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CountDorku Behold my legal acumen! from the depths of insanity (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
Behold my legal acumen!
#376: Oct 16th 2011 at 8:56:03 PM

Ultra-basic rules breakdown:

To do something, you roll (appropriate skill + appropriate stat + modifiers) 10-sided dice. 7 or above is a success, 10 counts double. If you have too many 1's you botch. Each task has a certain number of successes that are required to succeed. "Stunts", in which you describe what you're doing in a fashion better than "I disarm the trap" or "I hit him with my sword", earn you 1-3 extra dice, with 1 d10 for minor improvements and 3 for stuff that has everyone at the table staring at you in slack-jawed astonishment. They also regain you motes or willpower points.

Combat is fairly convoluted and time-consuming (it's been stated by Word of God that in a hypothetical third edition, fully rolled multiple attacks will be the first to go), but is based on the above system. You have a certain number of health levels with escalating penalties as you take more; in practice, these tend to disappear quite quickly.

Charms range in complexity quite significantly. You will need:

  • Excellencies. These are Boring, but Practical Charms to increase your chances of succeeding by adding dice (First Excellency), adding automatic successes (Second), or giving you a reroll (Third); Alchemicals have some weirder additional ones that provide bonus dots to stats or provide a maximum rating for a specific skill + stat combination. Solars, Abyssals, Sidereals and Dragon-Bloods have ones based on skills. Lunars and Alchemicals base theirs off stats. Infernals, being the weirdest, have excellencies based around the specific themes of their patrons.
  • Perfect defences. Exalted combat is very lethal. Total immunity to an attack for 3-5 motes is quite handy.

Another thing you will need to do is get the Scroll of Errata. There is a lot of broken crap out there. The Scroll is trying to fix that. It's...slow going, to say the least.

Zomric from The Twin Cities Since: Dec, 2010
#377: Oct 16th 2011 at 9:56:02 PM

[up] Though from what I've heard on the White Wolf forums is that the Errata Team is starting to get done with there big 2.5 fix up, which they say will fix a lot of the core problems and will go along way to helping lethality.

"Cynicism masquerades as wisdom, but it is the farthest thing from it." -Stephen Colbert
CountDorku Behold my legal acumen! from the depths of insanity (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
Behold my legal acumen!
#378: Oct 16th 2011 at 10:04:32 PM

[up] We can hope.

Lanceleoghauni Cyborg Helmsman from Z or R Twice Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: In my bunk
#379: Oct 17th 2011 at 7:48:55 AM

relevant?

"Coffee! Coffeecoffeecoffee! Coffee! Not as strong as Meth-amphetamine, but it lets you keep your teeth!"
CountDorku Behold my legal acumen! from the depths of insanity (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
Behold my legal acumen!
#380: Oct 29th 2011 at 1:58:28 PM

So here's something dumb I've been working on for a while: Infernal Exalted explained with ponies, just in case I ever need to do this. (You just wait until I finish working on Fair Folk explained with Animaniacs. Actually, that one sentence pretty much explains it all.)

First: assume that all canon ponies with significant roles (the mane six, Celestia, Nightmare Moon etc), plus Discord, are Yozis. Twilight Sparkle has First Twilight Sparkle Excellency, Twilight Sparkle Mythos Exultant, Twilight Sparkle Cosmic Principle and so on. She also has charms that enhance her essence pool, allow duplication of powers used by others, and force her to gain Limit when unable to keep to a schedule. Rarity has her own First Excellency, crafting charms that induce Super OCD, and weaponised whining. That sort of thing. These are the Yozis of this little analogy.

Now we introduce Infernals. Let's call our hypothetical Ponyfernal Nyx (if you haven't read that fanfic and don't want to be spoiled, stop reading now). Nyx has a blend of Twilight Sparkle and Fluttershy Charms, but her core competencies are based off Nightmare Moon Charms, including the First Excellency, and she comes to rely on these more and more as her story goes on. As she does so, she begins to accumulate Nightmare Moon's powers - temporary self-multiplication, disguise, teleportation - and some of her personality traits, such as a short temper. However, her Fluttershy and Twilight Charms, plus the parts of her own personality that haven't been altered by Yozi charms, allow her a certain amount of control over this.

Eventually, it's crunch time and Nyx has to choose between two paths: Cosmic Principle and Devil-Tiger.

  • If she takes Nightmare Moon Cosmic Principle, she becomes the original Nightmare Moon in all particulars and loses the Fluttershy and Twilight Charms that keep her NM aspects under control unless she can Rules Lawyer them to fit Nightmare Moon's themes. By this point, there won't be much of Nyx's personality left, since she will almost certainly suddenly have a full suite of Nightmare Moon Charms including those that alter personality.
  • If she goes down the Devil-Tiger path, this does not happen. Instead, she takes the bits she has from everyone concerned (First NM Excellency and Sorcerous Initiation, Relentless Adorability Shintai from Fluttershy, Curiosity-Driven Analysis Technique from Twilight and so on) and uses them to create the First Nyx Excellency. For those curious, this is analogous to what she does in the story. Later, she can develop a Charmset based around her own themes (knowledge, defence of others, second chances), rather than picking stuff from everypony else's.

Edit: Also, I went on the internet yesterday, and I found this!

edited 7th Nov '11 11:17:50 AM by CountDorku

ZealotVedas Remastered in Hi-Def from A Geographical Oddity Since: Jul, 2010 Relationship Status: In Lesbians with you
Remastered in Hi-Def
#381: Dec 22nd 2011 at 1:41:58 PM

Thread Necromancy, with appropriately Abyssal subject.

I'm creating an Abyssal character who is missing his right hand, due to the injury and near-death that led to him becoming an Abyssal in the first place.

I want to custom make a supernatural martial arts for him, and I want it to be called "Ghost Hand Style." I know that it would involve his missing hand, but I need some suggestions as to what kind of specific charms it could include.

FYI, I don't need full stats, I can handle those, just some ideas to work with.

CountDorku Behold my legal acumen! from the depths of insanity (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
Behold my legal acumen!
#382: Dec 22nd 2011 at 4:51:39 PM

How about something that causes his stump to sprout an ectoplasmic talon that counts as a form weapon?

God_of_Awesome Since: Jan, 2001
#383: Dec 23rd 2011 at 1:43:38 AM

No, no.

Call it Phantom Limb Style after an actual phenomenon!

CountDorku Behold my legal acumen! from the depths of insanity (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
Behold my legal acumen!
#384: Dec 23rd 2011 at 10:49:21 PM

[random change of topic since I have no clues on the subject]

So I've been reading Compass:Autochthonia lately.

It's awesome and you should read it ASAP.

After reading it, I kind of want to run a game set in the Patropolis of Xexas. Mainly because I like the idea of robot superheroes fighting gremlins in magitech aircraft and the occasional zeppelin.

Lanceleoghauni Cyborg Helmsman from Z or R Twice Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: In my bunk
#385: Jan 17th 2012 at 9:12:57 PM

So, I've come up with a character concept that I think is SUPER COOL.

A Zenith caste Solar Built around using the Heart Compelling Method Charm as liberally as possible to be some kind of eternally hopeful hippy Music Meister.

"Coffee! Coffeecoffeecoffee! Coffee! Not as strong as Meth-amphetamine, but it lets you keep your teeth!"
God_of_Awesome Since: Jan, 2001
#386: Jan 17th 2012 at 10:32:05 PM

The Metalocalypse band as Abyssal using Soul-Dessicating Style.

Lanceleoghauni Cyborg Helmsman from Z or R Twice Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: In my bunk
#387: Jan 17th 2012 at 10:44:09 PM

hmm, and if I start with 2 points in having a Cult that means I can use my charms even more...

megusta.jpg.

Maybe put that cult in my own personal manse, with a priestly backing :D

edited 17th Jan '12 10:47:24 PM by Lanceleoghauni

"Coffee! Coffeecoffeecoffee! Coffee! Not as strong as Meth-amphetamine, but it lets you keep your teeth!"
Ekuran Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
#388: Jan 21st 2012 at 11:21:23 PM

What happens when an Abyssal reaches Essence 6-10? Do they become Super-Deathlords, Neverborn-like beings without the whole Fate Worse than Death thing, or something else?

CountDorku Behold my legal acumen! from the depths of insanity (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
Behold my legal acumen!
#389: Jan 21st 2012 at 11:50:51 PM

I believe the general tenor is that they're becoming more like the Deathlords than the Neverborn, although not quite the same, in much the same way that Devil-Tigers are Yoziesque rather than straightforward Yozis.

Lanceleoghauni Cyborg Helmsman from Z or R Twice Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: In my bunk
#390: Jan 22nd 2012 at 12:18:51 AM

If I'm reading this right, you can buy your way up to 4 essence when building right? I'm sort of feeling around in the dark building this character

"Coffee! Coffeecoffeecoffee! Coffee! Not as strong as Meth-amphetamine, but it lets you keep your teeth!"
CountDorku Behold my legal acumen! from the depths of insanity (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
Behold my legal acumen!
#391: Jan 22nd 2012 at 12:22:53 AM

I think you technically can, but I'm not sure if it's a good idea. I mean, with 18 bonus points*, spending 14 on Essence will mean you can't even leave chargen with a full Willpower stat*.

Also, it means you can't have a combo and are stuck with just your ten starting Charms. And since buying Charms is like being a kid in a candy store...

  • Using the errata'd character creation.

Lanceleoghauni Cyborg Helmsman from Z or R Twice Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: In my bunk
#392: Jan 22nd 2012 at 12:24:44 AM

hmmmmm. so how does buying the willpower work, 1 to 1?

I stuck with the ten charms to start with, yeah, wasn't sure you could get more. Focused mainly on the "Be able to seduce an entire city and/or rally them to my cause as a free action" charms, plus some DODGE CHARMS and Perfect Defense charms on the side.

edited 22nd Jan '12 12:26:51 AM by Lanceleoghauni

"Coffee! Coffeecoffeecoffee! Coffee! Not as strong as Meth-amphetamine, but it lets you keep your teeth!"
CountDorku Behold my legal acumen! from the depths of insanity (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
Behold my legal acumen!
#393: Jan 22nd 2012 at 12:34:56 AM

You should at least buy an attack ability, plus an excellency for that ability. Melee is good, because a) it's got a bit of everything, and b) it doesn't involve dipping into the morass that is Martial Arts.

Under the Scroll of Errata, which is free and you should make sure you have, you can spend 7 of your 18 bonus points to get Willpower 10 - five into WP directly, two into raising two virtues to 4 or higher since I don't think that requirement has been errata'd yet. From there, you can spend another 7 to boost Essence if you want. You can also buy caste/favoured charms for 3bp each, raise abilities and backgrounds, and otherwise pick up cool stuff.

Post your current stats and I'll see what I can do, but I hasten to add most of my experience is related to reading about the game rather than playing it.

God_of_Awesome Since: Jan, 2001
#394: Jan 22nd 2012 at 12:51:05 AM

So how mutated is too mutated?

Lanceleoghauni Cyborg Helmsman from Z or R Twice Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: In my bunk
#395: Jan 22nd 2012 at 1:03:56 AM

yeah, I dumped an assload of points into my background. lets see. Here's what I've got so far for "Forthright Steward of Harmonious Virtue"

Zenith Caste Solar

  • All Physical Stats: 3 dots
  • Social Stats:
    • Charisma: 5 dots
    • Manipulation 3 dots
    • Appearance 3 Dots
  • Mental Stats:
    • Perception 3 dots
    • Intelligence 2 dots
    • Wits 2 dots

  • Abilities:
    • Melee: 2 dots
    • Socialize: 2 dots
    • Awareness: 3 dots
    • Dodge: 3 Dots
    • Lore 2 dots
    • Integrity: 5 Dots
    • Performance: 5 dots
    • Resistance: 5 dots
    • Survival 3 dots

  • Advantages:
    • Essence: 3 dots
      • Personal Essence: 19
      • Peripheral Essence: 43
    • Willpower: 10 dots
    • Compassion: 4 dots
    • Temperance: 2 dots
    • Valor: 2 dots
    • Conviction: 4 dots
      • Virtue Flaw: Heart Of Flint

  • Flaws:
    • Amnesia: (cannot remember before Exaltation, 3 pts)
    • Enemy: 2 pts
    • Permanent Caste Mark: 2 pts
    • Nightmares: (if 2 or less rolled on d6, no willpower from rest, 1 pts)

  • Background:
    • Allies: 2 dots
    • Artifact: 1 Dot
      • Manse Hearthstone Pendant (+something motes per hour)
    • Cult: 2 dots (+2 motes, +1 willpower per hour)
    • Followers: 2 dots
    • Manse: 3 dots
    • Resources: 3 dots

  • Charms:
    • First Performance Excellency (Performance)
      • Heart Compelling Method (Performance)
    • Durability of Oak Meditation (Resistance)
      • Spirit Strengthens Skin (resistance)
    • Invincible Essence Reinforcement (3 dots) (Resistance)
    • Hardship Surviving Mendicant Spirit (Survival)
    • Integrity Protecting Prana (Integrity)
    • Shadow Over Water (Dodge)

edited 22nd Jan '12 1:27:26 AM by Lanceleoghauni

"Coffee! Coffeecoffeecoffee! Coffee! Not as strong as Meth-amphetamine, but it lets you keep your teeth!"
CountDorku Behold my legal acumen! from the depths of insanity (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
Behold my legal acumen!
#396: Jan 22nd 2012 at 11:20:14 AM

Let's see: Flaws are kind of awkward. And by awkward I mean the only part of Scroll of Heroes worth using is the storytelling chapter.

Dexterity is, under the current rules, all-important for combat. You might want to drop a dot from Strength and Stamina each and stick them in Dex.

Likewise, Appearance is a social godstat due to some awkward rules writing. Appearance 5 Charisma 3 is actually more convincing than Charisma 5 Appearance 3.

At present, you have very limited combat survivability. Soak enhancers are decent in lower-tier play but fall apart as soon as someone gets serious, and with your current stats you can't effectively hit any opponent more skilled than a mortal. I'd drop some points from Resistance and maybe Integrity, and load them into Melee and Dodge. Likewise, I'd cut the Essence Reinforcements. What you really need before soak enhancers is a melee excellency and perfect defence, preferably Seven Shadow Evasion; Body-Mending Meditation might also be a wise investment. The first rule of Exalted survival is "don't get hit, if you get hit by a beefy enough enemy you're dead". As for the third, if you really want to compel hearts, go for either Respect-Commanding Attitude or Mastery of Small Manners. Maybe stick a dot in Linguistics and pick up Sagacious Reading of Intent.

This page is a pretty good starting point for useful Charms.

Lanceleoghauni Cyborg Helmsman from Z or R Twice Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: In my bunk
#397: Jan 22nd 2012 at 12:28:53 PM

I was afraid of that. I only have the PDF of the core book, so it's a little difficult for me to flip back and forth between sections to read up on stuff.

I had a feeling that I REALLY wanted to take sorcery, but I didn't know how to move the points around. I kind of thought my followers and Allies would help, but then I realized that they'd be low level exalts, or mortals, so they probably wouldn't be that helpful.

shuffled things around, dex and appearence are now 5, redid my charms, and took sorcery.

"Coffee! Coffeecoffeecoffee! Coffee! Not as strong as Meth-amphetamine, but it lets you keep your teeth!"
CountDorku Behold my legal acumen! from the depths of insanity (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
Behold my legal acumen!
#398: Jan 22nd 2012 at 5:26:02 PM

Sorcery isn't perfect - the system is badly in need of errata - but you can do pretty much anything you like with demon summoning.

And I mean that literally. Need a surgeon? There's a demon for that. Want sex? Demon for that. Bureaucracy? Demon! Architecture? Demon!

Lanceleoghauni Cyborg Helmsman from Z or R Twice Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: In my bunk
#399: Jan 22nd 2012 at 7:29:15 PM

went with the ride-in-a-tornado spell :P

edited 22nd Jan '12 7:29:33 PM by Lanceleoghauni

"Coffee! Coffeecoffeecoffee! Coffee! Not as strong as Meth-amphetamine, but it lets you keep your teeth!"
CountDorku Behold my legal acumen! from the depths of insanity (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
Behold my legal acumen!
#400: Jan 22nd 2012 at 10:30:45 PM

Summon an agata instead. Or a huraka, using the elemental summoning spell (which is kind of Demon Summoning Lite).

Demon summoning: it does everything.


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