General Exalted Discussion II: No Longer Mortal

[Sanguine]

Is there a background that gives you something along the lines of a Cohort granted by the leadership feat in DnD? Player in my game wants something like that, and right now I'm using the Ally background to represent it, but I was wondering if there was a better way. Not that the ally isn't as capable as a full exalt(it's a heroic mortal, most likely unenlightened), so it's not like the guys getting two full characters to play around with.

Henchman from Dragon-Blooded gives Heroic Mortal Henchman.

[Arcanoi]

A mix of Command, Henchmen, and Retainers from MOEP: Dragonbloods would probably be the best emulation.

[Tavar]

Ah. That sounds like exactly what I need. And looking up, I have it detailed in Scroll of Heroes. Are there any special rules from Dragonblooded that I should know about.

[Sanguine]

Ah. That sounds like exactly what I need. And looking up, I have it detailed in Scroll of Heroes. Are there any special rules from Dragonblooded that I should know about.

Nope. No special rules.

[Rockphed]

Aw mans, does that mean I'd finally get to play my reasonably-benevolent Malefactor that Devil-Tigers into Old Testament God? That would make me so happy.

These two phrases do not go together in the same sentence.

Sure they do! I mean it depends on what exactly is meant by "Old Testament God", but if my memories of my religious education are accurate "reasonably-benevolent" describes him to a T.

[horngeek]

Compared to everything else at the time, yes he was. That's all I'm saying on this, because this shouldn't go any further on this forum.

In other new, interested. *goes to read recruitment thread*

[Cyborg Mage]

Guess what needs a new Storyteller AGAIN!

[Drascin]

This was my logic on STing an Alchemicals game - players get to create one dynamic, interesting character to interact through. STs get a hundred.

Granted, this game also collapsed because I stopped posting, so...

I just want to take a minute to apologize to the players of that game. I was going through a lot of issues then. Still am, really. That, of course, doesn't excuse the fact that I let you all down, especially since I was harping on some of the players for doing that very thing. The fact that I haven't done this previously is also inexcusable. Ganurath, Ellas Aramond, DCGFTW, The Blue Guard, and Drascin - if you are reading this, you should know that you deserve better than what I gave you, and I humbly ask for your forgiveness.

I also have internet cookies. They're homeade.

To be honest, what miffed me was not the fact that you had to go and cut the campaign dead - hey, real life sometimes is a bitch, I understand perfectly well - but that you disappeared without saying anything. Really, should just have left a message saying "sorry guys, can't ST anymore due to RL trouble" - everyone would have understood, seriously.

Still, hey, at least you apologized for that. So, don't worry, no harm done

Though, you forgot Tengu, who was also playing in that game. Might want to shoot him a message too.

[Lord Raziere]

Henchman from Dragon-Blooded gives Heroic Mortal Henchman.

better. put four dots in Henchmen give each of those heroic mortals five dots in Command and you get an army of 100,000 troops under your command.

it only gets more ridiculous if its possible for Henchmen themselves to have Henchmen.

[The Rose Dragon]

better. put four dots in Henchmen give each of those heroic mortals five dots in Command and you get an army of 100,000 troops under your command.

it only gets more ridiculous if its possible for Henchmen themselves to have Henchmen.

Not under your command. Under your henchmen's command. It's an important distinction to make, since the chain of command tends to be imperfect (the soldiers won't necessarily listen to you if you don't command them through your henchmen, for example, and your henchmen might still disobey you from time to time).

[tonberrian]

Though, you forgot Tengu, who was also playing in that game. Might want to shoot him a message too.

No, I don't think so. I mean, he was in the recruiting thread, but...

[Lord Raziere]

Not under your command. Under your henchmen's command. It's an important distinction to make, since the chain of command tends to be imperfect (the soldiers won't necessarily listen to you if you don't command them through your henchmen, for example, and your henchmen might still disobey you from time to time).

yes and you command your henchmen. under your command.

[The Rose Dragon]

Your henchmen aren't mindless slaves, though. They are people with their own dreams, hopes, motivations and needs. Sure, they'd rather follow you than not, but if you tell them something that goes against their personality, they are probably going to object.

You might be the general, but your henchmen are the commanders of your army. Those soldiers only take orders from your henchmen, and if your henchmen disagree with you, so will the soldiers.

[Lord Raziere]

Your henchmen aren't mindless slaves, though. They are people with their own dreams, hopes, motivations and needs. Sure, they'd rather follow you than not, but if you tell them something that goes against their personality, they are probably going to object.

You might be the general, but your henchmen are the commanders of your army. Those soldiers only take orders from your henchmen, and if your henchmen disagree with you, so will the soldiers.

so? I'm Exalted and they are my characters.

[The Rose Dragon]

They are not. They are the ST's characters. Like I said, the chain of command is not perfect. You can only affect the immediate link. You have to go through that link to affect the next. Being Exalted makes it easier, but not automatic.

[Lord Raziere]

They are not. They are the ST's characters. Like I said, the chain of command is not perfect. You can only affect the immediate link. You have to go through that link to affect the next. Being Exalted makes it easier, but not automatic.

nope their mine, my background, whats the point of them if they are controlled by ST? I don't recall them being ST chars.

and Exalted not making it automatic? dude the lowest Exalts are considered enlightened Bodhisattva's. If they don't obey me they are contradicting a demigod who can smash their face in, who are expected to abuse their power.

My henchmen obey me, without question.

[The Rose Dragon]

nope their mine, my background, whats the point of them if they are controlled by ST? I don't recall them being ST chars.

They are NPCs. Therefore, they are not PCs. Therefore, they are not controlled by players. You are a player. Therefore, you do not control NPCs.

and Exalted not making it automatic? dude the lowest Exalts are considered enlightened Bodhisattva's. If they don't obey me they are contradicting a demigod who can smash their face in, who are expected to abuse their power.

My henchmen obey me, without question.

You know what happened when Solars acted like that the last time around? The Usurpation. And even before that, thousands of mortals and Terrestrials went against the rule of the Deliberative. So, feel free to smash your henchman's face in. Just don't expect him to stay a henchman for long.

[Lord Raziere]

dude why so serious? I'm just pointing out that I want and can get an army of 100,000 troops under my control early, stop ruining the fun. the npcs would be detailed in my background anyways, so only I could roleplay them so the ST wouldn't be able to, cause only I can really roleplay them.

chill. Not really being serious here.

[Lix Lorn]

Pretty sure TRD is right. Most STs will let you play your followers if you play them reasonably. But if you're using them as sheep who follow mindlessly... no ST will allow that unless the game is based on mass combat.

[Lord Raziere]

Pretty sure TRD is right. Most STs will let you play your followers if you play them reasonably. But if you're using them as sheep who follow mindlessly... no ST will allow that unless the game is based on mass combat.

don't care. chill out. why take life seriously? why take anything seriously? the worlds a joke and your the punchline. You guys want a serious game. I just want to have fun with 100,000 troops at my command.

and if you really want to be serious about, I become a schemer and instead of threatening them out right, I keep the NPC's focused on each other in their own little game of internal politics, manipulating everything so that they follow my commands- whether it is obvious that they are my commands or not, which only makes things even MORE fun.

[Jokasti]

don't care. chill out. why take life seriously? why take anything seriously? the worlds a joke and your the punchline. You guys want a serious game. I just want to have fun with 100,000 troops at my command.

and if you really want to be serious about, I become a schemer and instead of threatening them out right, I keep the NPC's focused on each other in their own little game of internal politics, manipulating everything so that they follow my commands- whether it is obvious that they are my commands or not, which only makes things even MORE fun.

Seriously?
If you don't want a serious discussion of the rules, don't just insult people and go on a solipsist rant about how you don't take the game seriously.

[Drascin]

No, I don't think so. I mean, he was in the recruiting thread, but...

Oh, right, damn. I got mixed with the other Alchemicals game I entered afterwards - which suffered the same fate as yours, in much the same way . Sorry there.

[Tavar]

Hey, looking at Authority Radiating Stance. Is this charm actually useful at essences below 6 or so? Seems that you'd just as easily tell the people you're interacting with that you have authority over them, and save a charm activation.

[The Rose Dragon]

Hey, looking at Authority Radiating Stance. Is this charm actually useful at essences below 6 or so? Seems that you'd just as easily tell the people you're interacting with that you have authority over them, and save a charm activation.

Sure, and you could just as easily tell them the world is round. Doesn't mean they would believe it.

[Tavar]

Uh, that's not really how social combat works, is it? You're saying that you can't convince anyone anything without the use of charms?

[SurlySeraph]

I'd like to slightly overhaul the God-Blooded rules in Scroll of Heroes to add Dawn Errata-ish changes, to make the different types of God-Bloods more balanced against each other, and to clarify some things. Do these look like good improvements?

Spoiler

Show

Players receive four specialties to distribute amongst their character’s Abilities.
Virtue dots may be purchased for 1 bonus point each. However, Willpower is calculated independently of Virtues.
Characters begin with Willpower rated at 5. Willpower may be increased at a cost of 1 bonus point per dot.
Characters may start with (Willpower + Compassion) Intimacies without spending bonus points.
Charms cost 5 bonus points. (I'm considering making Half-Castes' charms still cost 7 bp, because they're generally better than spirit charms and arcanoi).
Sorcery and Necromancy charms cost 7 bonus points.
Half-Castes can learn Solar Hero Style, Dark Messiah Style, Throne Shadow Style, etc. like their parent Exalt.

Dragon-Touched are a thing again. They're heroic mortals from Dragon-Blooded families. You make them exactly like any other heroic mortals.

Actual godly God-Blooded and Half-Castes seem to have a significant leg up over the other types, since it's easier for them to recover Essence and their heritage abilities are much less situational. I'm not entirely sure what to do about that.

The Demon-Blooded "places of sin" thing is yeah. They should probably just regain Essence normally in Creation. They might also need a heritage power other than "Seeing demonic things" and less situational than "Not automatically dying in Malfeas"

Fae-Blooded seem completely screwed. Lacking GWM, I'm not really sure how to help them. Free Grace? Free Appearance dots? More Essence and the ability to respire Essence normally in Creation, because as written they're completely useless when away from the Wyld?

A lot of the mutations could use some cleanup and clarification, but that's separate.

[Primal Fury]

don't care. chill out. why take life seriously? why take anything seriously? the worlds a joke and your the punchline. You guys want a serious game. I just want to have fun with 100,000 troops at my command.

The thing about that is... many people take the game seriously, and if you come to the table with an attitude like that... Well, there aren't a lot of people who'll keep you around. Solipsism works great for characters, but not for people.

[Primal Fury]

Half-Castes can learn Solar Hero Style, Dark Messiah Style, Throne Shadow Style, etc. like their parent Exalt.

My knee-jerk reaction is "Oh hell no, non-Exalts can't learn CMAs under any circumstances (except for spirits, doi)."

Dragon-Touched are a thing again. They're heroic mortals from Dragon-Blooded families. You make them exactly like any other heroic mortals.

So what's special about them? What's the point of making one?

[SurlySeraph]

My knee-jerk reaction is "Oh hell no, non-Exalts can't learn CMAs under any circumstances (except for spirits, doi)."

My logic is that the hero styles aren't any more powerful than the rest of their parents' charms, and that it's a point that needs to be clarified. Do you think it's a bad idea?

So what's special about them? What's the point of making one?

Nothing, just that they existed and were fairly plot-significant in 1E, some people got annoyed that Scroll of Heroes removed them, and it's a quick way to put the concept back in without massively changing anything.

[Tavar]

So, it's just a name for non-exalted nobles of houses? Then what's the difference with the current set up?