Game Geeks #147 The Dresden Files RPG by Evil Hat Productions

[therandomINSANEman]

WANT. lol I need to find people to play this game....

[TacticusPrime]

This system does just talk the talk; it really walks the walk when it comes to valuing Roleplay over Rollplay. Aspects are brilliant, and the Dresden Files is the best games for FATE ever made. Totally kick ass.

[axonn111]

These r huge books :O

[thelosthollywood]

"Hell's bells! They made gamebooks about me..."

"Could help your love life, Boss."

"Shut up, Bob!"

"The Skull got the point, Harry..."

"You too, Thomas!"

[Skylance87]

@thelosthollywood LOVE THIS COMMENT

[roguestake]

Thanks for this description. I played the game at a local convention recently and now I want to learn as much as possible.

[smeagle2222]

id so be a denarian always like going the bad guys

[trivium666fan]

@smeagle2222

If I weren't going to be the GM, I'd be a denarian. 

[soiledshortz]

This is great. I love Harry Dresden.

[Huesee09]

This game, from this review, just seems like an absolute World of Darkness clone, with an overcomplicated system. Maybe I missed something.

[Webhead123]

If you're not familiar with the series of novels then, yes, you are missing something. On the surface it invites comparison with WoD but once you start to delve into it, you'll notice how there are quite a few innovations and distinctions that set it apart from (and, IMHO, above) WoD.

[trivium666fan]

@Huesee09

There are quite a few differences that set it apart from WoD. But, to notice the greatest differences, you'd have to read the books.

[ZatoichiBlindSword]

Shea pronounced SHAY

[montecore2277]

@ZatoichiBlindSword And how do you pronounce sidhe? ;-)

[ZatoichiBlindSword]

@montecore2277 Shaym on you!

[Squallunknown]

@montecore2277 She, pronounced She.

[Cosmoscubed3]

Kurt I hope that you are able to share your experience running Dresden then please compare and contrast how fun/interesting Dresden is compared to running Dresden using the Angel/Unisystem rules. It was because of your review of Angel that I tracked it down and got a hold of it.

[OriginalNeomoon]

@Cosmoscubed3 Same here. I ran a long Dresden Game using the rules from Angel and for the most part my players (die hard OWOD fanboys) enjoyed themselves.

[Divinumnaturae]

@OriginalNeomoon Yea. Diehard OWoD

[Aparashi]

Good review. Seems like this game has a big Unknown Armies feel, no?

[9mmFistcuffs]

meh, while it's great to see a Dresden Files game, the Fate system really drags it down. World of Darkness does Dresden sooo much better.

[RCAUTELA007]

@9mmFistcuffs I've found out exactly the opposite: FATE is the best rules system for me!

[nakedmolerat43]

looking good Kurt.

[knwiegel]

@nakedmolerat43 Thanks. 30 pounds and counting....

[nakedmolerat43]

@knwiegel - aah I knew it...

[CathodeRay00]

Great review! I've been waiting for this one! Can't wait till the printed books are released.

[astarus]

Great review Kurt. Where do you get your pdfs bound? They look great!

[knwiegel]

@astarus Kinkos- or FedEx Office? Whatever it is.... Cost me under $10 for both.

[longstrider9999]

Nice review, I would like to see a review of mage the awakening, since the idea of modern fantasy and urban settings is so heavy on this review.

Nice videos.

[KHAT0VAR]

I can't wait to run this game. If only I can talk my players into it.

[fyrehand]

thank you for that excellent review

[ThePenWolf]

Can you be a character like Bob, a spirit in a skull?

[knwiegel]

@ThePenWolf A lot harder to do. From my POV, the "Assumed" character types would be pure mortal (Murphy, Buters), a wizard (Harry, Molly), a Focused practicioner (Binder), a were critter of some stripe (Billy or the Lycanthropes from Fool Moon), a Red Court Infectee (Susan), a "humane" white court (Thomas), Changelings (Meryl, Ace, Fix), even Sidhe Knights are possible. I'm sure there are others (I'm sort of throwing together a Nephilim and Scion of Samson as a test run).

[ThePenWolf]

@knwiegel Sweet. I'm definitely getting it!

Can you be someone like Michael, the Paladin-type character Harry hung around with in one or two of the novels?

[sordorel]

@ThePenWolf

Yes, there are specific rules for playing one of the knights as well as some "lower level" holy man. Very powerful but subtle abilities they have.

[knwiegel]

@ThePenWolf Sordorel said it well. Sorry I left him off the list.

[DeTzardis]

Sounds very good - I'll be picking them up. I quite liked the TV show for some reason too.

[knwiegel]

@DeTzardis I liked the TV show too. I miss it a lot. It premered on my birthday, so my group came over to watch it.

[Moterola]

I own a PDF of this game, but I haven't bothered actually reading it yet. Guess I really should get to it.

Picked it up completely based on my love of the book series.

[humanzyx]

Yay, Geist!

[Thanaeon]

From all I've seen, Kurt is absolutely spot on here. The game seems very well done and the only reason I haven't ordered it myself is because I can't stand the FATE system. It's not a BAD system by any means, but it's no good to me - it's abstraction and metagame levels are simply far too high for me to enjoy. If that's not an issue for you and the subject material interests you, I see no good reason why the game wouldn't be a very good choice.

[knwiegel]

@Thanaeon I have similar isues with FATE. I'm half decided to make a "summer of FATE" to give it a try.

[guitardbucket]

I just started reading Jim Butcher. I really like him.

[LesterWAR]

Looks very interesting Kurt. How would you recommend this for faily new but eager role-players / GMs? In other words, is this a good game for beginners?

What if you're a Dresden noob? Is knowledge of the setting important or would the second book aid in that?

Anyway, another insightful review as always.

[TacticusPrime]

@LesterWAR From what I've read it's gonna require real player participation. I know Spirit of the Century did. If you have new/not-so-psched players it's easier to run something with lots of props and DM-leading, like DnD.

[ThePenWolf]

@LesterWAR I would say that if you plan on running The Dresden Files as the GM, then yes you better read the two RPG books and it wouldn't hurt to read one of the novels (I recommend Storm Front, the first book of the series). If you want to play, then you don't really have to know much; the GM should fill you in on things your character ought to know.

[bnnud]

This review makes me want to read this book series. Thanks for the review.

[TheZachieV]

As always a good review from Kurt.