is when you guess wrong because you're being lied to. The deceiver can either leave your fate point spent (which also causes you to realize you've been lied to), or give the point back (which lets him put a temporary aspect on you to show how he tricked you).
Temporary aspects generally last at most a scene.
2. Maneuvers let you create a temporary aspect in combat. Off Balance, Taking Aim, Overturned Table(for cover), you get the idea for what maneuvers can do.
3. Assessments let you find out one of the target's aspects with a skill roll, getting a free tag in the process. Since this can cover research, you can delay using the tag until the next scene where you encounter the target and not the scene you found the aspect in. For example, I'm arguing with someone and use Empathy for an assessment. I find out he is Easily Frightened and I decide to tag it on my next Intimidate them.
4. Declarations are when you just roll a skill and declare that the target or scene has a certain temporary aspect then tag it for a roll. For example, I'm still fighting that different kind of vampire from three examples ago. I missed throwing a knife last turn and I'm in trouble if I don't do something. So I roll Awareness to put the Leaking Gas aspect, explaining that my missed throw hit the gas line. With that out of the way, I make a one liner, light a match, tag the aspect and run like hell before the house blows up. (The house blowing up would depend on the GM being generous, but I'm assuming he'd let it happen to finish the scene off with a bang.)
Ah, ok,
THAT was one of my next questions, which was how do you get/tag an aspect for free? (No spending of Fate point)
Because in the example from 3-4 pages ago, the author specifically pointed out 'I don't have to spend a Fate point for This because,...'
I luv learning new systems! (You should seen me back in the day, Learning the Hero System for Champions. We were nuts!) ;P
I know what you mean; I know a lot of game systems and have my eyes glued to this one; is almost Torg-like without the cards; but storytelling the cards a bit.
Do you want me to adjudicate Monroe and Carding's skill rolls or do you think you have it covered?
I think we've got it.
Yeah, if I'm doing something obviously wrong or inappropriate, feel free to step in, but I'm not going to waste Fate points or anything on impressing other PC's.
Davi: I haven't seen Nathaniel post for a while. He okay? I'm getting close to spending a fate point to find him.
No, I've just been lazy about posting lately. Whether or not he needs help will depend entirely on what happens after my next post.
Great Roll, there, Nathaniel. Looks like you got some luck when you needed it.
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Question- To make my character have a decently fearsome scream attack I had to put some points in weapons because it works with that skill. So I have Weapons 3, but I don't see her as some kind of mastery of weaponry. It's likely she's never shot a gun in her life and she certainly isn't a sword fighter.
Is there any better way to arrange that? Something that limits it to the Breath Weapon for a trade off would be nice. Not a big deal though. If I leave it as is, I will probably voluntarily treat it as a lower score when using something she would have no familiarity with- for the first time, then I would voluntarily improve it to her actual score over time if she kept on using that type of weapon. Like she's a natural or a fast learner- though she doesn't know why. Right now her voice is a Good +3 Attack which counts as Weapons 2. I assume I could invoke the Banshee part of her High Aspect when using it as well.
Question- To make my character have a decently fearsome scream attack I had to put some points in weapons because it works with that skill. So I have Weapons 3, but I don't see her as some kind of mastery of weaponry. It's likely she's never shot a gun in her life and she certainly isn't a sword fighter.
Is there any better way to arrange that? Something that limits it to the Breath Weapon for a trade off would be nice. Not a big deal though. If I leave it as is, I will probably voluntarily treat it as a lower score when using something she would have no familiarity with- for the first time, then I would voluntarily improve it to her actual score over time if she kept on using that type of weapon. Like she's a natural or a fast learner- though she doesn't know why. Right now her voice is a Good +3 Attack which counts as Weapons 2. I assume I could invoke the Banshee part of her High Aspect when using it as well.
One of the sub rules of Guns is that Guns works normally with firearms but defaults by two shifts or -2 when using Bows. The way around that to have a talented archer character is to call the skill Bow or Archery which then gives the full value to Archery skill and a -2 when using firearms.
I would allow a similar application for the Breath Weapon. Call the Banshee attack 'Scream 3' and then other weaponry usage will have a -2 modifier on usage.
This is where FATE is more primitive system then say GURPs or Champions. There are not a large selection of powers and modifiers to powers. It has the advantage of being easier to build things but you don't always get a cost reduction on things that you might build within the system. Particularly this applies to skills as skills are more abstract and broad in application then they are in some game systems.
The broad and abstract nature of skills is something that I like in the FATE system as having to choose lists of skills in GURPs can be a big pain in the behind (I once did an Jewish Intelligence and Linguistics officer for a WWII game in GURPs and had around 50 different skills selected at half a point to a point purchases). The broad nature of the skills is that they cover not just the direct application of the skill to a problem but associated knowledge of other things.
Another way to handle the difference in ability could be to have an Aspect related to using the Breath attack like Banshee Wail which would allow you to spend a fate point for a +2 or a re-roll. This would allow you to buy the skill at a lower level and then use Fate points to pump the ability.
The third way would be (I'm borrowing some rules from Starblazers) is to call the Banshee Wail a 'Personal Artifact'. You would spend 1 point of refresh and be given 3 selections of things that you could do as additional capabilities with the breath attack (this allows the Gadgetry rules to apply). One of those choices could be 'Craftmanship' which would give a +1 to general usage of the 'Banshee Wail'. You might also choose to get an 'Alternate Usage' which might be something like allowing you to pick locks, shove someone back, radar sense, or anything that is a defined function related to the usage of the power (this would allow you to develop a set of 'super hero' style of stunts that you could do with the wail rather than just attack with it). You could select an 'Upgrade' which would allow you to claim a +2 bonus (instead of the +1 of Craftmanship) but the circumstance would have to be more narrow like using the Wail underwater or to attack glass and ceramic objects. The last option for the wail would be 'Special Effect' which could be used if you wanted the wail to work instead of on sound on the principles of some other energy like 'Spirit' (the benefit being that it could attack a ghost while sound would have no effect on a ghost).
Each point of refresh invested in the Wail would give you 3 selections from the above list of choices. Also, as a 'personal artifact' (which still needs to be 'named' in an aspect in some way) you could use it with a Fate Point expenditure to improvise 'stunts' on the fly. This covers all the 'odd usages' that 'super heroes or supernatural beings' develop for their powers that they don't 'carry' around with them. You might for example be trapped in a safe and spend a Fate Point along with tagging the aspect to use the wail on the tumblers to 'smash' them since the safe was too tough to break directly with your scream. Another example might having found out that you are fighting a giant brain blob in a previous scene, you might 'invent' a special frequency to work on the brain blob. You would need to make some sort of 'performance' or 'discipline' (depending on what skill you tie to your breath attack for such 'inventions') skill check and spend a Fate point.
The above options are not 'mutually exclusive' and you can can pick and combine them together or 'develop' your banshee wail over time by adding Refresh points to develop the capabilities over time.
Monroe recognizers as Mikaela Skaven. It is someone that he has been looking for since he was in New Orleans.
Eh? Unless I forgot some of his backstory, this is a new development. Any information I should know?
This is where the idea was first discussed. This was during the end of Faces creation of the City Creation process as people were beginning to discuss characters.
The basic story is that she has caused problems in New Orleans and Detroit as the person behind the disaster. She often seems to have a Catspaw or two ready to take the fall.
...
Also maybe Mikaela Skaven could be tied to the seedy side of town. She wouldn't be a face since you aren't likely to encounter her unless you know her and how to find her, but it gives her a base of operations.
...
I'm fine with all the above points.
The grid is good. Thanks for that.
Mikaela as a major player of the White court likely has multiple 'bases' throughout the city. She has to accept that when one base is blown (sometimes literally) she'll need a backup or three.
As a thought, since we're saying she and her family feed on hopelessness that she was for a while in New Orleans. Maybe she had a hand in inspiring that disaster (I remember a net rumour of Haitan voodoo priests involved in bringing the hurricane down on the city and making sure the levy's failed. Maybe that rumour is more 'true' and she had a hand in causing the pumps to fail to work properly). It could be a tie in for Barcas's character.
We could say she moved north and helped with causing the housing problems and the worsening economy. I would put that she was in Detroit area in the 2007 to 2008 period of time as Barcas started to hound her and kept her moving. She is now settling into Toronto with a new place to sew hopelessness on a grand scale. The east side is...
Okay, cool. Got it.
Pernailla has contacted her friend from Monoc Securities, Sarah Bell. Whom I have envisioned as a computer/tech person of missions and the like. Pernialla wants her to hack the cameras of the Museum and watch for any trouble. and Let her know. As well as any of Monoc's intel on who might be in town and doing bad things here.
Would that be something that a Fate Point to invoke Agent of Monoc Securities would get done? Or use as one of my contacts? Or both for even more info.
Yeah, I think that sort of thing would count as invoking for effect.
Pernailla has contacted her friend from Monoc Securities, Sarah Bell. Whom I have envisioned as a computer/tech person of missions and the like. Pernialla wants her to hack the cameras of the Museum and watch for any trouble. and Let her know. As well as any of Monoc's intel on who might be in town and doing bad things here.
Would that be something that a Fate Point to invoke Agent of Monoc Securities would get done? Or use as one of my contacts? Or both for even more info.
There are a couple of parts to this request.
1> You can Invoke for Effect naming that you are an Agent of Monoc and requesting that you have someone you know on the inside of the company that might have skills with computers. The cost is 1 Fate Point each time you make this type of request.
2> If you plan to have Sarah Bell be a regular member of your 'team' then you could consider the rules I outlined with the building of your horse companion (see previous pages on this thread for those). There would be a minimum 1 Refresh cost to 'build' and add this person. The advantage of this is that you don't have to spend Fate Points to get access to their abilities but you start each session with one less Fate Point (so it saves if you will be wanting Sarah's aid on things more than once per session).
3> The request for Monoc's Intel is reflected with the Contacts skill. In this situation, Sarah is just a plot excuse on how you tap this resource of knowledge. There is no fate point expenditure unless you want to modify your Contacts roll.
At the moment you have spent all 8 of your allowable refresh; so, you will have to choose option 1 for the moment if you want Sarah to hack the camera feeds and give you information on what she can see. At the first milestone we reach, you can decide on how you want to readjust your character and whether you want to consider option 2. Last, please make a Contacts roll to see what 'tip offs' you can access through Monoc Securities.