31 Nights of Halloween: Man-thing for FATE Condensed

  

MAN-THING for FATE Condensed

ASPECTS

High Concept: Guardian of the Nexus of Realities

Trouble: Whatever Knows Fear Burns at His Touch

Other: Empath, Dr. Ted Sallis

SKILLS

Superb (+5): Physique

Good (+3): Empathy, Fight, Notice

STUNTS

Purifying Flames: When he attacks with Fight and invokes Whatever Knows Fear Burns at His Touch, he gains Weapon:2.

Vanguard: When the Nexus of Realities is under threat,

he can spend a fate point to redirect any attacks to him and gains Armor.

STRESS

Physical [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Mental   [1] [2] [3] [4]

CONSEQUENCES

Mild:

Moderate:

31 Nights of Hallween: Klarion the Witch Boy for FATE Condensed

 

"Klarion is a young practitioner of the dark arts from Witch World, an otherworldly dimension whose inhabitants practice dark magic. Being a child, he is constantly under the direction of adults who dictate the usage and study of his magic. Frustrated, Klarion travels to the main universe to freely practice magic alongside his cat familiar Teekl."

KLARION the WITCH BOY for FATE Condensed

ASPECTS

High Concept: Practitioner of the Dark Arts

Trouble: Petulant Child

Other: From Witch World, Teekl

SKILLS

Superb (+5): Shoot

Good (+3): Deceive +3, Lore +3

STUNTS

Hexkraft: When he attacks with Shoot and invokes Practitioner of the Dark Arts he gain Weapon:2.

Witch Boy: He can attack with Lore instead of Fight.

STRESS

Physical [1] [2] [3] [4]

Mental   [1] [2] [3] [4]

CONSEQUENCES

Mild:

Moderate:

FAE: Keenan Taylor, A Werejaguar of Grave New World

For years I've been developing a modern supernatural setting where the monsters live out in the open, ala True Blood or Anita Blake, that I call Graven New World.

I wrote about it here a few years ago.

I'm thinking of running it in Fate Accelerated. Right now I'm sticking with "vanilla" FAE, but may use Dresden Files Accelerated.

Keenan Taylor has always been bright and fearless. He got a full ride to John Hopkins and immediately began living on the edge, trying to balance his studies and Baltimore's night life. During his second term he had a one night stand with a woman named Bianca and contracted Therianthropy from a bite.

While the school has adapted to his ailment, his parents haven't and relationships are strained with both of his parents.

An intern named Juniper, whose brother is a wererat, has been helping learn about Inhuman culture and he has made some real friends.

Keenan Taylor

High Concept: 

   Werejaguar Medical Student

Trouble: Womanizer
Shared: You Help Me Understand My Disease
Other Aspects: Charming, Historian

APPROACHES

Careful: Mediocre (+0) 

Clever: Good (+3) 

Flashy: Fair (+2) 

Forceful: Average (+1) 

Quick: Fair (+2) 

Sneaky: Average (+1)

STUNTS
Uses Big Words (Clever): Because of your Vocabulary you gain a +2 to Cleverly interact with someone one on one.

Fearless (Quick): Because of your Confidence you gain a +2 when in conflict with one opponent.

Werejaguar (Flashy): When you transform, you gain 3 additional Stress and Increase your Forceful and Quick by 1.

STRESS

[  ]  [  ]  [  ]

CONSEQUENCES 
Mild (2): 

Moderate (4): 

Severe (6):

REFRESH: 3 

Review: Dresden Files Accelerated

While I had been aware of FATE because of Evil Hat's Spirit of the Century, their publication of the Dresden Files RPG is what hooked my interest in their company. Sadly, I find FATE (Core) far too complex for what, to me, is supposed to be a rules-lite game. Thankfully, the Hats made a version of FATE (Accelerated Edition) more to my liking and decided to create Dresden Files Accelerated for those in the same boat.

I'm reviewing the PDF version which clocks in at 256 pages and it's art, layout, and funny bits are as well done as their previous 3 efforts. Evil Hat knows how to make an appealing visual product and this project is no different.

The book is up to date through Jim Butcher's Skin Game and is chock full of spoilers if you have not read the novels or are behind.

For those unaware, Harry Dresden is a Wizard in Chicago's phone book, wizard who finds trouble at least as well as trouble finds him. He often works with the police, though in fairness the police are often working against him to. He faces spirits, fae, vampire, werewolves, and all kinds of things are not supposed to exist and his life is about as easy or as pleasant as any other gumshoe from your favorite down-on-his-luck detective yarn.

Fate Accelerated is a stripped down version of FATE Core that reduces the Skill Pyramid down to 6 Approaches (Flair, Focus, Force, Guile, Haste, Intellect), fewer Aspects, and fewer Stunts.

Most of the book explains, fairly in-depth, the world that Harry inhabits (which is usually trying to kill him, though often because of a choice he made) and the rules by which it operates.

A major component to Dresden Files Accelerated are Mantles, which are bundles of Stunts and Conditions (which determine how quickly you regain access to that Stunt after using them) and really help you quickly find your place in Dresden's world. They are things like Clued-In Mortal, Criminal, Magical Practitioner, Knight of the Cross, Werecreature, Summer Court Fae, or Red Court Vampire. They also provide optional Stunts that you may take that lowers your Refresh. The FATE system uses FATE points that allow you to get a bonus on a roll, tag an Aspect (to get a bigger bonus on a roll), change the scene of the game, or Compel someone to do something (or prevent the GM from compelling you to do something). Refresh is how many FATE points you regain after an appropriate amount of time.

The Stress Track (Mental and Physical Hit Points) is also treated differently, with your base Track each simply having a 1 in each box to represent 1 Stress and not requiring you to mark a particular box based on the amount of Stress. In traditional FATE, if I take 3 Stress and and I have 4 boxes, I would mark the 3rd box to the right. Under Dresden Files Accelerated, if I take 3 Stress and I have 4 boxes of Stress with a 1 in each, I can mark any 3 I want. It's a simple change that smoothes over a small learning curve. Each character also has an In Peril box which counts as 4 Stress and a Doomed box which counts as 6 Stress. Lastly, there are Indebted boxes to check, as well.

Pros If you love FATE or rules-lighter games. If you love the Dresden Files. If you want rules for Modern Fantasy that can be easily kit-bashed.

Cons It's not as rules-lite as it could be.

FATE Accelerated: Troll

The average troll stands nine feet high and weighs roughly 500 pounds, though females tend to be a bit larger than males. The hide of trolls is rubbery, and usually either moss green, putrid grey, or mottled gray and green. Their coarse hair is typically iron grey, or greenish-black. They walk with an uneven gait, and their arms dangle and drag the ground when running. Despite this apparent awkwardness, trolls are quite agile.

Trolls are infamous for their regenerative abilities, able to recover from the most grievous of wounds or regenerate entire limbs given time. Severing a troll's head results merely in temporary incapacitation, rather than death. After cutting off a troll's head or other limbs, one must seal the wounds with fire to prevent regeneration. Because of this, most adventurers will typically carry some sort of implement capable of creating fire.

TROLL For FATE Accelerated

Troll, Regenerating Predator

Skilled (+2) at: Smelling, Stalking
Bad (-2) at: Dealing with Fire, Listening
Stunt: Regenerate: Once per turn, a troll may remove a Mild Consequence.
Regrow limbs: If a troll is injured but fire isn't used on the wound to halt their regeneration, it will regrow a new limb each day.
Stress: [ ] [ ]
            (2) Mild Consequence

FATE: Blastoise

BLASTOISE For FATE Accelerated

Pokemon, Water Type

Skilled (+2) at: Shooting, Tackling
Bad (-2) at: Fighting Fire Types, Hiding
Stunt: Tail Whip: On a successful close attack, a Blastoise can create an obstacle.
Stress: [ ] [ ] [ ]
            (2) Mild Consequence

FATE Accelerated: Two Column FATE Brainstorming

I've recently discovered Two Column FATE and am experimenting with it.

For a DnD game:
COLUMN 1
Strength
Dexterity
Constitution
Charisma
Intelligence
Wisdom

COLUMN 2
Cleric
Fighter
Magic-User
Thief

For a World of Darkness game:
COLUMN 1
Strength
Dexterity
Manipulation
Charisma
Intelligence
Wits

COLUMN 2
Talent
Skill
Background

Discipline

For a WitchCraft game:
COLUMN 1
Strength
Dexterity
Constitution
Intelligence
Perception
Willpower

COLUMN 2
Metaphysics
Association
Profession


Combat

For a TMNT game:
COLUMN 1
Physical Strength
Physical Prowess
Physical Endurance
I.Q.
Mental Endurance
Mental Affinity

COLUMN 2
Martial Arts
Mutation



Education
Equipment

Thoughts?

FAE: Skaven Rat Ogre [UPDATED]

Few enemies are as terrifying or as dangerous as the primary export of clan Moulder; the Rat Ogre.

As their name would suggest, these hulking monstrosities tower well above the head of any man, elf or certainly dwarf that would stand before them. Their tremendous strength and surprising agility has meant the end of many a would be hero. Considering their voracious appetite to boot, it was not likely their end was graceful.

Upon hearing the terrifying roar of the beast, one would do best to seek allies. Further; for all its strength, agility and considerable odor, the beast is lacking in intelligence. Capable of focusing on only a single foe at once, it is best to note whom the beast has settled upon as its next meal and prevent the creature from tasting anything more than steel and flames. For those unfortunate enough to be locked within its maddened gaze, escape is unlikely. Though defense is not impossible, expect to be winded and flying backward even from a successful attempt, unless one has the skill to parry his blows immediately as they arrive.

SKAVEN RAT OGRE For FATE Accelerated

Skaven, Hulking Monstrocity

Skilled (+2) at: Being Terrifying, Killing
Bad (-2) at: Laying Low, Thinking
Stunt: Tremendous Strength: On a successful attack, the Rat Ogre can reduce the shift by one to move the target one Zone away.
Stress: [ ] [ ] [ ]
            (2) Mild Consequence

FAE: Skaven Clanrat

Clanrats forms the vast overall bulk of Skaven military power, a large verminous horde of ratmen that go to war as basic and highly-expendable front-line infantry. These Skaven belong to any one of thousands of Clans scattered throughout the underground burrows, strongholds and bursting cavern-cities that make up the whole of the Under-Empire. Of all the teeming masses, only the worker dregs, the worthless and even more insignificant Slave Rats, are care considered even more numerous then the Clanrats themselves.

SKAVEN CLANRAT For FATE Accelerated

Skaven, Expendable Fighter

Skilled (+2) at: Agile, Pack Tactics
Bad (-2) at: Discipline, Feats of Strength
Stress: None (First hit takes them out)

Terror Tome: Kuo-Toa for FATE Accelerated Edition

Kuo-toa have scaly, bipedal bodies with fish-like heads. They often raid seaside settlements for human victims. Most worship the goddess Blibdoolpoolp, though a few remote tribes worship Dagon.

KUO-TOA For FATE Accelerated
Kuo-Toa, Degenerate Fish-Man

Skilled (+2) at: Swimming, Take A Captive
Bad (-2): Dealing With Sunlight, Rational Thought
Stress: [ ]

Terror Tome: Mind Flayer for FATE Accelerated

Illithids or Mind Flayers, have a humanoid body with an octopus-like head. They have four tentacles around a lamprey-like mouth, and require the brains of sentient creatures as part of their diet. An illithid who snares a living creature in all four of its tentacles can extract and devour its living brain. Their eyes are pale white, and they can see perfectly well in both darkness and light. Their sense of hearing is slightly poorer than a human's; they have difficulty distinguishing between several sounds mixed together, yet they are good at discerning from what direction sounds came from. Their skin is purplish blue to gray-green and covered in mucus, and is very sensitive to sunlight. They loathe sunlight, though it does not actually harm them.

One of their most feared powers is the dreaded Mind Blast, where the illithid emits a cone-shaped psionic shock wave with its mind in order to incapacitate any creature for a short amount of time. Illithids also have other psionic powers, generally telepathic in nature, although their exact effects have varied over editions. Other powers include a defensive psionic shield and powers of psionic domination for controlling the minds of others.

MIND FLAYER For FATE Accelerated

High Concept: 

   Psionic Brain Eater

Trouble: Loathe Sunlight
Other Aspects: Extract Brain, From the Far Realms,Tentacles

APPROACHES

Careful: Average (+1) 

Clever: Fair (+2) 

Flashy:  Good (+3) 

Forceful: Medocre (+0) 

Quick: Average (+1) 

Sneaky: Fair (+2)

STUNTS
Arcanist (Flashy): Because of your Mastery of Magic, you gain a +1 to Flashily create or overcome an Obstacle.

Mind Blast (Clever): Because of you are a Psionic Titan, you gain a +2 to Cleverly attack a single target.

STRESS

[  ]  [  ]  [  ]

CONSEQUENCES 
Mild (2): 
Mild (2):

Moderate (4): 

Severe (6):

REFRESH: 3

NAGADEMON: National Game Design Month

So I'm going to participate in November's NAGADEMON event. My goal is to produce a "Monster Manual" for FATE Accelerated. I've been enjoying doing the write-ups and I enjoy experimenting with different types of products. 

Here is what I've worked up thus far.

31 Nights of Halloween: Vampire for FAE

The vampire is an undead creature, a humanoid or monstrous humanoid creature that looks as it did in life, with pale skin, haunting red eyes, and a feral cast to its features. A new vampire is created when another vampire drains the life out of a living creature.

A vampire can be of any evil alignment, and if its alignment was not evil in life it becomes so in undeath. A vampire retains all the abilities it had in life, plus it gains the ability to drain blood and life energy, and to dominate other creatures with its gaze. A vampire can also command rats, bats, and wolves, or take the form of those creatures. They also become superhumanly strong, can heal quickly or even regenerate, and can turn into a gaseous form.

Some vampires worship the god Kanchelsis.

VAMPIRE For FATE Accelerated

High Concept: 

   Undead Blood Drinker

Trouble: True Faith
Shared: You will be mine!
Other Aspects: Inhuman Strength, Gaseous Form

APPROACHES

Careful: Average (+1) 

Clever: Average (+1) 

Flashy:  Mediocre (+0) 

Forceful: Fair (+2) 

Quick: Fair (+2) 

Sneaky: Good (+3)

STUNTS
Dominate (Clever): Because of you're Unholy Powers, you gain a +2 when speaking with a single target.

Children of the Night (Flashy): Because you are one of the Night's Dark Masters, you can summon creatures of the night and gain a +2 to create an obstacle.

STRESS

[  ]  [  ]  [  ]  [  ]  [  ] [  ]

CONSEQUENCES 
Mild (2): 

Moderate (4): 

Severe (6):

REFRESH: 2

FATE Accelerated: Orc

Orcs are carnivorous humanoids, standing approximately 5'11" to 6'2", weighing from 180 to 280 lbs. They are easily noticeable due to their green to gray skin, lupine ears, lower canines resembling boar tusks, and their muscular builds. Orcs stand in a bent over shape making them appear as ape-like humans.

Bestial and savage, orcs band together as trıbes, living on hunting and raiding. Believing that the only way to survive is by expanding their territories, they have developed enmities wıth many other races, although mainly elves and dwarves, as well as humans, gnomes, halflings, goblins, hobgoblins, and even other orc tribes. Even though they have good relationships with other evil humanoids in times of peace, their chaotic nature stops them from cooperating unless forced to do so by a powerful leader. Orcs live in a patriarchal society, taking pride on how many females and male children they have. Orcs like scars and take pride in exposing them, whether they are of a victory or loss. Their chief deity Gruumsh claims that the orc is the top of the food chain, and that all riches are the property of orcs stolen by others.

ORC For FATE Accelerated

Orc, Savage Raider

Skilled (+2) at: Fighting, Intimidation
Bad (-2) at: Working With Other Races, Working Together
Stress: Non (First hit takes them out)

31 Nights of Halloween: Scarecrow for FAE

The scarecrow is a magically animated construct created by wizards and other masters of secret lore to guard important places or treasure.

Scarecrow For FATE Accelerated
Scarecrow, Terrifying Guardian

Skilled (+2) at: Ambushes, Being Scary
Bad (-2): Dealing With Fire, Speaking
Stress: [ ]

FATE Accelerated: Goblin

Goblins are small humanoid monsters. They vary in height from about 3 to 3 ½ feet (91 – 106 cm) and weigh 40 to 45 pounds (21 – 24 kg). They walk upright even though their arms nearly reach their knees. Their eyes vary from red to yellow and are usually dull and glazed. Described as "hideously ugly", they have a broad nose that sits on a flat face with pointed ears and a wide mouth. Their mouth contains small, but sharp fangs. Their skin pigment ranges from a deep red through nearly any shade of orange to yellow. Members of the same tribe tend to have the same skin color.

   Goblins usually live in tribes which are ruled by the strongest goblin in the group. These tribes vary in size from gangs of 4-9 to tribes of up to 400. Most larger tribes have wolves or dire wolves as mounts, or ally themselves with worgs, which also carry them into battle. Goblin tribes usually settle near civilized areas to raid for food, livestock, tools, weapons, and supplies. It is common for the leaders of goblin clans to be non-goblin (either other goblinoids or a different species entirely); such leaders are exploiting the goblins as disposable soldiers to further their purpose.

   In most campaign settings, Maglubiyet, the god of war and rulership, is the chief deity of goblins. Other gods worshipped by the goblins include Khurgorbaeyag, the god of slavery, oppression, and morale, and Bargrivyek, the god of co-operation and territory.

GOBLIN For FATE Accelerated
Goblin, Dim Raider

Skilled (+2) at: Ambushes, Riding

Bad (-2) at: Being Manipulated, Solving Problems

Stress: None (First hit takes them out)

FATE Accelerated: Owlbear

The owlbear is eight to ten foot tall carnivorous creature, famed for their aggression and ferocity who "hug" their prey and attack with their beak; they live in mated pairs in caves and hunt any creature bigger than a mouse. It is probably the product of an experiment by the lich Thessalar, who claims to have created them, but his insanity and egomania put the accuracy of this claim in doubt or sources say they have always existed within the Feywild.
OWLBEAR For FATE Accelerated
Owlbear, We Mate For Life

Skilled (+2) at: Attacking Prey, Tracking
Bad (-2) at: Being Sneaky.
Stress: [  ]  [  ]

31 Nights of Halloween: Ghoul for FAE

A ghoul is said to be created on the death of a man or woman who savored the taste of flesh. They not only eat the dead, but also prey on the unwary living. Likewise, a ghast is supposedly made while someone dies during the act of cannibalism. Ghouls can paralyze their victims with a touch, though elves are immune. Aside from the standard variety, a number of other forms of ghoul exist.

GHOUL For FATE Accelerated
Diseased Undead Scavenger, Aversion To Sunlight

Skilled (+2) at: Prowling, Burrowing

Bad (-2) at: Restraint, Subtlety

Stress: [  ]

FATE Accelerated: Beholder

Its appearance is that of a floating orb of flesh with a large mouth, single central eye, and many smaller eyestalks on top with deadly magical powers.

BEHOLDER For FATE Accelerated

High Concept: 

   Floating Orb With Eyestalks and Magic Powers

Trouble: Paranoid
Shared: That's MY Research!
Other Aspects: Perceptive; Vicious

APPROACHES

Careful: Average (+1) 

Clever: Fair (+2) 

Flashy:  Good (+3) 

Forceful: Mediocre (+0) 

Quick: Average (+1) 

Sneaky: Fair (+2)

STUNTS
Eye Ray (Flashy): Because of you're Beholder Physiology roll 1dF when you Flashily target an enemy:
   Blank: +1 to Flashily create an obstacle for the target.
   Plus: +1 to Flashily move the target back 1 Zone.
   Minus: +1 to Flashily attack the target up to 2 Zones away.

Bite (Forceful): Because your Monstrous Form, you gain a +2 to attack a single enemy in the same Zone.

STRESS

[  ]  [  ]  [  ]  [  ]

CONSEQUENCES 
Mild (2): 
Mild (2):

Moderate (4): 

Severe (6):

REFRESH: 3

FATE Accelerated: Beholder

Its appearance is that of a floating orb of flesh with a large mouth, single central eye, and many smaller eyestalks on top with deadly magical powers.

BEHOLDER For FATE Accelerated

High Concept: 

   Floating Orb With Eyestalks and Magic Powers

Trouble: Paranoid
Shared: That's MY Research!
Other Aspects: Perceptive; Vicious

APPROACHES

Careful: Average (+1) 

Clever: Fair (+2) 

Flashy:  Good (+3) 

Forceful: Mediocre (+0) 

Quick: Average (+1) 

Sneaky: Fair (+2)

STUNTS
Eye Ray (Flashy): Because of you're Beholder Physiology roll 1dF when you Flashily target an enemy:
   Blank: +1 to Flashily create an obstacle for the target.
   Plus: +1 to Flashily move the target back 1 Zone.
   Minus: +1 to Flashily attack the target up to 2 Zones away.

Bite (Forceful): Because your Monstrous Form, you gain a +2 to attack a single enemy in the same Zone.

STRESS

[  ]  [  ]  [  ]  [  ]

CONSEQUENCES 
Mild (2): 
Mild (2):

Moderate (4): 

Severe (6):

REFRESH: 3