The Dresden Files > DFRPG

My first character for review

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Sanctaphrax:

--- Quote from: Wanderer on May 30, 2017, 06:34:23 AM ---Template: Changeling Wizard
High Concept Aspect: Half-Sidhe Wizard
Trouble Aspect: A Bane for Technology and A Magnet for Weirdness
Background Aspect: A Warlock and A Gentleman
Rising Conflict Aspect: I Know No Law But Friendship
The Story Aspect: Not So Subtle, Still Quick to Anger
Guest Star Aspect: Power Is My Tool, My Calling, and My Temptation
Guest Star Redux Aspect: Shadow of Ithuriel/Occasional Pawn of the Archangels

What do you think ?
--- End quote ---

Looks good to me.

Wanderer:
I had another idea for the character's personality and Aspects. Since he is heavily inspired by anime, where lecherous characters are common, and an hyperactive libido is a trait that goes well with other aspects of a passionate nature such as pugnaciousness and a drive to be the best at magic and/or martial arts, I may make the character a shameless lech or all-around hedonist too (I'm just hesitant to make him a serious drug user, since I feel this might conflict with his otherwise driven nature). Although to fit with his honorable nature, the chivalrous kind. So I may adjust the Aspects list as follow:

Template: Changeling Wizard
High Concept Aspect: Half-Sidhe Wizard
Trouble Aspect: A Bane for Technology and A Magnet for Weirdness
Background Aspect: Power Is My Tool, My Calling, and My Temptation
Rising Conflict Aspect: I Know No Law But Friendship and Honor
The Story Aspect: Not So Subtle, Still Quick to Anger
Guest Star Aspect: Chivalrous Libertine
Guest Star Redux Aspect: Shadow of Ithuriel/Occasional Pawn of the Archangels

Wanderer:
Since a few magical items slots are free for all characters, I might as well fill them. But my dislike of ritual trappings and paraphernalia makes me creatively challenged for this issue, so I welcome suggestions. I suppose such items should reinforce the concept, such as providing all-around power or control boosts spead among most or all Evocation elements, or supplementing supernatural abilities in areas the character would be interested in, such as swift travel (quite possibly through the Nevernever), form-flexible shapeshifting, buffing physical attributes, or defense. Any items should be of the kind that is very hard to steal from the character, short of making him unconscious or powerless.

g33k:

--- Quote from: Wanderer on May 30, 2017, 01:40:24 AM --- ... drawing power from mortal magic, Faerie, and Lower (or Higher) powers without becoming any especially evil or righteous ...

... avoided to buy Soulgaze since I deem it more trouble than it is worth...

--- End quote ---

I'll call out these ones, specifically...

Mortal magic is a tool, useful for good or ill.  It's my understanding though that The Sight and Soulgaze both come automatically with being a mortal wizard with Evocation and/or Thaumaturgy; half-fae changeling doesn't let you escape from either one.  Or have I misunderstood the rules on these points?

The others, though... faerie-sponsored magic, "higher" and "lower" powers... those tools ultimately belong to others than the nominal wielder, and in the end serve those other beings.  You don't GET Hellfire & the like if the Fallen don't see you as likely to fall, yourself; anyone who doesn't fall into temptation will get extra temptations strewn in their path, get prodded and provoked until they DO fall.  Like Soulfire, it's not something you can learn on your own; you need an unearthly agent -- generally an angel (or Fallen) -- who WANTS you to have this ability, for THEIR agenda.

The idea that you can be a pillar of independence and still carry all these shackles of other Powers' making... notsomuchso.  They are "power" but they won't ever be YOUR power, not really.

Of course, YMMV!  Assuming you have a gaming-table in agreement with your take on these... then I'd be incorrect.
 

Wanderer:

--- Quote from: g33k on June 01, 2017, 12:10:47 AM ---Mortal magic is a tool, useful for good or ill.  It's my understanding though that The Sight and Soulgaze both come automatically with being a mortal wizard with Evocation and/or Thaumaturgy; half-fae changeling doesn't let you escape from either one.  Or have I misunderstood the rules on these points?

--- End quote ---

As far as I can tell, Soulgaze is an optional buy for sorcerers/wizards (YS, p. 174: "If you have the Sight, above, you may take Soulgaze for free if you so choose. It's not mandatory"). I chose not to buy it even at no cost since I regard powers that only work once for individual more trouble than they are worth, doubly so given the side effects of the Sight. If its use were somehow repeatable, it might be different, but as it stands, I do not bother. As it concerns the Sight, you may notice I changed the Template of the character from "changeling sorcerer" (who is not under any obligation to have the Sight, it is an optional buy for them) to "changeling wizard" (who indeed has the power as mandatory) in different power-level builds depending on whether he got the Refresh to buy the Sight or not. Fact is, for this character the Sight is a lesser-priority power to have than other stuff on his sheet (Evocation, Thaumaturgy, Sponsored Magic, Supernatural physical attributes and Toughness abilities), and he was developed accordingly. This character is a fighter more than a detective, and more at ease with the flashier, more 'physical' aspects of magic than the subtler and more spiritual ones, esp. early in his arc. He got the Aspects to represent that, too.


--- Quote ---The others, though... faerie-sponsored magic, "higher" and "lower" powers... those tools ultimately belong to others than the nominal wielder, and in the end serve those other beings.  You don't GET Hellfire & the like if the Fallen don't see you as likely to fall, yourself; anyone who doesn't fall into temptation will get extra temptations strewn in their path, get prodded and provoked until they DO fall.  Like Soulfire, it's not something you can learn on your own; you need an unearthly agent -- generally an angel (or Fallen) -- who WANTS you to have this ability, for THEIR agenda.

The idea that you can be a pillar of independence and still carry all these shackles of other Powers' making... notsomuchso.  They are "power" but they won't ever be YOUR power, not really.

--- End quote ---

Well, from a Doylist viewpoint, the narrative tension between the character's independent attitude and his ties to the Faerie Courts and Heaven/Hell is supposed to be part of his long-term arc and the source of various potential plot hooks, as well as the dichotomy between his drive for ever more magical power and his aspirations to freedom. From a Watsonian viewpoint, these external power sources were not exactly sought after by the character, they were thrusted upon him by his blood ties to a Sidhe and by getting a Denarian shadow or being gifted by an Archangel for their own ineffable reasons. Once he got them, however, he was simply too practical, power-greedy, and living in the present to give up these additional sources of magical might just because of their questionable origin and potential strings attached. He expects to be able and pay access to these external power sources by doing the occasional favor or service to Faerie and Heaven/Hell. He plans to be their freelance agent every so often but never their permanent slave, which would be OK for his self-image and sense of honor. Those Powers help him, so it is good to do them a few favors once in a while, it is complete and lasting servitude he would object to. As it concerns potential conflicts between these various Powers' agendas and his own, or other obligations he may have, they shall be dealt with the best he can if and when they occur.

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