Class/Origin recommendation for first time player character concept

[Gharnl]

Hi there!

I'm going to be playing in a Dreseden Files game for the first time very soon (super excited!) and have an idea for a character concept but am looking for some advice or guidance on what class/origin might be a good fit for it.

The concept is this - the character is trying to make a living working as an information broker in the city the game will be set in. He's not necessarily the best or biggest in his chosen profession, I see him more as at the beginning of his career. But he knows that certain information can be extremely valuable to certain individuals. I haven't decided if the methods through which he obtains the information that he traficks are mudane (mortal activities like blackmail, bribery, theft or regular purchase), supernatural (spells, scrying, bargaining with the Fae, etc) or a combination of both. This is the sort of thing I figured would be informed more by the class/origin that I end up taking.

So what do people think would be a good fit for my first concept?

[devonapple]

"Clued-In Information Broker" seems the most direct way to say it.

Some other flavors could be:
"Supernatural Snitch/Informant/Fink/Information Hub/Stool Pigeon"
"Well-Connected Snitch/Source/Fink"
"Information Hub"
"Informant For Hire"
"Deluded Snitch"
"Wannabe Spy"
"Amateur Snitch"
"Clue Broker"

[Richard_Chilton]

What's the power level of your game?

I can see this PC as being a Pure Mortal (getting stunts to help him get information), a Practitioner (using ritual:divination), a changeling (tapping into a fairy information network the way Harry sometimes does), and practically anything else.  A shapeshifter detective, the Scion of an information spirit or gossip entity, a white court virgin who charms the info from people - name the template and there's a way of making this character with it.

From a "having to know the rules" point of view, using magic to gather information would be the most complicated way of going.  Having high contacts and investigation would probably be the easiest way to go.

Hope this helps.

Richard

[Gharnl]

The game master hasn't mentioned what he's intending the power level for the game to be yet.

My initial thinking was that a pure mortal would be a good fit for this, but I don't have any real experience with the game to make a decision yet. Another choice would be a small time practioner with only a little talent for certain magics related to information gathering.

[Richard_Chilton]

With the lowest refresh level you have 6 refresh to play around with - but you only can only spend 5 on things.  But even with the lowest limit yhere's a lot of ways to go as minor practitioner.   Basically, you'd need to decide on a way that you could magically learn information.

Taking Rituals: divination would cost 2 refresh and give you much of what you want.

Taking Rituals: summoning would cost the same and let you ask otherworldly types questions.

Taking Thaumaturgy would cost 3 refresh and give the full range of 'slow and steady' magic powers but you wouldn't have any of the flashy spells.

Then there's Sponsored Magic - you could take Seelie or Unseelie magic (4 refresh for either) and be an info specialist linked to one of the Fae courts.


You might want to hold off on making a final decision until you know what your group is making and the style of play they are looking for - there are few things worse than having a great "I work well behind the scenes" PC in a combat orientated game.

Richard

[noclue]

I would flip things around a bit and ask what kind of information does his broker and let that guide you. If its mundane information, well there aren't a lot of "information brokers" in the mundane world, at least not as such. What you have are researchers, consultants, blackmailers, private investigators, mediums, bookies, brokers, stock analysts, insiders, forensic accountants, journalists, intelligence workers, etc.

So, what kind of information do you want him to trade?

[Gharnl]

That's an excellent question.

I hadn't thought about that angle yet to be honest. I almost see him as more of a contracted individual. If people are looking for specific information regarding the activities of supernatural entities in and around the city then he's the guy to come and see. So not so much that he provides information regarding the nature of those entities per se (a lot of people can tell you about the ins and outs of the various types of creatures out there), but more he is the guy to go to if you want to know about what existing and new players in the supernatural scene are up to.

If the Red Court is expanding its territory and buying up property in the city, you would come and see him to find out where their new locations are.

Or if the supernatural groups in the city are all in a flap over something important that's arriving soon, he could be contracted to find out where and when.

Those are just two examples that I could think of right now.

[devonapple]

I almost see him as more of a contracted individual. If people are looking for specific information regarding the activities of supernatural entities in and around the city then he's the guy to come and see. So not so much that he provides information regarding the nature of those entities per se (a lot of people can tell you about the ins and outs of the various types of creatures out there), but more he is the guy to go to if you want to know about what existing and new players in the supernatural scene are up to.

I can see a few ways this can be playable.

1) The game is focused in some way on the research your character is doing. Treat each scenario as a "case," as if your guy was a PI being hired to find out information. He is beginning to sound like one anyway.

2) Your character is attached to a group that needs his services full-time. He is a contractor, true, but one with a long-term contract.

In this kind of game, though, you will want a solid reason why your guy is getting involved in whatever the group is doing, taking risks, exposing himself to the potential backlash of what happens with this information he digs up and sells.

[Gharnl]

In working on the idea for this character I'm starting to get the feeling that he would almost be more appropriate as an NPC resource for players to use in a game rather than an actual character I would play. It's starting to sound more and more like a private investigator than an actual information broker and the one thing I don't want to play in a Dresden Files game is a clone of Harry himself. Harry is great and all, but I want to experience the universe for myself, not just play out his old casefiles. 

[Haru]

When reading through this, I was reminded not of Harry or any other investigator, but of Lorne from Angel. And in fact, he started out as an NPC, but he got more involved throughout the story and in the end he was a pretty important character (I just love his last scene, btw.). Maybe that is something that happened to your guy, but it happened before you started playing, or it might even bee the hook for the first game to play, to get your character out in the open and play with the big boys.

[Gharnl]

I love Lorne! That's an excellent analogy and idea too. I'll have a talk with the GM about potential ideas of what might have happened to cause the character out into the open and start working more actively than just as a source of information for other people.

Thanks Haru!

[Richard_Chilton]

You might want to pick up all the sample Contact stunts and have Contacts be your highest skill. 

Thinking of Lorne, doesn't "Ear to the Ground", "I Know Just the Guy", and "Rumormonger" describe him?

Richard

[Haru]

Glad to be of service

Those stunts are exactly what he needs. If you want to copy him, you are also going to need high empathy and performance (and a stunt for singing) as well, and probably a supernatural sense to hear emotions (and maybe a faint outline of destiny) when someone is singing.

Hooks to start playing:

Who is he, where did he come from?
He might be a former changeling, and somehow he kept his supernatural sense when he chose to be human. But there is someone from his fairy side, that wants to get him in trouble.

Or:
A supernatural party wants to push into town and take over everything. The characters bar is caught in the crossfire and now he has little to no choice to participate in the fight against those intruders.

And probably a whole lot more, but these should get you started.

[Gharnl]

I think I'll use Lorne as a foundation, but change him so that he's not exactly the same. My group has banned me from singing at the table anyway.

[Haru]

My group has banned me from singing at the table anyway.

Been there