Fate Core System

by Leonard Balsera, Brian Engard, Jeremy Keller

CHARACTERS LIVE AT THE CORE OF FATE!

A High Priestess of the barbarian hordes, an undead Wild West gunslinger, and a Second Lieutenant of the Intergalactic Security Forces are about as different as they come, but they’ve got one thing in common: they need a strong engine to drive their stories.

Fate Core is that engine.

Fate Core is the latest evolution of the award-winning Fate roleplaying game system from Evil Hat Productions. We’ve streamlined and clarified the rules while maintaining the system’s trademark flexibility. Name your game; Fate Core can make it happen.

Inside, you’ll discover:

Easy-to-follow rules for character and world creation. Rock-solid storytelling advice for players and GMs to produce the best play experience. Clearly-defined systems to guide players both new and old. New and improved approaches to character actions, aspects, compels... and more! TELL YOUR TALE. ROLL THE DICE. EMBRACE YOUR FATE!

Genres: Role Playing Games, Gaming, Games, Nonfiction, Reference, Dungeons and Dragons, Writing

302 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Doc Ezra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fate was something of a revelation to me, honestly. I've heard about it (and systems like it) for years, but never had the time or inclination to check it out until I spent a few sessions as a guest player in someone else's game. What I found was a simple, elegant system for collaborative storytelling and interesting games, capable of just about any genre or style you could imagine. I bought a copy immediately, and having now devoured it, it's vaulted in to my top 5 on the game shelf with relative ease, and all that remains is convincing a sufficient number of players to give it a whirl.

[Sergio Ponce · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with Fate Accelerated, this is a well written book and affordable to book (if you are okay with the PDF version, but very worth the print version with a well made hardcover, glossy pages, packed filled with content).

From what I have read it seems to be a solid narrative focused system. The writing itself is conversational in style making it a pleasant learning experience. It is also packed to the brim with examples of whatever rules it is covering. I have not played a game of it myself but am looking forward to the day that I get a chance.

This is not a game system for those who want micromanagement and numbers (not that there is anything wrong with that, I love progressing from smaller to bigger numbers). This is a story/character focused system and is seems great for short one shots but can still handle long runs if that is what you want or need. It is also a game that benefits from constant collaboration between everyone playing (the GM to Players, Players to Players, and Players to GM) which is can be a great thing for tight knit groups but could be a hurdle for a group composed of fresh faces (or vice versa but it is something to keep in mind).

For anyone looking for a table top game system that wants something "quick and easy" to get into this could be the system for you.

[Pearse Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fate Core was probably one of the best tabletop RPGs I've seen. It has a bit of a learning curve, but the Evil Hat team did the best they could with the money they were generously given and produced a great read. Not necessarily the easiest at times (aspects, some combat rules, edge cases for a lot of things needed better explanation), but I know how to essentially GM this now and I feel quite confident. Semiformal rulebook rhetoric, intended result, 9/10.

[Benjamin]

Another Bundle of Holding purchase that I am skim-reading for the first time. (Bundle of Fate +4)

To me, at this point, a good RPG purchase is a book that either inspires me to do something or that I can use for reference for another project (since my gaming time is nonexistent); or that inspires me to want to play it. With that in mind, this bundle consisted of:

* Fate Core and Fate Accelerated -- solid core rules with easy to understand examples (and I am a sucker for examples of play and character creation)
* Fate Adversary Toolkit -- an expansion that talks about enemies, but probably wouldn't be my go-to book for that topic

Would play:
* Bulldogs, Heart of the Fury (campaign), and Red Star (new campaign frame) -- two-fisted adventures in space opera, with two empires locked in a stalemate and the frontier land between them -- solid game idea, some fun ideas for adventures, would play
* Small Folk -- a wainscot fantasy about the borrowers who live alongside us -- a little unfocused in terms of character action, but with some good notes at the end on the sorts of adventures you could play, might be fun

Would consider:
* Kaiju Incorporated -- could be fun to play a game about the people who aren't fighting the giant monsters terrorizing the cities, but are cleaning up after them (though the game starts with that idea -- something like Marvel's Damage Control -- and then sorts of drifts towards something a little less focused, I found)
* Shadowcraft -- about spies during a fairy Cold War (though it's presented a little too ordinary in terms of fantasy, I'd like to lean into the weirdness of fairyland)

Would skip:
* Leaves of Chiaroscuro -- alternate reality Renaissance, which is interesting, until it starts adding on more and more elements: magic, fairies, elementals, fallen angels, etc.
* Starship Tyche, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, Kaiju Patrol -- all media-inspired, but not really interesting to me.
* Elysium Flare -- Space opera that had some fun notes on different forms of hegemonic threats (the nano-virus that takes over, the machines that replicate, the memes that make it impossible to think other things) but didn't intrinsically stand out.

[James Bowman · Rating 4 out of 5]

As cool as Fate Accelerated is, Fate Core is better on pretty much every level. Frankly, it's one of the best RPG systems I've ever seen. I won't go into details of how the system actually works (especially when you can check it out for free), except to note again that it's a very different sort of RPG from the traditional approach. There are other RPGs you can call "story games", but this is one of the best I've ever seen for replicating the feel of adventure fiction.

I will, however, call out some differences from Fate Accelerated:
- A different tone - Accelerated is clearly aimed at a young, new-to-RPGs audience, and relates many things to popular works of fiction. Fate Core feels more "mature", and makes far fewer pop-culture references.
- Much, much more detailed, with lots of explanations and examples of play. Pretty much every major concept in the game has some example attached to it, which is excellent. (Lack of examples was one of the two major weaknesses of Accelerated.)
- The GM sections are vastly more useful than the scant guidelines in Accelerated, with some concepts that could be useful for pretty much any RPG. (Minimal GM support was the other major weakness of Accelerated.)
- The addition of Extras - sets of strings-attached character traits that represent specialized rules, like spellcasting - feels a little shaky to me. It seems like it unnecessarily complicates things that could be resolved by the normal rules. That said, they are optional, and I recognize that they have a place in certain styles of game. (And it does work quite well when used for organizations and locations and such.)

After reading both, I'd say Fate Accelerated is most suitable for pickup games, or maybe very casual campaigns. But if you want to do a proper RPG campaign, you're much better off picking up Fate Core.

[Chrisman · Rating 4 out of 5]

## Who recommended it to me ##

Tomasino passively recommended it to me with their glowing goodreads review. I'm usually into the same sort of thing that they are, so I decided to give it a look-see.

## Who I'd recommend it to ##

D&D fans who want to try more story telling and fewer class restrictions.

## Summary ##

Fate is a system for collaborative story telling with a central, unifying mechanic (aspects).

This is in contrast to D&D (the only other ttrpg I've seriously played) in at least two ways:

1. Collaborative character creation and campaign creation

Although the "adversarial DM" cliche exists for a reason, the best D&D games are also collaborative to some extent or another. But not to the extent recommended by this system.

2. Characters without classes

Fate's character creation process was a revelation.

Fate is a story telling system with a unifying "aspects" mechanic. And D&D, in contrast, is a class system with a crunchy rule set.

In D&D, roleplayers and powergamers alike, though motivated differently, often arrive at this place where they're trying to manipulate and coerce some kind of combination of classes into a satisfying character. Either way, you're working with or against the class system.

In Fate, the roleplayer would just specify the precise aspects they want, and then start to enjoy their custom "class." The powergamer meanwhile, would either stop worrying and learn to love the storytelling, or leave for another, crunchier system.

## What I liked ##

Aspects are such a great mechanic. It's very similar to Risus' mechanic of "cliches." So much so that I had to look up and see who was published first. (Risus, by a decade!)

Also, as far as rulebooks go, this one was extremely well written! Lots of inline references, lots of examples. Call outs for "veterans" of older systems. No contradictions that I could discern. Basically the opposite of a Shadowrun rulebook.

[Pablo Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un libro muy bien hecho.
Disponible gratis en varios formatos.

Reglas claras y estilizadas para un juego de rol que pinta enfocado a la narrativa y a la participacion de los jugadores.

Puede que al ser tan generico este dejando bastante trabajo abierto al DM, pero complementarlo con el FATE Toolkit que define varios subsistemas explica como "hackearlo" para adpatarlo a cualquier tipo de campania.

Lo mas increible es que esto lo ofrecen gratis, con un formato de "pague lo que quiera" por el PDF.

Este sistema se usa para el genial "Dresden Files RPG" y para uno de sci-fi MUY bien armado que se llama "Diaspora y que estoy terminando de leer"

Muchas ganas de probar este sistema sencillo y flexible.

[Cristian · Rating 5 out of 5]

The system might not be for everyone, as FATE is very different from any rpg you've played before, but there's no doubt that there's a lot of value in this book. The writing is clear and concise and great at explaining the game, although it would have been nice to add more examples on how to carry out some of the mechanics. There's lots of great advice on how to run games, and the best part is that such advice is helpful to any GM for any game. Even if you're not planning on playing FATE, I'd still recommend giving the book a read because it will teach you ways to improve your narrative skills and it will help you run more dramatic and engaging sessions.

[Dustin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this rules set. After playing in more Fate-powered games after what I refer to as the "Disaster that came to Insmouth" I've really warmed up to the system. I really like that Evil Hat has finally put out a core book for the system.
My only real disappointment is their system for "extras", superpowers, magic, cool gear, etc. It's almost completely underwhelming.

[Ícaro de Brito Pereira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, mal vejo a hora de jogar agora!

[Quim · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

So Fate is very much a 'Vibes RPG'. It's way less about the stats and rolls, and way more about the story and her characters. Lower-case on statistics, upper-case in story.
It's interesting cause you don't really have character classes, it's more of just a concept which brings it into a range of openness. Instead of being a simple Wizard or fighter, you can become 'The Last surviving Wizard of the Null Order' or 'free gladiator of the poison pitts'. It makes it so open for what you can do and also - my favorite part - instead of damage and health points, if you sustain a serious/critical injury it'll become an integral part of your character. You could have a character that goes through their own personal arc where they lose a limb and learn how to cope and live with a new bionic hand, then seek revenge on the one who took....So MGS V

Anyway, Fate is neat. Wanna check it out some day.

[James Tomasino · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just re-read the Fate Core System in preparation for an upcoming game. With fresh eyes and eagerness to get started this was simply full of gems. I'm thrilled with the system as a player and the very practical advice it gives for planning a longer campaign proves it comes from a place of experience. Fate is my favorite RPG system to date.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been playing D&D and Pathfinder for years, and although I have not yet played it, there is a lot to love about Fate Core! As with any TTRPG, there are strengths and weaknesses.

Focusing on the book itself first, there is lovely, imaginative art, there are page references in the margins for easy navigation, and--best of all--the PDF version is Pay What You Want. It did, however, seem a little out of order to me; for instance, you spend over 120 pages reading about things that affect actions, and then you read about how actions work.

As a system, Fate Core seems to foster collaboration, to encourage players to interact with their environment, to make character creation quick and painless, to allow for versatility, to minimize "swing" in dice rolls while still making the dice matter, and to give permission to have fun instead of getting bogged down in the details. As I said, I haven't had a chance to run a Fate Core game yet, but I don't see anything in the book that seems like a bad idea, and even if I did, the writers encourage the readers/GMs/players to change whatever is necessary to make it fit their tables.

If you're looking for a system that is fairly simple and provides a lot of freedom, check out Fate Core! ... If you like a lot rules and structure and math and stuff, maybe go do something else.

[Emre Ergin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first RPG rule book I have read ever, so I don't know what is the thing that FATE adds to the table, but what it is missing is more obvious.

What is the loss condition? Without a loss condition how gamey a game can be? It praises itself as a colloborative story telling game, but even stories may have unexpected endings. While I agree that with a GM and players who are all creative enough to colloboratively produce a story that none of them can do singlehandedly, that kind of personality shines with 1 page RPGs, or even no rule sets as well.

As I said, I would count as a newcomer to the hobby, have not joined a single RPG session, so I am only assuming things. Still, thought after reading this many pages I would understand how and why this works better.

[Joel Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even to a longtime RPGer some of the terminology used in this game may be a bit unfamiliar or confusing. I had played this game prior to picking up a copy so I know that it works, though I was still hazy on some of the mechanics.

Admittedly, some of the mechanics are a bit vague, but that's part of what makes the system work--in the hands of a skillful GameMaster, at least.

I like the system. It's light on 'crunchy' numbers and charts, but it's adaptable to various genres and can be picked up and played with a minimum of preparation--which these days, where my time is so limited, is one of the things I look for in a game.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been playing a lot of D&D 5.0 rules but my group wanted to take a break after our last campaign and wanted to try a new system to see how we enjoyed it.

Fate won the vote and we have only played two sessions...so far it is a lot of fun...rules are far less restrictive than D&D 5.0 or 3.5 but the RP experience is more free flowing and as a group we are taking to it. This book is mostly a reference but contains play examples as well as everything you need to create characters and manage gameplay.

Overall I recommend...though unless you are going to RP using the FATE core system I do not think much of the book would be enjoyable to read

[Oliver Eike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to use role playing system

If you are after a role playing system where you can easily cobble together whatever setting you can imagine, this is one of the better ones i have yet to find. The rule system is very simplistic and opens up to a lot of free-form.

If you are new to Role playing, this is highly recommended. Same if you are a veteran and want a break from some games which have rather strict and far to many rules for its own good.

System uses FATE dice, but you can easily make do with D6. Where 1-2 is -, 3-4 is blank and 5-6 is +.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is arguably the best RPG manual ever written. It explains the rules clearly and thoroughly. It makes permissions to bend or ignore the rules explicit. It explains why many rules are the way that they are. It demonstrates how the game works with an example game which is neither over-the-top nor invasive in reading how to actually play. Rules are repeated chapter by chapter when relevant, rather than insisting you turn back, and also grouped together into a "cheat sheet" near the back of the book.

[Francisco Becerra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most innovative game systems I've seen in a while. It is the most satisfying rules system because you can do ANYTHING with it: high fantasy, to low fantasy, to cyberpunk, to film noir, to period pieces like Shadow of the Century; and focus into what really matters: roleplaying. Simple, elegant, balanced. Although it is centered heaviliy on roleplaying, its rules are not conventional, and take a while to comprehend to put in full practice; but this doesn't diminish the functionality of the system. Highly recommended.

[Horrorsage · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good evening and welcome fellow Children of Chaos.

My biggest issue with FATE is honestly the lack of fluff. This book is like a technical writing essay, it is nothing but what is needed to play, and while the system looks fun an functional I do wonder if I would have gotten more out of it had I had a setting book with it?

I wonder which setting book would be the best?

Still, I actually would be very interested in doing a FATE game and seeing how the mechanics and specifically the FATE dice work in practice

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't thoroughly playtested the Fate Core system as a set of gaming mechanics, but I can confidently say it provides the best setting-design and brainstorming tools of any flexible gaming system. Using this book to collaboratively develop your setting, campaign, chronicle, and PCs with your GM/other players before you start a new game makes any RPG more dynamic and narrative, whether you actually play that game in the Fate system or not. Highly recommended.

[Mo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Been playing various rpgs for over 20 years now. Having read plenty of terrible game books and good ones, this one is one of the better ones. Probably has more useful information on how to create a game and a story than any of the others. My favorite thing though, it does away with the sort of elitism that divides storyteller from player. In this one, the book acknowledges that everybody has an interest in the game. The tools this book provides can be used in basically any other RPG as well.

[Patrik Gustafsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how this system catches the players will to be a X. And simply stating that is part of the character definition. Yes getting a charged View of what X is and how it enables and hinders person is still needed. But also part of the play. Simply I am an "elf Hunter, forged in the great war between dragons and demons" I shouldn't miss that target with my bow. And get the bonus. Simple creates world building and characters Stories become the core of the tale.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m running a Cortex Prime game right now and I wish I had discovered Fate first. Fate is much easier for my smoothbrain to grok; Cortex Prime is the super crunchy version of Fate. The book explains the game nicely, although a few points are presented in a slightly confusing way, but with the Internet’s help it’s easy to work out any bouts of confusion. I’m eager to run a game using this system.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great system if you have players that are creative and can work on the fly. Harder for those that like hard and fast rules.

System is setup to be more story driven than rule driven. But I love how it can be used for any setting you want. There are a ton of add on books you can get for specific settings too.

[Judy Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is pretty well put together for a rule book. There is a lot of cross-referencing listed to help you find the related content. I've played a Fate variant (Spirit of the Century) and enjoyed it, but I don't think we followed the rules closely enough.

I'm looking forward to running this system to see how my friends and I enjoy it.

[B]

A generic TTRPG system that's supposedly able to fit any skin you throw at it.

The voice it's written in is not my favorite. A lot of references to mainstream properties that don't always click well to actually explain the concepts within BUT I think Fate genuinely has the bones here to support some interesting gameplay.

[Sureyya · Rating 5 out of 5]

An innovative and well written RPG. More of a system meant to apply to many different settings than a ready-to-play RPG. Good for people who want a toolbox to develop their own setting with. The system gives a fair amount of control of the narrative to the players, who have some control over the story.

[Krzysztof · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fate Core doesn't quite fulfill all of its promises, but it comes pretty close! A very flexible and hackable system, it's a bit unfamiliar at first, but I'm sure it sings with the right group. Your mileage might vary depending on whether you have the right mindset for this.

[Tone · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only shortcoming in this book is the lack of conventional weapons. I have an idea how much of a bonus a two handed sword give, but for firearms I'm clueless.

Otherwise a brilliant game, more literary than tactical, and probably the next system I'll run.