Help for a noob

[timberwolf2005]

Okay. I'm sure I'm not the only one who is reading everything they can find on Exalted and its various sub-sections and going, "Huh?" Isn't there something out there that can break all of this down into a simple format so that noobies like me can at least get a general idea about the game? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Flagg]

Could you be more specific about what you're looking for?


-S

 

[Jakk Bey]

The Introduction?  The Setting?  Systems? They're pretty much laid out in the BWB in sequence. And the flavor text bits give you a feel for the setting as well.  


Maybe a little more info on what you're looking for might be in order.  That, or perhaps reading the book in order, because it is broken down in a fairly straightforward fashion.  Start from the Introduction. Head on through to the Setting to get an idea of the world that you're looking at, and then head into Systems to get an idea of how the rules work. Then you should be ready to create a Character with some bare bones ideas, and then you can check out how the Traits, Charms, Sorcery and the rest all works. Once you've got that down, you can be ready to see how it breaks down in use in the Drama section, and how to tell your Stories in the appropriate section.


It might be daunting for the size, but the Big White Book is pretty linear in getting you through the setting and rules.

 

[timberwolf2005]

I guess what I'm trying to say is there is so much information that it can be overwhelming. I'm trying to create a DB Fire Aspect and I keep getting frustrated when it comes to putting him on a character sheet. I know what I want to do with him, I just can't seem to get him dotted out. Does that make sense?   :roll:

 

[Flagg]

I know what I want to do with him, I just can't seem to get him dotted out. Does that make sense?   :roll:

There's a character generation summary page in the DB book. It lays it out for you pretty plainly. Is it just a matter of having too many choices?


-S

 

[Jakk Bey]

Are you unsure of the Character Creation rules?  There is a pretty handy table for the costs in Freebie points for Abilities, Attributes, and Backgrounds, right in that section.  Are you unsure of what the Charms do, so it's hard to choose the right ones?  Unsure of the Immaculate Martial Arts?  


Maybe you ought to share your concept and see if someone has some suggestions there.  Because right now, it's about as clear as mud...

 

[timberwolf2005]

There's a character generation summary page in the DB book. It lays it out for you pretty plainly. Is it just a matter of having too many choices?
-S

Yeah. That's probably a better way of putting it. But on somethings, like Backgrounds, I either don't understand the choices throughly or something. For example. I'm wanting my character to have just recently graduated from Secondary school and is now on a sabatical(sp?), traveling Creation and learning what it's like in the real world. I feel like he would need resources to do this, but if he doesn't have a career yet, where did they come from?

 

[Flagg]

I feel like he would need resources to do this, but if he doesn't have a career yet, where did they come from?

I think it's noted somewhere in the DB book that young Dynasts get a stipend from their House.


Failing that, he might be able to pick up work here and there along his travels. I'm sure any DB who is willing can always find employment doing something.


-S

 

[timberwolf2005]

I think it's noted somewhere in the DB book that young Dynasts get a stipend from their House.
-S

Okay. That helps me make more sense of that. Also, I noticed in the DB book it says that most Dynast children have several servants that attend to them, but there is one particular servant who acts as the childs tutor. Would this person fall under the Mentor category of Backgrounds and would that person also be with them still?

 

[Flagg]

Would this person fall under the Mentor category of Backgrounds and would that person also be with them still?

You could use Mentor for the tutor, but a mortal teacher would only be worth a dot or two. I think you could also justify using Followers or Henchmen for the retinue. Hell, you could even use Resources, if they only reason they're sticking with you is a paycheck.


Backgrounds are pretty flexible. A lot of it is up to what your ST will sign off on.


-S

 

[timberwolf2005]

Alright. The Background part of creation was the part that gave me the most trouble. Thanks for all your advice.

 

[Obsidian Soul]

For a DB, allies are important.  Heroic Mortal and God-Blooded allies are only worth one dot, unless they are very powerful.  Other DBs are worth (their Essence rating-2, minimum of one) dots, so a DB like Mnenon would be worth five dots and a really good explanation for how you can call on her for help.  Ghosts are generally worth (Essence rating-2, minimum of one) unless they are very old or have vast economic and/or political powers.  Celestial Exalts would be worth (Essence rating-1, minimum of one) and a really good explanation for how they came to be your ally.  Gods, Elemental and Demons would be worth (Essence rating-2, minimum of one) and Fae Folk (Essence rating-1, minimum of one), all of which require a damn good explanation.

 

[Kajata]

You might also have a problem in that if you're creating a DB as your first char, you might misunderstand a lot of things, as the system is kind of based of the solar char creation one.  If I were you, I'd work with the solar one, get the basics of that down and then move onto the other types of Exalt.  And just read the books in sequence, if you're not understanding things.  Skipping ahead probably isn't the best thing to do if you're not understanding the game too well.