I've actually been toying with the idea of using aspects in D&D.

Most modifiers give a +2/-2. 

Myself and other people who've DM'd have used various Role playing points/Luck Points etc.. to let players save up to buy extra feats or buy skill points.

I think adding the aspect system would enrich the game.

I think of myself as a number-cruncher.  But at certain points in a game you think, "this is taking forever" or "it might be more interesting if..."  If the table is in then why not.

You used my example from the other thread out of context.  I gave you 2 (extreme)ways of using sponsored debt and you used the 'hand-wavey' one as your example in this thread.

And I take exception to this because it's not what I was saying.  All I'm saying is in a given situation it might not matter.  So why bother rolling?  Instead of taking stress, take debt.  It'll be more interesting later.

It's up to the group to decide.  Judging how any given aspect is going to affect a combat or scene is left completely to the creativity of players/gm.

Is that "slippery with oil" going to add a +2 tag or is it going to end up with the whole building on fire?

Are you going to put the aspect "on fire" on a scene or are you going to have everyone resist environmental damage every turn.  Usually that's up to the vision of the GM and how he wants to run the challenge.

If the GM thinks the Ward isn't going to do the trick, then maybe he runs it as another type of conflict.  "you have 3 rounds before they break through.  You have to get 10 zones away in order to escape"  that set up a new conflict and sets up tension.

Or you could run it round-by-round, having them hammering away at the ward, calculating how much damage they take and do to the ward while the PC's try to escape.

That's what I like about FATE.  So many ways to do the same thing.  You can make it as free-form or as crunchy as you like.

What do you mean if your GM doesn't care?

Let's say I did a 14 shift ward and only wanted to take 4 mental stress and no back-lash and no mental consequences.

Assuming an average discipline roll of 6 (let's say discipline 5 +1 foci)

That's 6 points of sponsored debt.  For 1 spell.

That's not nothing. That's a hell of a lot of compels.  Eventually, the character won't have FP's to pay them off.  Remember that you don't earn a FP for accepting compels based on debt.  But you still have to spend a FP to pay them off...and that FP spent doesn't pay off the debt - the debt still stands.

I'm not sure I'd do a ward that way, though.  What's the story?

If it's to hold off some baddies while you escape, I'd just say "sure, you put up a ward.  DOn't worry about the strength, they won't get through until you get away.  It costs  you 1 point of sponsored debt."

Though at some point, it helps to raise power as well, since you can increase the power without risk. I feel that having power trail 2 shifts behind control is a good bet, because the chance for fallout/backlash is minimal, while the spell will still be pretty powerful.
It's all fun and games, until you remember you look ridiculous without eyebrows.

Slightly off topic, I was curious just how "Harry the PC" pulled that off. Did he let Lara place a maneuver on him with her powers and tag it, did she hit him with a consequence that he tagged himself? I could also see him placing a Lore Maneuver on himself with his exposition about emotions and magic. Oh well. Back to our regularly scheduled program.