[Exalted] Need advice on running a chronicle

[blackshirt5]

OK, I'm gearing up to run an Exalted campaign, and I'd like to get some feedback; I know Tsyr, along with a few others, are Exalted fans, so...

Basically, I'm just looking for what you think are some balance issues with the system, specifically among the different types of Exalts; I want to offer my players a chance to play any type of Exalt that they want to play if they can give me a reason why they'd all be working together.

Also, what types of games do you find very very fun? And is it hard to balance and use everybody if you've got, say, a Lunar Warrior, 3 Solars and a Dragon-Blood in the same group?

 

[Staffan]

Well, there are a few balance problems, if you're interested in that kind of thing. Solars are slightly more powerful than Lunars (and likely Sidereals, when that book arrives), and quite a bit more powerful than Dragon-blooded. There's also the issue that Dragon-blooded don't play well with others - they're likely to see them as demonic Anathema that need to be destroyed.

If you do run a multi-type campaign, the best way to "balance" things is to do it through "screen time" rather than pure game balance. A Solar is far and away more powerful than an equally experienced Dragon-blood (assuming they focus on the same thing - a combat-twinked DB can probably outfight a social-twink Solar), but if they're in a situation where the Solar can't afford to show off his Chosen-ness, the DB gets to shine anyway.

 

[blackshirt5]

Yeah, that's what I was thinking; the Solars can't really go all out in a city without the city guard coming after them or alerting the Wyld Hunt, neither can the Lunars, but the Dragon-Bloods, that's a different story. I figure any Dragon-Bloods that ally with the rest of the group are those that have seen the light and know that the Solars were not demons, but Exalts that were overthrown, and now the DBs want to overthrow the corrupted Realm and place the Solars atop a new Empire.

 

[blackshirt5]

Yeah, can anybody think of any really cool artifacts? Right now, I'm mostly coming up empty, although I did just have an idea for a sword that can disguise itself as an ordinary gold coin and that allows, with the burning of Essence, the wielder to basically zip behind an opponent, slash him, and then reappear back in front.

 

[sotmh]

I run a mixed game, with Solars, a Lunar, and an Abyssal. The balance between these three isn't enough to worry about, they all get their time in the spotlight. Dragonblooded might be a little more difficult, as they have weaker charms (except for the Immaculates) and may be forced to specialize more to be as effective as a celestial. I think it's still very do-able, but I'd warn anyone who's interested in playing a Terrestrial that the price they pay for not being persecuted and having greater political power is a reduction in raw magical power. As long as you're honest about how they'll be treated, it should be ok.

 

[Teflon Billy]

Just a bit of a bump as I am interested in any advice folks could give as well.

I finally read through my Exalted corebook a couple of weeks ago, and picked up Dragon Blooded and Lunars cheap, so I am looking to run a game.

 

[dave_o]

Teflon Billy - RUN A PbP OR ONLINE OR SOMETHING PLEASE?!

blackshirt5 - I love Exalted. The balance issues have pretty much already been addressed, but as far as far as cool artifacts go...

Christos - A set of four, cross-shaped orchalcum(sp) throwing knives. They ignore most armors, and upon being thrown, fly back to their wielder in one round.

I sorta ripped the cross idea from Hellsing.

 

[Welverin]

BS5 here are some links to Exalted fan sites I've gathered from the official forums, which you might want to check since people post stuff fairly regularly.

Exalted Compendium

Exalted Wiki

Edge of Creation

 

[tetsujin28]

I still haven't figured out what to do with Exalted. 'Course, that's a major problem with me in general. I just hate coming up with scenarios. World-building, I like. Scenarios, I like to just buy stuff, and there really isn't anything out there for it. I was also thinking of converting it to Hero or BESM, since I'm not a big fan of the WW system.

 

[Welverin]

I still haven't figured out what to do with Exalted. 'Course, that's a major problem with me in general. I just hate coming up with scenarios. World-building, I like. Scenarios, I like to just buy stuff, and there really isn't anything out there for it.

How are you at making things up as you go? If you can handle it alright, just have your players make up characters, make sure they give you at least one thing to work off of, and then just go with the run from the law type of thing. All non-DB Exalts are considered demons by the rest of civilization. Combine that with the facct the Solars should be trying to fix things and you should have enough to go on.

In the game I've been playing, and will sadly be ending, the ST started off by giving us a few hints as to where our artifacts were (in a tomb for our previous incarnations), after that we started dealing with some things that were going on in the city we ended up in (can you say Abyssal?).

To sum, give them the over all goal of protecting/liberating an area from DB's or Abyssals, possibly combine this with them having to remain secret from the established powers or be on the run from the Wyld Hunt. If anyone one buys artifact give them enough clues to go off hunting for it and have that lead into the main plot/story.

Above all remember that the exalted are uber bad asses who killed the gods and even starting charactters are powerful, so keep it epic (over all, not all the time). Small time stuff just won't fit.

Oh, and give out twice standard xp. That's all for now, I think.