[OT] White Wolf's Exalted? Is this a good or bad product?

[Skade]

Barsoomcore is right. The world of Exalted is very consistent internally, and the extraordinary abilities exhibited by protagonist and antagonist alike are very tied to the setting. As to realism in combat - its very deadly. Though there are many powers that allow a character to increase his ability to defend against or withstand damage, there are far more ways to kill than to defend. I have never played extremly advanced characters, but in the one campaign I played in (I normally GM) my character, a Zenith Caste with only a few combat Charms managed to kill a well advanced Abyssal exalted, purely based on a very lucky string of rolls, and a well described stunt. It was intended that I die that encounter to advance the story, I was later told.

The game is over the top, but its designed to be, and the world makes it work.

 

[Elemental]

Exalted can do gritty and low-powered, it's just not the 'default' mode. Dragon-Blooded are eminently suitable for a game where the PC's are good but not great (if Solars are on the level of Superman, Dragon-Blooded are on the level of Spiderman or Batman), or you could have player characters who are mortal if you really want to make things tough.

 

[Teflon Billy]

I love Exalted, but if you are planning on Gming the game I suggest you get used to one idea very quickly: The PC's seldom fail at anything they try.

I don't mean, just picking a lock of whatever, I mean huge, world changing stuff like "Convincing the King to Abdicate in Favor of you" or "Fighting a God to the Death" and that kind of thing.

it is very, very difficualt to challenge PC's in a "normal" D&D fashion. These are not 1st level PC's looking to get a few gold pieces for clearing some skeletons out of the local mines...

these are not even 15th level PC's trying to kill an ancient dragon who jealously guards the treasure stolen from one of the PC's dwarven ancestors...

These are PC's that make DC Comics Superman look like a two-bit Bank-robbery stopper.

PC's in Exalted are unbleievably competent in most every way, and nigh-undefeatable in their chosen fields of expertise.

Plan adventures accordingly.

Don't ask yourself "Will the PC's be able to overcome this obstacle?"

Ask yourself "what happens when the PC's easily overcome this obstacle?"

 

[barsoomcore]

Maybe you could run a game some day around town...

 

[NeuroZombie]

If you would like a little more specific info, check out White Wolf's Promo and the Quickstart (direct links to the pdf's below). The rules are very simplified, but the background in the quickstart will give you a good idea of the setting.

http://www.white-wolf.com/exaltedweb/Downloads/ExaltedPromo.pdf

http://www.white-wolf.com/exaltedweb/Downloads/ExaltedQuickstart.pdf

and the Exalted Homepage:

http://www.white-wolf.com/exalted/

 

[Tsyr]

Well, I mean, Yeah, TB is right there.

Solar Exalted are infused with the divine essense of the Unconquered Sun... They have the power a god flowing through their veins. Even the lowest of the exalted (Dragonblooded) have the power of the Five Great Elemental Dragons flowing in them.

 

[Unseelie]

Exalted is fantasy roleplaying with wire-fu...

If you've seen some of the completely over-the-top Chinese fantasy films that have been done over the years, that's a good visual source. So is some of the fantasy anime that's been done (Ninja Scroll, Yotoden...).

I really like it. Solars and Dragon Blooded are great books. Lunars is good as well, if a bit short.

 

[Enforcer]

I don't know if I'd agree with the "buy the fatsplats first" advice. The Book of Three Circles is a must if you have a Twilight (sorcerer) caste player, and for the artifacts (magic items). Scavenger Sons is also excellent because it fleshes out the setting in much greater detail. I also really like the caste books and Manacle & Coin, which details the Guild and commerce throughout Creation.

That said, if you like the Realm (and I love that place) then you definitely want the Dragon-Blooded fatsplat. I agree that it's the best of the four expansions, though I prefer Abyssals to Sidereals.

Edit: Oh, and Teflon Billy, wha happen? I wanted my Earth Aspect to strut his stuff!

 

[Nifft]

Just chiming in to say that Exalted is great.

-- N

 

[Wraith Form]

Solar Exalted are infused with the divine essense of the Unconquered Sun...

Well DUH.

Aren't we all?

Sheesh.

On a more serious note, are there any adventures published for the setting? I tend to be good once the "ball is rolling" but a little light on getting it in motion....