I'm not that great at on-the-fly GMing unless I have some stuff prepared. Since this will be my first attempt at running a new system, I figure having a module as a guide will help. As long as I get the feel of the creatures, they don't have to be a feature-by-feature recreation. I like the way the Fate Freeport Companion handles creature conversion for a D&D style game, and thought something similar could be done using Dresden.I feel you, that's why I usually fail as a DM. Any particular objection to starting with one of the pre-written DFRPG adventures? Then you dont have to worry about conversion rules or clashing philosophies or untested mechanics.
For whatever reason that reminds me of the opening fight scene in Romeo and Juliette. Maybe there are two star-crossed kobold lovers playing out their ill-fated story in the background of your game...You just gave me a mental image of young DiCaprio as a love-struck lizard-man, and I will never be able to repay you...
You just gave me a mental image of young DiCaprio as a love-struck lizard-man, and I will never be able to repay you...
In d20 Urban Arcana, there is an effect produced by "Shadow" that obscures mundane mortals' perception of the supernatural. The adventure incorporates that to allow for the kobolds to be out in the open, albeit under heavy disguises. Its also late at night. Harry, in the novels, has mentioned several times that non-clued-in mortals will selectively forget or doubt their perception because the supernatural "isn't real." Would you suppose this psychological effect could account for the kobolds being in the open, or is the use of an effect like Shadow stretching Butcher's intent?
In d20 Urban Arcana, there is an effect produced by "Shadow" that obscures mundane mortals' perception of the supernatural. The adventure incorporates that to allow for the kobolds to be out in the open, albeit under heavy disguises. Its also late at night. Harry, in the novels, has mentioned several times that non-clued-in mortals will selectively forget or doubt their perception because the supernatural "isn't real." Would you suppose this psychological effect could account for the kobolds being in the open, or is the use of an effect like Shadow stretching Butcher's intent?
As a personal thing, I hate the idea of a 'shroud', 'veil', 'mist' or whatever other authors use to cover up the Supernatural. What I like is Butcher's explanation of how people trick themselves into disbelieving what is right front of them. The Rational Mind cannot comprehend the Supernatural and therefore writes it off as other, mundane, things. But only to a certain extent - which is why you have 'clued-in' mortals. A 'Shadow' implies regular mortals can't possibly see the Supernatural for what it is - which isn't true.Agreed; I dont really mind the Mist/Fog mechanic, but I dont think it's how things are supposed to work in the DV, which is more applied rationalization after-the-fact than an actual magical obfuscation.
That said, if the scene is sufficiently chaotic and dark, there shouldn't be any problems. Kobolds could easily be mistaken for a gang of pre-teen hooligans! Besides, aspects like 'darkness', 'shadows', 'blinding lights', 'loud noises' can be used for great effect. Allowing you to compel the players to miss targets, get lost or turned around, separated from allies, or accidentally target the wrong people.
Another possibility that could work in this instance is an ongoing disguise spell anchored to the building's threshold/wards. Especially given the kobolds craftiness and natural penchant for bunker fortifications.
As far as catches go:
-For an easy/mundane weapon style one, Bludgeoning damage makes sense.
-For a more traditional one, Sunlight might fit their cave-dwelling roots, especially if you play up the modern hacker "basement dweller" idea. You could even tweak the "fast-food restaurant" to be more of a night-owl internet cafe, which among other things gives you the excuse for darker theme-lighting rather than the over-bright fast-food fluorescents.
-To play up the Dragon connection along with their natural burglary with a more mystical Catch, perhaps they are weak against things that have been stolen from them? The idea being that if you can take away their weapon or successfully burgle them, you've dealt a blow to their possession/horde-based Power.
Computer Use
Scholarship
Assuming that you aren’t the sort of person to,
say, cause technology to short out when you get
near it, the Scholarship skill includes the ability
to use and operate complex computerized or
electronic systems. This doesn’t really include
any competence at hacking, per se—Burglary
is still used to actually defeat security measures
and systems. However, Scholarship should
modify (page 214) Burglary whenever computers
are involved.
You can use Craftsmanship to build something—provided
you have a decent understanding
of how to build it, as well as plenty of
needed tools, materials, and time. The less you
have of any of these things, the higher the difficulty
to get it done. Craftsmanship is primarily
used with declarations; see the guidelines for
building things on page 320.
Edit (and a slight digression from the main topic):Hard to say, the line between them always seemed a little blurry. I guess Id say that if your talking about the abstract science of Computers or electricity it might be scholarship, as opposed to a more active goal-oriented craft. On the other hand, Id be fine letting a skilled smith be knowledgeable at chemical metallurgy without needing a separate skill. Given that their craft is so high, I think it's reasonable to let it also cover the intellectual/scholoarship aspects o the related field.
Now, I feel like Kobolds need scholarship if we are going with the computer nerd angle. (as weird as that sounds) But it just seems like such a fun thing. How many stunts would you need to cover all angles of computer use under burglary?
- breaking into a computer is already burglary, I think
- Hacking stunt lets you do computer 'scholarship' roles with Burglary....
-writing programs/viruses/firewalls etc...would all be covered under scholarship? Or would that be Craftsmanship. You know, I think it fits better under Craftsmanship, which they already have. What are your thoughts? 'Computer Use' is a single trapping of scholarship. 1 stunt could make Computer Use a Craftsmanship Trapping. Which means their stunt to create 'viruses' would be based on Craftsmanship and not burglary(or scholarship) and would put it at +5. I like that.
I like the idea of a ward that disguises them as human teenagers as they enter for their shift. In the adventure background, the restaurant is owned/run by a dwarf who is trying to help Shadowkind find jobs. So maybe the owner is an enterprising practitioner who used his ties to a svartalf to ward his restaurants so he could hire monsters trying to stay on the straight and narrow. All non-humans who enter are glamored to look human so they can eat and work peacefully. At some point during the gang intrusion it gets overloaded and fails, and chaos ensues.
Another possibility that could work in this instance is an ongoing disguise spell anchored to the building's threshold/wards. Especially given the kobolds craftiness and natural penchant for bunker fortifications.
I don't know the Urban Arcana supplement, but I infer from this thread that it has a built-in setting (or at least specific tropes/memes), and what you REALLY want is to use the DFRPG ruleset to run those UA pieces (& sundry other bits of the vast PF repertoire), rather than the DresdenVerse itself...Actually no, I do want to use the DFRPG in the Dresdenverse. As I mentioned above I wanted a framework for an adventure since I'm new to actually PLAYING the game, and I think the module is a good fit. About half my group knows and loves the Dresden Files books, and want to play in that setting. They all want an urban fantasy game that uses a system other than d20. I realize I will have to tweak the module to fit DF, not the other way around. Among my group I'm the only one who takes pre-printed material and tweaks it to my chosen setting rather than make adventures from scratch. I really enjoy it. :)
Is that a fair assessment?
If so... this may not be your best fit, actually. DFRPG has been heavily tweaked away from the "Fate Core" ruleset, to specific DresdenVerse elements. I might go with a more-homogenous blend of Fate Core + Fate Freeport + Urban Arcana, and use elements of DFRPG without trying to use the entire ruleset+setting...
1) Power Level. The module assumes 1st level characters unaware of the supernatural, so I was thinking the PCs would start at Feet in the Water. One player has expressed interest in playing a werewolf, so I thought he could take some of the basic required were-powers and build up as they hit major milestones. Story-wise it may be that they'll all just be familiar wih their own powers and lore, but have only heard stories of other creatures and supernatural abilities.
I have glanced at Night Fears and Neutral Grounds, but didn't care for either. Are there more than those two?
So if I were you I wouldn't worry about it. Probably easiest just to stat everything to suit your own game, no matter what level it theoretically is.
Actually no, I do want to use the DFRPG in the Dresdenverse. As I mentioned above I wanted a framework for an adventure since I'm new to actually PLAYING the game, and I think the module is a good fit. About half my group knows and loves the Dresden Files books, and want to play in that setting. They all want an urban fantasy game that uses a system other than d20. I realize I will have to tweak the module to fit DF, not the other way around.
Your use of the UA idea of "Shadow" and "Shadowkind" seemed non-Dresden. I think these need some extra work... How/why are these creatures -- presumably Nevernever natives -- residing in the mortal world? Some kind of faerie? Some kind of "changed" mortal, such as a were or a RedCourt vamp? Might they represent (eventually, in campaign-play) allies or adversaries (or some of each; or something more complicated; etc...) ?
You've got a problem, conceptually, with the apparent "mainstreaming" these monsters seem to be trying (or maybe I misunderstood?). The "glamour" / ward, or whatever, that makes them pass as normal in the shop is all well and good, but... what do they do IN THE REST OF THEIR LIVES (with no glamour protecting them)? Not so mainstream then ... Or do the "commute to work" straight from the Nevernever, and are NOT trying to "mainstream"? If they're mainstreaming, aybe the boss can give them some sort of temporary (potion?) or loaner "Look Normal Veil" magic (Elaine used a subtle "nothing worth noticing here" Veil against Harry in "White Night," so something of the sort seems do-able)...
Or pick an existing Dresdenverse being; why might a group of them want to work in a restaurant? Refugees from a hostile kingdom of the Nevernever? Maybe they arrived with some mortal refugees, and are from that culture's myth/folklore (rather than the notably Celto-Nordic ones that Harry mostly knows)...?
Etc...
Your use of the UA idea of "Shadow" and "Shadowkind" seemed non-Dresden. I think these need some extra work... How/why are these creatures -- presumably Nevernever natives -- residing in the mortal world? Some kind of faerie? Some kind of "changed" mortal, such as a were or a RedCourt vamp? Might they represent (eventually, in campaign-play) allies or adversaries (or some of each; or something more complicated; etc...) ?I dont think that is as big of an issue as you think, (though I dont think Im fully getting your image of "mainstreaming"?). Just spittballing some possibilities here:
You've got a problem, conceptually, with the apparent "mainstreaming" these monsters seem to be trying (or maybe I misunderstood?). The "glamour" / ward, or whatever, that makes them pass as normal in the shop is all well and good, but... what do they do IN THE REST OF THEIR LIVES (with no glamour protecting them)? Not so mainstream then ... Or do the "commute to work" straight from the Nevernever, and are NOT trying to "mainstream"? If they're mainstreaming, aybe the boss can give them some sort of temporary (potion?) or loaner "Look Normal Veil" magic (Elaine used a subtle "nothing worth noticing here" Veil against Harry in "White Night," so something of the sort seems do-able)...
I know I've said it a bunch but: Two dragons running parts of the city would cool. They could travel through established ways or you could have an underground tunnel system which would be in keeping with kobolds.This might work. In Urban Arcana there is a silver dragon working behind the scenes as the benefactor of a do-gooder group that works to stop incursions of evil supernatural creatures while protecting the good ones. He could be one of the two trying to run the city. I would probably make them lesser dragons.
This might work. In Urban Arcana there is a silver dragon working behind the scenes as the benefactor of a do-gooder group that works to stop incursions of evil supernatural creatures while protecting the good ones. He could be one of the two trying to run the city. I would probably make them lesser dragons.That would be my recommendation, the lesser dragons are still damn beefy in all regards, just not full deity level
I dont think that is as big of an issue as you think, (though I dont think Im fully getting your image of "mainstreaming"?).
And I may, in my turn, have completely misunderstood what the OP envisioned.I guess I should clarify that I am including things outside of Dresden Files canon to make the setting my own. Not a lot, mind you, but things like kobolds and other D&D creatures that were taken from real world mythology and folklore. In my version not all creatures come from the Nevernever, and have always been of Earth. I will most likely pull a bit from Supernatural and similar shows as I have seen done on several PBP games here and on other sites.
Here's the crux of it: Why in the world are these supernaturals (Kobolds) working as "staff" in a public cafe/restaurant???
Brownies clean, it's just their nature. Cobbs make and repair shoes, and that's THEIR nature.
What kind of supernatural being waits tables, busses dirty dishes, does the barista bit, etc?
And keeps regular working hours?
In jobs that bring them into frequent contact with non-clued mortals?
In the Dresden'verse, I keep WTF'ing...
So it looks to me like they are trying to "mainstream:" trying to life a day-to-day life largely as if they were mortals themselves. Working and living alongside mortals. Passing as mortals.
Maybe that's just me, misunderstanding the OP ...
And I may, in my turn, have completely misunderstood what the OP envisioned.Brownies clean (though they are Fae so it cant be Free) in the same way Toot and dewdrop fairies..do whatever they do, and are on a similar developmental rung. The OP gives me the sense that their image of Kobolds is closer to Svartalves, who own property, wear uniforms and/or suits as needed, and operate Mail-order businesses. In other words: for any race sufficiently advanced/mature/intelligent they have learned the age-old proverb "If you are good at something, never do it for free."
Here's the crux of it: Why in the world are these supernaturals (Kobolds) working as "staff" in a public cafe/restaurant???
Brownies clean, it's just their nature. Cobbs make and repair shoes, and that's THEIR nature.
What kind of supernatural being waits tables, busses dirty dishes, does the barista bit, etc?
And keeps regular working hours?
And I may, in my turn, have completely misunderstood what the OP envisioned.
Here's the crux of it: Why in the world are these supernaturals (Kobolds) working as "staff" in a public cafe/restaurant???
Brownies clean, it's just their nature. Cobbs make and repair shoes, and that's THEIR nature.
What kind of supernatural being waits tables, busses dirty dishes, does the barista bit, etc?
And keeps regular working hours?
In jobs that bring them into frequent contact with non-clued mortals?
In the Dresden'verse, I keep WTF'ing...
So it looks to me like they are trying to "mainstream:" trying to life a day-to-day life largely as if they were mortals themselves. Working and living alongside mortals. Passing as mortals.
Maybe that's just me, misunderstanding the OP ...
The premise is ... One crew works at the restaurant and the other group comes in to settle a score.
The OP gives me the sense that their image of Kobolds is closer to Svartalves, who own property, wear uniforms and/or suits as needed, and operate Mail-order businesses.Well, but he's specifically citing the d20 Kobold, in his source material. Pretty weak, bottom-tier foes (unless they have "class-levels" (extra Refresh, in DFRPG terms)). But in any case: foes suitable for his starting PC's (which Svartalves are NOT... ) in a semi(?) comedic "food-fight" scenario.
In the case of this version of Kobolds, specifically:I... guess? I'd be surprised to see d20-esque Kobolds "running a business" in any D&D setting; it doesn't "feel right" for them.
1) Not Staff, Owner/operators.
I guess I should clarify that I am including things outside of Dresden Files canon to make the setting my own. Not a lot, mind you, but things like kobolds and other D&D creatures that were taken from real world mythology and folklore. In my version not all creatures come from the Nevernever, and have always been of Earth. I will most likely pull a bit from Supernatural and similar shows as I have seen done on several PBP games here and on other sites."Dragons" in Dresdenverse are even-more-badass than in D&D; I am certain there are no tribes of such debased dragonet's (plus, that whole "dragon" linkage to Kobolds is an affectation of D&D; they are akin, folklorically, to a dwarf or other earth-faerie) !
Well, but he's specifically citing the d20 Kobold, in his source material. Pretty weak, bottom-tier foes (unless they have "class-levels" (extra Refresh, in DFRPG terms)). But in any case: foes suitable for his starting PC's (which Svartalves are NOT... ) in a semi(?) comedic "food-fight" scenario.True, in d20 terms, "Dragons" are beings like Tiamet and Bahamut, those with an actual Divine Rank score, whereas "dragons" are everything else up to and including your oldest True Dragons (of dnd terms)
I... guess? I'd be surprised to see d20-esque Kobolds "running a business" in any D&D setting; it doesn't "feel right" for them.
"Dragons" in Dresdenverse are even-more-badass than in D&D; I am certain there are no tribes of such debased dragonet's (plus, that whole "dragon" linkage to Kobolds is an affectation of D&D; they are akin, folklorically, to a dwarf or other earth-faerie) !
I might take the "kobold" name and power-level (the small/weak/dextrous/trap-maker vibe), but re-do D&D's reptilian/draconic visual into something a bit more human/faerie in nature. Some of those folkloric antecedents in fact ARE suited for "domestic service" (e.g. in a restaurant or the like), being almost like Brownies !I think you might be getting stuck on Kobolds as seen in a traditional Sword&Board Fantasy setting, but you /have/ to adapt them to the Modern setting somehow, hence the focus on digital traps and hordes. But Im not sure why you are stuck on the idea of shoehorning them into a corner of Fae, when the so easily fit the mold of one of the created servator races of the cosmic Dragons?
But then again, it's your game and you are making it YOUR own, so maybe you'd best ignore my folkloric sense...
FYI Svartalves /are/ dwarves, they were Tolkien's inspiration for the modern fantasy Dwarf. The fact that they're historically evolved from the maggots that grew on a dead Ice Giant might not be a preferred topic of dinner conversation around them though.You're right about the original material, of course. I'm just... unclear on whether they would be proud of their origin story, or see that as grounds to attack you... ;)
I think you might be getting stuck on Kobolds as seen in a traditional Sword&Board Fantasy settingThe OP is using a d20-Modern reference, which minimally-adapts D&D Kobolds. I am "stuck on" the OP's frame of reference. Wanting to depart from it, honestly: I don't think D&D tropes work as well in a Modern Urban Fantasy setting. But the OP can take what he wants of all this discussion, and leave the rest behind. ;)
but you /have/ to adapt them to the Modern setting somehow, hence the focus on digital traps and hordes.I just wouldn't expect sophistication & cutting-edge stuff from D&D's "Kobold" species. From an exceptional individual... of course! In the modern sense, I'd think more of urban street-gang violence, etc.
But Im not sure why you are stuck on the idea of shoehorning them into a corner of Fae, when the so easily fit the mold of one of the created servator races of the cosmic Dragons?Kobolds have their own folkloric antecedents. They're clearly akin to the "Brownies" of Britain, clearly fae.
You're right about the original material, of course. I'm just... unclear on whether they would be proud of their origin story, or see that as grounds to attack you... ;)hehe, read the Norse spin-off of the Percy Jackson series recently. They dont see why everyone finds it so gross. But gods help you if you sit on a barstool without first asking it's Name and History.
The OP is using a d20-Modern reference, which minimally-adapts D&D Kobolds. I am "stuck on" the OP's frame of reference. Wanting to depart from it, honestly: I don't think D&D tropes work as well in a Modern Urban Fantasy setting. But the OP can take what he wants of all this discussion, and leave the rest behind. ;)My Bad, I know nothing of d20 Modern; the closest I ever got was BESM.
I just wouldn't expect sophistication & cutting-edge stuff from D&D's "Kobold" species. From an exceptional individual... of course! In the modern sense, I'd think more of urban street-gang violence, etc.They were reasonably competent craftsmen in d20 modern, yes? Since they dont have the mortal issue with tech, I figure that trait couldnt be modernized easily. The drive for that modernization is 100% just to give them an excuse to interact with the mortal world at all; I figure at some point they'd either just stay in the NN or else move to some remote/isolated place and avoids mortals entirely. And making them just another street thug race that's useless for anything but violence, while reasonable enough by popular usage, feels like a Waste.
Kobolds have their own folkloric antecedents. They're clearly akin to the "Brownies" of Britain, clearly fae.
Attaching them to Dragons is... um. Doesn't happen (until D&D).
That's not to say that I don't like pretty much all of your ideas -- the Dragon as the (ultimate) patron of a cyber-cafe; data-brokers and hackers accumulating a horde of "modern wealth;" etc. I really like these ideas a LOT! I just don't see "shoehorning" either the folkloric "kobold" or the D&D "kobold" into this cutting-edge stuff...
I'm pretty sure that Butcher said that anything that exists in the mortal mind exists in the Nevernever. Didn't he specifically say that Spiderman exists somewhere in the Nevernever?Sorta, Everything including Spiderman exist out in the Multiverse, not in the NN; Parallel worlds are specifically something different. The closest thing I know of is the The Hulk now carries the original mantle of Hercules, and so it now "exist in the minds and imaginations of the fans" (paraphrasing)
Basically the issue was how to pass the free tag from the Helpful Thug aspect created by the maneuver to another character. Then it was narrating how the thug distracted another baddie resulting in the PC who it was passed to getting a +2 on his attack roll rather than the baddie getting a negative to his defense roll.
This is what ended up happening, though the HELPFUL THUG aspect stayed for other paid invokes. If it the tag is spent in this way, then should it go away? If used in any of the other ways, like invoking it for effect, would it stick around until it is overcome?
Or, you tag HELPFUL THUG for an attack. "That thug is being helpful and distracts the enemy long enough for me to get a good jab in." And now the aspect is gone or whatever.
I'm still trying to wrap my head around the many options available in any given encounter.