Is the fate system the best for the book series

[potestas]

we ll defended and you are all correct I am new to the series and do not completely understand the rules. Which is one of the reasons i posted, to see how you all interpreted the rules.

I cant say I like the magic laws Just don't, not even in the books and intend to play them more as guidelines rather then thou shants. That is peoples intentions weight more then peoples actions.

Thank you though well said all of you.

[Dougansf]

I'd love to see the Dresdenverse done using Amber Diceless. Not quite as complex as FATE but still free and loose to play...

I'd much rather see the Amber setting in a Fate system. 

[UmbraLux]

Brought up in another thread I opined that I don't care much for the rules when it comes to magic. Why you might ask:  Wizards have at best 4 spells per engagement with the possibility to flub them fairly easily. If they decide to go balls to the walls to take out some really big bad they have even less. This makes them about level 2-3 in the old dungeon and dragons system. <snip>

Just picking at nits but wizards have 4 spells per scene which are a) extremely flexible and potentially fit any scene; and b) are the most powerful attacks available on a per refresh basis.

So yeah, four spells per scene.  That's the only major drawback.  (Needing dedicated skills is minor.)  Comparing to D&D as you did, it's like being able to pick any spell of any level to cast...only better since you can tailor them to fit.

An example defense in action: say you end up with a legendary roll: you have a block of 8 for one pass and then you have to roll again and gain another mental stress. Or you can reduce the block to 6 and have the spell last for 3 passes. Provided it isn't brought down early if the bad guy roles well. And what nasty in the Dresden world couldn't beat a block of fantastic.

As others noted, wizards are better off using enchanted items for blocks.

I just can't see how the white court brought down the entire red court of vampires. This system is not meant for large scale engagements. <snip>

Not really sure I'd rely on the novels to be recreatable by the game but:

(click to show/hide)

The red court was taken out by a thaumaturgy spell they'd set up themselves.  All the protagonists did was swap out a 'symbolic link' to redirect it.  They did survive against an army long enough to do so but I think that has more to do with the inverse ninja rule than with any game mechanic. 

Now with all my feeling about the magic system you might ask why bother playing. I love urban fantasy, I can't decide which world is better The hollows or Dresdens I like playing in it. I only wish the magic system lived up to the books.

I don't think any game ever really recreates the feel of a novel.  DFRPG did a better than average job at trying but games and novels have completely different methods and processes. 

When it comes to novels, I recommend Ilona Andrews' "Kate Daniels" series and Seanan McGuire's "October Daye" series (and the previously mentioned Mercy Thompson series).  They rank with Dresden for quality and entertainment. 

[Tush Hog]

I ran a game focused on wizards and not set particularly in the Dresdenverse. I used Toughness Powers for the mental stress track like those for the physical. I think I just called them inhuman, supernatural and mythic spellcaster or something.

Wizards could then sling around lots of spells and only tired when reaching well above their normal capabilities or when they couldn't control what they drew in.

It was fun and the wizards were bad news. After doing this, I would probably give the heavy hitters like Ebenezar and the Merlin these powers.

[Wyntonian]

I ran a game focused on wizards and not set particularly in the Dresdenverse. I used Toughness Powers for the mental stress track instead of the physical. I think I just called them inhuman, supernatural and mythic spellcaster or something.

Wizards could then sling around lots of spells and only tired when reaching well above their normal capabilities or when they couldn't control what they drew in.

It was fun and the wizards were bad news. After doing this, I would probably give the heavy hitters like Ebenezar and the Merlin these powers.

That... is freaking borked. I mean, if it worked for you in your wizard-focused game, hey more power to ya.  But in anything else... my brain hurts to consider it.

[potestas]

I ran a game focused on wizards and not set particularly in the Dresdenverse. I used Toughness Powers for the mental stress track instead of the physical. I think I just called them inhuman, supernatural and mythic spellcaster or something.

Wizards could then sling around lots of spells and only tired when reaching well above their normal capabilities or when they couldn't control what they drew in.

It was fun and the wizards were bad news. After doing this, I would probably give the heavy hitters like Ebenezar and the Merlin these powers.

i like it since i prefere wizards to any other type

[vultur]

I think Eb accomplishes what he does more by only needing one spell to kill pretty much anything rather than really extreme endurance. In Changes, he moved thousands of tons of stone with one force blast and killed 200 human servants of the Red Court by waving the Blackstaff at them.  And in Turn Coat, it talked about how the Senior Council members there (including Eb) could have been brought down by numbers even of pretty weak minions (Fae spiders and Binder's gray men).

[Deadmanwalking]

Yeah. Ebenezar's endurance is probably on par with Harry's, but no better. He's just vastly more effective on a per-spell basis.

[Hick Jr]

IF they were cars, they would have the same gas tank capacity, but Ebenezar would have a lot more gas mileage.

[Wyntonian]

IF they were cars, they would have the same gas tank capacity, but Ebenezar would have a lot more gas mileage.

And a really freaking huge engine. Cuz. Y'know. Moving thousands of tons of stone.

[Mr. Death]

Better analogy is that they're both pump action shotguns, but while Ebenezer is a 10 gauge firing solid slugs, Harry's a 20 gauge firing birdshot.

[tymire]

I just can't see how the white court brought down the entire red court of vampires. This system is not meant for large scale engagements. 

Not really sure I'd rely on the novels to be recreatable by the game but:

(click to show/hide)

The red court was taken out by a thaumaturgy spell they'd set up themselves.  All the protagonists did was swap out a 'symbolic link' to redirect it.  They did survive against an army long enough to do so but I think that has more to do with the inverse ninja rule than with any game mechanic.

Not too sure I agree with you on the ninja mechanic.

(click to show/hide)

Remember they had all 3 swords in play (while on the job) and than a good chuck of the grey council showed up shortly thereafter.  Yes, the Reds had a crazy amount of people/vamps, but having Trumpet boy and condemning them through Murphy really disorganized them.

[Deadmanwalking]

Yeah...I'm less than surprised that some of the scariest Wizards on earth can take on an army when backed up by various Deities, Archangels, and similar things.

[Sanctaphrax]

i like it since i prefere wizards to any other type

It's not usually a good idea to deliberately unbalance the game in favour of your favourite character type.

For the approach I prefer to mental durability Powers, see the Custom Power list.

[potestas]

(click to show/hide)

The red court was taken out by a thaumaturgy spell they'd set up themselves.  All the protagonists did was swap out a 'symbolic link' to redirect it.  They did survive against an army long enough to do so but I think that has more to do with the inverse ninja rule than with any game mechanic.

Not too sure I agree with you on the ninja mechanic.

(click to show/hide)

Remember they had all 3 swords in play (while on the job) and than a good chuck of the grey council showed up shortly thereafter.  Yes, the Reds had a crazy amount of people/vamps, but having Trumpet boy and condemning them through Murphy really disorganized them.

forgot about the god and the archangel, i think the red court had pissed off a lot of other critters aside from the human wizards.