The following is a co-operative effort by HobbitWarrior and SilverBlaze
Character: Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden
High Concept: Grey Council Detective
Trouble: Temptation of Power
Other Aspects:
1. Epic Wise Ass
2. "I'd Die For My Friends, Unfortunately I Might Have To..."
3. "So I'm a Warden now...Yeah."
4. "I Won't Let My Darkness Control Me, but Sometimes I Let It Out."
5. I've Got an Apprentice Now, but I'll Die Alone.
SkillsFantastic: Conviction
Superb: Endurance, Intimidation
Great: Discipline, Lore
Good: Alertness, Athletics, Contacts, Investigation
Fair: Guns, Presence, Rapport, Weapons
Average: Empathy, Fists, Might, Resources, Scholarship, Stealth
StuntsListening (Investigation): +4 to Investigation rolls to hear things, but Alertness drops to Terrible while Listening.
PowersEvocation -3
Thaumaturgy -3
Sponsored Magic: Soulfire -3
Lawbreaker (First) -1
The Sight -1
Soulgaze -0
Wizard's Constitution -0
Refinement -4
*( Demonreach: Sponsored Magic: Place of Power - This is Intellectus.) -3
SpecializationsEvocation: Elements (Air, Earth, Fire, Spirit); Power: ( Fire +1 )
Thaumaturgy: Control (Divination +1)
RotesFuego - Weapon:6 single-target fire attack. Creates a jet or blast of flame. Requires blasting rod.
Forzare - Weapon:5 single-target spirit (force) attack. Creates an invisible kinetic blast. Requires staff.
Shield - 6-shift defensive spirit (force) block... [Armor 3]. Creates hemispheric shield in front of Harry; acts as armor or a block. Requires shield bracelet.
Ventas Servitas- Weapon : 4 Single-target air attack. Creates a gale force gust of wind to move objects or damage objects; as well as hurt foes.
Focus ItemsStaff - +1 Offensive Control with Spirit
Shield Bracelet - +2 Defensive Control with Spirit
Blasting Rod - +2 Offensive Control with Fire
*Sword Cane - +2 Offensive Control with Earth
Enchanted ItemsDuster - Fantastic block or Armor:3, 3 uses per session, lendable (2 slots)
Knuckle Duster of Force Rings: Weapon 5 - 5 uses per session.
2 empty potion slots
StressMental OOOO +1 mild consequence
Physical OOOO +1 mild consequence
Social OOOO
Total Refresh Cost: -16 * -19
Remaining Refresh: 0
16 Refresh, 50 skill points.1 Refinement spent on learning to use Earth magic, 3 Refinement Spent on item slots
Showing our work: Took advice from page # 137 in "Our World" to determine major and significant events. Then decided from a
sum of all short stories, graphic novels, and Turn Coat: that Harry Dresden should have an additional 15 skill points and 7 refresh.
Explaining his skill placement/increases: We increased his general template to reflect a constant threat from the Red Court war and his own personal training with his supporting cast. We also considered adding Deceit at Average, but left it off.
*
Demonreach: Was so far ill defined by Changes - therefore we decided that using Sponsored Magic to gain Intellectus would cost 3 Refresh. Harry would enter Sponsor debt (much like he did for Hellfire) to gain access to demonreach.
*
Harry's Sword Cane: Infused with magic and used primarily for magnetism spells, this cane was purchased from merry old England and is capable of doubling as a weapon 2 sword. The weapon is rarely used due to Harry's preference for fire magic and therefore was left out of the math for character creation. If the situation calls, simply switch his blasting rod for the cane. We'd say whatever building you're in would thank you for the switch, but come on, it's still Harry Dresden.
Building a better Force Ring: The ring started as a humble weapon: 4 ( 3 with an extra slot for power). Per White Knight he had increased the power of the ring to three bands over one and had one ring on each of the fingers in his right hand. This increases damage to the power of his current lore rating of 4 plus one extra for power and increases the number of uses by four to represent each of the new bands. This also represents his ability to launch ghouls and break their backs in White Night.
Changes to Focus Items: Harry built a better blasting rod after one of the numerous times it was destroyed. Harry built a better shield bracelet with numerous braided metals and shield shaped charms. This is why we decided each of those items deserved a better control bonus.
The elusive silver bear belt buckle: This has been explained as a spell or a one time use item. We left it out.
Little Chicago: Best left as a plot device. Along with the highly controversial topic of who fixed it.
Dresden seems low powered?: We kept with the spirit of the original writeup to balance him with other NPC's. We low balled it.
Potential Susan related aspect: If it pleases our mostly benevolent overlords at Evil Hat to think that the beginning of Changes includes the phone call - change his trouble aspect to:
Harry they have our Daughter.
Fun with aspects: We wanted to do something different, yet stay true to the character.
High Concept: Grey Council Detective - Harry clearly lost his faith in the White Council due to policies and traitors within. He joined with Ebenezer McCoy to form the beginnings of the
Grey Council. He is of course still the only Wizard Private eye in the yellow pages.
Trouble: Temptation of Power- Jim Butcher kept the theme of tempting Harry with power...at a cost.
Epic Wise Ass - Some things never change... (also needed to avoid buying Infuriate stunt)
I'd Die For My Friends, Unfortunately I Might Have To... - Harry has a near fanatical loyalty to his friends and family. Also, who doesn't love foreshadowing.
So I'm A Warden Now...Yeah...- Harry never liked wardens in the first place. He is by his own admittance one of the last people who should be one. Yet, here he is, wearing a grey cloak, the position is largely honorary and only came about due to dire straits.
I Won't Let My Darkness Control Me, but sometimes I Let It Out - Harry has touched a lot of dark powers; well beyond his scope. It has left a stain. Sometimes that power comes out to play, even when he doesn't want it to.
I've Got an Apprentice, but I'll Die Alone - Molly brought the doom of Damocles with her. Dresden feels responsible for her for a large number of reasons. he has conflicted feelings about this relationship. He was also, of course, cursed to "Die Alone!"
Compels for the new aspects:Grey Council Detective - Dresden has had his eyes opened to the fact the White Council had been corrupted from within. This forces the man to keep secrets and secret alliances. At the very least this makes Harry juggle his loyalties. At the most, well, Harry will finally get to see the Merlin genuinely happy. For about ten seconds before the Doom falls on both him and Molly.
I'd Die For My Friends, Unfortunately I Might Have To... - There are just some things Harry Dresden doesn't tolerate. And unfortunately for him there are some things out there that know this. More than once something from the spooky side has used his friends against him. Either as hostage or bait. But don't forget the flip side to that, Harry is more than willing to bring a wrecking ball to a masquerade ball when pushed too far. Those creeps would do well to remember that.
So I'm a Warden Now...Yeah... - Humor aside, Dresden takes his position as a Warden with a big grain of salt. Harry is willing to do the work, but when a problem gets dropped onto his lap that comes into conflict with what he feels is right, he'll do what he thinks is best. This has almost led him to blows with the council in the past, but hey, at least there's a steady paycheck in it.
I Won't Let My Darkness Control Me, but Sometimes I Let It Out - Nightmares, crippling headaches, horrible images that will never fade and oh yeah, years and years of physical therapy for his hand. Harry is the sum of what he's run up against and over the years its taken its toll. But for better or worse he's still Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden, conjure it at your own risk.
I've Got an Apprentice, but I'll Die Alone. Dresden may have Molly when he needs her, but this comes with its own set of problems. Including but not limited to the Doom of Damocles, an unrequited love and her own willingness to go into situation beyond her abilities. Not to mention there's still the lingering doubt in his own mind to the last words of the former Denarian Cassius. This hangs over Dresdens head every bit as much as the Doom and often forces Dresden to act impulsively or purposely withdraw from his friends and family.
Also, we spent so much time working on aspects we decided to mention a few that never made the cut. We also considered writing all aspects in haiku! (Not even kidding)
Blood and Fire, Family is Sacrifice
, Winter is Coming, My Apprentice is a Handful.... (shut up Bob!), I Got 99 Problems...and all of 'em are women, Don't need a gun, got a Mouse!, With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility....and so on.
