General Exalted Discussion Thread IX: Errata is Combo-Ok!

[golentan]

Thinking of running an "In Soviet Kamak" game. Basically free reign for as many players as might wish to join exploring one of Autochthonia's octet. Firstly, does anyone have advice for running an "always recruiting" game? And secondly, would I be able to interest anyone as players or Co-GMs.

[Turalisj]

My advice is: Don't even bother trying to run this on these forums. People will get lost, it'll get so damn disorganized that the thing will implode.

[horngeek]

Guys, question:

What ability would be tied to painting?

[Kyeudo]

Guys, question:

What ability would be tied to painting?

Craft[Air] covers caligraphy, so I'd go there.

[golentan]

My advice is: Don't even bother trying to run this on these forums. People will get lost, it'll get so damn disorganized that the thing will implode.

I was going to run on RPoL. And I'm pretty much used to games imploding/exploding by now. *gives lix an annoyed look*

Guys, question:

What ability would be tied to painting?

As the udo of Kye says, craft (air).

[Kyeudo]

*gives lix an annoyed look*

*joins in look*

[Drascin]

Thinking of running an "In Soviet Kamak" game. Basically free reign for as many players as might wish to join exploring one of Autochthonia's octet. Firstly, does anyone have advice for running an "always recruiting" game? And secondly, would I be able to interest anyone as players or Co-GMs.

Well, Autochthonia is my favorite part of Exalted, and Alchemicals my favorite splat. That I am interested should not be a surprise!

[Lord Raziere]

I'm also interested in the Alchemical game….as Jade Caste inventor guy with lots of Eidolon…..yes….

[Sanguine]

Thinking of running an "In Soviet Kamak" game. Basically free reign for as many players as might wish to join exploring one of Autochthonia's octet. Firstly, does anyone have advice for running an "always recruiting" game? And secondly, would I be able to interest anyone as players or Co-GMs.

Well, I'm interested in damn near every Exalted game I can get my hands on. And Alchemicals are one of my favorite splats. So my interest is assured.

[Lix Lorn]

I was going to run on RPoL. And I'm pretty much used to games imploding/exploding by now. *gives lix an annoyed look*

*joins in look*

;_;
I've only even been in one of your games!
That I remember...
And it wasn't my fault anywaaay ;_;
Okay maybe a little.

[golentan]

Well, currently working on Kamak Locales. Got some plot hooks. I'll probably be a week or two, but when I'm ready for players I'll post a link. Anyone willing to co-gm with me, drop me a PM please.

[Turalisj]

I'd be interested in joining. I could help with some NPCs and stuff, maybe plan out an event or two, but don't want to get involved with serious co-ST stuff.

[Gareth3]

I'm working on a new character, and part of his backstory is being tricked by the Fair Folk. I'd like to work with the "fairy gold" idea - have him get rich on some kind of resource that's actually a Fair Folk artifact that becomes useless. I was wondering if anyone could suggest something appropriate.
One idea I have is fairy yellow jade. You can make it into artifacts that mortals can use, but all the effects disappear on Calibration. People "killed" by "yellow jade" daiklaives come back to life, wounds that armour saved you from appear on your body, and so on. It seems like a suitable concept for the Fair Folk, but I'm not sure how to represent it mechanically.

[Hiro Protagonest]

The trouble is that Asura's Wrath is barely a 'game' at all. And, I would say, a pretty mediocre one at that. It's a really good animated series that is occasionally interrupted by a quicktime event or five minutes of half-assed beat-'em-up sequences.

I make no exaggeration when I say that if they just cut out the little gameplay that is there, and sold it as an anime, I would buy it as a boxed set in a heartbeat. (It's already broken up into episodes, and it even has the little interlude cut-away things that some anime does for commercials, despite it being a video game with no commercials...)

But, as a game? No. Watch it on youtube. This playlist looks like a good one.

I'm on episode 14 of the playlist, and I agree with you. The fight scenes seem to be illogically long and a couple of them (like Asura's pointlessly long flashback of when he was fighting Gohma under Augus's eye, other than the one where you learn the basics) are just there to provide the player with fight sequences. by "illogically long" I mean that you spend a pointless amount of time building up the burst gauge where the main enemy is completely invulnerable, then suddenly defeat that enemy and some other completely uninjured enemies with only a few quick blows.

[Turalisj]

@Golentan- I've already got two people from Rpol lined up and ready to play

I can get in contact with about half the Exalted players on Rpol.... You won't have a problem getting players.

I might go with my Moonsilver caste.

[Lord Raziere]

Whats Rpol? how can I get on it?

[Turalisj]

http://rpol.net/

I've got my own game running on there, YSA. It's a lot more dedicated towards pbp than the GitP forums are.

[Hiro Protagonest]

Whats Rpol? how can I get on it?

It's another site I think. I'm pretty sure there's an always recruiting Exalted game there, or an FFRP in the Exalted setting.
Edit: Ninja'd! ...Maybe I'll join the site.

If I join the game here, could I be a solar who stumbled upon Autochthonia or something? Because I only have the core book and have zero knowledge of the city, other than "alchemicals live there".

[Drascin]

It's another site I think. I'm pretty sure there's an always recruiting Exalted game there, or an FFRP in the Exalted setting.
Edit: Ninja'd! ...Maybe I'll join the site.

If I join the game here, could I be a solar who stumbled upon Autochthonia or something? Because I only have the core book and have zero knowledge of the city, other than "alchemicals live there".

Okay, first bit you may be interested in knowing - Autocthonia is not a city. It's an entire world in the same way Malfeas is. There are dozens of cities inside, divided in eight big nations - and the biggest of these cities are Exalted. Yes, I mean the cities, not the inhabitants - Alchemicals turn into cities when they go high essence.

[aetherialDawn]

I'm on episode 14 of the playlist, and I agree with you. The fight scenes seem to be illogically long and a couple of them (like Asura's pointlessly long flashback of when he was fighting Gohma under Augus's eye, other than the one where you learn the basics) are just there to provide the player with fight sequences. by "illogically long" I mean that you spend a pointless amount of time building up the burst gauge where the main enemy is completely invulnerable, then suddenly defeat that enemy and some other completely uninjured enemies with only a few quick blows.

In other words, exactly like Exalted. Lethality is ridiculous, and invulnerability easy.

I have to say, at least it has the decency to show the Burst Gauge clearly...

[Hiro Protagonest]

In other words, exactly like Exalted. Lethality is ridiculous, and invulnerability easy.

I have to say, at least it has the decency to show the Burst Gauge clearly...

Well, in Exalted, that would be how it would work against the demigods, but I heavily doubt that the Gohma get PDs, even the powerful ones, since they're basically animals with Wyld Mutations.

[Andreaz]

Wow. The proposed solar and abyssal overdrives are amazing.
Methodic Sniper and Sanguine Trophies actually make me want to play an abyssal!
YOU SHALL NOT PASS!

[golentan]

It's another site I think. I'm pretty sure there's an always recruiting Exalted game there, or an FFRP in the Exalted setting.
Edit: Ninja'd! ...Maybe I'll join the site.

If I join the game here, could I be a solar who stumbled upon Autochthonia or something? Because I only have the core book and have zero knowledge of the city, other than "alchemicals live there".

If you wanted to be a solar you'd be waiting a long time. One of the recurring plot hooks I'll be giving is for Project Gateway, the Kamaki equivalent to Project Razor (to reconnect Autochthonia and Creation), and I will not be allowing a seal breach without a lot of effort put forth by the players. And even then, I'd like it as an all alchemicals game, so you'd have to have a really good character.

My advice would be to invest in a lottery ticket instead. Higher chance of a payoff in the next couple of months.

@Golentan- I've already got two people from Rpol lined up and ready to play

I can get in contact with about half the Exalted players on Rpol.... You won't have a problem getting players.

I might go with my Moonsilver caste.

Schweet. I'll definitely keep you in the loop.

[meschlum]

I'm working on a new character, and part of his backstory is being tricked by the Fair Folk. I'd like to work with the "fairy gold" idea - have him get rich on some kind of resource that's actually a Fair Folk artifact that becomes useless. I was wondering if anyone could suggest something appropriate.
One idea I have is fairy yellow jade. You can make it into artifacts that mortals can use, but all the effects disappear on Calibration. People "killed" by "yellow jade" daiklaives come back to life, wounds that armour saved you from appear on your body, and so on. It seems like a suitable concept for the Fair Folk, but I'm not sure how to represent it mechanically.

Everfull Purse

The Creation-born ceaselessly complain about lack. Insufficient money, poor food, missing companions... the Raksha do not understand these troubles, for rags make as many, if not more, tales as rich garments might - and ownership of anything real is precious indeed in the Wyld.

From this uncertainty, the Purse was formed, to grant mortals whatsoever they might request, at a negligible cost. For Chaos is generous with its playthings, and souls do not matter to those who'd bargain with the Fair Folk.

When the owner of the Purse strikes a bargain with one of the Creation-born, they pass on the Purse itself, with strict injunctions as to its use and the consequences of misbehavior. At least, the Raksha will swear those warnings were properly conveyed. Then, for a whole year, the fortunate carrier of the Purse will find it transforms any debris placed within into good currency. What's more, admirers will flock to the Purse's owner, full of trust and good wishes - providing further incentive to partake and enjoy the moment.

When Calibration comes, the Purse will run dry, each item it transmuted reverting to its original form in turn, each dazzled admirer waking to the truth of the Purse's owner - and to detailed recollections of any excesses committed before. Unless, of course, the holder of the Purse is ready to seek out the Raksha once more, and bargain with them again. The first few deals often seem cheap, but later on... the Fair Folk never ask for the soul of the user of the Purse - they know debased currency when they see it.

3-dot Oneiromancy
Assumption of the Person's Heart - the Purse is linked to its Creation-born owner, and can never be lost, destroyed, or set aside so long as he holds to his bargain.
Limitless Wealth Conjuration Technique - whoever is bound to the Purse can draw phenomenal wealth from its confines, simply putting leaves, rocks or even sand within to withdraw riches.
Adored by All the World - even if the holder of the Purse does not spend any of its wealth, he will draw admirers from near and far, who will willingly serve him however he wishes.
Heart Stealing Kiss - the Temperance of the Purse holder, and his closest companions, is drawn into the Purse and stored there for the Fair Folk to enjoy.

Could actually be a much cheaper item (or a far more powerful one), but this formulation has the virtue of being specific to one person and not requiring the 'owner' have a Grace forged - making it suitable for a twisted bargain.


Retroactively rewriting large portions of the last year is difficult, and would get more people complaining. Creating pseudo-yellow Jade as an Illusion effect isn't that difficult, but waiting a full year for the effects to wear off isn't really practical (except in the Wyld, of course).

Instead...


Blade of Guilt

Creation seems infested with powerful weapons, which are often raised against the hosts of the Wyld. Still, this desire for more lethal tools has its consequences, and some of the Raksha have exploited them.

The Blade appears to be a supremely fine artifact weapon, often a sword, which exhibits all the properties of such, but for one - wherre it could hold a hearthstone, it has instead a pulsing yellow gem that seems to radiate power. Indeed, such is the power of the essence surging from within the gem, the Blade requires no motes to be attuned to by a prospective wielder.

This ease of use is due to a fact that the Fair Folk have not chosen to expose to the fools upon whom they bestow these weapons - each Blade is fully sentient, capable of independent motion, and revels in slaughter, which it performs while wearing the features of its purported owner. Such explosions of violence are not common, but the Blades feed on the mayhem and chaos they create, so it is not possible to have the one without the other. If an 'owner' grows too suspicious, their Blade may turn on them at the worst moment, or simply leave them to the tender mercies of a mob.

1-dot Behemoth
Assumption of Fire Form - an extremely fine weapon of whatevevr type it has pleased the Raksha to cast it as. The Blade is capable of moving as though it were an ordinary mortal, posessing limited levitation or sorts.
Surpassing Excellence - the Blade, being self aware, is far more proficient at wielding itself, offensively or defensively, than would otherwise seem to be possible.
Armament of Flesh - the Blade has overall superior properties, bringing it on par with common artifact weapons.
Knife Hand Dream - though it is far sharper than would otherwise be feasible. Those Blades that truly belong to the more powerful Fair Folk Workers can even inflict Aggravated damage.

The Blade works like a Fine weapon, with +2 Accuracy and Defense, its (Raksha) owner's (Essence) more to distribute among Accuracy, Defense, Damage, and Rate, and +5 Damage, possibly Aggravated.

The true owner of the Blade is actually a minor Raksha which has sworn the following oath:

Guilty Power
Assumption of the Person's Heart - when the Blade is sated, the fey being within its hearthstone is at rest, and does not care for what deeds it might be put to.
Assumption of Dreams and Passion - when the Blade hungers, at least weekly and sometimes more often, or if its own arcane rules demand it, the spirit of the hearthstone manifests as a perfect copy of its Creation-born user, and will only revert once it has indulged sufficiently.

Different Blades tend to behave in different ways once they are in Creation.

Those tied to an Entertainer will wait until their supposed owner sleeps, consume their dreams to ensure they are interrupted, and abuse the kindness of those who'd trust or desire the Creation-born they are tied to.

Diplomats do not rely on the Blade as a weapon, but as a means to rile up the countryside, driving those they meet to band against - or, rarely, for - the wielder of the Blade.

Workers often imbue the Blade they belong to with greater power, as they are never satisfied with merely ordinary limits. When set loose, they seek to exploit their reflected glory and drive nearby mortals to excesses of passion.

Warriors are those who most often seek partnership with a Blade. Slipping away at night, they kill and terrify at will, leaving the consequences of their obvious evil deeds for the owner to deal with. A few are careful enough to hide the evidence, but not all.


That's a mildly defective weapon, but not necessarily what you were after. How about this instead?

Gem of Hatred

Altruism is another thing the Fair Folk do not understand. Some few might indulge in it, out of curiosity or more arcane purposes, but true kindness and generosity are alien to them. Still, these emotions are known to the Raksha, and greatly appreciated for their feasts.

That the Creation-born will barter away their souls and feelings for power is well known, and thus the Gem was created, drawn loose from the mad desires of a city dreaming under a stone. When the Gem is planted within a properly formed ritual circle, it soon fills with seemingly limitless power, flows of Essence more potent than even the Exalted can safely channel - and allows its owner to partake safely of the torrents flowing within.

At Calibration, the surge of essence dissipates, and the rituals empowering the Gem must be performed once more. There are two rites called for - one the Fair Folk reveal to mortal sorcerors who seek out the Gem, and one they perform in private. At least at first. Should the owner of the Gem ask for the second rite, it is freely taught, with the warning that the Raksha will no longer perform it - though the Gem's owner gains safety thereby, being the only one with access to its phenomenal power.

The flaw? Surely nothing coming fromt he Wyld could have the slightest failing.

Of course, nothing is free - the power the Gem so freely grants its owner comes from the kindness of all who live nearby. So ravenous is this alien stone, no act of kindness may occur twice - each time compassion is shown, the portion of the soul enabling it is absorbed, turned into fey food and raw essence. In time, all those living under the influence of the Gem will know nothing but hatred and cruelty - including its owner, of course.

Until that time comes, it is best you do not enquire what the second rite involves.

4-dot Oneiromancy
Assumption of the City's Heart - the Gem can affect a few thousand people living close to the circle where it is first invoked.
Assumption of Dreams and Passion - when removed from the circle, the Gem can plainly be seen to be an utterly desireable stone.
Mad God Mien - the power filling the Gem is too great for any counter-magic to disrupt its workings.
Heart Stealing Kiss - every scene in which someone shows kindness of any sort has that person's Compassion consumed. Each dot thus drained becomes two motes added to the pool stored within the Gem. There are no known limits to its capacity.
Shiftless Untamed Beauty - the clarity of thought and power bestowed by the Gem are highly addictive, so its owner and those who fall under its sway will be extremely reluctant to rid themselves of it.
Untouchable Performer Technique - in fact, supernatural means of driving people to oppose its workings will be flatly ignored, and even mundane methods are likely to fail.

A battery storing a few thousand motes a day, with no negative side effects. What more could one ask for?

[Gareth3]

Thanks, this is exactly what I was looking for.

[Madwand]

A battery storing a few thousand motes a day, with no negative side effects. What more could one ask for?

A working battery, perhaps?
You can't add kilotone mote pool to this artifact.

But rest is impressive as always, Meschlum

[Dragnar]

A working battery, perhaps?
You can't add kilotone mote pool to this artifact.

But rest is impressive as always, Meschlum

Technically, the book in no way states HOW mote-draining charms work in onieromancies. The sane/balanced reading is that they are instantly used to fill the Owner's mote pools, but it's just as possible that the motes are just stored in the artifact, with no explicit cap.

[Hiro Protagonest]

For those of you that have finished Asura's Wrath, the true ending heavily implies a sequel. Also, the golden spider, who's actually

Spoiler

Show

the god of the mantra

is a massive troll.

[Madwand]

Technically, the book in no way states HOW mote-draining charms work in onieromancies. The sane/balanced reading is that they are instantly used to fill the Owner's mote pools, but it's just as possible that the motes are just stored in the artifact, with no explicit cap.

We know how mote-draining charms work; there is just no reason why you should read it other way in onieromancies. It is not as possible to store uncapped quantity motes in simple artifact.

[Drascin]

We know how mote-draining charms work; there is just no reason why you should read it other way in onieromancies. It is not as possible to store uncapped quantity motes in simple artifact.

That is precisely how most people read it in my experience, though. The whole "you have to go and get the stored motes by touching it" bit clearly implies that, unlike all mote-drainers, the motes aren't instantly put into your essence pool, but rather stored in the artifact itself. And it doesn't mention a capacity maximum anywhere.

Most STs, however, put a cap on how many motes the oneiromancies can hold, of course.