Dresden Files [FATE - Core or Accelerated] [System]

[Imogen]

That sounds amazing, Blythe. And I wouldn't worry about mistakes or slower starts, and whatnot.

I'd consider you a hero for taking up the DM's mantle and happily be your cheerleader!

[Pumpkin Seeds]

If we did the rotating GM thing then you could also play Blythe.  The characters then become a sort of pool for GMs to use.

[HairyHeretic]

I've done the rotating GMs thing with an old tabletop group, and it works fairly well if you run stories on an episodic format.

I've GMed a Dresden Files game on here before, but I'm running enough other ones I wouldn't want to take on another right at this time. In the future, maybe.

I don't have the accelerated rules, so my vote is for the older rule set.

[TheLaughingOne]

Well, im not advocating that we hold a gun to each persons head that plays to make them GM, but anybody that has an idea run a rough synopsis, just enough to get interest, give a general idea of the story idea/direction, and people can see if its something they are interested in, if 2 people wanna run something throw a vote.

Have options for short stories or small novella size ones, like the aside stories Butcher has that provide more flavor, character development, or just general fun beyond "minor" social interactions, and without the imminent threat of absolute destruction of the world:3

And id be happy to play along on a learning trip of Fate, i only played shortly in one game as mentioned in the "what rpgs do you have thread" before dropping out (bunch of the people were assholes, and head guy wanted to do an alt world where harry willingly became justins apprentice. yeah.), but have a reasonably decent understanding of the system:3 (i've dinked in games of the Atomic Robo RPG, Secret lives of cats, and one friends Silent Hill game which started briefly,b ut died when she got all pregs)

[Blythe]

I've never actually done a 'rotating GM' situation before. How do those work, exactly, especially for me having a PC somewhere at some point if the GMs were to rotate?

The only experience I tend to have GMing is with 'campaign' length stuff. I've tried a one-shot or two in RL, but those were things with a definable start-middle-end that didn't lend to someone else picking them up and 'continuing' with the same group of characters. ^^;

[TheLaughingOne]

Well.. Thats a tough one to explain, so i'll do my best..

Rotating GMs means we that people take turns running as a GM, so everybody has a PC to play with, But when your running the story your character takes  back seat, they dont get to be the central focus/hero of that story, But they can be The start of the story, either having a problem they need help with, go missing, strange happenings to get things started, and then/or give a helping hand to keep the story moving if PCs missed a detail, got distracted, or take a hit that would incap/kill a PC when its inconvient (they dont die, but they are out of play rest of story... Think Skin games, (spoilers marked!) when

who's it

Karen Murphy

gets taken out by

That Guy

Nicodemus

to save

whats his face

Harry

.

Once the GMs story is over, they get to be a PC again! (if they were injured saving someones ass, they are now healed! And as for advancement, usually went with Players doing a vote on if they should get points they can put into their character) From there we get a couple sessions of Loose play, minor sort of things, general character interaction, training montages for spendings, or just little short stories someone wants to run for a minor entertainment (in which you might get hurt a little, but no PCs or such are going to die)

At such time its up to someone else who is interested to come up with their own Story, and when they are good to go they pitch it to the group, give a brief synopsis of whats going to happen (enough to get people interested, but not give away their story line and such) and if people are interested they sign up. If there are 2 or people at the same time they can check with each other and choose who goes first, or it goes to the PCs to vote, winner goes first, loser gets priority on next go.

From there its kinda ran as either...
1: Monster of the week format. Think power rangers, each story is its own fairly self contained thing, the only real persistant is the PCs and a few of the NPCs, maybe a couple recurring villians, or...
B: Long term run. GMs are able to build their own stories through each episode building towards a final climactic moment of that story, maybe working with another GM to mesh two stories together.


On option B we keep a Master Canon. This catalogs Set things in the past, so while there is wiggle room in the background, these are the things set in Physics, so to speak. Past stories run by GMs, character details for PCs and NPCs, or other things people would rather not have tinkered with. This was inspired by comic books and how characters constantly have details and history rewritten by new writers, (IE, Last series, magneto realized what a douche he was being, dismantled the brotherhood of evil mutants, saved humanity, and established a free country for both humans and mutants to live peacefully. ... Until the next writer picks it up, and goes "man! That sucks! I had so many cool ideas for magneto as a villian... ... I know! he just randomly kills off all the humans there and becomes evil again!!")

Thats a bit of a sticky one, in that the only NPCs/PCs you can lock in canon are your own, so...

In city making i proposed a Deli called "Moist Jimmys Gourmet Deli meats" (and this is an actual Dresden location i've suggested in games) which is a front for a guy who runs a mob disposal shop.. You got dead bodies you need gone..? Give him a call. You need a guy taken out, but he is a hard target and you want it to be a message, Call him again. The place is actually run by a guy who is "The Ghoul King". A normal human, but Creepy. Not quite marcone, but close, In disposing of bodies he chops them up and distributes them to ghouls as payment for making hits and kills. and say.. Imogen wants to run a story where Ghoul King is involved, checks the canon, and (this is one i like, but some others dont quite) talks with the person who came up with the character, discussing their part in the story some, either...

A: getting details on how to best fit the NPC in and portray them right then playing out the NPC themselves with a little sideline coaching from the creator. (if said creator leaves, then your a bit more free to work)

2: work out the details with the player who will run the NPC for them, taking what the GM has fed them and filtering it as the character to give them the right feel.

Both have their difficulties, and their perks.

Im exhausted, and starving... i hope this is at least a good start to explaining the idea, and if there are any questions/comments just let me know and will try and get a good response up for you!

[AndyZ]

Just an idea, but what about if different GMs focus on different antagonists?  Blythe could take Nickelheads and others could take other antagonist factions, thus making sure the particular stories hold together?

[Crash]

I would be interesting in playing.  I would suggest going Fate Accelerated on the forum.  I am using an even more stripped down version of FA for a game and it works well here.

[ReijiTabibito]

My vote for the rules is for original ruleset.  I'm not even sure how FAE would mesh with DF, and the characters I've got built are bent towards that direction, anyways.

BTW, did we ever settle what power level this game would be?  If we're throwing around full-blown Wizards and KoCs, that's what, Chest Deep, Submerged?

[TheLaughingOne]

Just an idea, but what about if different GMs focus on different antagonists?  Blythe could take Nickelheads and others could take other antagonist factions, thus making sure the particular stories hold together?

Thats a good suggestion and option!

My idea is more like... ... A Pool? there are no set GMs, its not done in turns, but when someone has something setup and ready. Pumpkin Seeds might only run a single story and spend the rest of the time as a player, while HairyHeretic runs storys every other go until he decides he wants to just play for a while. Maybe someone who hasnt "Joined" as a PC but has been reading and enjoying the threads gets a cool idea, and wants to GM once if the players are interested.

[Pumpkin Seeds]

Fate lends itself well to the players designing much of the static world.  The game encourages players to not only develop their characters but important locations and people.  To design aspects for those places and people as well.  As a group we could certainly flesh out whatever city or location is selected.

[AndyZ]

I'll probably design a casino for my character if that works, assuming that we have the power level set to the point where my character could even own a casino.  I have another character in another game that owns a nightclub and it's been a fantastic way to meet folks, help get the setting going, and provide a splash of color to the setting.

[CupofJoe]

I have no idea how any of this works, so I would probably need help making a character. unless someone happens to have PDF of rules. I would personally prefer old rules, since those are the books i will be getting.

[AndyZ]

Actually, I might consider reusing a True Believer concept I've had before if we go with the Fate Core system ^_^

[Blythe]

Okay, it looks like most people have the 'main' rules (the first link in my original post), so if I GM anything, I will be using that.

My interests are in either a Chest-Deep or Submerged power level, given I'd like to play a wizard at some point.

I'm not 100% on doing a rotating GM thing, but I'm open to at least trying it. :)

I will say that if I GM anything, even if I'm just taking a turn & its a rotating schedule, I can't handle FATE games with more than five players, given my newness to GMing FATE via forum.

[AndyZ]

Did you want first pick, Blythe?  I have a base concept that I can try to GM, not sure if it'd work but I'm willing to give it a shot and see how it goes.

Fair warning that I've never GMed FATE before, though, so will need people to be patient with me if I try.

[Blythe]

I'm thinking I'd like to. It'll help me to learn FATE better by being able to go through the world building process with people, too.

I'd also like to mention that I'm more than willing to do long-term GMing if people would rather play than try GMing--I would not have offered if I wasn't okay with it. :-) It won't bother me not to be a player, though people might want to bear with my relative newness with the system. ^^

What I'm currently considering is opening a proper interest check with the things I'd like to include for sure in a game, ask people to submit character concepts  by filling out a little blurb of info (but not full statted sheets), and the five that look to mesh best & 'fit' what I'd want in a game would then be our group. We'd then move to an OOC, where we would move into city creation, and I would have a list of things I'd ask people to answer so we could build our city--hashin' deets out once we get some good info going on. After that, proper chargen.

[Crash]

I would suggest just going through the world creation as a group. Someone may really attach themselves to a story and want to gm it.  The city creation portion takes a while anyway.

I could set up and help everyone work through that portion if need be.  I have done it a few times.  Place it in the world building thread.

12 people have shown interest.  I would guess we will lose half that by the time world creation is completed.


Oops look like you have that all thought out already.

[AndyZ]

One of these days I hope to thank you by running something awesome for you in return, Blythe.

[PixelatedPixie]

I would be willing to try and GM on occasion if things last that long, though probably not upfront due to my lack of experience with the system and hazy remembrance of the books. 

[Blythe]

https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=270659.0

:)