So my local RP group that I have been with for a long time decided to start up a Dresden Files RPG.  We are using the Beta version of the books along with some of the public updates listed on their forums.  I love the book series and am highly interested in the system.  Please bear with me as this is a first glance, I will have more experience with the system once we get the game going.

I already knew the world, just the mechanics and the character creation were all that I needed to learn.  For the most part, the gaming system is based off a Fate system.  One which is new to me but the more I look over it, the more I find it to be unique.  All systems work on Chance almost always in the form of Dice.  D&D is the d20 system, White Wolf is the d10 system, Shadowrun the d6 system, Dark Heresy the d100 system and many more.  What this one offers is a unique d6 that has 2 blank sides [  ]=zero, two minus sides [-]=-1 and two positive sides [+]=+1.  For each dice check, you roll four of them for a min/max total possible of -4 to +4.  These of course will be helped or hindered by skill and situational modifiers.

The next big point on this is the Fate points.  It is a system where your points are equivalent to your free will.  The Story Teller gets to use your background and situation (explained later) along with any other fluff to control your character.  You are forced to follow Fates Will and are rewarded with a Fate point.  Though this might lead you into bad situations (as seen by Dresden’s Chivalry in the books) you can instead spend a Fate point to go against it.  This is enacting your Free Will to act against Fate.  There are more details on how this all technically works in the books but it is at least a little background on it.

The main thing that strikes me as unique in this system is the entire front page of the character sheet.  This introduces ‘Aspects’ which you can channel or receive fate points through.  These are broad categories that are defined by your own creativity in making the character.  I won’t get too in depth with the benefits of this as it is easier to do with an example (which I might do by posting my first character later).

While Aspects are the core system driven tool on the front page, they are based off of Story.  The first three story sections will create your history that makes you what you are today.  Each has enough space to get a few lines of text in but don’t be afraid to grab more paper and expand each section out into detail.  These will help you solidify your character and assist in choosing skills and abilities that relate to your background.  Each creates another Aspect which can be used by you or the ST in the game.

The two boxes below that are what make this system really unique.  It is the only RP I have found so far that lets Other players shape your character.  On the first session, you will give up your sheet to have other players write in how they met your character.  Creating a situation/relationship that you have no control over.  These are based off your background and story already written and doesn’t change who you are.  But they give their own Aspects that can make things interesting.

One of the problems that comes from most RPG’s is a Combat focus or base in their creation.  For these, the Stories must be build on top of such a pre-built setup.  Fate has created a symbiotic relationship between the System and Story.  Each ‘restriction’ of the system is only there to help shape the story.  While the use of the Dresden Files world is there to channel the creativity of each Player and Story Teller.

The question still remains on how well this Independent game is taken up by the RP community.  How well will it grow, adapt and compete with the greats of dice gaming?  Either way, I will be enjoyably testing out the system here soon.