Tutor me please

[hitokiri523]

I am trying to get into the Dresden Files RPG but i will admit that this is my first time getting into a pen and paper style rpg. im used to gaming ones where a computer rolls the dice and things without me ever noticing. and some of the other aspects they put out throw me off as well.
what i was wondering was if there was someone out there will to help me create a weak little character and DM a little scenerio and help me understand how to play a character with this system and rules.
The two biggest problems are that i dont have either of the books with me and second of all im kinda in afghanistan < lol >
im a  marine on a combat deployment but the area i am in is quiet and i am able to make it to the public computer room at least once a day for half an hour. < at least >
so any takers? please < how can u say no to that face lol >

[Todjaeger]

I've never done a play by post, so I'm not sure I can really run a scenario for you, but I'd be happy to try and help you through the character creation part, as well as how to go about doing things during the game.

Do you have any particular questions or areas which don't seem to make sense?

-Cheers

[Haru]

The one thread I always link to for this kind of questions:
http://www.jimbutcheronline.com/bb/index.php/topic,20530.0.html

[Sanctaphrax]

I can help with character creation. That's a big part of what I do here.

I recommend checking out the Play-by-Post forums if you're interested in an online game.

[Blackstaff523]

i have looked in the play by post thing but all of those guys know what they are doing and i would just be screwing things up asking questions all the time.
as for what im having trouble with ugh.......
lets just say i need a Dresden Files RPG for dummies class lol

[hitokiri523]

yes i would love some help making a character. nothing too complicated id say wizard is a little above me right now. so maybe a vanilla mortal would be a good start.
i dont have any of my books though so i dont know where i need to start.
i have to say a dresden files rpg for dummies sounds good haha

[jadecourtflunky]

Heck, it could be a good thing for the resources thread. I see lots of these threads. I'm no master at this, but I can help out.

[hitokiri523]

everyone is better than me at this point so ill take any help i can get.
so how do we start?

[Team8Mum]

Stage one in the books is generating the city you will be playing in - which helps set the themes and atmosphere of the games, so I guess starting there might not be a bad thing.
What sort of stories do you like?
Are you an action type of guy, or a closet romantic?
You interested in saving the world or just trying to scrape together enough money to pay the rent? (Not that the two are mutually exclusive in Dresden)
Are there any bits of the books that you'd like to explore further - e.g. You feel the Alphas should get more 'screen time' and would like a game that revolved around weres

[Sanctaphrax]

Maybe we could get someone to run a PbP game for beginners. Not a full campaign, just a one-shot. Night Fears or Neutral Grounds might be good for that.

I started a player's guide a long time ago, but it still isn't done. If you'd like to see it, look here: http://www.jimbutcheronline.com/bb/index.php/topic,23188.0.html

Now, about character creation:

The first thing you want to do is come up with a basic character concept. What sort of person do you want to play? What should they be good at, what powers do they have, what's their biggest problem, what sort of personality do they have, what motivates them, how do they interact with the world at large. There's a thread on the Resources board that you may want to check out, full of these questions. It's here: http://www.jimbutcheronline.com/bb/index.php/topic,23745.0.html

PS: Have you read the books that the game is based on?

[Todjaeger]

everyone is better than me at this point so ill take any help i can get.
so how do we start?

You have a couple of choices.  Going by the books it starts with city creation.  If you want to just start with character creation, which might be a little simpler, to at least get some concepts going, that is an option too.

You have mentioned you don't have the books, but do you have access to the .pdf of the rules?  If not, then much of this still might not make too much sense, since we would need to reference things in the rules which you couldn't read up on.  Or as an alternate, do you have access to one of the other Fate-based rule systems like Spirit of the Century?

-Cheers

[hitokiri523]

yes i have read all the books.
as to the pdf no. we use public computers and if we try to download anything onto them the higher ups go crazy.
as for what im into. Ill go with horror action and mystery.
my chracter would defenately be the kill all monsters type.
defenately want to start with a vanilla mortal as a character type a gun specialist.

[Team8Mum]

yes i have read all the books.
as to the pdf no. we use public computers and if we try to download anything onto them the higher ups go crazy.
as for what im into. Ill go with horror action and mystery.
my chracter would defenately be the kill all monsters type.
defenately want to start with a vanilla mortal as a character type a gun specialist.

Ok so that gives us a good theme "A place of horror and mystery." and a threat "There be Monsters"

Plus your template as a true mortal.
Now what is the flavour of the character you want to play (High concept)
And what are the things that make their life a misery (Trouble aspect)

Then best bet might be to think about the background, rising conflict and 1st story parts of the character generation, and pick a couple of skills that he would have picked up at each stage - we can worry about the actual values later, let's just get a flavour of what he is good at.
Hopefully the mortal stunts will fall out of those as well so...

Background: how did he grow up. Who was around during his child hood, what influenced him?

Rising conflict: that teenage rebellious stage - how did he rebel, what trouble did it get him into, who did he annoy or what firm friends did he make?

First story: Usually the first time he encountered something supernatural, but you might want to save that if you want him to be 'the innocent abroad' victim in all this. So this sour be the first 'exciting' thing that happened to him that would be worthy of a flash back in the film to explain why the character behaves the way he does.

For each of these you the sum up the events or pick out a crucial moment to give the ASPECT from that time.

[hitokiri523]

hmm ok
Background: Jones Rosser. Born the son of a retired marine and a medicle transcriptionist. He grew up looking to his father. A hard worker man who worked his hands to the bone to support his wife and son. When he wasnt working he always had time for his son and because of this James grew up in an ideal environment that some kids dream of. Because of his fathers teachings he is a man of outstanding moral principles and a an unflinching beleif that if he works hard enough he will accomplish whatever he wants
Aspect: You have your ideas. But I have my Principles!
Rising Conflict: September 11th 2001. America was attacked and something woke up inside of Jones. How dare they! Those cowards attacking a building of civilians with a plane full of innocent people. He was at the marine recruiting office before the fires were put out on the building and at Paris island a week later. Basic training turned a kid into man. They taught him how to shoot, how to fight, never to give up and never to surrender. They turned a man into a weapon and aimed it towards the middle east.
Aspect: I am one of the Few and Proud.
First Story: It was a hot day in Nawa district, Afghanistan when a truck came speeding towards the base Jones was stationed at. Machine gun fire killed the driver and Jones watched as a small team went out to investigate the wreckage. He could only watch as they pulled a coffin off of the back of the truck and began pulling it towards base. As it got closer he could hear screams coming from it. The Taliban had sealed a man inside a coffin? Inside the base the box was pried open revealing a small skinny middle eastern man who has mumbling to himself and obviously disterbed. He was taken medicle and sedated until they could figure out what was wrong with him. Two hours later when Jones was sleeping after guard duty he heard the first scream. M16 in hand he ran towards the sounds of terror and as he neared the medicle tent he heard a new sound. Something was eating. He burst into the temt to find the middle eastern man dead on the floor chuncks of flesh inbetween his teeth and was paralyzed with fear as he saw several of the corpsman eating patients secured to hospital beds. One turned and saw Jones and ran at him screaming blood dripping from its mouth.. Training took over and Jones put two rounds in the cheast and one in the head of what he later refered to as zombies. After killing them Jones realizing what he had done Vomited and laid on the ground curled into a ball. The Government not wanting the scandle to get out Dishonorably discharged Rosser and sent him packing back to the states. Now he is a jobless man driving across the states with nothing but an old Pantiac Grandam with a 9mm and a two barrel breakopen shotgun hidden in the trunck. That and the truth that the things that hide under our beds are real. That there are things that go Bump in the night.
Aspect: I bump back!
< hows this ?>

[Team8Mum]

hmm ok
< hows this ?>

"By jove, I think he's got it"  

ok so which skills is he likely to have picked up.

I'm guessing Guns, weapons and fists are going to be fairly high, plus Endurance, Athletics, from his military training
Discipline and/ or conviction instilled by his upbringing.
What else do you see him doing?

I appreciate you can't down load something as large as the PDF but what about looking at things like the DFRPG resources website
http://dfrpg-resources.wikispaces.com/Stunts
- that would at least give you a chance to look at the skill/ stunt lists. (though those are the 'unofficial' lists, they will give you some good ideas.)

Now he is a jobless man driving across the states ...and the truth that the things that hide under our beds are real. That there are things that go Bump in the night.

A road trip campaign could be interesting.

So campaign Theme 2 - "Keep Moving."

Now assuming he is not going to be the only character - we could do with at least 2 others so you can do you guest star slots...

Hint to those of you on the thread -
Blackstaff523, this could be the DFRPG 101 you've been looking for...