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Messages - Buscadera

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46
DFRPG / Re: 5 Elements = At least 5 Different Ways to make veils?
« on: November 16, 2010, 04:15:53 PM »
I would think that a creative player could pull off a veil with any of the elements. Each practitioner is supposed to be able to cover the spectrum of uses with their particular brand of evocation, otherwise every Wizard/Sorcerer build would have a set of "optimal" specialties.

Here's how I would make a "veil" for the other elements:

Fire - Shimmering waves of heat distortion. Like wolff96 said, this would probably be the best way to create a "veil" using the Dresden-specific definition of the word.

Water - Dense mist or Entropy shield. The first is simple, a thick mist that obscures vision. But for the other veil I was thinking that since water is the element of entropy, perhaps a spell could be worked out that caused other to "coincidentally" look away from the spellcaster. The veil creates a kind of lucky field in which the caster is preternaturally unnoticed.

Earth - Dust storm or Camouflage. Again, a dust storm could be used to obscure overall vision. I could also see the case being made for a camouflage spell that makes the user blend with his background like a chameleon. It might not be as effective as actual invisibility, but we are dealing with magic after all.

Air - Focus the air into a light-bending lens. Everyone here seems to agree that beyond Spirit, Air is the backup element of choice for would-be veil-casters.

47
DFRPG / Re: Summoning a construct/creating a Golem
« on: November 14, 2010, 05:55:48 PM »
Isn't that sort of how alternate form works regardless of whether you're one person or two? It's not something I've used in the past so I don't actually know.

It is, but there's supposed to be a limiting factor built in that your alternate form isn't competent in some of the other realms (physical, mental and social).

If you have a businessman werewolf character, he's good at both mental and social abilities while human and physically capable while a wolf in exchange for a huge drop in both mental and social abilities. In my case (rich kid and genie girlfriend) there was no huge tradeoff between abilities. I think in this case, a golem would naturally be inept at mental and social abilities making all of this work out.

But I think the ideal would still be a big-powered long-time ritual to create your sidekick golem, while your character could create little servitors on the fly.

48
DFRPG / Re: Summoning a construct/creating a Golem
« on: November 13, 2010, 10:54:17 PM »
This got me thinking on a weird tangent. You could always take Alternate Form with a modifier that you are actually two separate entities. When you're in one "form" you're playing the creator and when you're in the other you're playing the golem. Random weird thought.

Speaking from experience while playing this character in a game on another forum, GMs inevitably frown upon the "two separate entities" idea. In my example, the main character is a social tank and his genie girlfriend is a magical whiz. I thought that being unable to access the other ones abilities at any given time was enough of a limiting factor, but it really isn't. I ended up dominating social combat as Ryan and slinging high-powered magic as Jeannie with really nothing the GM could do to stop me.

I would think that a specialization in Golemancy or some such would be a suitable way to pull up simple constructs like Cassius' snakes while any special golems might be deserving of an aspect of their own. (For example, on character I've got in mind is a Struggling Artist Golemancer who is accompanied by his homunculus George and his lumbering juggernaut golem Lenny. One of his aspects is simply My Buddies George & Lenny.)

I am curious to see a specific ritual for creating a golem, as I'm a bit confused on how to do that myself.

49
DFRPG / Looking for Group in Miami
« on: November 13, 2010, 10:32:52 PM »
I'm slowly but surely gathering together a local group in Miami and figured I might as well try my luck with this board. Looking to run a regular DFRPG game with a solid group of gamers. If interested and nearby, send me a message through the forums.

50
DFRPG / Re: Summoning a construct/creating a Golem
« on: November 13, 2010, 08:29:26 AM »
I've had a similar idea for a Focused Practitioner/True Believer who's a mild-mannered sculptor by day and a supernatural lightweight by night.

There are plenty of people on the website more qualified to answer the question about how to summon an AI spirit for the golem (most of them will answer with a complete spell, ready to go). But as for how to create the shell of the golem, I imagine that would be the easiest part. For example, my character would use Performance to sculpt a clay body. Depending on the methods of construction, you'd likely be rolling Performance or Craftsmanship.

51
DFRPG / Re: Character Help...
« on: November 11, 2010, 03:31:54 PM »
Those are all great options, and personally I like the Inherited Relationships, and I Help Me, Not You.  Go Away.

Are their any good ways or wordings that I can more or less combine those two?

How about Cynical Heir to Decades of Bad Publicity? Gets across the idea that Boris isn't used to much help from others and that he suffers some backlash as a result of his more-than-questionable relationships.

52
DFRPG / Re: Having functional regular Ghoul NPCs
« on: November 09, 2010, 06:16:25 PM »
I think the right kind of ghoul could be redeemable and not have to eat anyone, I just don't think it would be common.

Ghouls can function to some degree in mortal society, although most of the ones we've seen have been professional killers of some stripe including The Tigress and the ghoul ninja. But they've shown that they can control themselves around mortals without eating them. And the example ghouls in the Nevermore section of the book sustain themselves primarily on shellfish and seafood with only the occasional mortal.

Ghoul PCs should be similar to White Court PCs; They should be few and far between with a darn good excuse as to why they're not following in their family/clan's footsteps. Most ghouls are bad guys, but not mindless evil brutes. They're just hungry.

53
DFRPG / Re: Odd city settigns?
« on: November 08, 2010, 05:46:57 PM »
My ideas (so far):
Miami, FL (Pretty much anywhere in Florida actually) - Something about setting a game in one of the Brightest cities in the US just has its bizzare appeal. For all of that brightness it has a very ugly underside, making a perfect setting as far as a game is concerned. Plenty of action for White Court, Red Court and even Black Court Vampires. Plenty of places to hide bodies and black magic. Swamps and legends abound including the so-called Fountain of Youth. Not to mention the hurricanes a few times a year that could provide a backdrop for some fun games not to mention a tremendous source of power for anyone crazy enough to tap into one!

I ran a short online game set in Miami, since I'm going to school here. I'm also trying to gather together a local group for DFRPG.

Miami is a great city for the Dresden Files. There's tons of stuff ripe for use in a game. Plenty of different districts throughout the city make for plenty of different groups. The White Court and Summer Court squabbling over South Beach, plenty of loa and orisha thanks to all the voodoo and santeria, a huge drug trade and gangs. There's so much to work with. I even invented a nation of merfolk to play the role of antagonists to my PCs.

54
DFRPG Resource Collection / Re: Spare Character Concepts
« on: November 08, 2010, 01:40:42 PM »
I just might have to steal that Genie and Ryan one I think they could fit perfectly in my game wit th just a touch of re-working :P  also these Char-concepts are really cool!!!

Thanks! Ryan & Jeannie were used in another game I played on a different message board that fell apart, but I can't wait to find another game to port them into. Just as a note, the ability Jeannie's Skills [-1] should be bumped up to [-2] for balance purposes, since it's essentially Beast Change but allows for the increase of non-physical skills.

55
DFRPG Resource Collection / Re: Spare Character Concepts
« on: November 08, 2010, 02:23:59 AM »
My format is just a general one I use for my purposes. As long as people post something general, I'll allow it. I'm just glad to have contributed something to the board.

@Sanctaphrax Thanks for moving it to the DFRPG Resources. And I'd be fine if you snagged some stunts for your homebrew list. Which stunts? Thanks for the catches on the character sheets. With so many floating around, it's hard to keep them in order. Criminal Defense Lawyer is a repurposed version of Canon Lawyer from Father Forthill's writeup in Our World. It would read:

Criminal Defense Lawyer (Scholarship): Avi receives a +1 bonus to Scholarship checks related to law, and an additional +1 to checks related to criminal defense laws.

56
DFRPG Resource Collection / Re: Spare Character Concepts
« on: November 07, 2010, 02:30:50 PM »
Vincent “Zero” Costello (Pure Mortal) – Submerged
High Aspect: Ice-Cold Mafia Hatchetman
Trouble: Losing My Humanity
Other Aspects: A Wolf Among Sheep; Always Carry A Spare; I Felt Compassion… Once

Stress:
Physical: OOOO; one additional mild consequence
Social: OO
Mental: OOO

Skills:
• Superb (+5): Weapons
• Great (+4): Athletics, Guns, Intimidation
• Good (+3): Alertness, Endurance, Fists
• Fair (+2): Contacts, Discipline, Resources
• Average (+1): Conviction, Deceit, Stealth

Mortal Stunts:
   • No Pain, No Gain (Endurance):
   • Wall of Death (Weapons):
   • Paranoid? Probably. (Alertness):
   • Calm Blue Ocean (Discipline):
   • Connected (Contacts): +2 to all Contacts rolls involving organized crime
   • Subtle Menace (Intimidation):
   • Lethal Weapons (Fists):
   • Payment for Services Rendered (Resources): see Windfall
   • Houdini (Deceit): +2 to all Deceit rolls in covering up a murder
   • Manhunter (Contacts): +1 to all Contacts rolls to find someone; in addition all attempts to find someone are one increment faster

Adjusted Refresh: 2

57
DFRPG Resource Collection / Re: Spare Character Concepts
« on: November 07, 2010, 02:30:11 PM »
Victor Pecos (Pure Mortal) - Chest-Deep
High Concept: Cowboy Field Agent for the Library of Congress, SCD
Trouble: A Lifetime of Wars
Other Aspects: Former Army Scout & US Marshal, My Wife The Witch, I Bump Back

Stress Tracks:
Physical: OOOO; one additional mild consequence
Mental: OOO
Social: OOO

Skills:
• Great (+4): Intimidation, Guns
• Good (+3): Athletics, Endurance, Investigation
• Fair (+2): Alertness, Contacts, Fists, Resources
• Average (+1): Burglary, Conviction, Lore, Presence, Stealth

Mortal Stunts:
   • Anything at Hand (Fists): Vic may use his Fist s skill instead of Weapons to wield a variety of close combat weaponry: batons, short clubs, knives, and the like.
   • Quickdraw (Guns): Vic may use his Guns Skill instead of his Alertness when determining initiative in a combat encounter.
   • Interrogator (Intimidation): Vic can use use Intimidation to scare a suspect or at least provoke strong reactions out of him. Those reactions should tell you something, even if you don't get a confession out of your target. Once per scene, whenever he makes a successful Intimidation attack while questioning someone, he can set aside the stress he would inflict and instead treat the attack as a successful Empathy attempt to "read" that person.
   • No Pain, No Gain (Endurance): Vic can take a bunch of punishment before it starts to add up. He may take one additional mild physical consequence.
   • Quick Eye (Investigation): When examining a location for clues, Vics eye is quick to pick out the visual details. Your first Investigation roll to determine deeper details about a scene is two time increments faster than usual.
   • Occultist [Magical Artifacts] (Lore): Vic gains a +2 to all Lore rolls involving information about magical artifacts like the ones he gathers as part of his work for the Library of Congress.

Total Refresh: 4

Equipment:
Glock 40: Weapon 2
Taurus .357 CC: Weapon 2
Telescopic Baton: Weapon 1
12-Gauge Shotgun: Weapon 3
Cadillac Escalade

Background
Victor Pecos grew up the only child of a county sheriff and a superstitious housewife in rural Pennsylvania. Vic grew up fascinated by his father's work and always dreamed of going into law enforcement when he grew up. When people asked him what he wanted to do for a living, "Be a hero" was always his response.
After high school, Vic joined the Army and quickly became a scout. He enjoyed military life and found his years of practicing shooting with his father still served him well. After his time in the military was up, Vic became a US Marshal in order to follow his dreams of becoming a lawman like his father. Vic's short career in the USMS was an exciting one, highlighted by the capture of an infamous arms dealer in San Francisco and the destruction of a meth-ring in Kansas City.
While bringing down the meth-ring, Vic ran into something inexplicable. One of the "men" he was after soaked up bullets like they were nothing and shed his skin to become some kind of bat-creature, before severely wounding Vic's leg. His superiors dismissed the story as a hallucination suffered from the pain. Vic retired early as a hero with full disability pay, despite his injuries healing a few short weeks later.
Aspect: Former Army Scout & US Marshal

Rising Conflict
With nowhere to go and no particular need to work thanks to his unwarranted disability pay, Vic moved to Washington DC where his parents had taken up residence. He began to delve deep into the occult community in hopes of finding out what it was that he saw in Kansas City. During this time, Vic would discover two things that would change his life.
The first was the Library of Congress, Special Collections Division. As a former federal agent with an astonishing record and a burgeoning grasp on the supernatural side of the world Vic perfectly fit the profile of a new SCD agent. Eager to get back into the field and find out more about the supernatural, Vic accepted a job tracking down magical artifacts that might be misused or dangerous.
The second was meeting a young woman named Maria Villarreal. As a practicing sorceress, Maria served as a contact for the young SCD agent and provided him an "in" with the local occult community. By the time the two were dating, Vic had firmly established his role as an agent of the SCD. A year later and the two were happily married.
Aspect: My Wife The Witch

First Novel: High Noon, Dark Sun
A coven of low-level sorcerers and supernatural have-nots have taken it upon themselves to summon a dark god to Earth in a foolish attempt at a power-grab. SCD Agent Victor Pecos is sent to stop the sorcerers and retrieve Pandora's Box (the very artifact from the myth of the same name) before it's too late.
Aspect: I Bump Back

58
DFRPG Resource Collection / Re: Spare Character Concepts
« on: November 07, 2010, 02:28:57 PM »
Terrance Rhodes (Wizard) – Submerged
High Aspect: Blue-Blooded Wizard of the White Council
Trouble: Old Money, New Problems
Other Aspects: More Degrees Than a Thermometer, Master Artificer-in-Training, Every Problem Has a Solution, Golden Boy of the White Council

Stress:
Physical: OOO
Social: OOO
Mental: OOOO

Skills:
• Superb (+5): Lore, Resources
• Great (+4): Conviction, Discipline
• Good (+3): Craftsmanship, Scholarship
• Fair (+2): Contacts, Rapport, Presence
• Average (+1): Alertness, Athletics, Endurance, Investigation, Weapons

Supernatural Powers:
   • Evocation [-3] (Specializations: Earth, Fire, Spirit; O. Power: Earth +1; D. Power: Spirit +1)
   • Thaumaturgy [-3] (Frequency: Crafting +2)
   • The Sight/Soulgaze [-1]
   • Wizard’s Constitution [-0]
   • Refinement [-1]

Mortal Stunts:
   • Lush Lifestyle (Resources):

Adjusted Refresh: 1

59
DFRPG Resource Collection / Re: Spare Character Concepts
« on: November 07, 2010, 02:28:24 PM »
Tad Walker (Were-Form) – Chest Deep
High Aspect: Big Wolf on Campus
Trouble: Living for Mom & Dad
Other Aspects: Trust Fund Baby, Alpha Male

Stress:
Physical: OOOO
Social: OOOO
Mental: OO

Skills (Human Form):
• Great (+4): Athletics, Endurance, Presence
• Good (+3): Discipline, Might, Resources
• Fair (+2): Alertness, Empathy, Rapport
• Average (+1): Contacts, Driving, Lore

Skills (Wolf Form):
• Great (+4): Alertness, Athletics
• Good (+3): Endurance, Fists, Stealth
• Fair (+2): Deceit, Intimidate, Might, Survival
• Average (+1): Conviction, Discipline, Empathy, Presence, Rapport

Supernatural Stunts:
   • Beast Change [-1]
   • Echoes of the Beast [-1]
   • Human Form [+1]; affecting:
      • Claws [-1]
      • Inhuman Strength [-2]
      • Inhuman Speed [-2]
      • Pack Instincts [-1]

Adjusted Refresh: 1

60
DFRPG Resource Collection / Re: Spare Character Concepts
« on: November 07, 2010, 02:27:35 PM »
Ryan Boseman & Jeannie (Genie’s Companion; Chest-Deep)
High Concept: Rich Kid with a Genie Girlfriend
Trouble: Two Against the World
Other Aspects: Suckled on a Silver Spoon, I Dream of Jeannie, So Cûl!, Not One for Fisticuffs, A Whole New World

Stress Tracks:
Physical: OOO
Mental: OOOO
Social: OOOO

Ryan’s Skills:
•Great (+4): Resources, Scholarship
• Good (+3): Conviction, Presence, Rapport
• Fair (+2): Alertness, Contacts, Deceit, Investigation
• Average (+1): Athletics, Empathy, Endurance, Might, Performance

Jeannie’s Skills:
• Superb (+5): Conviction, Discipline
• Great (+4): Lore, Endurance
• Good (+3): Presence, Rapport
• Fair (+2): Athletics, Scholarship
• Average (+1): Deceit, Stealth

Supernatural Powers:
   • Destiny Bond [+0]
   • Item of Power: Mystical Lamp [+2]; affecting:
      • Sponsored Magic: Genie Magic [-4]
      • Supernatural Co-Pilot [-1]
      • Jeannie’s Skills [-1]
      • Human Form [+0]

Mortal Stunts:
   • Sex Appeal (Rapport): Folks cannot help but notice Ryan; He’s got “it.” Ryan receives a +2 to the roll on any seduction attempts he makes with Rapport, provided that the target is someone who could be receptive to his advances.
   • Lush Lifestyle (Resources): Ryan’s wealth is well-established and robust, making him the man who has everything. Ryan may be assumed to have an item whose cost is equal to or less than his Resources.

Total Refresh: 2

Background
Ryan Boseman was born the only child of a wealthy East Coast businessman and his eccentric ex-faux-psychic bride. Ryan’s childhood was one of relative luxury and ease, going to all the best schools in the country and always remaining at the top of his class, both in terms of academics and popularity. His academic scores and family name were more than enough to send Ryan to one of the top Ivy-League schools in the country.
Aspect: Suckled on a Silver Spoon

Rising Conflict
About a year ago, Ryan’s life changed forever when he discovered a tarnished looking lamp while wandering along the shoreline near his college. He knew from his studies that it was ancient and the language on it was an Arabic dialect. Considering it a prize find, he took it back to his room to clean it up. After digging into his library, Ryan was able to translate the inscription. Rubbing the lamp for comedic effect, Ryan spoke the words aloud with a grin. A blinding flash of light and a crack of thunder later, Ryan found himself face-to-face with a beautiful young girl. This would serve as Ryan’s introduction into the world of the supernatural and as the first time he would meet his soulmate.

The genie was “bonded” to Ryan, since he was the first to free her from the lamp. He named her Jeannie as a joke, but the name stuck. She told him of how she used to be a human girl hundreds of years ago and used her wishes granted by a real genie to become one herself, in order to escape her life as a slave. The genie granted her wish, but trapped her in the lamp and flung her into the ocean. For the past several hundred years, Jeannie was floating around aimlessly, weakening in power and without ever seeing another being.

Ryan and Jeannie quickly became something more than just friends. She had no interest in his money or his family name and she had never experienced the kindness and warmth that Ryan showed her. Jeannie posed as Ryan’s “townie” girlfriend for the rest of his college years, although she lived in the lamp that he always carried with him.
Aspect: I Dream of Jeannie

First Novel: The Jean Genie
After finishing college, Ryan and Jeannie take a trip down the East Coast to celebrate. Jeannie senses something out of the ordinary in the small town of Willows. Ryan stops to investigate and the two take up residence in a deluxe hotel suite, determined to get to the bottom of the mystery. Noticing the rising number of “logging incidents,” Ryan and Jeannie set out to investigate. They uncover a gang of Red Court bikers roaming through the town and preying on loggers, which the pair quickly put an end to.
Aspect: So Cûl!

Guest Starring: Monsters in the Woods Starring: Austin Lake
After meeting Ryan and Jeannie, Austin agreed to take the young lovers in a long hike to check out the nearby sights. How was he supposed to know about the werewolf pack that had taken up residence in the forest? He'd never seem them before that day.
Rather than battle with the wolves, Ryan suggests that they compel the pack into a slumber with Jeannie's magic, allowing the group to escape safely back to town.
Aspect: Not One for Fisticuffs

Guest Starring Redux: Coming Soon! Starring: Bianca Judy Shay
Coming Soon!
Aspect: A Whole New World

Invoking/Compelling Aspects:
High Concept - Rich Kid with a Genie Girlfriend
Ryan was raised in an upper-class household and only became involved with the supernatural when he discovered a magic lamp on the sea-shore. The genie of that lamp is now the love of his life and his constant companion.
Invoke: When Ryan uses his money or her magic to solve his problems.
Compel: Whenever Jeannie or his money makes Ryan's life more difficult.

Trouble - Two Against the World
Although Ryan's parents love Jeannie and can't wait for the two to settle down, Ryan and his genie are essentially outcasts in the supernatural world. Without a group to support them, a young man wielding the power of a genie is bound to attract a fair amount of attention from some of the less savory residents of the Nevernever.
Invoke: Whenever Jeannie and Ryan work together to overcome an obstacle.
Compel: Whenever Jeannie's power attracts a new bunch of bad guys who want to steal her away.

Suckled on a Silver Spoon
Ryan was raised in the lap of luxury and has grown accustomed to the finer things in life. His gear is usually the latest and the most advanced, he only stays in deluxe suites and he's never eaten a cut of beef that wasn't filet mignon in his life.
Invoke: When Ryan digs into his cache of luxury goodies or he accesses one of his many overflowing trust funds.
Compel: Whenever Ryan's less-than-strenuous upbringing leaves him ill-prepared for a task.

I Dream of Jeannie
When Ryan met Jeannie, it was love at first sight. She loved him for the person he was, not for his money. He loved her for being honest and genuine. Since that day, they've always stood by one another's side.
Invoke: When Ryan's mutual love with Jeannie could prove beneficial.
Compel: When Ryan's love for Jeannie causes him to act irrationally without thinking.

So Cûl!
Despite his popularity in school, Ryan was always a nerd at heart. He loved reading comic books and fantasy novels. Ever since he began his life with Jeannie, his life has felt more like a storybook adventure than he ever thought possible. Sometimes this childlike appreciation for the supernatural allows him to see things in a way most jaded occultists couldn't conceive of. Other times, it causes Ryan to rush headlong into a nightclub of vampires because "That's so cool!"
Invoke: When Ryan's nerdy knowledge or supernatural naivete aids him in some way.
Compel: When Ryan's wonder at the supernatural world makes him rush into a situation based solely on it's 'coolness' without thinking it through.

Not One for Fisticuffs
Ryan is a lover, not a fighter. Although he played sports in school, he never really learned to fight. Kids don't pick on you when the family's bodyguards are ex-Spetsnaz and your chauffeur wears Kevlar. As a result, Ryan rarely jumps into the fray. Instead Ryan relies on his quick wits (plus some of Jeannie's magic) rather than on brute force.
Invoke: When Ryan needs to think his way through a problem without resorting to violence.
Compel: When violence really is the answer.

A Whole New World
Jeannie was just a mortal slave-girl hundreds of years ago before being transformed into a genie and being trapped in her lamp at the bottom of the ocean. The world has changed immensely since then. Her time with Ryan has helped her adapt to the current way of the world, but she's still a girl very much out of her element. She's comfortable with Ryan and loves him dearly, but often her ideas of how the world works are very different from the rest of society.
Invoke: Whenever Jeannie's knowledge of the ancient world or Ryan's passion for exploration come into play.
Compel: Whenever Jeannie's unfamiliarity with societal norms is a hindrance or she tries to 'help' Ryan in a potentially disastrous way.

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