General Exalted Discussion II: No Longer Mortal

[Lix Lorn]

Okay, I'm going insane, and I have to ask.

Would anyone be willing to run a DB game? I've got a hankering to play an Immaculate martial artist and every game I'm in dies and leaves me sitting alone in an empty forum going "guys? Guys? I gave you a million chances beforehand to say you couldn't handle this, so I find the 17th iteration of 'midterms are harder than I thought' kind of unpalatable."

Poor golly. I started one a while back.

[ShadowFighter15]

Originally Posted by Xefas

Alright. I googled [Ezio "Night Caste"] and got five hits. One was this thread, three of them didn't seem like useful hits, but one of them was this thread on the Exalted forums where they muse on statting up the assassins from Assassin's Creed.

I tried googling that a while ago (can't remember when) and I don't think I found anything. Might've been the extra search options (I assume that's what the inverted commas around Night Caste are for) I didn't use. Anyway, thanks for that link. If they didn't come up with a build I might try my hand at it. It'd give me an excuse to get some use out of Anathema (a character-builder) since it doesn't support 2e Lunars, Abyssals, Sidereals, Alchemicals or Infernals. Only Solars and Dragon-Blooded so far. I think it's got all of them covered for first edition, but not second.

[Reynard]

Originally Posted by ShadowFighter15

I tried googling that a while ago (can't remember when) and I don't think I found anything. Might've been the extra search options (I assume that's what the inverted commas around Night Caste are for) I didn't use. Anyway, thanks for that link. If they didn't come up with a build I might try my hand at it. It'd give me an excuse to get some use out of Anathema (a character-builder) since it doesn't support 2e Lunars, Abyssals, Sidereals, Alchemicals or Infernals. Only Solars and Dragon-Blooded so far. I think it's got all of them covered for first edition, but not second.

Anathema hasn't been updated for the new char-gen rules, so it's even more worthless at the moment.

As for statting Ezio, I think I can do a good job. All you really need to do is find an artifact that replicates his hidden blades (There's one that fits perfectly in MoEP: Alchemicals), then go Night Caste and max Larceny, Awareness, and Athletics.

[ShadowFighter15]

Originally Posted by Reynard

Anathema hasn't been updated for the new char-gen rules, so it's even more worthless at the moment.

As for statting Ezio, I think I can do a good job. All you really need to do is find an artifact that replicates his hidden blades (There's one that fits perfectly in MoEP: Alchemicals), then go Night Caste and max Larceny, Awareness, and Athletics.

Actually; as of the 14th of November, everything that was in the Scroll of Errata (including all of the Dawn Solution stuff) was included. Says so right there in the news: http://anathema.sourceforge.net/ Solars and Dragon-Blooded have templates using the new character creation rules marked as Revised.

And the Alchemical artefact you're thinking of; is that the one where the picture shows the gauntlet and a knife in the user's hand? Because that's actually a throwing knife dispenser/sheath.

[Reynard]

You can also make melee attacks with them, so it's just a matter of a very simple stunt.

[ShadowFighter15]

True, but the knives from the bracer lack hilts and I imagine that a professional assassin - Exalt or no - would rather keep his fingers.

EDIT: I'd rather homebrew it or just use the stats for a switch-klaive and add an extra rule or two for concealment (unless the switch-klaive already has concealment rules, now to remember what book it was in).

EDIT2: Found the switchklave; Wonders of the Lost Age, page 76. Looks about right for a hidden blade basis, just need to tack on a few rules for extending and retracting it and it should look fine.

Shame I'm totally stumped on said rules.

[horngeek]

Originally Posted by ShadowFighter15

True, but the knives from the bracer lack hilts and I imagine that a professional assassin - Exalt or no - would rather keep his fingers.

EDIT: I'd rather homebrew it or just use the stats for a switch-klaive and add an extra rule or two for concealment (unless the switch-klaive already has concealment rules, now to remember what book it was in).

What the edit said, basically.

As for his skills? Thrown and Melee, I wouldn't go for more than that because that becomes a Dawn Caste with Night Caste abilities.

If we're talking Brotherhood Ezio, then he has to has Followers and Allies. But then again, Brotherhood Ezio would have a lot of exp points.

[ShadowFighter15]

I'm thinking of using Ezio as he was when he killed Vieri De'Pazzi as the base. He'd need a few dots in melee too, wouldn't he? He was still a skilled swordsman when it came right down to it. Plus he'd have to use that skill for any attacks with the hidden blades, even for a surprise assassination.

EDIT: Nevermind; I'm blind.

[Xefas]

Originally Posted by ShadowFighter15

I'm thinking of using Ezio as he was when he killed Vieri De'Pazzi as the base. He'd need a few dots in melee too, wouldn't he? He was still a skilled swordsman when it came right down to it. Plus he'd have to use that skill for any attacks with the hidden blades, even for a surprise assassination.

EDIT: Nevermind; I'm blind.

Keep in mind: I have never played Assassin's Creed, nor any game associated with it. I have never seen anyone play it, nor have I ever seen a trailer, cinematic, nor gameplay video of it. In fact, I didn't even know the name "Ezio" before you mentioned it (before then, I was firmly in the "I think Assassin's Creed is a pretty cool guy and doesn't afraid of anything" camp).

But, if this guy's main shtick is, for instance, Thrown, but you need the occasional Melee stab, or Martial Arts grapple, or War coordinated attack or what-have-you, then the charm Supreme Martial Instinct is right up your alley. It's a permanent War 4, Essence 3 charm that allows you to spend 1m, 1wp (this doesn't count as a charm activation) to count your highest of Melee/Archery/Thrown/Martial Arts/War as the stat for all of them, plus it allows you to use your Excellencies for that ability on the others as well, until your next turn.

(So, if "Ezio" has a Thrown of 5, he can use it to get Melee 5, Archery 5, Martial Arts 5, and War 5 until his next turn, plus use his Thrown Excellencies to augment his Melee, Archery, Martial Arts, and War actions.)

[ShadowFighter15]

Well thrown isn't that much of a thing with Ezio. Through the whole of Assassin's Creed 2, the only ranged weapons he gets are throwing knives and a concealable pistol (awfully advanced for the 1480s but where the design comes from makes perfect sense). In AC: Brotherhood (Ezio's other main game) he also got poison darts and a crossbow.

At the point in the game I mentioned; Ezio had a longsword, a short sword, the two hidden blades he's shown with in promotional artwork and some throwing knives. He's a skilled swordsman and a natural at moving undetected through crowds as well as a top-class free-runner.

So from that; all I've worked out for Abilities is decent Thrown, high Melee, high Stealth and high Athletics. Perception too because of Eagle Vision (and an assassin who doesn't notice much of what's going on around him doesn't last long).

EDIT: Not sure how often he'd use War and I'm not too familiar with War Charms beyond the one you mentioned and only because you told me about it.

[horngeek]

Perception, yes.

Larceny too. Remember, he does pickpocket.

I think you're right otherwise, though.

I do NOT believe he would use War. Possibly the training Charms in that tree IF we're talking Brotherhood Ezio, but otherwise, not really.

EDIT: Oh, right, Ink Monkeys.

While that's more used for the Dawn Castes, on reflection I think you're right.

[ShadowFighter15]

Originally Posted by horngeek

Perception, yes.

Larceny too. Remember, he does pickpocket.

I think you're right otherwise, though.

I do NOT believe he would use War. Possibly the training Charms in that tree IF we're talking Brotherhood Ezio, but otherwise, not really.

Gah; how could I forget Larceny? That was one of my main source of income before the execution. Mainly because you didn't get Notoriety for it and I could walk right through a crowd of people and come out with all of their money.

That'd take, what, four dots to pull off in Exalted?

[potatocubed]

So, anyone know good alchemical charms for breaking clinches? My character (jade-caste brick) is plenty tough, but his low DVs mean that small children can clinch him into immobility with only a little effort.

The only one I can think of off the top of my head is the one that links to Dex + MA and makes sure I always have maximum MA. That would help with DVs and clinch escapes both, and has the advantage of not having any prereqs (I think).

Anyone know any others?

[The Rose Dragon]

Originally Posted by Xefas

(Somewhere, The Rose Dragon is gaining resonance.)

I don't have a Limit Track. I can't really gain Resonance.

((Though I can enter DRAGON KING RAGE!))

[Lix Lorn]

Really? With how much you like them, we thought you were an abyssal.
...
Or a deathlord.

[The Rose Dragon]

No, I'm pretty sure I'm an Anklok.

[Tavar]

Originally Posted by Xefas

That is kinda interesting. So, the only confirmed fetich kills are Malfeas, Adorjan, and Szorney - but the other Yozi are different from their pre-War selves because they lost plain ol' Third Circle Souls. That does make the Unconquered Sun creation story quite spooky.

Huh? What does it change from before?

Originally Posted by Reynard

Anathema hasn't been updated for the new char-gen rules, so it's even more worthless at the moment.

Well, if you use the Dreams of the First Age(revised) ones you get most of the new rules, but yeah, it's still not that useful.

[Jokasti]

Originally Posted by The Rose Dragon

I don't have a Limit Track. I can't really gain Resonance.

((Though I can enter DRAGON KING RAGE!))

Is that like BROOKLYN RAGE?

And I vaguely remember an Ezio expy applying to a game a while ago.

[The Rose Dragon]

Originally Posted by Jokasti

And I vaguely remember an Ezio expy applying to a game a while ago.

That was me. The thread on White Wolf forums was also me. I used black widow razors for the hidden blades, if anyone is wondering.

[golentan]

Originally Posted by Lix Lorn

Poor golly. I started one a while back.

Could I join?

[Lix Lorn]

You can always beg the ST?

[Tavar]

Huh. Just to let people know, Anathema does now work with the newest Exalted Character generation guidelines. At least, for solars. Just choose Solar Exalted(revised).

[golentan]

Originally Posted by Tavar

Huh. Just to let people know, Anathema does now work with the newest Exalted Character generation guidelines. At least, for solars. Just choose Solar Exalted(revised).

Huh. Do they have infernals or alchemicals yet?

[Tavar]

No. At the moment it only has Solars, Dragonblooded, and Mortals. I think on the website it lists Abyssals as the next projected add on.

[Cyborg Mage]

I remember The Rose Dragon suggested a Pokemon expy campaign a while back. Can't remember if there is still any interest, but it will be homebrewed! (Tomorrow.)

[Tavar]

Not sure about others, but I'm still interested.

Also, does bureaucracy actually do anything in the game? Or is it entirely dependent on the St?

[Kyeudo]

Originally Posted by Tavar

Not sure about others, but I'm still interested.

Also, does bureaucracy actually do anything in the game? Or is it entirely dependent on the St?

As exists? It's mostly used by ghosts, who can use it as a combat ability with some Arcanoi. Otherwise, its whatever you can get out of your Storyteller.

[Xefas]

Originally Posted by Tavar

Not sure about others, but I'm still interested.

Also, does bureaucracy actually do anything in the game? Or is it entirely dependent on the St?

Well, there are dramatic rules for using it to evaluate goods. So, I guess it might be good for an Exalt who is 1) worried about money 2) predisposed towards seeking it through mercantile channels instead of, say, adventuring and 3) doesn't have one of those easy ways to get infinite munnies.

It is implied to be used for anything involving bribery, business, money, or that sort of thing. I think it's fairly important for Sidereals not to go to Super Jail for using their charms, as well.

Originally Posted by Tavar

Huh? What does it change from before?

The description of how a Primordial spits out a fetich soul and the story of how The Shadow That Was spat out the Unconquered Sun are very similar. Previously, I thought the connection would be invalidated by the fact that The Shadow That Was suffered fetich death to become the Ebon Dragon, yet Sol still lived. However, now I know that the Ebon Dragon has never suffered fetich death.

Given the Ebon Dragon's fascination with antagonism, it doesn't seem a huge leap to have his fetich defined as the purest possible antagonism to himself. He is a shadow, and his core is light to cast that shadow.

It's still unlikely; but kind of a cool theory.

[The Rose Dragon]

Originally Posted by Xefas

The description of how a Primordial spits out a fetich soul and the story of how The Shadow That Was spat out the Unconquered Sun are very similar. Previously, I thought the connection would be invalidated by the fact that The Shadow That Was suffered fetich death to become the Ebon Dragon, yet Sol still lived. However, now I know that the Ebon Dragon has never suffered fetich death.

Given the Ebon Dragon's fascination with antagonism, it doesn't seem a huge leap to have his fetich defined as the purest possible antagonism to himself. He is a shadow, and his core is light to cast that shadow.

It's still unlikely; but kind of a cool theory.

The Unconquered Sun was created by he who became Malfeas, at the urging of the Dragon's Shadow.

[horngeek]

It's still an awesome, awesome theory.