I'm running a Dresden Files game for my group and I thought I would share my idea.
I live near Chicago and am most familiar with that setting, so I wanted to keep my game somewhat local. Although we're near Chicago, I don't want to put myself in a situation where Harry and his immediate crew would be around to interfere.
My solution? Play the game in another time. I chose 1920's Chicago.
1. Jim hasn't said much about the past in his setting. This gives me a lot of freedom to establish a setting of my own while still remaining "true" to the series, assuming nothing significant happens that would change the future (our present).
2. This gives me a gangster element as a backdrop. Sort of like having several Marcones running around. It gives my players the opportunity to play roles in an era that I have never run as a campaign. (I can dust off TSR's Gangbusters RPG for inspiration, plus I have a copy of the 1920's Investigator’s Companion for Chaosium's Call of Cthulhu to assist me.)
3. I assume that major groups such as the White Council, Black Court, White Court, Red Court, Nevernever, etc. would have existed back then as well. Since supernaturals seem to live longer than mortals, it would be possible to use some of those same characters as NPCs, only younger. I also assume that they were plotting and scheming against each other the same as today.
4. It gives me my familiar setting without the hassle of the characters from the books getting in the way. It also means that I don't need to try to stay "current" as Jim writes new books.
Anyway, I thought that others might be interested in my reasoning if they are thinking of setting up their own campaigns. Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.