The Dresden Files > DFRPG
Lawbreakers: Do We Need Them?
Biff Dyskolos:
--- Quote from: Deadmanwalking on April 28, 2010, 06:30:15 PM ---Ah! I actually have an alternate way to handle this issue: I allow the Lawbreaker bonus to apply to two things other than breaking the Law (and in both cases the character in no way suffers for it):
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I like this. A character could walk a fine line, fighting the good fight but still drawing up their shady past.
Deadmanwalking:
--- Quote from: biff_dyskolos on April 28, 2010, 08:39:28 PM ---I like this. A character could walk a fine line, fighting the good fight but still drawing up their shady past.
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Yeah, if you're a killer, well, you should be good at killing things and at understanding killers (both things Harry is demonstably good at, BTW). Those can both definitely be used for good even if you never actually break the Law again.
iago:
--- Quote from: Falar on April 28, 2010, 06:33:34 PM ---Basically, it takes a lot of punch out the Free Will vs. Nature slider that is, to me, one of the greatest things about how the system imitates the world of Dresden.
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This. We had very clear design goals -- canonical, setting-driven design goals, based on information from Jim -- which informed their implementation. Do away with them if that suits you for your play, but if you do I doubt you could credibly consider your game to be a Dresden Files game despite the other cosmetic similarities. :)
Nudge:
--- Quote from: Korwin on April 28, 2010, 07:47:33 PM ---But if I use an Aspect for Lawbreaking...
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--- Quote ---He brocke the Law many times so he has the aspect: My wish is your Order.
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Note I'm recommending Aspect ONLY for creation, and ONLY for characters that "slipped". (See Title Character of Game :)) Basically you're giving them the Stunt without reducing their refresh, with the proviso that breaking the law again WILL reduce their refresh. Pro story, minus balance penalty, maintaining ongoing rules.
Playing someone that will happily break the law again doesn't bring up any desire from me to shelter them from the costs.
Playing someone that has a problem but is trying to get over it sounds awesomely like an Aspect. (Expecting to fail is a different problem). As far as getting rid of the Stunt, see the Redemption discussion in the book. In terms of Aspects, that's character evolution, but I'd expect it to be a rare thing regardless. The Aspect may alter, but the stigma should remain.
(How many times does an NPC mention that Harry has the stain of Dark Magic? like, twice per book)
Nudge:
--- Quote from: iago on April 28, 2010, 08:44:38 PM ---Do away with them if that suits you for your play, but if you do I doubt you could credibly consider your game to be a Dresden Files game despite the other cosmetic similarities. :)
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Does this apply to all variations, or just the ones that remove penalties for being a Lawbreaker?
I ask because I remember reading the creation and seeing Harry get Lawbreaker and thinking "Cool concept, but very few players are going to elect to hurt their character strength out of the gate like that when they can hurt their characters in other, more interesting ways with Aspects that DON'T cost them 1 refresh for no real benefit at all".
I love Lawbreaker as a rule of the universe. I expect it will encourage players to avoid the easy-but-destructive paths and PCs to behave more...human. I don't like the cost at creation, so I expect if someone ACTUALLY expresses interest in playing a character like Harry (not talking about a casual killer) that I'll not dock their refresh...unless they cross that line again once play begins. To me that seems like a meta-game mechanic to encourage players to have "flawed" characters rather than a departure from the core concept. Am I off-base?
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