The Dresden Files > DFRPG

A hint about the game system

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finarvyn:

--- Quote from: Avalon on June 01, 2006, 10:03:41 PM ---I play RPGs but I'm not familiar with those mentioned. Anybody give me a hint about the game system, basically dice rolls, and what dice are used??
--- End quote ---
Let me take a shot at this. FATE is a derivative RPG based on another game called FUDGE. Both FUDGE and FATE are designed to simulate a lot of possible situations with a minimum of rules. In other words, while some RPGs crank out sourcebook after sourcebook just full of rules, exceptions, tables and charts, modifiers, etc., these games are designed to be rules-light and more freeform in nature.

In general, the difficulty of an action is compared to the ability of the person attempting that action and some dice are rolled to determine the outcome. Many RPGs are designed on the “roll a dX die and try to roll under Y” sort of system (where various games use different sided dice and complex charts to determine the number needed to succeed), but FATE is more streamlined. Actions and abilities are often defined in terms of verbal descriptors like “superb” or “average” or “cruddy” and the Game Master can determine the number of steps above or below the action is compared to the ability. (For example, an “average” person attempting an “average” difficulty task would be at +0 steps, but a “supurb” person attempting a “cruddy” difficulty task might be at +2.)

FUDGE dice are basic six-sided dice which are numbered -1, -1, 0, 0, +1, +1. They are designed to simply modify the ability up or down when comparing to the difficulty level. The dice probability is a simple bell curve, if anyone is interested.

So… if an “average” person is attempting to perform an “average” difficulty task, that person just needs to roll a zero on the dice rolled (often four dice). One neat aspect of FUDGE dice is that you can ignore all zero rolls and cancel out one +1 and one -1 so that it takes very little brainpower to quickly figure out the number rolled. Again, the point of these games is to make action resolution quick and painless so that the story can flow and the rules consultations are at a minimum.

finarvyn:
I might also add that FATE allows for characters to have super powers, supernatural spellcasting, or any of a number of interesting abilities which are limited only by the Game Master and your imagination. Clearly some talents are appropriate for a given setting while others are not, and one of the tasks of the GM is to pre-determine the boundaries of what characters are allowed to do or not.

This is why some people call FUDGE and FATE “generic” rules sets, because you can construct almost any kind of campaign setting you like with these rules. Some people really like this feature, others dislike it because it seems like too much work.

The Dresden Files RPG will be based upon FATE 2.0, which is a modified form of FATE. The specifics of what will have changed are still a secret, but DFRPG will have a magic system designed to be compatible with Harry’s universe.

iago:
Finarvyn's got the basics right. Thanks again, man.

I will say that there's nothing requiring people to buy "special" Fudge dice. It's pretty easy to just use a standard set of six-sided dice and just read 5 or 6 as "+1" and 1 or 2 as "-1".

HeWhoWalksBehind:
Thanks finarvyn.

That really cleared some stuff up for me.  :)

Avalon:
Thanks Finarvyn, I'm more used to WoD system, but this seems pretty simple ;D

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