Using FATE Core for a THS Campaign?

[vicky_molokh]

Greetings, all!

Some weeks ago, I made a careless observation that a previous THS Campaign could've been ran using FATE. After some discussion, it seems like at least two people consider it an actual option which may actually be used one day. So, kicking this into the more general THS discussion area . . .

Just how viable does the idea look?
On one hand, FATE seems to be way more able to handle parties with big gaps in character power level than GURPS. On the other, it uses Aspects to do things that GURPS does with Dis/Advantages, and that means that e.g. the 'Is a SAI' Aspect can only be of any serious use as long as the character has Fate Points to spend on activating it (and then the AI is no longer faster-reacting than the human etc.). Which, in turn, seems to produce a PluckyBaseline effect, with a strong 'like you see on TV' flavour to boot, which kinda defeats the whole purpose of transhumanism/THS.

So . . . thoughts, experience, opinions?
Thanks in advance!

[ldj00]

Hello,

Very interested... I am not familiar enough with Fate to say you always have to have a fate point to activate an aspect, unless it is very important or is some kind of plot issue... but I could be wrong.

[thrash]

You might consider Diaspora rather than FATE Core. It's a deliberately designed Traveller reboot, but includes some transhumanist elements.

[panton41]

Originally Posted by thrash

You might consider Diaspora rather than FATE Core. It's a deliberately designed Traveller reboot, but includes some transhumanist elements.

Diaspora uses an older set of Fate rules and if he's going to drop the setting anyway in favor of THS then I don't think it really matters and arguably Fate Core is better supported.

You can invoke Aspects without spending a Fate Point if you Create an Advantage first. You might also make some of the special things the more powerful characters can do a Stunt and maybe raise the Refresh to allow more and more powerful Stunts in play. (If you have access to the Dresden Files RPG you can see a worked example of Stunts as powers for an older version of Fate.)

I'd also argue "Is a SAI" is a poorly worded Aspect that would be difficult to actually use in play. Aspects should be fairly descriptive and able to be used both to benefit or be a problem. (Even a well-worded Trouble can have a beneficial side.)

I've considered doing a Banestorm gaming using Fate simply because my players find it easier to understand than GURPS, though what's holding is back is the fact they don't know the setting well.

[Anthony]

You'd want to make use of Extras and/or custom Stunts for features of the setting, but 'plucky baselines' are just as prevalent in GURPS.

[Phil Masters]

I'd imagine that you might want to look at Mindjammer, too, that being a recent posthumanist SF game using FATE.

[vicky_molokh]

Originally Posted by ciaran_skye

You can invoke Aspects without spending a Fate Point if you Create an Advantage first. You might also make some of the special things the more powerful characters can do a Stunt and maybe raise the Refresh to allow more and more powerful Stunts in play. (If you have access to the Dresden Files RPG you can see a worked example of Stunts as powers for an older version of Fate.)

Well, inherent Aspects of a character are not Aspects Created As An Advantage. Stunts seem to way to go for e.g. faster initiative rolls of AIs.

Originally Posted by ciaran_skye

I'd also argue "Is a SAI" is a poorly worded Aspect that would be difficult to actually use in play. Aspects should be fairly descriptive and able to be used both to benefit or be a problem. (Even a well-worded Trouble can have a beneficial side.)

Well, 'Is a SAI' has some pretty detailed in-setting effects, such as vulnerability to viruses, ultra-fast reflexes, social stigma in many states, ability to do all the generic infomorph stuff etc.)