Summary of "How to Play FATE (Core System)"
FATE Core System Overview and How to Play
Storyline and Setting Flexibility
FATE is a versatile tabletop RPG system that can be adapted to any setting, including fantasy, superhero, sci-fi, murder mystery, and more. It emphasizes creativity and narrative freedom over complex math and rigid rules commonly found in games like Dungeons & Dragons.
Character Creation and Key Elements
Character Sheet Basics
- Name and Description: Simple identifiers for the character.
- Skills: Numeric values representing proficiency levels such as average, fair, good, great, or mediocre.
- Aspects: Descriptive phrases that define character traits, history, relationships, or important items.
Types include:
- High Concept: Core identity of the character.
- Trouble: Character flaws or challenges.
- Additional aspects developed collaboratively during play.
- Stunts: Special abilities that modify or add to skill functions, often situational.
- Extras: Special rules or systems like magic, superpowers, gear, vehicles, or organizations.
- Stress and Consequences: Measures of damage or harm. Stress boxes absorb minor hits, while consequences are more serious and act as negative aspects.
- Refresh: The minimum number of Fate Points a character starts with each session.
Fate Points and Their Uses
Fate Points are a core resource used to:
- Invoke Aspects: Spend a Fate Point to add +2 to a roll, re-roll dice, or grant bonuses to allies.
- Compel Aspects: The GM or players introduce complications based on an aspect, earning the player Fate Points.
- Refuse Compels: Spend a Fate Point to avoid a negative story twist.
- Declare Story Details: Spend a Fate Point to introduce new narrative elements tied to an aspect.
- Activate Powerful Stunts: Some stunts require spending Fate Points to use.
Actions and Gameplay Mechanics
Skill Rolls
Players roll four Fate dice (each with sides +1, 0, -1) and add their skill rank to determine success.
Types of Actions
- Overcome: Beat a difficulty or opposition roll to succeed.
- Create Advantage: Establish an aspect that can be invoked for free.
- Attack: Inflict stress or consequences on opponents.
- Defend: Resist attacks or attempts to create advantages against you.
Outcomes of Rolls
- Fail (or succeed at a cost)
- Tie (success with minor cost)
- Success
- Success with Style: Extra benefits such as boosts or multiple invokes.
Combat and Movement
- Uses zones instead of grids for positioning.
- Movement and attacks are zone-based, with limits depending on action type and weapon.
- Players can create advantages on the battlefield to gain tactical benefits.
- Stress boxes absorb damage; once full, consequences must be taken.
- Consequences represent lasting injuries requiring recovery rolls and time to heal.
- Extreme consequences replace character aspects and last until milestones or leveling up.
Milestones (Leveling Up)
- Minor Milestone: Occurs at the end of a session; allows renaming moderate consequences, swapping skills, changing or buying stunts, and renaming an aspect.
- Significant Milestone: Occurs at the end of a scenario; includes minor milestone benefits plus gaining skill points and renaming severe consequences.
- Major Milestone: Occurs at the end of a story arc; includes all previous benefits plus renaming extreme consequences, gaining refresh, advancing skills beyond the cap, and possibly renaming the high concept.
Extras and Customization
Extras allow adding unique systems such as magic or special gear. They require:
- Permission: Justification via aspects.
- Cost: Payment in refresh, skill points, Fate Points, or stunts.
The system is designed to be flexible and customizable to fit any game world.
Summary
FATE Core is a narrative-driven, rules-light RPG system focused on storytelling, player creativity, and flexible mechanics. It uses aspects and Fate Points to encourage dynamic roleplaying and collaborative storytelling. Combat is streamlined with zones and stress/consequences rather than hit points. Milestones replace traditional leveling, emphasizing story progression and character development. The system supports extensive customization through extras and stunts.
Featured Gamer/Source
The video is presented by a single narrator who guides viewers through the FATE Core system basics and gameplay. No other gamers or external sources are mentioned.
Category
Gaming
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