The Dresden Files > DFRPG
Converting d20 Adventure Modules to DFRPG
Quantus:
--- Quote from: g33k on June 28, 2017, 06:33:20 PM ---And I may, in my turn, have completely misunderstood what the OP envisioned.
Here's the crux of it: Why in the world are these supernaturals (Kobolds) working as "staff" in a public cafe/restaurant???
Brownies clean, it's just their nature. Cobbs make and repair shoes, and that's THEIR nature.
What kind of supernatural being waits tables, busses dirty dishes, does the barista bit, etc?
And keeps regular working hours?
--- End quote ---
Brownies clean (though they are Fae so it cant be Free) in the same way Toot and dewdrop fairies..do whatever they do, and are on a similar developmental rung. The OP gives me the sense that their image of Kobolds is closer to Svartalves, who own property, wear uniforms and/or suits as needed, and operate Mail-order businesses. In other words: for any race sufficiently advanced/mature/intelligent they have learned the age-old proverb "If you are good at something, never do it for free."
In the case of this version of Kobolds, specifically:
1) Not Staff, Owner/operators. Owning your own business makes a BIG difference. But otherwise assume its a front, no more legit than the Italian restaurant the stereotype mob boss owns. Their real business would be more along the lines of Information Broker or maybe Fense.
2) If they are bothering to live in the Mortal world at all, presumably it has something to offer them. The business HQ would off them a Brick&Mortar front, a legitimate mortal/bureaucratic presence and Identity, and ultimately access to any and all resources you'd expect to otherwise be out of reach for denizens of Undertown.
3) The cafe descriptions were more along the lines of internet cafe/coffee shop, so I was picturing severe Night-Owl hours, if not open 24-hours.
4)They can always hire brownies to handle the drudgery they dont want to do.
Taran:
--- Quote from: g33k on June 28, 2017, 06:33:20 PM ---And I may, in my turn, have completely misunderstood what the OP envisioned.
Here's the crux of it: Why in the world are these supernaturals (Kobolds) working as "staff" in a public cafe/restaurant???
Brownies clean, it's just their nature. Cobbs make and repair shoes, and that's THEIR nature.
What kind of supernatural being waits tables, busses dirty dishes, does the barista bit, etc?
And keeps regular working hours?
In jobs that bring them into frequent contact with non-clued mortals?
In the Dresden'verse, I keep WTF'ing...
So it looks to me like they are trying to "mainstream:" trying to life a day-to-day life largely as if they were mortals themselves. Working and living alongside mortals. Passing as mortals.
Maybe that's just me, misunderstanding the OP ...
--- End quote ---
This is why I've been trying to think of how to fit them into the Dresdenverse. What is a Kobold and what is it's nature? It's a tiny dragonling that likes to scheme, play tricks and make traps. I'm not sure where they fit in real-world mythology.
I like the idea of an internet cafe/computer servers because you can have virtual lairs that are trapped with viruses. Since modern day money is more credit than piles of gold, Kobolds can be the dragons minions that are the first line of defense for its virtual horde. Computers can't really function in the Nevernever so you have a reason to be in the city. After that, it's more about what the Dragon's goals which will guide what the Kobolds are doing.
The cafe works better than a random building full of computer servers because(random ideas):
1. (story hook) It gives a reason for the PCs to interact with the NPCs (they happen to be at the locale)
2. It allows random people to walk in and drop off all their personal information (stolen by the kobolds' clever spyware) allowing them to hack people later and steal more money for the dragon. Or just have information on lots and lots of people in the city. Not to mention identity theft etc...
3. launder illicit funds and other underground criminal-type operations.
4.....
g33k:
--- Quote from: RedRobe on June 09, 2017, 04:04:59 AM ---The premise is ... One crew works at the restaurant and the other group comes in to settle a score.
--- End quote ---
--- Quote from: Quantus on June 28, 2017, 08:35:11 PM --- The OP gives me the sense that their image of Kobolds is closer to Svartalves, who own property, wear uniforms and/or suits as needed, and operate Mail-order businesses.
--- End quote ---
Well, but he's specifically citing the d20 Kobold, in his source material. Pretty weak, bottom-tier foes (unless they have "class-levels" (extra Refresh, in DFRPG terms)). But in any case: foes suitable for his starting PC's (which Svartalves are NOT... ) in a semi(?) comedic "food-fight" scenario.
--- Quote from: Quantus on June 28, 2017, 08:35:11 PM --- In the case of this version of Kobolds, specifically:
1) Not Staff, Owner/operators.
--- End quote ---
I... guess? I'd be surprised to see d20-esque Kobolds "running a business" in any D&D setting; it doesn't "feel right" for them.
--- Quote from: RedRobe on June 28, 2017, 08:11:03 PM ---I guess I should clarify that I am including things outside of Dresden Files canon to make the setting my own. Not a lot, mind you, but things like kobolds and other D&D creatures that were taken from real world mythology and folklore. In my version not all creatures come from the Nevernever, and have always been of Earth. I will most likely pull a bit from Supernatural and similar shows as I have seen done on several PBP games here and on other sites.
--- End quote ---
"Dragons" in Dresdenverse are even-more-badass than in D&D; I am certain there are no tribes of such debased dragonet's (plus, that whole "dragon" linkage to Kobolds is an affectation of D&D; they are akin, folklorically, to a dwarf or other earth-faerie) !
I might take the "kobold" name and power-level (the small/weak/dextrous/trap-maker vibe), but re-do D&D's reptilian/draconic visual into something a bit more human/faerie in nature. Some of those folkloric antecedents in fact ARE suited for "domestic service" (e.g. in a restaurant or the like), being almost like Brownies !
But then again, it's your game and you are making it YOUR own, so maybe you'd best ignore my folkloric sense...
Quantus:
--- Quote from: g33k on June 29, 2017, 08:56:31 PM ---Well, but he's specifically citing the d20 Kobold, in his source material. Pretty weak, bottom-tier foes (unless they have "class-levels" (extra Refresh, in DFRPG terms)). But in any case: foes suitable for his starting PC's (which Svartalves are NOT... ) in a semi(?) comedic "food-fight" scenario.
I... guess? I'd be surprised to see d20-esque Kobolds "running a business" in any D&D setting; it doesn't "feel right" for them.
"Dragons" in Dresdenverse are even-more-badass than in D&D; I am certain there are no tribes of such debased dragonet's (plus, that whole "dragon" linkage to Kobolds is an affectation of D&D; they are akin, folklorically, to a dwarf or other earth-faerie) !
--- End quote ---
True, in d20 terms, "Dragons" are beings like Tiamet and Bahamut, those with an actual Divine Rank score, whereas "dragons" are everything else up to and including your oldest True Dragons (of dnd terms)
FYI Svartalves /are/ dwarves, they were Tolkien's inspiration for the modern fantasy Dwarf. The fact that they're historically evolved from the maggots that grew on a dead Ice Giant might not be a preferred topic of dinner conversation around them though.
--- Quote ---I might take the "kobold" name and power-level (the small/weak/dextrous/trap-maker vibe), but re-do D&D's reptilian/draconic visual into something a bit more human/faerie in nature. Some of those folkloric antecedents in fact ARE suited for "domestic service" (e.g. in a restaurant or the like), being almost like Brownies !
But then again, it's your game and you are making it YOUR own, so maybe you'd best ignore my folkloric sense...
--- End quote ---
I think you might be getting stuck on Kobolds as seen in a traditional Sword&Board Fantasy setting, but you /have/ to adapt them to the Modern setting somehow, hence the focus on digital traps and hordes. But Im not sure why you are stuck on the idea of shoehorning them into a corner of Fae, when the so easily fit the mold of one of the created servator races of the cosmic Dragons?
g33k:
--- Quote from: Quantus on June 29, 2017, 09:05:42 PM --- FYI Svartalves /are/ dwarves, they were Tolkien's inspiration for the modern fantasy Dwarf. The fact that they're historically evolved from the maggots that grew on a dead Ice Giant might not be a preferred topic of dinner conversation around them though.
--- End quote ---
You're right about the original material, of course. I'm just... unclear on whether they would be proud of their origin story, or see that as grounds to attack you... ;)
--- Quote from: Quantus on June 29, 2017, 09:05:42 PM --- I think you might be getting stuck on Kobolds as seen in a traditional Sword&Board Fantasy setting
--- End quote ---
The OP is using a d20-Modern reference, which minimally-adapts D&D Kobolds. I am "stuck on" the OP's frame of reference. Wanting to depart from it, honestly: I don't think D&D tropes work as well in a Modern Urban Fantasy setting. But the OP can take what he wants of all this discussion, and leave the rest behind. ;)
--- Quote from: Quantus on June 29, 2017, 09:05:42 PM --- but you /have/ to adapt them to the Modern setting somehow, hence the focus on digital traps and hordes.
--- End quote ---
I just wouldn't expect sophistication & cutting-edge stuff from D&D's "Kobold" species. From an exceptional individual... of course! In the modern sense, I'd think more of urban street-gang violence, etc.
--- Quote from: Quantus on June 29, 2017, 09:05:42 PM --- But Im not sure why you are stuck on the idea of shoehorning them into a corner of Fae, when the so easily fit the mold of one of the created servator races of the cosmic Dragons?
--- End quote ---
Kobolds have their own folkloric antecedents. They're clearly akin to the "Brownies" of Britain, clearly fae.
Attaching them to Dragons is... um. Doesn't happen (until D&D).
That's not to say that I don't like pretty much all of your ideas -- the Dragon as the (ultimate) patron of a cyber-cafe; data-brokers and hackers accumulating a horde of "modern wealth;" etc. I really like these ideas a LOT! I just don't see "shoehorning" either the folkloric "kobold" or the D&D "kobold" into this cutting-edge stuff...
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version