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The Dresden Files => DFRPG => Topic started by: Lavecki121 on October 16, 2012, 06:59:54 PM

Title: Spring Autumn Courts homebrew
Post by: Lavecki121 on October 16, 2012, 06:59:54 PM

Hey I made this up and havent seen anything even remotely close so I wanted to get some oppinions on it.

So Summer is: wildness, birth, growth, renewal, fire
And Winter is: wildness, death, decay, slumber,ice
In their essential nature, Which is what they can cast as magic.

So for Spring I did this: Order, rebirth, imbue, commence, electricity
And Autumn this: Order, undeath, drain, respite, earth

I chose electricity for spring over wind because Sidhe magic doesnt follow the same rules as mortal magics from my understanding and electricity fits in a little better in my oppinion.

I also changed a little in the rulers, for Spring and Autumn I decided that they were a little opposite of Summer and Winter, enough that I chose to use Kings instead of Queens. Thus there is a Father, King and Lord.

I would love some feedback and will later post information on my homebrew for the Swords of the Court Knights and My creations for two of the Knights themselves

Title: Re: Spring Autumn Courts homebrew
Post by: Mrmdubois on October 16, 2012, 07:02:04 PM

What is imbide

Title: Re: Spring Autumn Courts homebrew
Post by: Keravin on October 16, 2012, 07:25:09 PM

If you have a look in the Yorkshire campaign you can see we've been playing with Autumn a lot.  Gone for the similar patriachal society as well.

Why not wind with autumn?  Blustery days seem very autumny.   Undeath doesn't seem to work for Autumn. 

Title: Re: Spring Autumn Courts homebrew
Post by: Lavecki121 on October 16, 2012, 07:35:57 PM

Yea I thought wind would work nicely with autumn but I liked the more opposite feel where i associate the electricity with spring from storms so sky and fall has that nice earthy feel. But I could consider changing it.

I had a hard time with that part. I picked undeath because the trees are still alive but the leaves are dying, so they are kind of in between life and death. If you have a better idea i would love to hear it  :D

Title: Re: Spring Autumn Courts homebrew
Post by: Keravin on October 16, 2012, 07:43:01 PM

Yeah as I said you may want to go read my Yorkshire thread.  Lots of Autumn court discussion in there.

Title: Re: Spring Autumn Courts homebrew
Post by: Lavecki121 on October 16, 2012, 08:12:39 PM

Yea I am reading up on it right now. It took me a little while to find. Im going to post some IoP on this thread too tonight and a couple of characters.

Title: Re: Spring Autumn Courts homebrew
Post by: Sanctaphrax on October 16, 2012, 08:23:19 PM

Might as well leave these here, maybe they'll be inspirational or something.

(click to show/hide)

WYLD MAGIC [-4]
Description: Drawing on the power of the Wyld Court of the Erlking, you're able to cast spells that fit its essential nature: wildness, hunting, balefire, predation. These magics are under the sway and watch of the Erlking; making use of them will inevitably catch his notice.
Sponsor: The Erlking.
Agenda: The Wyldfae are not as fixed in their ways as Winter and Summer fey are, and the Erlking's agenda can change quickly. He is usually neutral and very instinctual. He is not about cruelty, but you really don't want to show weakness to him.
Evocation: Wyld evocations make use of balefire, the Erlking's favoured element.
Thaumaturgy: Wyld Magic can be used to cast rituals that fall within the themes of wildness, hunting, balefire, and predation.
Evothaum: When used to hunt, summoning and divination rituals can be cast with Evocation's speed and methods using Wyld Magic.
Extra Benefits: Wyld Magic provides a +1 bonus to the power or complexity of any spell used to hunt.

SPRING MAGIC/SAOLION [-4]
Description: Drawing upon the Pure Way, the power of the fallen Spring Court, you are able to cast spells that fit its essential nature: change, growth, renewal, light, vitality and earth. These magics are under the sway and watch of the Oberon, Lord of Faerie and inevitably making use of them will draw his notice. This is ancient and rarely practiced lore, focusing on bringing forth the new. This is the power to reveal what is hidden, restore what has been lost and replace what no longer serves its purpose.
Sponsor: The Faerie Lord Oberon and his Spring Court.
Agenda: The revelation of what is hidden, the restoration of what has been lost, the replacement of what no longer has a purpose, and the creation of the new. Plus the destruction of opposing Courts.
Evocation: Spring Magic Evocations make use of earth, plant life, and light.
Thaumaturgy: Spring Magic rituals can be used to create things, to create and manipulate light, or to reveal secrets.
Evothaum: Spring Magic allows its user to cast photomancy rituals with the speed and methods of Evocation.
Extra Benefits: Spring Magic ignores one level of Toughness when used against faeries of opposing Courts.

AUTUMN MAGIC [-4]
Description: Drawing upon the power of the fallen Autumn Court, you are able to cast spells that bring things to an end and harvest what's left behind. These magics are under the sway of the Lord Of Faerie known as The Reaper and using them will inevitably draw his attention.
Sponsor: The Reaper and his Autumn Court.
Agenda: The destruction of old things and the natural process of decay. The collection and liquidation of resources. Hunting. Bringing things to an end. Plus the destruction of opposing Courts.
Evocation: Autumn Magic evocations often manipulate dust or cause targets to rot instantly.
Thaumaturgy: Autumn Magic rituals end things and harvest the leftovers. They involve death, decay, and the collection of valuable things. They can also be used for to track down prey and for hunting in general.
Evothaum: Autumn Magic allows its user to cast necromancy rituals with the speed and methods of Evocation.
Extra Benefits: Autumn Magic ignores one level of Toughness when used against faeries of opposing Courts.

Title: Re: Spring Autumn Courts homebrew
Post by: Llayne on October 16, 2012, 08:24:58 PM

I had worked up some Autumn Magic a while back, I still have a number of ideas I'd like to use with them if I ever get the chance. I went with Air/Wind also... Growth/Birth and Earth just seemed to feel right to me.

I think it was White Wolf's Dark Age: Mage sourcebook i referenced back then, but they had a fairly interesting write up for the Four Seasons for their Old Faith casters. Autumn was associated with maturity, things and ideas reaching their full potential. Harvest being associated with Fall I suppose. (I don't remember the whole write up)

I never did like the feel of undead or necromancy for the 'nature flavored' magic of the Fae, but everybody has their own tastes. I do like some of the stuff from the Yorkshire thread.

Title: Re: Spring Autumn Courts homebrew
Post by: Addicted2aa on October 16, 2012, 08:31:33 PM

Quote from: Sanctaphrax on October 16, 2012, 08:23:19 PM

Might as well leave these here, maybe they'll be inspirational or something.

(click to show/hide)

WYLD MAGIC [-4]
Description: Drawing on the power of the Wyld Court of the Erlking, you're able to cast spells that fit its essential nature: wildness, hunting, balefire, predation. These magics are under the sway and watch of the Erlking; making use of them will inevitably catch his notice.
Sponsor: The Erlking.
Agenda: The Wyldfae are not as fixed in their ways as Winter and Summer fey are, and the Erlking's agenda can change quickly. He is usually neutral and very instinctual. He is not about cruelty, but you really don't want to show weakness to him.
Evocation: Wyld evocations make use of balefire, the Erlking's favoured element.
Thaumaturgy: Wyld Magic can be used to cast rituals that fall within the themes of wildness, hunting, balefire, and predation.
Evothaum: When used to hunt, summoning and divination rituals can be cast with Evocation's speed and methods using Wyld Magic.
Extra Benefits: Wyld Magic provides a +1 bonus to the power or complexity of any spell used to hunt.

SPRING MAGIC/SAOLION [-4]
Description: Drawing upon the Pure Way, the power of the fallen Spring Court, you are able to cast spells that fit its essential nature: change, growth, renewal, light, vitality and earth. These magics are under the sway and watch of the Oberon, Lord of Faerie and inevitably making use of them will draw his notice. This is ancient and rarely practiced lore, focusing on bringing forth the new. This is the power to reveal what is hidden, restore what has been lost and replace what no longer serves its purpose.
Sponsor: The Faerie Lord Oberon and his Spring Court.
Agenda: The revelation of what is hidden, the restoration of what has been lost, the replacement of what no longer has a purpose, and the creation of the new. Plus the destruction of opposing Courts.
Evocation: Spring Magic Evocations make use of earth, plant life, and light.
Thaumaturgy: Spring Magic rituals can be used to create things, to create and manipulate light, or to reveal secrets.
Evothaum: Spring Magic allows its user to cast photomancy rituals with the speed and methods of Evocation.
Extra Benefits: Spring Magic ignores one level of Toughness when used against faeries of opposing Courts.

AUTUMN MAGIC [-4]
Description: Drawing upon the power of the fallen Autumn Court, you are able to cast spells that bring things to an end and harvest what's left behind. These magics are under the sway of the Lord Of Faerie known as The Reaper and using them will inevitably draw his attention.
Sponsor: The Reaper and his Autumn Court.
Agenda: The destruction of old things and the natural process of decay. The collection and liquidation of resources. Hunting. Bringing things to an end. Plus the destruction of opposing Courts.
Evocation: Autumn Magic evocations often manipulate dust or cause targets to rot instantly.
Thaumaturgy: Autumn Magic rituals end things and harvest the leftovers. They involve death, decay, and the collection of valuable things. They can also be used for to track down prey and for hunting in general.
Evothaum: Autumn Magic allows its user to cast necromancy rituals with the speed and methods of Evocation.
Extra Benefits: Autumn Magic ignores one level of Toughness when used against faeries of opposing Courts.

The Autumn Stuff

(click to show/hide)

Is there a reason it's mainly decay, death, and Destruction? The harvest is often associated with production and collection. It's the busiest time of the year for farming communities and it brings in the life sustaining goods that allow things to survive the oncoming winter. I would expect something more along the lines of preserving for a theme, then destroying and am interested why you focused so heavily on the ending aspect of fall.

Title: Re: Spring Autumn Courts homebrew
Post by: Mrmdubois on October 16, 2012, 08:34:36 PM

Yeah, harvest and earth seem better fits with Autumn than undeath.  Maybe sleep, since that's another way that you could envision trees dropping leaves and animals getting ready to hibernate.  Dreams would tie in nicely with Sleep.  I don't think that's been added to any of the fae magics yet.

On the theme of Preparation for Winter during Autumn I think Dreams make sense again if you believe in the prophetic ones.

Title: Re: Spring Autumn Courts homebrew
Post by: Sanctaphrax on October 16, 2012, 08:42:27 PM

When you harvest plants, you kill them. And the ones you don't harvest die anyway. Hunting animals is similar. Fall is the time of year where life ends.

Things are born in spring, live in summer, die in autumn, and are dead in winter.

So Autumn Magic is mostly about destroying things and harvesting the leftovers.

(My decision to make the Grim Reaper an Autumn lord may have played a factor. If you swap him out for Cronus or some other harvest god, you might want something less death-y.)

Title: Re: Spring Autumn Courts homebrew
Post by: Addicted2aa on October 16, 2012, 08:47:43 PM

Quote from: Mrmdubois on October 16, 2012, 08:34:36 PM

Yeah, harvest and earth seem better fits with Autumn than undeath.  Maybe sleep, since that's another way that you could envision trees dropping leaves and animals getting ready to hibernate.  Dreams would tie in nicely with Sleep.  I don't think that's been added to any of the fae magics yet.

On the theme of Preparation for Winter during Autumn I think Dreams make sense again if you believe in the prophetic ones.

I would change Winter to add sleep to it in that case. Hibernation and all that

Title: Re: Spring Autumn Courts homebrew
Post by: Mrmdubois on October 16, 2012, 08:49:26 PM

Winter already has a portfolio though, there's no reason to add even more to it.

Title: Re: Spring Autumn Courts homebrew
Post by: Addicted2aa on October 16, 2012, 09:01:41 PM

Quote from: Mrmdubois on October 16, 2012, 08:49:26 PM

Winter already has a portfolio though, there's no reason to add even more to it.

Especially since it's already in winter. Just noticed the slumber is a part of it :P

Title: Re: Spring Autumn Courts homebrew
Post by: Mrmdubois on October 16, 2012, 09:10:17 PM

Nice.

Title: Re: Spring Autumn Courts homebrew
Post by: Keravin on October 17, 2012, 10:51:03 AM

My take on the Autumn Court was

Autumn is

Harvest
Change
Wind/Storms
Red
Entropy
Earth
The Hunt - as we added in the Erlking as the previous High King of the Autumn Court.

It's probably worth considering who the Lords etc of your Courts are bearing in mind that the Summer and Winter courts have roots in mythology and tales and were not just all created by Jim.

It'd be worth knowing a bit on what you planned with the Knights.   We got rid of the Knights (or they've never shown up) and instead the Autumn Court ended up with a Herald.

Title: Re: Spring Autumn Courts homebrew
Post by: FishStampede on October 17, 2012, 01:26:04 PM

Just noticed this. The Spring and Autumn courts are quite prominent in my game, though currently I'm keeping them pretty mysterious.

I have the King of Autumn being the Reaper (aka Samhain, but Reaper is his most common name these days). He's a terrifying figure dressed all in black, resembling Reverend Kane from Poltergeist II. He is utterly without mercy, but also without cruelty. It is his job to end things and he does it. He is, however, pretty bad at political games and often leaves unintended loopholes in his edicts which his Prince exploits.

Jack is the Prince of Autumn. Which Jack? All of them. Jack Frost, Jack O'Lantern, Jack the Giant Killer, etc. He was once a mortal, but he tricked his way into power in the court when he trapped the Reaper King in a magical sack. He wanted immortality, and got it as a Sidhe. He also cannot be killed or significantly harmed by any forces of Autumn, including, unfortunately, the Reaper King, which makes his ambition to become Autumn King dangerous. He looks like a surprisingly ordinary young man dressed in slightly old-fashioned "country boy" clothes.

The Spring court hasn't been dealt with much, but they're currently courting (no pun intended) a PC to be the Knight of Spring. She also happens to be Jack's daughter, which would be a huge insult to to Autumn. Their representative is a certain Robert Goodman, who is a slightly sleazy but charming man in a suit who lives on deals and tricks. He's actually Puck, and the Prince of Spring. Naturally, Oberon is the King, though he has yet to appear "onscreen."

Title: Re: Spring Autumn Courts homebrew
Post by: Mrmdubois on October 17, 2012, 02:34:46 PM

Quote from: FishStampede on October 17, 2012, 01:26:04 PM

I have the King of Autumn being the Reaper (aka Samhain, but Reaper is his most common name these days). He's a terrifying figure dressed all in black, resembling Reverend Kane from Poltergeist II. He is utterly without mercy, but also without cruelty. It is his job to end things and he does it. He is, however, pretty bad at political games and often leaves unintended loopholes in his edicts which his Prince exploits.

He sounds a little like Death from Pratchett, I approve

Title: Re: Spring Autumn Courts homebrew
Post by: Lavecki121 on October 17, 2012, 02:39:10 PM

Quote from: FishStampede on October 17, 2012, 01:26:04 PM

I have the King of Autumn being the Reaper...Jack is the Prince of Autumn. Which Jack? All of them. Jack Frost, Jack O'Lantern, Jack the Giant Killer, etc.

I love this. I haven't fully fleshed out Summer and Autumn courts systems yet (mainly because in my game they are still lost, also I am a PC) but this is cool.

The reason we even started using these is because I made the lost Knight of the Spring court. Here is the character as it stands (we have had some major milestones):

Nikola Tesla
High Concept: I'm Tesla, Spring Savior
Trouble: Out of Touch
Other Aspects: Vampiric Tendancies, Electrically Charged, Lost in the Never-Never, Exponential Intelligence, Recordless Bounty

Skills:
+5 - Lore, Scholarship
+4 - Discipline, Conviction
+3 - Weapons, Alertness, Craftmanship
+2 - Athletics, Guns, Might
+1 - Rapport, Empathy, Survival, Endurance

Powers:
-4 Sponsored Magic
+1 Human Form
    -1 Blood Drinker
    -1 Claws
-8 Physical Immunity
   +5 The Catch (Not Electricity)
-1 Sword of Spring

I also have rote spells and enchanted Items that I dont feel like listing right now unless somebody wants to look at them. I got my idea for Tesla to be weilding electricity and be part vampire from the SciFi series "Sanctuary". Some of the things I use are also pulled from the SciFi series "Warehouse 13". That is where I love to pull enchanted items or IoP from.

Title: Re: Spring Autumn Courts homebrew
Post by: Keravin on October 17, 2012, 03:43:17 PM

The problem I have here is that it seems to be folding an awful lot into the spring/autumn courts.

What was there for electricity prior to the discovery of electricity?   If it was Lightning then surely that comes under storms rather than electricity?

I think defining the courts would help you and your GM a lot in terms of story potential, but also the boundaries the character and courts exist in.    We've had the Spring Court become the Neon Court in our game, but that's in the last 200 years and was the court stepping away from nature and the cycle.

Title: Re: Spring Autumn Courts homebrew
Post by: Lavecki121 on October 17, 2012, 03:48:30 PM

I feel as though the magic aspect of the Fae is much more accesable...not sure if that is the word, but they arent limited in the ways that mortal magic is.

And even if lightning is from storms it is still electricity for that he would be able to make electricity regardless of if he made a storm or not.

Title: Re: Spring Autumn Courts homebrew
Post by: Keravin on October 17, 2012, 05:49:39 PM

Yes, but for the purposes of the themes/elements under the court electricity would come from where?  Not talking about your character I'm talking about the 'elements' that make up what the court stands for.

And they are limited by being defined by what their nature is - read a couple of Queen Mab speeches talking to Dresden.

Title: Re: Spring Autumn Courts homebrew
Post by: Lavecki121 on October 17, 2012, 06:03:06 PM

Any way you could link those to me or put refference towards it. I havent read very far in the series and I was going off of my base understanding of it.

Title: Re: Spring Autumn Courts homebrew
Post by: Addicted2aa on October 17, 2012, 08:26:30 PM

Quote from: Keravin on October 17, 2012, 03:43:17 PM

The problem I have here is that it seems to be folding an awful lot into the spring/autumn courts.

What was there for electricity prior to the discovery of electricity?   If it was Lightning then surely that comes under storms rather than electricity?

I think defining the courts would help you and your GM a lot in terms of story potential, but also the boundaries the character and courts exist in.    We've had the Spring Court become the Neon Court in our game, but that's in the last 200 years and was the court stepping away from nature and the cycle.

If understand basic biology right, our brains work by firing electrical impulses. Magnetic is based on fields of electrons, so basically electricity. Static electricity seems like exactly the type of thing a prangster fae creature would use. Also I believe you can have lighting without storms.
BTW, I'm the GM. The character kinda jumped in in the middle so we didn't really have time to define the courts. We're trying to work on that now. I do see your point about the whole storms instead of Electricity though, it fits a more traditional model. But there are certainly ways that it could work around it.

Title: Re: Spring Autumn Courts homebrew
Post by: FishStampede on October 17, 2012, 08:47:45 PM

Quote from: Mrmdubois on October 17, 2012, 02:34:46 PM

He sounds a little like Death from Pratchett, I approve

Somewhat. Death is a lot nicer. The Reaper King comes off as an outright villain, though he's really nowhere near as bad as he looks and acts. The fact that Jack is the one who's actively dangerous is obscured by their different demeanors.

Title: Re: Spring Autumn Courts homebrew
Post by: Keravin on October 18, 2012, 09:31:37 AM

Best starting place for reading on the Courts outside of Our World is Summer Knight.   That sets up a lot in terms of the courts and how the Knights relate - the Knights having more autonomy than Fae due to being human.

Title: Re: Spring Autumn Courts homebrew
Post by: Nightbreed DOA on October 19, 2012, 07:27:48 PM

Quote

Just noticed this. The Spring and Autumn courts are quite prominent in my game, though currently I'm keeping them pretty mysterious.

I have the King of Autumn being the Reaper (aka Samhain, but Reaper is his most common name these days). He's a terrifying figure dressed all in black, resembling Reverend Kane from Poltergeist II. He is utterly without mercy, but also without cruelty. It is his job to end things and he does it. He is, however, pretty bad at political games and often leaves unintended loopholes in his edicts which his Prince exploits.

Jack is the Prince of Autumn. Which Jack? All of them. Jack Frost, Jack O'Lantern, Jack the Giant Killer, etc. He was once a mortal, but he tricked his way into power in the court when he trapped the Reaper King in a magical sack. He wanted immortality, and got it as a Sidhe. He also cannot be killed or significantly harmed by any forces of Autumn, including, unfortunately, the Reaper King, which makes his ambition to become Autumn King dangerous. He looks like a surprisingly ordinary young man dressed in slightly old-fashioned "country boy" clothes.

The Spring court hasn't been dealt with much, but they're currently courting (no pun intended) a PC to be the Knight of Spring. She also happens to be Jack's daughter, which would be a huge insult to to Autumn. Their representative is a certain Robert Goodman, who is a slightly sleazy but charming man in a suit who lives on deals and tricks. He's actually Puck, and the Prince of Spring. Naturally, Oberon is the King, though he has yet to appear "onscreen."

Cool story! Between you and Sanctaphrax's ideas i like how the other 2 courts can be shaped. Though i personally intend to make Samhain and the Reaper separate. I want to follow the heiarchy of the Winter and Summer Courts The Mother, The Queen and the Lady. (though it will be The Father, King and the Lord for Spring and Autumn)

Keeping with both ideas:
Autumn:
Lord: Jack the Pumpkin King: Granted he has "King" in his personal title, but he was elevated to Autumn Lord because he will be partially responsible for the restoration of the Autumn and Spring courts. Which results in freeing Samhain and Oberon From Mab's clutches.

King: Samhain:

Father: The Harvester (Reaper): While he does look like the classic Grim Reaper, i wanted him to represent the harvesting before possible death.

Spring:
Lord: Puck: As true to his nature he "tricked" Jack into helping him being back Spring as well as Autumn and was rewarded with the power of the Lord of the Spring Court.

King: Oberon

Father: This is where i am having difficulty filling this slot. Any and all suggestions would be very helpful.

Again My thanks to Sanctaphrax and FishStampede for the wonderful ideas!

Title: Re: Spring Autumn Courts homebrew
Post by: Keravin on October 19, 2012, 08:15:20 PM

I've suggested the Green Man for the High King for what was our Spring Court.

Title: Re: Spring Autumn Courts homebrew
Post by: Mojosilver on November 01, 2012, 01:55:17 PM

OK here is my take on the courts.
spring: growth, healing, and rejuvenation, awakening. change is here, planting or birthing of new things, out with the old in with the new. spring would be more open to new things and new thought. stoic and hard working to in sure change is in there favor.
summer: every rose has thorns but you do not always see the thorns. growth of what is be it good or bad.
autumn: Entropy, harvest, fatalism, perseverance. cold hard days are a coming be ready to meet them. harvisting and preservation of what is so it is not lost. work, fight, and party like it's your last day alive, cuz, heck, it probably is.
winter: death, hibernation, stealth, secrets. cold cruel beauty. it's a dog eat dog world. The world is a sinful place, and sin can give you strength.
that is my two cents on the fae courts. thanks bye.