Author Topic: Dracula in the Dresden Files  (Read 1911 times)

Offline Monkey Bloke

  • Lurker
  • Posts: 6
    • View Profile
Dracula in the Dresden Files
« on: September 28, 2010, 02:24:16 PM »
This weekend I am looking to run a one-off RPG session for some friends who haven't gamed recently.
Since we used to play a lot of Mayfair Games 'Chill', I thought I would run an old Chill adventure, but to use the Dresden Files game since I want to test run it a bit for the campaign I will run next year.

The adventure I'm running is "Vengeance of Dracula", a Victorian-era adventure that is a sequel of sorts to Stoker's novel.

What I am trying to do is to stat up Dracula using the DF.
In the chill adventure he is listed as very powerful (but the Black Court vampire template covers most of that), but it is the powers he has that I am figuring out how to model.
Some like changing the weather or darkening a room are pretty much adding an aspect to a scene.
Summoning swarms of rats, bats, insects or wolves are a little trickier, as is his ability to hold a door closed with his powers so it cannot be opened for a while short of destroying the door itself.
The ones that concern me are Influence (a kind of mind control), sleep (to send someone to sleep) and Steal Memory (to remove a recent memory, for example, of being fed upon). I imaging that most of these will be a form of mental conflict, but am not sure about the details.

Also, the adventure has a possibility of a PC being fed upon and possibly being turned into a vampire, either by Dracula or his new vampire bride. How best to handle this? Dracula's usual M.O. is to use the above Sleep power on people while they are in bed and then feed on them, slowly weakening them and increasing his influence over them. After a while they either die and return as a vampire or he needs to be dealt with (killed or destroy all his hidden coffins and he flees back to Transylvania).
Any ideas how to model this sort of slow attack against a (ideally, well, for Drac) defenceless opponent?

Also, any suggestions for skill levels and especially Aspects for the King of the Undead? "Creatures of the night, what music they make"

Offline wolff96

  • Participant
  • *
  • Posts: 80
    • View Profile
Re: Dracula in the Dresden Files
« Reply #1 on: September 28, 2010, 02:43:55 PM »
What I am trying to do is to stat up Dracula using the DF.

This isn't too difficult, actually.  :)

Quote
Some like changing the weather or darkening a room are pretty much adding an aspect to a scene.
Summoning swarms of rats, bats, insects or wolves are a little trickier, as is his ability to hold a door closed with his powers so it cannot be opened for a while short of destroying the door itself.

Much like Mavra, Dracula would be a Master Black Court Vampire with added magical capability.  Evocation, Thaumaturgy, and as much Refinement as you care to add.  The Summonings could be real creatures that are enchanted -- or more likely, handled by his "Master Domination" capability (prepared in advance).  They could also be handled as a Thaumaturgic ritual -- or a facet of his "Echoes of the Beast" power. 

The Door is actually very easy -- it's just a high-power block.  Getting enough successes to bypass the blocking magic also destroys the door.  :)

Quote
The ones that concern me are Influence (a kind of mind control), sleep (to send someone to sleep) and Steal Memory (to remove a recent memory, for example, of being fed upon). I imaging that most of these will be a form of mental conflict, but am not sure about the details.

Master Domination, again, is your friend.  Direct mental attacks can inflict consequences -- like "Forced Slumber" or "Short-Term Memory Loss".  He can also use the power to apply Manuevers over time to give himself big advantages when the Mental conflict actually comes. 

Quote
Also, the adventure has a possibility of a PC being fed upon and possibly being turned into a vampire, either by Dracula or his new vampire bride. How best to handle this? Dracula's usual M.O. is to use the above Sleep power on people while they are in bed and then feed on them, slowly weakening them and increasing his influence over them. After a while they either die and return as a vampire or he needs to be dealt with (killed or destroy all his hidden coffins and he flees back to Transylvania).
Any ideas how to model this sort of slow attack against a (ideally, well, for Drac) defenceless opponent?

I would be very, very careful about doing this to PCs, unless they know going in that their characters may well die or be turned.  Regardless, once they are out of it, he can feed on them to impose physical consequences and eventually take them out.  I don't recall the original Stoker source material well enough, but I don't think there's anything that suggests Dracula couldn't kill a victim in one 'feeding', just that he likes to slowly convert his victims. 

How that plays out is up to you.

Quote
Also, any suggestions for skill levels and especially Aspects for the King of the Undead? "Creatures of the night, what music they make"

Cheat.  Use original quotes from the book (or your favorite Dracula movie) that handle the facets of his personality you want to display.  And other than the social skills -- and Resources -- Dracula really doesn't need much.  He's already a bundle of powers a mile long, he doesn't really need a lot more!  Though I *would* put a couple of ranks into Fists, if nothing else. 

Offline MijRai

  • Posty McPostington
  • ***
  • Posts: 3219
  • "For my next trick, anvils."
    • View Profile
Re: Dracula in the Dresden Files
« Reply #2 on: September 28, 2010, 03:54:03 PM »
Dracula is dead. Well, double-dead.

Otherwise, I'd stat him as a master, add some magic, and give him a high Weapons skill along with Fists. Echoes of the Beast cover animal control. Domination and Blood Drinker can cover the Sleep, Influence, and the memories.

A Block would cover the door thing well, along with removing light and maybe changing weather a bit. Ritual, and Channeling or Evocation. Removing light could be a veil instead of actually removing it, so Spirit Channeling and Meteromancy could cover it.

The main thing I'd do is boost his skills. He's been around for centuries, and he was a general for a large number of it. He can fight, he is smart, and he will tear you limb from limb if he wants to. Add stunts from all reaches.
Don't make me drop a turkey on you...

DV MijRai v1.2 YR 1 FR 1 BK+++ JB+ TH++ !WG CL SW BC+ RP++++ MC+++ SHMolly++;Murphy+

Offline DFJunkie

  • Conversationalist
  • **
  • Posts: 624
    • View Profile
Re: Dracula in the Dresden Files
« Reply #3 on: September 29, 2010, 05:59:36 PM »
Quote
Dracula is dead. Well, double-dead.

Oh please, Dracula comes back from the dead more frequently than most D&D characters.  Jim might not do it, but there's absolutely no reason we can't.

Personally I'd come up with some "Illusion of Mortality" power that acts like a glamour and allows him to pass for human, at least for a while and/or with the uninitiated.  Dracula has always been a sexual figure, and taking that away would really weaken the character.

90% of what I say is hyperbole intended for humorous effect.  Don't take me seriously. I don't.