The Aboriginal Clever Men were sitting on the finest cornucopia of herbal medicines in the world – Western trained doctors constantly wrote back describing wonder drugs used by the natives, and calling for formal trials of their properties. The finest moment for Aboriginal herbalism came during WWII: Germany had been the supplier of the finest drugs before the war, and the Allies found themselves unable to produce sufficient sea-sickness tablets for the troops for beach landings – until Aboriginal scouts introduced a nauseous river patrol to their own sea sickness cure. Fully half of the sea sickness tablets issued for D-Day were made from this indigenous cure.
Sadly, feral animals, especially rabbits and goats, have swept the continent, rendering most of these remedies extinct. In my own part of the country, over sixty herbs identified by trained doctors as having medicinal properties are now extinct.

Western hypnotists have been repeatedly impressed by Indigenous skill with hypnosis, particularly self-hypnosis. Rather than directly influence another, a Clever Man is more likely to hypnotise himself to believe that what he wants is inevitable; the resulting calm assurance is very persuasive – even fatally so.

The most famous example of Aboriginal magic though is Bone Pointing: pointing a human bone at a victim and cursing to die. This probably never happened. Bone Pointing though is an effective explanation for the most powerful treatment available to the Clever Man. Facing a seriously ill patient, the Clever Man will claim that a fragment of the bone has magically penetrated the victim's heart, and insist on immediate surgery. The patient is not permitted to see the surgery, and may be given an anaesthetic. A fine line is cut in the middle of the patient's chest, only breaking the skin; after an hour or so of fake activity the cut is then sealed with spider's web silk and the patient shown a bloody fragment of bone that is claimed to have been taken from the wound. Then, the patient is asked: “Given you've just had surgery, how do you feel?” Naturally, the patient feels much better than they would expect to after surgery, and inevitably gains a strong placebo effect from the fake surgery.

Another mildly famous piece of Aboriginal magic – available to all following a full adulthood ceremony – is the rainbow rope. Drawn from the mouth, these can be used for pretty much anything Indiana Jones could use a whip for. They are invisible to mundane characters, but visible as a twisting rainbow to anyone else.

Aborigines are more likely to be devout Christians than white Australians, so may mix and match True Faith Powers with their Spellcasting Powers.

CHANNELLING – ABORIGINAL MAGIC
As an attack, the Clever Man can only do Mental Stress. However, they have a wide range of useful spells. While other spellcasters can gain Powers as spells (Paranet papers p308) Clever Men may cast spells duplicating the Mortal Stunts for the Deceit, Discipline, Intimidation and Presence Skills. If they have any true Faith Powers, they may do the same for the Conviction Skill.

RITUAL – ABORIGINAL MAGIC
Rainbow Rope This enchanted item typically adds +1 to an Athletics test, reduces a border rating by 1, or allows you to move to an adjoining zone that doesn't require crossing a border. EditThe Clever Man only has one Rainbow Rope, but may enchant it with different applications; additional uses can be sacrificed to increase the bonus to Athletics as normal (YS p279b).
A Rainbow Rope could also be bought as a Power by any Aboriginal PC at a cost of 1 pt per use per session.
Potions In theory, can do anything that a full practitioner can do, but the GM can and should repeatedly compel the Clever Man with 'the herbs you need for that are extinct'. This doesn't reduce the number of potions the Clever Man can make per scene though, and if a potion is possible, it will remain possible – we take extinctions seriously now. The GM will find this most useful for potions that sound boring/annoying. Also, getting the components while overseas will be close to impossible.

Bone Pointing Spell
Usable by either Ritual or Channelling, the spell will replace a Consequence, either Physical or Mental, with both a Physical and a Mental Consequence that are one level less serious. Thus a Moderate Consequence can be replaced with a Physical Mild Consequence and a Mental Mild Consequence. The spell requires a number of shifts equal to the stress the treated injury cancelled out.

BORDERS AND THE NEVER NEVER
The Outback is crisscrossed with Thresholds that are invisible to mundane eyes; relics of the sacred sites and tribal boundaries of yesteryear. A dry creek bed will stop a spell as effectively as running river, as waterways are always borders and thus thresholds.
On the upside, the Outback is the Never Never. Rather than enter the Never Never fully, a Clever Man may use either Ritual or Channelling to 'half' enter the Never Never and travel at blistering speeds across the continent. This is far safer than truly entering the Never Never, as stepping off the path returns the traveller to the mortal world. Most thresholds can be circled, but the tribal borders cannot be crossed this way; on reaching a tribal border the Clever Man must either travel fully into the Never Never or return to the mortal world. Using this ability in a city is tricky, and incredibly dangerous overseas; you are better actually going into the Never Never fully if you leave OZ.

Mortal Stunt (Survival): Traditional Upbringing
The character has been grown up in an Indigenous community, and adds +3 (!) to all Survival checks while on tribal lands. However, outside their tribal lands their Survival skill is restricted by their Scholarship skill. This Stunt can only be taken at character creation, and the character must start with a Scholarship of +0.

DWARFS

Originally from the Old World, the dwarfs have migrated across the world as their mines have played out. The bulk of Australian dwarfs came via the Californian goldfields in the 19thC, so usually have relatives in the USA; their long lives and ability to travel via the Never Never mean that they are frequently still in contact.

Dwarfs cannot use Fae Circles without help; instead they can enter the Never Never via mines, elf hills, dolmens etc. While that initially means facing a wall of rock, the dwarfs have honeycombed the Never Never with tunnels connecting their mines, feasting halls and so forth. In addition to be rigged to collapse or flood, the Dwarfs normally connect their tunnels via coal mines, so that in the event of a major invasion, they can torch the tunnel – uncontrollable coal fires are normally the result of the Dwarfs defending their realms from beings untroubled by water or rock.

The centre of Dwarfdom is currently the vast halls under Lightning Ridge: visitors to the halls often assume that the glittering walls of opal must be in the Never Never given their beauty! Lesser halls have walls embedded with silver or gold, where the dwarfs have mined beside the seam rather than down it.

While Dwarfs only heal when drunk (below) they are well aware of the dangers of their crafts, so will typically wait until after work to liquor up. Exceptions exist, of course.

While Dwarfs are sexually capable, the Fae requirement to exchange gifts of equal value expresses in a strange way with them: the pair can only have a child if the Dwarf has given their partner a gift of gold. The child will be dwarf-kin (below); referring to the child as a 'Changeling' will at best get you punched in the face, with a lecture about the use of a term that implies that they steal babies and replace them like cuckoos.

As miners and craftsmen of Summer, Dwarfs have a quite firm position on global warming: they're in favour of it. Telling them that their work is increasing global temperatures cause them to swell with pride. They are equally displeased with demands that they stop, and with claims that their work is not affecting climate.

Musts:

A Dwarf must take the following:
Fae Smith [-2] The Dwarf gains +2 on a Craft speciality of his choice; whenever Craftmanship can modify a skill, always gains +1; and gain make Dwarf specific equipment. (Non-dwarfs with this Power can make their own racial gear, obviously). For every Fate Point spent crafting a weapon, they can incorporate any Catch they have access to into the Weapon; Inherited Silver, Iron, Salt are all common Catches to incorporated into these weapons.
Inhuman Recovery[-2], the catch is sobriety[+1]. Note that the Recovery power can remove intoxication, making minor healing abilities very useful against dwarfs in a fight.
Inhuman Toughness[-2], the catch is trappings of Winter[+1]. Dwarfs can work Cold Iron, but avoid taking it into the Never Never.

Items of Power:

DWARVEN ARMOUR [-2]
Description: Armor tailored to the wearer.
Musts: Either Dwarf; or resources higher than the Refresh cost and a dwarven contact.

Effects:

[-0] It Is What It Is. Either a helmet (Armour:1) and/or Breastplate(Armour:2) or full Armour (Armour:3). Modern suits normally appear as bike leathers and helmet, as one of the few ways you can conveniently wear a helmet day to day...and they are ideal in a traffic accident anyway.
[-0] Unbreakable. As an Item of Power, this item cannot be broken except with a magical ritual predicated upon perverting its purpose. The Dwarfs have exploited this to the maximum to make the Armour light and flexible.
[+2] One-Time Discount. Immediately obvious that you are wearing it, and that the defence is superrnatural will be obvious in a fire fight.
[-4] Supernatural Toughness. Four additional boxes of physical stress; these clear away normally after combat (the armour isn't being damaged, you are just taking some bruising from the impacts).
[+3] The Catch anything that bypasses the physical Armour also by passes the Toughness

DWARVEN WEAPONS [-2 or -3]
Description: Combat capable tool
Musts: Either Dwarf; or resources higher than the Refresh cost and a dwarven contact.

Effects:

[-0] It Is What It Is. A tool that can double as a weapon; the traditional axes, picks and mattocks have been joined by wrenches, scalpels and machetes over the years. They are typically alloys of metallic salts with Iron and Salt, and often have been blessed.
[-0] Unbreakable. As an Item of Power, this item cannot be broken except with a magical ritual predicated upon perverting its purpose.
[+1 or +2] One-Time Discount. Only a Weapon:1 can be easily hidden.
[-0] Surprisingly Heavy. You need a Might equal or higher than the level of the Weapon to use the Item, and your Might Modifies your weapon skill.
[-0] Tool. The Item is a tool, and your Craftmanship skill complements your Weapon skill when wielding it. Under certain circumstances, your Weapons skill might complement your Craftsmanship skill as well.
[-3] Supernatural Might.  Gains the Effects 'Lethal Blows' (+4 Damage with the Weapon) plus half of 'Superior Lifting' (+6 to breaking inanimate objects, but not the bonus to lifting) from Supernatural Strength. Basically, once the weapon gets moving, not much can stop it.

Dwarf Kin

Typical Changelings, with two differences:
- a large number of Dwarf Kin aren't aware of their heritage, even if they have Dwarven abilities. Further, they bred true.
- Dwarf Kin can have a Feeding Dependency(Alcohol); if taken, this disappears when they make their choice. Sadly many Dwarf Kin live on the streets, their lives destroyed by this Stunt.

Thanks.

The catch

>Would be kinda lame if any random dwarf could make a knife that trumps Nicodemus's noose.
Given that the Swords can't take out the noose (they are the specific example given in his write-up) these weapons certainly can not.
What should it be able to do - well, there's clearly no problem in someone making a weapon out of cold iron. Murph casts silver bullets. Salt should tricky, until you consider metallic salts such as iron pyrites.
How about supernatural catches? Well, the dwarfs already meet the Catch for Grendelkin. Holy Weapons are easier enough for clergy.

How about "can incorporate any Catch they have access to into the Weapon"?

Toughness and Recovery
Generally speaking, you're only allowed one Catch rebate. Granted, you're not doing anything unfair here, but...actually, I think it might be more thematic to make both Powers depend on drunkeness. As-is, sobering up a dwarf has a minimal effect on their fighting abilities. Recovery is mostly for between fights, you know?

The "shrug it off" aspect specifically works in combat, a hostile spellcaster can actually use the Effect against the Dwarf. Losing the "Vigorous" Effect could also bite.

The reason for the different Catches was to emphasize the personality switch between cold and fierce in combat but lighthearted and disreputable out of it.



Armour
What's that bit at the end meant to mean? Is it just a reference to the fact that a full suit is armour 3, rather than armour 2 as is normal for the supernaturally tough?

The armour is both mundane armor - giving from 1 to 4 Armour dpending on coverage - and grants the Supernatural Toughness Power, which in turn grants the wearer an additional point of Armour.

Also, given the description, I'd expect a +3 (arguably +4) catch of "stuff armour obviously isn't useful against". Like poison, drowning, really hot weather, and thaumaturgy that detonates the heart inside your chest.

Hmm: yes. How about "anything that bypasses the physical Armour also by passes the Toughness"?

Probably shouldn't be 4 Refresh if it's missing many of the normal effects of Supernatural Strength. Also, might be worth writing out specifically what it does apply to. For example, does it boost grappling?
True.
Really it's just the damage bonus from 'Hammer Blows' plus the breaking inanimate objects from 'Improved Lifting'.
How much do you think that should be worth?

Thanks, very useful feedback.

DWARFS

Originally from the Old World, the dwarfs have migrated across the world as their mines have played out. The bulk of Australian dwarfs came via the Californian goldfields in the 19thC, so usually have relatives in the USA; their long lives and ability to travel via the Never Never mean that they are frequently still in contact.

Dwarfs cannot use Fae Circles without help; instead they can enter the Never Never via mines, elf hills, dolmens etc. While that initially means facing a wall of rock, the dwarfs have honeycombed the Never Never with tunnels connecting their mines, feasting halls and so forth. In addition to be rigged to collapse or flood, the Dwarfs normally connect their tunnels via coal mines, so that in the event of a major invasion, they can torch the tunnel – uncontrollable coal fires are normally the result of the Dwarfs defending their realms from beings untroubled by water or rock.

The centre of Dwarfdom is currently the vast halls under Lightning Ridge: visitors to the halls often assume that the glittering walls of opal must be in the Never Never given their beauty! Lesser halls have walls embedded with silver or gold, where the dwarfs have mined beside the seam rather than down it.

While Dwarfs only heal when drunk (below) they are well aware of the dangers of their crafts, so will typically wait until after work to liquor up. Exceptions exist, of course.

While Dwarfs are sexually capable, the Fae requirement to exchange gifts of equal value expresses in a strange way with them: the pair can only have a child if the Dwarf has given their partner a gift of gold. The child will be dwarf-kin (below); referring to the child as a 'Changeling' will at best get you punched in the face, with a lecture about the use of a term that implies that they steal babies and replace them like cuckoos.

As miners and craftsmen of Summer, Dwarfs have a quite firm position on global warming: they're in favour of it. Telling them that their work is increasing global temperatures cause them to swell with pride. They are equally displeased with demands that they stop, and with claims that their work is not affecting climate.

Musts:

A Dwarf must take the following:
Fae Smith [-2] The Dwarf gains +2 on a Craft speciality of his choice; whenever Craftmanship can modify a skill, always gains +1; and gain make Dwarf specific equipment. (Non-dwarfs with this Power can make their own racial gear, obviously). For every Fate Point spent crafting a weapon, a Catch can be added to it; Inherited Silver, Iron, Salt are all common Catches to incorporated into these weapons.
Inhuman Recovery[-2], the catch is sobriety[+1]. Note that the Recovery power can remove intoxication, making minor healing abilities very useful against dwarfs in a fight.
Inhuman Toughness[-2], the catch is trappings of Winter[+1]. Dwarfs can work Cold Iron, but avoid taking it into the Never Never.

Items of Power:

DWARVEN ARMOUR [-2]
Description: Armor tailored to the wearer.
Musts: Either Dwarf; or resources higher than the Refresh cost and a dwarven contact.

Effects:

[-0] It Is What It Is. Either a helmet (Armour:1) and/or Breastplate(Armour:2) or full Armour (Armour:3). Modern suits normally appear as bike leathers and helmet, as one of the few ways you can conveniently wear a helmet day to day...and they are ideal in a traffic accident anyway.
[-0] Unbreakable. As an Item of Power, this item cannot be broken except with a magical ritual predicated upon perverting its purpose. The Dwarfs have exploited this to the maximum to increase the defensive value of the Armour.
[+2] One-Time Discount. Immediately obvious that you are wearing it, and that the defence is superrnatural will be obvious in a fire fight.
[-4] Supernatural Toughness. Four additional boxes of physical stress; these clear away normally after combat (the armour isn't being damaged, you are just taking some bruising from the impacts). This stacks with any other Toughness abilities you may have.
 An additional Armor:1.
[-0] The Catch Any aspect combat related Aspect can be called to aim a called shot for weak points (say, aiming for joints with a weapon or breaking a limb with Fists). If an Aspect is called for this purpose it cannot also be called to improve the attack.

DWARVEN WEAPONS [-2 or -3]
Description: Combat capable tool
Musts: Either Dwarf; or resources higher than the Refresh cost and a dwarven contact.

Effects:

[-0] It Is What It Is. A tool that can double as a weapon; the traditional axes, picks and mattocks have been joined by wrenches, scalpels and machetes over the years. They are typically alloys of metalliic salts with Iron and Salt, and often have been blessed.
[-0] Unbreakable. As an Item of Power, this item cannot be broken except with a magical ritual predicated upon perverting its purpose.
[+1 or +2] One-Time Discount. Only a Weapon:1 can be easily hidden.
[-0] Surprisingly Heavy. You need a Might equal or higher than the level of the Weapon to use the Item, and your Might Modifies your weapon skill.
[-0] Tool. The Item is a tool, and your Craftmanship skill complements your Weapon skill when wielding it. Under certain circumstances, your Weapons skill might complement your Craftsmanship skill as well.
[-4] Supernatural Strength. However, this does not apply to lifting, nor to the Surprisingly Heavy Effect. Basically, once the weapon gets moving, not much can stop it.

Dwarf Kin

Typical Changelings, with two differences:
- a large number of Dwarf Kin aren't aware of their heritage, even if they have Dwarven abilities. Further, they bred true.
- Dwarf Kin can have a Feeding Dependency(Alcohol); if taken, this disappears when they make their choice. Sadly many Dwarf Kin live on the streets, their lives destroyed by this Stunt.

cool, I'll get started.
The dwarfs are the least OZ specific so I'll do them first; they'll be the easiest for you to find problems with. Bunyips are largely known, so them next: finally the magic of the Clever Men as there's nothing worthwhile available online, so I'll need to have the Dresdenverse stuff down pat for them.

Well, he could summon an NPC of mine from a different game system....

For the In Nomine game, I created an ethereal that was a water elemental that owned a bath/spa/jacuzzi artifact; rewritten for the Dresdenverse he'd only need to have Swift Transition (No Mortal Home), a high Craft skill (specialising in massage) and the ability to grant the Aquatic Power (say, put that in the Jacuzzi Item of Power).

The only payment Laver would want would be the Fate point to 'loan' his IoP to his bather.
Laver would then hang around until he was next summoned.

here's the write up in the IN rules if you're interested:

yeah, boy was he playing it wrong.  so then why would anyone use this instead of just spending the fate point to get +2 on the roll?

Most of the True Faith powers are better replaced by properly worded aspects. Sure, you can lose a refresh to have the ability to turn up somewhere when the GM feels like it...or you could spend a Fate point when you feel like it.

Rather than spending Fate to replace a skill with conviction, keep the refresh and have 2 Fate points to increase the skill: at minimum that's as good and it will often be better by 4.

 Why take Bless this House when you can have 'family man' and have a decent threshold to start with?

For that matter, why are these stunts supernatural? If holy water made by a completely mundane priest can burn a monster, why is the skin of a sanctified believer doing the same thing somehow supernatural?

About the only use for these power are either as spells for a Theurgically based Channeller, or possibly you could put Righteousness and Holy Touch into a weapon as an Item of power.