Dresden Files RPG

I think I've commented on how much I enjoy Jim Butcher's Dresden Files books. I recently got to read the latest release Changes, and was left wanting more for my fix... and then I was lucky enough to get my hands on the pre-release .pdfs for the upcoming Dresden Files RPG sent out to those who had pre-ordered the game from Evil Hat Productions.

According to what I've read on RPG.net the .pdfs are approximately 90% complete, with some revisions still being done for the final print release (due out around either Origins or GenCon of this year), but I'm hard-pressed to see WHERE such revisions are still needed! The game is, without question, fantastic. Previously I had held Eden Studio's Buffy RPG as the best example of a licensed product fitting its source, but I'm handing the title over to the Dresden Files RPG. (I'm going to shorten this to DFRPG)

DFRPG was written using the FATE system, just like another Evil Hat Productions RPG I've read, Spirit of the Century, but this is an updated version of FATE and has differences. Rather than compare the two, I'm just going to blab about the version in DFRPG! At its core FATE is a simple system using FUDGE dice to determine the results of dice rolls. What are FUDGE dice, you ask? They're a set of six-sided dice, but rather than pips numbered from 1-6, these dice have either a +, - , or ' ' (that's blank) on them. You roll 4 of these dice together, add up all the + signs you get, subtract any - signs from this total, and that gives you the results of your roll, which you then add to any modifiers you might have. Compare that total to the difficulty of your roll, and you've determined whether you've succeeded or not. A pretty simple core concept.

Adding depth to this system are Fate Points and Aspects. Aspects are items that add description to your character, either through a phrase, naming a person or organization important to that character, or describing a place or item that's important. Aspects are not only a way of describing your character, they're also a way for a player to tell the GM "Hey, I want THIS in the game!" In other words, if I take HUNTED BY THE BROTHERHOOD OF SKRANG as an Aspect, there damn well better be a Brotherhood of Skrang in the game, and it better be hunting my character! Beyond providing a description of your character, Aspects can also provide mechanical benefits to your character, or offer opportunities to gain Fate Points. Fate Points are used primarily to power certain abilities or to gain benefits from Aspects. By spending a Fate Point a player can invoke an appropriate Aspect to either give a small bonus on a skill roll, or allow the player to re-roll the dice for one skill roll (the player gets to choose). The GM can compel the character in some way through Aspects, either limiting the character's possible actions or introducing new elements to the game through the Aspect to make things more interesting. Players may also try to do this if they think of something neat or interesting. If a player agrees to be limited by the compel in some way, they get a Fate Point. They can choose to refuse to deal with the Compel by spending a Fate Point. I'll talk a little more about Aspects in a bit.

Characters are also represented through Skills, though in FATE skills represent a combination of actual skills (like Guns, for instance), attributes (Might as an example), and backgrounds (Resources fits this category). Skills will fall somewhere on the Ladder (a range of values from -2 to 8, with each value assigned an adjective to help players conceptualize what each value is worth), providing a base modifier for skill check results. So a character might have Guns at Good (+3), where they'll add the value of their dice roll and any other modifiers (like bonuses from Aspects) to that base +3 to get their result. The system also provides a category of abilities called Mortal Stunts that build off of skills and either enhance them (for example, providing an area of specialty for that skill), or providing new abilities to represent the character's excellence with the skill (like the ability to use Weapons to attack multiple opponents at once).

Then there are Supernatural Powers. These range from physical characteristics (Claws, Hulking Size, Wings) to shape shifting, to increased strength, speed, and toughness, to the ability to cast spells. Supernatural Powers each cost a variable amount of a character's Refresh value (the value which determines where how many Fate Points they have at the start of a session), so the more powers you take, the less Fate Points your character has to call on Aspects. (Note: Mortal Stunts cost refresh too, but it's a flat 1 Refresh per stunt, where Powers could be anywhere from 1 to... well, anything theoretically.)

To help create characters that fit in with the Dresden Files books, DFRPG provides a group of Templates that list powers the character MUST have to be that type of supernatural, as well as additional powers that fit thematically, but aren't needed. This helps players design character who fit into the power level of the game they're playing in (for example, if your base Refresh for the game starts at 6, the Wizard Template isn't going to work). Templates will also help players design their character's High Concept, an Aspect that normally MUST reference their Template in some way (for example, Harry Dresden's High Concept is WIZARD PRIVATE EYE).

Character creation is a group process, and players are encourage to figure out the title of the first "book" their character was the main character in (Harry Dresden, for example, would use Storm Front). They then summarize this book, and design an Aspect based on that bit of their background. Then the players pass their stories around the group (it's recommended that the stories get written down on index cards) so that another player may add a small bit detailing how THEIR character was a supporting character in the story, and designing an Aspect for their character based on this guest appearance. Then you repeat the process, assuming there are enough players to do so. In this way each character is tied to a couple other characters, helping to form group unity (or sometimes conflict). I REALLY like this part of character creation, as I've played in far too many games where I was left wondering why the characters were working together.

The magic system does an excellent job of emulating what we see in the books, though I would warn you that the system isn't (in my opinion) meant to be read all at once. As I read through the system I found I had an easier time digesting and processing it if I took the section in small snippets. Your experiences may vary, and all that, but I throw it out there as a point of caution.

DFRPG is being released as two books. The first book contains all the information I've discussed thus far, plus city creation rules (which is also encouraged to be a group activity), more rules on combat and other gaming elements, suggestions for building scenarios, and rules for character advancement. The second book is designed to present the setting of the books to players/gms, and is a mixture of setting material and monster manual, providing stats for every critter encountered in the books (assuming stats are appropriate for them). The layout on both books is excellent, and the RPG is presented as a project written by Billy the Werewolf (fans of Butcher's books might recognize the character), given to Harry and Bob the Skull to look over and edit. There are notes from Billy, Harry, and Bob all over the margins of both books, or provided on Post-it-notes. These notes are either amusing commentary, or helpful suggestions. The illustrations come from the graphic novels adapted from the books, and are generally very appropriate to nearby topics. Getting both books at the same time is going to set you back approximately $90, but the books are well worth it, and you'll be getting a reasonable page count for your money (the first book's .pdf weighs in at 416 pages, while the second book comes in at 272). Evil Hat also normally provides .pdf copies of print books ordered from their website (and anyone who has the "beta" pre-release pdfs will get updated ones once the book is officially released).

I'm very excited to play this game. I'm currently looking for players to participate in an online game over Google Wave (my dice roller can emulate FUDGE dice), and we've already gathered two players (not counting myself). I'm thinking about putting out an invitation on my Facebook Wall to try and gain the interest of my gaming friends.

If you're interested in reading more about DFRPG, check out the game's website at http://www.dresdenfilesrpg.com where you check out plenty of previews, read the game designer blogs, and even download copies of the character sheet, or Harry Dresden's character sheet (aw, heck, here's the direct URL: http://www.dresdenfilesrpg.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Harry-Dresden.pdf). I'll be VERY eager to pick up physical copies of this game when it releases, though of course my budget will determine if I actually can. If you'd like more information about the books that have inspired this rpg, I'd encourage you to check out Jim Butcher's website at http://www.jim-butcher.com/ where you can read previews from some of the books, check out other books by Jim, read Jim's Blog, or even listen to a podcast!

End of Demented Rambling.