Keep in mind JBs idea of free will =/= Fate's version of free will. they're a little bit different.

JBs version of free will is the difference of having a choice or not. Angels have a choice, albeit a limited one compared to humans. Angels can choose to fall - and sometimes do, although it's not much of a choice as far as angels are concerned. Mab on the other hand literally doesn't have a comparable choice - she and other Fae cannot simply choose to fall, or to lie, or to cheat, or to stop being. It's not that they wont, they simply cant, even though I think in some cases they might like to.

FATEs version of free will on the other hand is the ability to act outside of your nature, which is similar, but not the same thing. The idea is that your power slowly pushes you to make certain decisions and, if you don't have enough will to overcome your power, you become a slave to that power. It's both a balancing factor and narrative. Theoretically, a character with negative refresh could occasionally override their nature, but it gets more and more rare as they go along.

So, to answer your original ops question: JBs version of Will-less? Playable. Fates version is unplayable both for balance reasons and because in the long run not being able to control your own character would be boring.

Well when you think about it, if there's a powerful force leading you to battle horrible monsters, how can you be sure it's doing it because it wants to help you, or wants to kill you? 

But yes, the White Council would certainly be aware of the danger of a millenium eve undoing long-term wards and bindings the world over. As would most of the major factions. There would absolutely be wizards whose job is to ensure that the wards remain in place, and a set of tools that cover that for the entire world is a lot more practical that relying on separate groups to do it.

Perhaps it requires the emotional energy of new year's celebrations to maintain the seals?

I'm picturing a big showdown with the Big Bad in New York city in the middle of the celebrations...

I was thinking more along the lines of 'the wards themselves are friggin dangerous - and malicious.' Perhaps the white council doesn't know there's anything wrong with the systems in place and doesn't consider the party to be a threat to them or capable of fixing them even if it knows they are broken because frankly? The wards are bad ass. The party doesn't realize they're working in what would normally be a very dangerous environment (but isn't, because it's broken) but as it gets fixed, it suddenly becomes very hostile for them. hehe

Yes, it's one of the simplier systems. Start at a low refresh though!

Also, highly recommend the one shots to get you started! They're pretty rules lite and will help you figure out the basics.

Also, as a note: world creating seems to be a hit or miss activity - my group loved it, but I've heard a lot of complaints from others. Don't be too discouraged by it though. I personally have spent a few months fleshing out all the details of the world - including a large chunk my players do not know about yet - and I think as a GM it's been a great introduction for me.

Suggestion: The traveller - as a construct - is broken. Perhaps its memory is missing parts? Make it so that if it were fully functioning, the heroes wouldn't be needed at all? Maybe one of its central responsibilities would be to refresh the lay lines, but somehow the BBEG has wiped out certain important parts of its memmory...

How is he gimped? As I said, there are numerous ways to meet or exceed the benefits of AFSA for the same or lesser refresh costs (the simplest and most cost effective being to just have a decent dodging stat, which characters are inclined to have anyway).

Nearly everyone I've ever played with, if they're told that their character concept doesn't support a power they want, will just shrug, go, "Okay, what can I get?" and move on.

The problem is that you completely neglect character concept as a balancing factor. You seem to be arguing under the premise that the only thing worth using as criteria to decide a character type is, "What is the most effective and efficient thing to do?" A lot of people don't.
What you seem to totally discount is all the players who aren't basing every single one of their character design decisions on, "Will this be the most optimal course of action?"

Most everyone I've played with will just play a character concept. That's it. Not, "the idea is weak in stats," but "this is an interesting character type, so I'll give it a shot."

Do you want to play a character concept that doesn't have awesome defense and attack stats, but high Lore? Go ahead! Use that high Lore and your other skills to adapt to situations and avoid straight slugging it out with monsters. A character isn't "gimped" or somehow broken just because he can't defend on par with Shiro or deflect witty repartee so deftly that Lara can't even get him to glance at her cleavage. It just means the character has a different focus, and DFRPG is a game where a character who hits the books isn't worse than a character who hits the monsters.

The game isn't a competition or a tournament. You're not "cheated" somehow if you didn't build someone who's got the best possible efficiency. It's a roleplaying game. The important thing, the way I see it, is building a character that good stories could be built around. Whether or not the character is maximally efficient and spending all his skill points and refresh in the Top Tier Way should be, at best, a secondary concern.

QFT. As a note: optimized regardless of concept is something brought over from rules heavy systems like D&D - because it's fun in those systems. If someone tries to play like that here, they will end up bored really fast compared to the interesting personalities that come out of concept driven characters, where a weakness is the fuel that drives your strengths.

Hehe, it stems from the stories one of my players got from his friends, so I figured a Hag might be an interesting take on her. Wouldn't want anyone searching for her name and getting this though.

Any ways, next up is...

William Schmitt Jr.
HC: Hot-headed top hunter of the Jagers
TA: My father is a little Jaded and a lot in charge.
A: To hell with non-humans. I don't need magical powers to kick your ass.
A: That aint a crossbow. THIS! This is a real weapon.
A: I could track you through the cement jungle from a helicopter
A

William Sr. is the official top brass of the Hunters, but for all the real work William Jr. is the man. Borderline racist against non-humans, Jr. (as he's teasingly referred to by the other hunters) is the head hunter and spends his time trying to balance out living up to his father's expectations - which mostly involves indiscriminate killing of any non-mortal who crosses his path - and not starting a war with the never-never. As a result, he, and by extension the hunters - are a brutal but coherent police like force - albeit one that everyone is afraid of accidentally crossing.

Physical description: William stands about 5'11" with an athletes build. Short cut, dark brown hair and a fairly attractive smile - all straight white teeth and award winning smile. William doesn't seem imposing so much as capable.

Personality: William is hot headed and not really good in social situations, but is an excellent leader and strategist - as well as a dangerous combatant. He tends to be easily bored in conversation and extremely dismissive of non-mortals. He's also extremely competitive, and likes to prove he can outdo the supernatural despite his lack of powers.

Powers/Stunts/Skills: Pure mortal, low social skills but high survival and weapons skills.

Note: Up next are Skullcap and Sonya - both faces of a Wylde-Fae for the setting. That's right, there are two in this case. If it makes people more comfortable, consider Skullcap as THE face, while Sonya is just a major NPC that is technically affiliated with the group.

Skullcap
HC: Retired but not forgotten leader of the Wylde-Fae families
TA: Ailing Elder
A: I don't have time for this, think for yourself
A: Reluctant, but not without power
A: RESPECT YOUR ELDERS, BOY!
A: I am the respected storyteller
A: I aint no pretender

Despite his withdrawal from society, Skullcap is considered one of the oldest and most respected elders of Wylde-Fae society. Theoretically, he could retreat into the Never-never like so many other old fae who are tired of the mortal world, but chooses to stay with a group of other old, retired fae here in the supposedly abandoned Preston Springs hotel, where he can keep an eye on the descendants of his bloodlines. No ones particularly sure anymore which of the bloodlines are considered his descendants, but Skullcap doesn't seem to care. It is said that he's as old or older than the Winter and Summer Mothers, and although no one is sure of this, they have been known to send each other gifts of sweets every few years. The notes that are sent are informal and kind - fond even. Beyond that, Skullcap is a recluse and rarely entertains visitors - and even then it's usually Wylde-Fae children, invited to hear fables and fairy tails. Such visits are considered a right of passage for the kids. Adults actually speaking directly with Skullcap is rare and considered very dangerous, but does happen on occasion - such events seem almost random and often results in a messy death. Skullcap lives with a small cavalcade of other reclusive and old Wylde-Fae who usually are far safer to speak with and will often relay his messages for him. They make up a sort of Fae old-folks home.

Physical description: Skullcap usually sits in an ancient wicker wheel chair. He's physically small and looks like some sort of pale goblin with his wrinkled white skin, large, slightly pointed ears and proportionally huge nose. He's bald, but does have occassional warts and blemishis with patches of body hair sticking out. Basicly, he looks like a tiny, angry, old goblin.

Personality: As expected, Skullcap has an incredible temper. In addition, it's damn near random: sometimes you could shout insults at him and he'd laugh it off, the next he's about to kill you because you used the wrong turn of phrase. He seems fond of the young and very protective of his kin: particularly changelings and scions that visit him. Despite all this, he seems surprisingly lucid - especially by Fae standards.

Stunts/Powers/Skills: OH GOD WHAT?!? (Probably just about every topped out physical boost - dudes respected by Mother Winter for a reason! Think refresh of 30 or 40 and then some)