A GUIDE TO FATE ASPECTS

This guide is meant to give you a better understanding of FATE Aspects and how they work. Players new to the FATE system often have a hard time fully understanding the concept of Aspects. With this guide, they get a list of categories to look at while they choose. The FATE core books like The Spirit of the Century and The Dresden Files all have their own approach to writing Aspects. This guide is not meant to replace them but to complement them. Note that this is not a guide to writing the most efficient Aspects. This guide focuses on the different things you can do with Aspects. This guide puts all Aspects into 10 categories. This will give players and GMs an overview of what types of Aspects they can use. Naturally, there will be some overlapping between categories, but most of the time, you will be able to determine whether an Aspect belongs in one category instead of another. An Aspect can have qualities from other categories; you can describe an Aspect using several categories. Here are the 10 main Aspect categories: 1. Archetype This category of Aspects are used to define your PC's role in the form of a job or a calling. An Archetype Aspect boosts skills related to that role. It is the defining aspect of your character, so this is your most important aspect.

Examples:"Hardened Policeman", "Calloused Solder, "Secret Ninja", "Honest, Herculean Accountant"

2.Skill Booster Used for boosting specific skills. This Aspect is different from the Archetype-Aspect because it doesn't define your PC's background, but defines a skill set where the PC excels. Examples: "Great hand-eye coordination", "Smooth Talker", "Fast with a sword", "superhacker". 3. Personality Used for describing character personality. This category is used to define how a PC looks, feels and behaves. Quirks and peculiarities can also be covered by this type of Aspect. Examples: "Warm and Cuddly", "Outrageous Dyed, pink hair", "Stoic", "Party Animal", "Flips a coin before making decisions". 4. FATE Point Generator Used to earn FATE points by describing some negative or counterproductive element of your PC that is meant to put the PC in problematic situations, and thereby earning FATE points. Examples: "Mean Drunk", "People Pleaser", "Always Truthful", "Hot-head". 5. BELIEFS Used to describe your PC's beliefs and understanding of the world. Belief Aspects tell you what your PC think is right and wrong and how the world works. "Learn from History or repeat your mistakes", "Killing is a sin", "The apes on this planet are

filthy!", "The need of the many outweighs the need of the few." 6. Background Aspects that describe where your PC is from, geographically, socially, philosophically, education-wise. They describe how a particular background has an effect on a PC. Examples:"Harvard Grad", "Slumdog Millionaire", "Heir to the Crimson Crown", "Hobbit from the Shire" 7. Relationships Aspects that describe your PC's relationship with other PCs and NPCs. Useful for tightening a connection to another character, but also a way to create enemies or connect a PC to an existing enemy. Examples: "Help me, Buffy!", "Hitler must die!", "I love Lucy", "The Evil Dr. Doolittle is my father!", "Crocket and Tubbs; partners in life". 8. Items Aspects that describe a particular piece of equipment or an item that can give the PC advantages in different situations. Examples: "Magic Sword", "Custom built Laser Pistol", "Spell Book", "Bullet-proof Vest", "Magical Herbs" 9. Faction Aspects that relate to groups or organizations in the game. This category can be used to add to the game's story or refer to already established organizations. They provide a connection to the faction that the PC may use to establish enemies and allies. Examples: "Nazi Skinheads", "Barbarians from the Ice Lands", "Bloods", "King's Guard", "Bounty Hunters"

10. Location Aspects that refer to locations that are connected to the PC. It can be an apartment, a town or country of origin. Examples:"Home lab", "Man from Nantucket", "Auto Garage", "Castle of Doom", "Tower of Solitude", "Death Star" That's it! I hope you will find this guide useful. Written by Eske Andersen 2013. Please contact me if you have suggestions or questions. My email is wingsofwax@mail.com