The Lost Files (C:TL/Dresden Files) (CK2-ish)
- Thread starter The Laurent
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Sworl
Sparky
If you don't mind me asking, how do you plan on going about writing an intelligence 6 character?
How is the world seen through the eyes of one whose brillance is beyond human? In ficition super-humanly intelligent characters (particularly if they are Point Of View characters) are hard to write convincingly - as opposed to characters who are, say, quick witted, strong willed or have a more physical or emotional super human quality.
This is especially true in quests, where the PC is much more likely to end up doing at least a few dumb things.
Intelligence itself is a tricky thing to define and contrast. You have to factor things like life experience & natural talents (nature/nurture), areas of specialisation, the fact that no two human minds* work quite the same, character traits that help or hender a characters brillant active mind (to quote Edison "genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration"), etc.
*Additionally, it really doesn't help that several of the characters in the Dresden Files are very much not human, even more so than Changelings. Such strange minds are harder still to compare and contrast with human(ish) intellectual standards.
On an unrelated note, what exactly is the relationship between the Nevernever and Arcadia?
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- They/Them
Well, I'm going to be trying my best. I mean, I'm not sure if I can give some sort of checklist as to how I'd do it, since the circumstances will be a little complex. I'll try to make them quick to pick up on connections, even ones that aren't obvious, but some of it will just have to come down to how well I can write it.
As to the relationship, they're...well, Arcadia and the Hedge are 'in' the Nevernever...sorta. But Arcadia can only be accessed *via* the Hedge.
Arkatekt
Harbinger of Shitluck
I'd prefer it stay as it is, myself.
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Oh? Just curious as to why, for the purposes, again, of the fact that I'm still thinking through the 'voice' of the character.
Arkatekt
Harbinger of Shitluck
As I mentioned back when I made my plan, the 'ex-lover turned friend' relationship is something that I find interesting, while providing potential hooks and complications for you to use. It feels, to me at least, to define the character in a way that is more interesting than 'friends with benefits' and 'friend, political ally, occasional lover.' This is not to say that these lack hooks or complications- I can think of one or two for each right now, though I always have trouble putting these sorts of thoughts into words- but that I don't think the complications in these options are more interesting to me than 'ex-lover, friend' at this time.
While I'd prefer Maggie as the ally, to connect that to this bit from her info blurb, I have no reason to think that Snow would change that at this point, or that it could happen without a bunch of people getting upset.
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Forgot to respond to this. I think Chancellor would work better than Archchancellor. No objective reasons for it, it just feels better to me than the longer title.
Another Title I can think of, that might fit better with Panopticon:
Mother* Autumn (Mother has eyes in the back of her head / Mother knows all.)
*Momma/Mama or our name if being informal.
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Sworl
Sparky
I find it interesting to imagine what might happen if a True Fae and its Changeling underlings/slaves/toys were to be infected by Nemesis. A monster with its limits and bindings clipped and altered. Its mad, chaotic power funneled toward the ruin of existence.
I'd picture this corrupted True Fae as a freaky doll like Ultron knock-off, commanding a band of equally twisted FNaF themed Changelings.
I'd picture this corrupted True Fae as a freaky doll like Ultron knock-off, commanding a band of equally twisted FNaF themed Changelings.
I want to point out that it's explicitly stated by @The Laurent previously that no matter what, we're spending time and attention on our child. The option is to actually LOOK the part on top of being it, taking extra time out to attend all the PTA meetings, and such, which generally works out to a less suspicious civilian identity.
Having a job also plays out similarly, since some oddities tend to be overlooked for academics of, who do tend to be a bit on the weird side.
No comments on the relationship differences, I think that's pretty much just personal taste here.
There's plenty of precedent for that. One reason the Sidhe 'guard' the Outer Gates is that nearly every path to and from Dresdenverse Earth pas to go through their territory first.
The Mother/Lady side probably would produce some fireworks on translating terms to Dresdenverse.
Because some might take it as a challenge on their domain.
True Fae infected by Nemesis...I think the change wouldn't be so much in motivation, as it would be in approach. Pledges broken, contracts discarded, the rules working differently.
Though Nemesis is very much a Mage BBEG type. I think there's even a few canon Abyssal entities like it in nWoD
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o.o
Whew, I'm all the way up to Omen Contracts. God, this is so time consuming. Still, it'll hopefully pay off, though an update is not likely to be lickety split.
Whew, I'm all the way up to Omen Contracts. God, this is so time consuming. Still, it'll hopefully pay off, though an update is not likely to be lickety split.
Arkatekt
Harbinger of Shitluck
Perhaps. That is a thing I thought of briefly, but I dismissed it, because what reason would the Changelings have to expect that to cause a problem, when they don't know they will be going to Dresdenverse?
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By the way, your last response in that post has a broken end quote.
I'm taking it as a meta consideration actually. Getting into a potential challenge to the Sidhe Mothers is not going to be pleasant.
Snow
Doka
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Sorry for the double post, I wanted to make sure people saw this. I've edited the plan to change the title vote:
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I can tell you that it *is* something that is officially known, her child that is.
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A few things. First, take a look at this!
Contract of Ancient Beasts (Dinosaurs)--
[1] Find the Bones
Dice Pool: 9 (Academics+Wyrd)
Cost: 1 Glamour
Catch: The Changeling has found at least one fossil of the type of animal he has a contract for already, using natural means.
Effect: The Changeling, by merely carrying around a map, can have the location of fossils of the relevant type highlighted for them for the length of the scene. It does not detail the nature of the fossils, and after an hour, the map goes blank, and cannot be directly copied. With an exceptional success, it may be copied, and the nature of the fossils (such as from what animal predominately) are detailed.
Modifiers: It is in an area known for the proper fossils fossils (+1)
[2] Clothe the Bones
Dice Pool: 10 (Presence+Wyrd)
Cost: 2 Glamour
Catch: The Changeling has spent at least a dozen minutes talking to the skeleton, and has worked to clean it or otherwise make it look presentable.
Effect: Call up a single skeleton of the proper sort, which remains animated for an hour. Because it is a bunch of bones held together by magic, it is clumsy, and takes -1 to all dice pools. After the hour is up, it returns to its natural state. It can last three hours with an exceptional success, and removes the -1 penalty.
Modifier: The skeleton has been poorly preserved or is incomplete (-1), the skeleton is well preserved and has been well cared-for (+1)
[3] Gaining Long Lost Prowess
Dice Pool: 11 (Wits+Wyrd)
Cost: 3 Glamour
Catch: The Changeling has spent an hour studying the exact abilities or capacities they are seeking to gain.
Effect: Gain one quality of one beast from the type being used. Double their speed if using a swift runner, flying animals can grant the Changeling the ability to leap four times their normal height and fall without harm. They also gain the one perception advantage associated with said beast, gaining +2 to Wits scores involving Perception and whichever enhanced sense the beast was known to possess. If there is no sense they are known for, the +2 bonus and the locomotion bonus will have to suffice. With an exceptional success, it lasts until the next sunrise or sunset.
[4] Calling the Ancient Beasts
Dice Pool: 9 (Academics+Wyrd)
Cost: 4 Glamour +1 Willpower
Catch: Having the skeletons in question.
Effect: Ancient beasts are called, either from the skeletons or (more expensive, as noted) the very primordial past. Six small Beasts (Max size 3), three medium (so human-sized), or 1 large (like a T-Rex or Mega-Shark) can be called, and they last for a number of hours equal to the successes rolled. An exceptional success leads to one full day, and an exceptional success+a rare goblin fruit can keep them around for good.
Modifier: The character is an archaeologist specializing in the creature (+1), the character does not know the official/actual name of the creature ("I thought T-Rex stood for 'Totally Wrecks everything'") (-1), the character is calling the beasts up specifically to protect the sanctity of the dead or a burial site (+2)
[5] Assume the Ancient Form
Dice Pool: 12 (Manipulation+Wyrd)
Cost: 5 Glamour +1 WP
Catch: The character is touching the bones of the creature they want to become, and are at or near the natural habitat of the type of creature (forests for a forest-dweller, etc, etc)
Effect: The character transforms into the type of creature for up to the next hour, or less if they choose to revert. They gain all physical attributes, physical senses, and while they gain no skills, they gain instinctual knowledge of how to move and act in their new form. Their social and mental attributes are unchanged. With an exceptional success, this lasts until the sun next rises, and they may retain their Health level if their size would decrease it, and all lethal damage gained when one reverts is reduced to bashing, protected by the distance of time and ancient powers.
Modifiers: It is in an enclosed building (-1)
*****
Second, @Sweece , as far as superhuman attributes go, I've actually been given some pretty good advice on this before that I'd like to quote, because while mechanistic, it does help contextualize things.
The current winning vote, for instance, as opposed to the more Academic-knowledge Veekie-Vote, has the main character having Academics (Anthropology) 2, so three dice there, which is about what a skilled and trained person who got a college degree and worked for it/actually learned things will have. She then adds six dice, above the maximum a human can get. As in, just from having a college education, she's ALMOST as good as a world-renowned 'writes the books that people in college read' Anthropologist. As someone who got an UNDERGRAD degree.
And that same 'oh wow' dice pool applies to everything where Intelligence would be the relevant attribute. She can, as noted, casually put a few weeks in to raise, say Computer skill (which she has no dots in) to 1, and by the end of several weeks of concerted effort, she's a better programmer than the average person who does it as a day job.
Or, let's say she needs to try programming anyways, despite having NEVER done it. Even with the -3, she can perform a basic level of competence (likely gaining the single success needed for the average task) in a task, such as if she suddenly decides that she wants to design a webpage and can't be bothered to ask someone who knows how to do it.
So yeah, having a dice pool of six is actually a pretty interesting way of looking at what that, mechanically, means.
Contract of Ancient Beasts (Dinosaurs)--
[1] Find the Bones
Dice Pool: 9 (Academics+Wyrd)
Cost: 1 Glamour
Catch: The Changeling has found at least one fossil of the type of animal he has a contract for already, using natural means.
Effect: The Changeling, by merely carrying around a map, can have the location of fossils of the relevant type highlighted for them for the length of the scene. It does not detail the nature of the fossils, and after an hour, the map goes blank, and cannot be directly copied. With an exceptional success, it may be copied, and the nature of the fossils (such as from what animal predominately) are detailed.
Modifiers: It is in an area known for the proper fossils fossils (+1)
[2] Clothe the Bones
Dice Pool: 10 (Presence+Wyrd)
Cost: 2 Glamour
Catch: The Changeling has spent at least a dozen minutes talking to the skeleton, and has worked to clean it or otherwise make it look presentable.
Effect: Call up a single skeleton of the proper sort, which remains animated for an hour. Because it is a bunch of bones held together by magic, it is clumsy, and takes -1 to all dice pools. After the hour is up, it returns to its natural state. It can last three hours with an exceptional success, and removes the -1 penalty.
Modifier: The skeleton has been poorly preserved or is incomplete (-1), the skeleton is well preserved and has been well cared-for (+1)
[3] Gaining Long Lost Prowess
Dice Pool: 11 (Wits+Wyrd)
Cost: 3 Glamour
Catch: The Changeling has spent an hour studying the exact abilities or capacities they are seeking to gain.
Effect: Gain one quality of one beast from the type being used. Double their speed if using a swift runner, flying animals can grant the Changeling the ability to leap four times their normal height and fall without harm. They also gain the one perception advantage associated with said beast, gaining +2 to Wits scores involving Perception and whichever enhanced sense the beast was known to possess. If there is no sense they are known for, the +2 bonus and the locomotion bonus will have to suffice. With an exceptional success, it lasts until the next sunrise or sunset.
[4] Calling the Ancient Beasts
Dice Pool: 9 (Academics+Wyrd)
Cost: 4 Glamour +1 Willpower
Catch: Having the skeletons in question.
Effect: Ancient beasts are called, either from the skeletons or (more expensive, as noted) the very primordial past. Six small Beasts (Max size 3), three medium (so human-sized), or 1 large (like a T-Rex or Mega-Shark) can be called, and they last for a number of hours equal to the successes rolled. An exceptional success leads to one full day, and an exceptional success+a rare goblin fruit can keep them around for good.
Modifier: The character is an archaeologist specializing in the creature (+1), the character does not know the official/actual name of the creature ("I thought T-Rex stood for 'Totally Wrecks everything'") (-1), the character is calling the beasts up specifically to protect the sanctity of the dead or a burial site (+2)
[5] Assume the Ancient Form
Dice Pool: 12 (Manipulation+Wyrd)
Cost: 5 Glamour +1 WP
Catch: The character is touching the bones of the creature they want to become, and are at or near the natural habitat of the type of creature (forests for a forest-dweller, etc, etc)
Effect: The character transforms into the type of creature for up to the next hour, or less if they choose to revert. They gain all physical attributes, physical senses, and while they gain no skills, they gain instinctual knowledge of how to move and act in their new form. Their social and mental attributes are unchanged. With an exceptional success, this lasts until the sun next rises, and they may retain their Health level if their size would decrease it, and all lethal damage gained when one reverts is reduced to bashing, protected by the distance of time and ancient powers.
Modifiers: It is in an enclosed building (-1)
*****
Second, @Sweece , as far as superhuman attributes go, I've actually been given some pretty good advice on this before that I'd like to quote, because while mechanistic, it does help contextualize things.
The current winning vote, for instance, as opposed to the more Academic-knowledge Veekie-Vote, has the main character having Academics (Anthropology) 2, so three dice there, which is about what a skilled and trained person who got a college degree and worked for it/actually learned things will have. She then adds six dice, above the maximum a human can get. As in, just from having a college education, she's ALMOST as good as a world-renowned 'writes the books that people in college read' Anthropologist. As someone who got an UNDERGRAD degree.
And that same 'oh wow' dice pool applies to everything where Intelligence would be the relevant attribute. She can, as noted, casually put a few weeks in to raise, say Computer skill (which she has no dots in) to 1, and by the end of several weeks of concerted effort, she's a better programmer than the average person who does it as a day job.
Or, let's say she needs to try programming anyways, despite having NEVER done it. Even with the -3, she can perform a basic level of competence (likely gaining the single success needed for the average task) in a task, such as if she suddenly decides that she wants to design a webpage and can't be bothered to ask someone who knows how to do it.
So yeah, having a dice pool of six is actually a pretty interesting way of looking at what that, mechanically, means.
And of course, if she really invests in it...11 dice + Specialty + Equipment. Above world class.
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The human maximum for any skill is 12, without equipment, in case you're wondering.
Attribute 5+ Skill 5 (Specialty 2*)=12 dice, and likely if they're at that level they have Professional Training to give them 8-again or even rote-on-extended actions, like on, say, researching or writing a book in their field.
*Area of expertise lets you take one specialty and further specialize in it, but only one can be taken for each skill. You can't 'super-specialize' in two different Academic disciplines, for instance. But you could have 'Academics (History 2)' and 'Survival (The River 2)' for instance, since those are different skills. She does, by the way, have Survival 3 (The River 2) in case you're wondering.
Yeah, more of saying...Int 6 makes even moderate skill level badass.
It makes mastery skill level completely out of the world.
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...she rolls 14 dice when doing Intelligence+Occult 6 (Oneiromancy 2), and likely with 8-again (or rote if she was trying to, say, write or research a monograph on the subject)
In applied action terms?
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- Dreiländereck
Oh god, our autumn queen is incredibly scary.
Which is fitting, given her occupation and transhuman mind.
Also the contract above is cool, somehow I can already see the house filled with old, calcified remains of long extinct predators and animals.
Or our son playing with a cute dinosaur.
Which is fitting, given her occupation and transhuman mind.
Also the contract above is cool, somehow I can already see the house filled with old, calcified remains of long extinct predators and animals.
Or our son playing with a cute dinosaur.
Snow
Doka
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Wow, this would make paleontologists very happy, I think. Hmm, there's probably a good chance there's a paleontologist out there who's known for having an uncanny ability to find fossils because they're actually a Changeling using this Contract. ^_^
That should be paleontologist, I think.
Article: archaeologist
or archeologist
noun
1. a specialist in archaeology, the scientific study of prehistoric peoples and their cultures by analysis of their artifacts, inscriptions, monuments, etc.
Monarchs of major Freeholds are pretty scary, especially in their specialty.
Tasoli
Life is for Living
- Location
- Behind the Keyboard.
So figuring out a never seen before supernatural creatures weakness is actually possible for her. She can just draw paralels with myths and take differences in to account volâ suddenly she knows she needs inherited silver to kill a Loup Grou.
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Likely so, actually. I'd need to find a way for her to make the logical leaps, which means that I'd want to look up all of the antecedents to that myth because I wouldn't want it to seem to be out of nowhere...but likely, yes. It is possible. More obscure weaknesses or powers would impose a dice penalty. Like, in what ancient story were psychic vampires hurt by the positive/True expression of an emotion. So she wouldn't, upon meeting her first White Court vampire, say, "I bet your weakness is True Love." But if she saw them feeding on lust and knew what they were doing, making the leap from there would be child's play.