The goal of the exercise was to introduce Fate Core character creation and concepts to the group in the easiest possible manner. I thought long and hard about how to go about doing that. On one hand, we could have just made characters for a space opera and played. I wasn't sure I was ready myself for that. Another option was to run the excellent Bulldogs! Fate Core setting as a quick one or two-shot game. Again, I was unsure about even using a lightly-pre-prepared setting to run a couple sessions in.
I was then struck with a genius idea to try Futurama as our first foray into Fate Core - on account I have been watching the show during my lunch breaks, when I work from home. Immediately that choice appealed to me on a number of levels. The first being that all of my regular gaming group watch the show and are familiar with it. The second being that it is a humorous and easy to run setting. I would not be confined to a strict ruleset of physical rules or setting details; I could make it up as I go along and no one would complain! Lastly, the concept lends itself perfectly to a one-shot or two-shot story. What could be better?!
My concern was communicating the nuances of Fate which are not immediately obvious, even after I have read the core book more than once. Aspects are perhaps the most difficult concept to convey. How do you make a good aspect? What's a bad aspect? How do you make a Blam! aspect?! All these things are difficult to explain to people who have gamed the more "traditional" (I prefer to call them old-gen) game systems? I know, I struggle with the nuances of Fate all the time. My lizard brain wants modifiers and details and the part of my brain which loves Fate wants abstractions and story over rules. A dichotomy everyone who first reads Fate suffers - no doubt.
So, we got together to make characters. We use a Facebook (secret) group to communicate our gaming scheduling and sometimes for in-game posts. We actually have a couple of FB groups. I'm not a large fan of FB, but that's where the social happens, and the geeky happens on G+. :) We game on (most) Monday evenings because it is very convenient and no one makes plans on a Monday! It is also a great way to start the week and a perfect reason to leave the office at 5pm. heh.
I digress. You're here to find out how we developed the Futurama characters and what we did with the aspects and stunts (the best part!). We watched the first two episodes to get the back story for the Phase Trio and establish relationships. We also looked up Wikipedia when we were stumped for details and ideas. We made one character per player, and we made one extra for the guy who sometimes makes it to our game nights.
The group chose their characters and we selected Amy Wong as the extra character to fill out the usual crew of the Planet Express. Without further ado:
High Concept: Sociopathic, Robotic Bending UnitTrouble: "Bite My Shiny, Metal Ass!"
Aspects: Substance Abusing Kleptomaniac; Fry's Abusive Best Friend; "It's Fun On A Bun!"
Skills:
Great (+4): Provoke
Good(+3): Physique, Burglary
Fair (+2): Deceive, Rapport, Athletics
Average (+1): Shoot, Notice, Contacts, Craft
Stunts:
- Bending Unit: I receive +2 to Physique when I am physically bending things.
- Extendable Arms: I can extend my arms and do things up to one zone away.
- It's In The Can: Once per session I can pull something useful out of my body cavity that I can justify having stolen earlier.
Mental Stress: OO
Refresh: 3
Turanga Leela
High Concept: Take No Guff Mutant PilotTrouble: Hopeless Romantic With Attitude
Aspects: A Dreamer Who Plays By The Rules; Does What's Right, Even If Its Wrong; The Depth Challenged Leading The Stupid
Skills:
Great (+4): Fight
Good(+3): Athletics, Drive
Fair (+2): Rapport, Will, Physique
Average (+1): Shoot, Investigate, Lore, Empathy
Stunts:
- Leaping Kick: Once per scene I can leap and kick someone up to one zone away. I also enter that zone after my attack.
- Pedal To The Metal: I receive a +2 to my Drive rolls when involved in a speeding contest.
- Boots Of Debating: Substitute Fight for Rapport when I in an argument and I have the morally superior position.
Mental Stress: OOO
Refresh: 3
Philip J. Fry
High Concept: Lazy And Clueless Delivery Boy From The PastTrouble: Always Party Like Its 2000 A.D.!
Aspects: "I Always Wanted A Robot Friend Since I was 6 Years Old"; "I Just Wanted To See It Through My Eyes"; "OMG! It's The Future!"
Skills:
Great (+4): Will
Good(+3): Rapport, Investigate
Fair (+2): Athletics, Notice, Physical
Average (+1): Provoke, Stealth, Deceive, Drive
Stunts:
- Everything Is Better In The Future: I receive +2 to Will when defending vs. fear and despair because things are better in the future.
- Demagogue: I receive a +2 to Rapport when giving a speech about something I believe in.
- Child Of The 2000's: I receive a +2 to Lore when faced with 20th Century trivia.
Mental Stress: OOOO
Refresh: 3
Dr. John A. Zoidberg, Ph.D.
High Concept: Bungling Surgeon And ArtisteTrouble: Why Not Zoidberg?!
Aspects: Forever Alone But Always Around; Galaxy Class Surgeon...Except On Humans; "This Stench is...Wonderful!"
Skills:
Great (+4): Physique
Good(+3): Lore, Provoke
Fair (+2): Athletics, Shoot, Stealth
Average (+1): Fight, Notice, Investigate, Crafts
Stunts:
- Stink Ink Gland: I can emit a foul smelling ink in the most disgusting way possible. This gives me +2 to Shoot when creating an advantage.
- What Pain?!: Once per session I can reduce a Moderate consequence to a Mild or negate a Mild consequence.
- Wilfully Overlooked: I receive a +2 to Stealth because no one pays any attention to me...ever.
Mental Stress: OO
Refresh: 3
Amy Wong
High Concept: Clumsy Engineering InternTrouble: Superficial Party Girl
Aspects: "You Can't Tell Me What To Do!"; "Fool Me Seven Times, Shame On You, Fool Me Eight Or More Times, Shame On Me"; Had Cuteness Reduction Surgery On One Cheek And Nose
Skills:
Great (+4): Empathy
Good(+3): Rapport, Resources
Fair (+2): Athletics, Drive, Lore
Average (+1): Contacts, Investigate, Notice, Crafts
Stunts:
- Multilingual: I receive +2 to Lore where determining whether I can speak some language, even Yeti - but little Martian.
- Flexible In Being Wooed: I receive +2 Rapport when flirting with men.
- Oh No!: I can use Empathy instead of another skill when in a situation which involves disappointing someone I care about on account of my screw up.
Mental Stress: OO
Refresh: 3
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