The Dresden Files RPG: advice?

[DMfromTheAbyss]

Just posting to ask if anyone has any advice on playing in the dresdenverse. My game is pretty new and my GM is soliciting advice so I figured I'd ask around the playground.

Specifically we are having game balance problems with wizard characters being over powered(1), non wizard characters having a problem keeping up in combat encounters(2), keeping encounters balanced. (see part 1&2)

Any other more general advice is welcome.

[Ranos]

Those are problems inherent to the system, so there's really nothing but houserules that can fix this.

Here's the ones my group used if you're interested. There's a lot of them, but you can just pick and choose the ones that work for you.

[Raum]

Specifically we are having game balance problems with wizard characters being over powered(1), non wizard characters having a problem keeping up in combat encounters(2), keeping encounters balanced. (see part 1&2)

Any other more general advice is welcome.

Spellcasting (not just wizardry) is extremely powerful. Evocation can be handled - simply extending scenes is one good method. However thaumaturgy can be problematic without either house rules or simply an agreement not to abuse it. Both do have limitations - make sure you enforce them! Else you're giving them even more power.

Other characters can keep up with planning and / or creativity. The most abusable rule isn't spellcasting - it's Declarations. Probably a good thing most aren't used to coming up with a bunch of them on the fly.

As for planning NPCs, keep two things in mind: 1) the action economy is king and 2) concessions allow you to reign things in when appropriate. In other words, be very careful about putting solo NPCs against a group of PCs - the solos seldom last more than one or two exchanges. When you do throw solo NPCs at the group, go big. Finally, don't forget to offer and accept concessions when appropriate. Most conflicts shouldn't be to the death. If they were the game would have a lot of supernatural bodies and few living.

[Kiero]

As mentioned, magic is simply better than everything else in DFRPG.

If Evocation is allowing Wizards to breeze combat, then they're both too short and too simple. Longer, more layered combats will result in Wizards running out of juice and giving other people a chance to shine.

Thaumaturgy is the real problem, IME, though because it bends the entire game around the Wizard PC.

[Edge of Dreams]

Have you checked out the official DFRPG forum? http://www.jimbutcheronline.com/bb/i...board,5.0.html

It's a pretty active place, and there's already half a dozen threads or more on the balance of Wizards versus other builds.

[DMfromTheAbyss]

Thanks for the advice everyone.. I shall be sharing it with the GM, along with several of the offered links;)

[DontEatRawHagis]

Isn't thaumaturgy the black? Shouldn't there be wardens coming down to slice off your wizard's head with a claymore?

[Edge of Dreams]

Isn't thaumaturgy the black? Shouldn't there be wardens coming down to slice off your wizard's head with a claymore?

No. Thaumaturgy is any slow-casted spell prepared with a magic circle and other such preparations. As opposed to Evocation, which is quick-and-dirty manipulation of elements, suitable for combat.

Both Evocation and Thaumaturgy CAN break the laws of magic, but it totally depends on what exactly you make your spell do.

[CarpeGuitarrem]

I will note: for a series in which the main protagonist is a wizard, where he's the one pulling all sorts of crazy stuff, this sounds about right. Not 3.5 world-shattering, I hope, but still very powerful.

That said, isn't Harry's usual problem dealing with mundane issues? Exhaustion, sleep-deprivation, forgetting to empty out Mister's litter box...

[Philistine]

OP: You might try here or here.

[Hiro Protagonest]

I will note: for a series in which the main protagonist is a wizard, where he's the one pulling all sorts of crazy stuff, this sounds about right. Not 3.5 world-shattering, I hope, but still very powerful.

That said, isn't Harry's usual problem dealing with mundane issues? Exhaustion, sleep-deprivation, forgetting to empty out Mister's litter box...

Yeah. Xefas said it best.

We found that the wizard got hosed the hardest pretty much all the time, due to having 1 (or was it 2?) refresh. If you're playing with a wizard who has any easier a time doing things than Harry "Oh gee I got disemboweled again on my way to the bus station" Dresden, then the GM probably isn't compelling the characters as viciously as he should. The Vampire, on the other hand, could resist the worst of things, while still being better than the Wizard in a fight (and in... certain kinds of social situations). The Mortal squandered his refresh for most of the game, and only really got the hang of Declarations in the last session (which I'm inclined to say are the greatest weapon in the pure mortal toolbox). But he still had lots to do (do you know what hole all powerful wizards and ancient vampires have in their repertoire? Google-fu).

Of course, he did also say this.

My one worry is the thaumaturgy system. We didn't get to use it all that much (our wizard was too busy getting hit by buses or thrown off buildings or collapsing from heat stroke and then being mugged). The times it was used, it was pretty cool (even if it seemed a bit clunky - that might've just been us).

[Ranos]

It looks like Xefas' wizard was holding back - a lot. No thaumaturgy, no gigantic fight-ending discipline boosts, to the point that even the vampire was better than him in a fight.
If your players are willing to restrain themselves, that works fine too, but otherwise a balanced game is better.