Pondering an Exalted Alchemical Game

[Sherwood]

I am thinking about running an Exalted game using the 2.5 errata set inside the Great Maker. The players would be a Circle of Exalts from the nation of Kamak, based in the capitol city of Ein. In order for this to work, I am looking for 4-6 players that can post on a weekly basis and have a decent working knowledge of the Exalted system. This is a game that I have run for my tabletop group, and I would like to see how a different set of players face the challenges of a dying world.


Anyone interested?

 

[Millershipper]

I'm always interested in a game you run Sherwood. I'm not sure I fully grasp the idea behind the Great Maker's Exalts but I'd be happy to create a character to see if he makes sense.

 

[Sherwood]

Excellent. @Captain Hesperus is expressing an interest, and if he joins, @ehmygirl may decide to come along too. I'll brush the dust off the material that I have prepped for the game while we see if anyone else is interested.


 
I have sent a PM to @Esbilon, and he is expressing an interest in this, too.

 

[Esbilon]

Indeed I am!


The Last Argument of Maker and Populat shall love!

 

[Epiphany]

@Esbilon pointed the game out to me so I'm expressing interest as well. I've enjoyed the setting books but have never actually played an Alchemical, as the two games I had the opportunity to both died within weeks after getting off the ground. Assuming you're not full up and/or willing to take a chance on someone you don't know.

 

[Mei]

I also find myself interested!

 

[Sherwood]

@Epiphany, you are welcome to join in the mayhem, alongwith @Mei. Hopefully you will enjoy this game as much as I do.


So, we have a solid yes from @Millershipper and @esbillon, along with Epiphany and Mei. Even if @Captain Hesperus and @ehmygirl decide to pass, I have enough people lined up to move forward.


I'll be setting up the board shortly, and posting some background material that I have worked up. Character creation is going to be standard 2.5 rules.


 
Ok, here is a stupid question: when making the forum for the game, how do I make the sub forums for characters, background info, OOC, and in character posting? I want to make sure I fix this up right and not make a series of mistakes.

 

[Esbilon]

You can no longer make forums. Instead, you make a "tabbed thread" where you have one thread for all IC action, one for all OOC chatter, one for general information, and one for all characters. The reason for this change is that it appears the guy who wrote the forum-creating-software filled it with malware.


For more info, see here: https://www.rpnation.com/threads/very-disappointing-news.63966/ and here: https://www.rpnation.com/threads/more-rp-tabs-other-news.65064/

 

[Sherwood]

So the tabs I want are already made up. I see. Thank you. Look for 'Inside the Great Maker' to be up and running shortly.

 

[Captain Hesperus]

Very 'in'. Looking at either a Moonsilver or Soulsteel Caste...


Captain Hesperus

 

[Sherwood]

Good deal. I look forward to seeing your submission.

 

[Exthalion]

If there is still room, I would like to throw my hat in the ring!

 

[Sherwood]

Aw, what the hell. Go ahead and whip up a character. But you are going to be my last recruit for this game.

 

[Exthalion]

Nearly done with the sheet, but I did encounter one question. What is your opinion on custom charms? There are a few by the Demented One I am fond of.

 

[Grey]

I have only just seen this, but if there's room I'd like to take a stab at it.


EDIT: Ack, too late. Ah, well, if a slot opens up you know where to find me.

 

[Sherwood]

Nearly done with the sheet, but I did encounter one question. What is your opinion on custom charms? There are a few by the Demented One I am fond of.

Personally, I am terrible at judging a custom Charm. That is why I would like it to be reviewed by the group as a whole to see if it is something you wish to see in possible use by everyone.

 

[vinom]

Hmm... I saw this ad last night, clicked on it to check out after work today, and find it full.


I humbly petition to be on the list to be contacted if you need a slot filled, or hell, RP someone's Follower or something. I've been in love with Autochthonia since I read the two setting books on it, but I've never got to play a game set there.

 

[Exthalion]

Here are the two biggies:

• Pattern-Modeling Engine
• Hardened-Light Construction

• 
  
  
  PATTERN-MODELING ENGINE
  
  
  Cost: - [1m]; Mins: Intelligence 1, Essence 2; Type: Permanent
  
  
  Keywords: Internal
  
  
  Duration: Permanent
  
  
  Prerequisite Charms: Any Intelligence or Perception Augmentation
  
  
  When this Charm is installed, the Alchemical chooses one of the first two submodules here to install for free. The other requires the usual cost.
  
  
  
  • Conceptual Rendering Processor
  • Logic Engineering Lobe

  • 
    
    
    Parent Charm: Pattern-Modeling Engine
    
    
    Requirements: Perception 3
    
    
    Lenses of adamant are installed over the Alchemical's ocular sockets, patterned with an elegant filigree of soulsteel circuitry. These lenses project a heads-up display directly into the Alchemical's optic nerve, feeding him structural and engineering data as he works at a project. Whenever the Alchemical takes a Craft-based action, he may use his Perception in place of any other Attributes, even if his Dexterity or Intelligence are lower. In addition, he adds (Perception) automatic success on all rolls to reverse engineer an artifact. If he is successful, the bonuses from reverse engineering apply to all crafting rolls he makes to reproduce that artifact.
  • 
    
    
    Parent Charm: Pattern-Modeling Engine
    
    
    Requirements: Intelligence 3
    
    
    A node of orichalcum slots into the Alchemical's spine, fastened by delicate nano-scale starmetal screws. This processor is capable of simulating an engineering project in parallel, calculating every possible approach and calibrating for the optimal method. Whenever the Alchemical takes a Craft-based action, he may use his Intelligence in place of any other Attributes, even if his Dexterity or Perception are lower. In addition, when crafting an artifact for which he has partial information, he adds (Intelligence) to the number of automatic successes it applies.
• HARDENED LIGHT CONSTRUCTION
  
  
  Cost: - (3m) [1m]; Mins: Appearance 5, Essence 3; Type: Permanent
  
  
  Keywords: None
  
  
  Duration: Permanent
  
  
  Prerequisite Charms: Radiant Iconography Array
  
  
  An emerald lens set into the Alchemical's Radiant Iconography Array allows him to project constructs of hardened light and sonic texture. This Charm upgrades Radiant Iconography Array. The Alchemical may pay three motes as a miscellaneous action to direct any illusion created by it to perform a feat of strength, or to make an attack. Illusionary constructs have an effective (Strength + Athletics) of the Alchemical's (Appearance) when performing feats of strength. They attack with statistics of Speed 5, Accuracy (Appearance + Essence), Damage (Essence)B/L, and Rate (Essence).
  
  
  The Alchemical's illusions are only tangible when he directs them to act. Otherwise, they are insubstantial, as normal. As a result, they are incapable of being damaged, but neither can they prevent an obstruction to another character. If the Alchemical wishes to use a construct to support other characters or objects for an extended period of time, such as with bridge or platform, he may do so, taking a miscellaneous action and expending essence to direct it on each of his action ticks, but characters may move through the obstructing construct if they wish to with no additional exertion.
  
  
  
  • Focative Nexus
  • Light Barrier
  • Prismatic Panoply

  • Parent Charm: Hardened Light Construction
    
    
    Requirements: 1xp
    
    
    Micro-scattering lens allow the Alchemical to easily focus light at close ranges. If the Alchemical directs a construct to act or creates a construct within a range of no more than (Essence x 5) yards, then the cost to use this Charm or any of its submodules is reduced to a single mote.
  • Parent Charm: Hardened Light Construction
    
    
    Requirements: None
    
    
    The Alchemical may pay three motes as a miscellaneous action to create a barrier of hardened light. He may only create flat planes, and no dimension of the construct may exceed (Essence) yards. Each barrier has a bashing and lethal soak of (Essence + Appearance), and is destroyed upon suffering any damage. The Alchemical may create and position multiple barriers to create larger obstructions, but each single barrier can still be destroyed to create a hole in the larger barrier. Stacking multiple barriers in a layer can increase their depth, up to one yard for each barrier stacked, but the combined obstruction is treated as a single barrier, and all stacked layers are destroyed if a single level of damage is dealt. The motes spent to use these barriers are not committed, and the Alchemical need take no further action to maintain them. However, he may spend no more than ten motes using this submodule on any action tick. Constructs created by this submodule last for a single scene.
  • Parent Charm: Hardened Light Construction
    
    
    Requirements: None
    
    
    The Alchemical may pay four motes as a miscellaneous action to create an item out of hardened light. It has the traits of a mundane item of perfect quality, and functions normally. Unlike other tactile constructs created by this Charm, the object remains tangible with no effort on the Alchemical's part, but may be damaged and destroyed normally. The motes spent to create an item are not committed. Constructs created by this submodule last for a single scene.

 

[Esbilon]

*snip*

1) I'm not a fan of the nested tabs as a way of posting charms, but whatever floats your boat.


2) Creating persistent Essence-based effects without a commitment seems iffy, but demanding commitment would probably make the charm too weak. Certainly, I would limit the duration of Light Barriers and any Prismatic Panoply to one Scene.


3) Perfect equipment was removed from Exalted with 2.5.


4) I'm not entirely sure, but I don't think the hard light constructs of Hardened Light Construction is thematic for Alchemicals, but that's an ST call.


5) Compared to the canonical Alchemical Charms, Prismatic Panoply is flat out too powerful as written. It is far more versatile and cheaper than Omnitool Implant or Integrated Arsenal System. However, the ability to create mundane tools or weapons is not game breaking, and it's a rather neat trick, so I'd suggest that something was done to balance it. Maybe make it into a full upgrade charm on its own that creates Scenelong Mundane items that can be upgraded to Exceptional with a submodule?

 

[Sherwood]

Hmm... I saw this ad last night, clicked on it to check out after work today, and find it full.
I humbly petition to be on the list to be contacted if you need a slot filled, or hell, RP someone's Follower or something. I've been in love with Autochthonia since I read the two setting books on it, but I've never got to play a game set there.

I'll keep you on my list of interested parties.


 

1) I'm not a fan of the nested tabs as a way of posting charms, but whatever floats your boat.
2) Creating persistent Essence-based effects without a commitment seems iffy, but demanding commitment would probably make the charm too weak. Certainly, I would limit the duration of Light Barriers and any Prismatic Panoply to one Scene.


3) Perfect equipment was removed from Exalted with 2.5.


4) I'm not entirely sure, but I don't think the hard light constructs of Hardened Light Construction is thematic for Alchemicals, but that's an ST call.


5) Compared to the canonical Alchemical Charms, Prismatic Panoply is flat out too powerful as written. It is far more versatile and cheaper than Omnitool Implant or Integrated Arsenal System. However, the ability to create mundane tools or weapons is not game breaking, and it's a rather neat trick, so I'd suggest that something was done to balance it. Maybe make it into a full upgrade charm on its own that creates Scenelong Mundane items that can be upgraded to Exceptional with a submodule?

Thanks for putting in your feedback. This is why I get hesitant with custom Charms; I can never seem to be able to balance them fairly.


Lets move this chat to our OOC thread and continue it there.

 

[Millershipper]

My schedule just filled up for the next few days so I'm not going to have time even post a character until mid-week next week. If that's too long I'll cede my spot for someone else as there's already a waiting list.

 

[Sherwood]

That shouldn't be a problem. I was expecting the game to be a slow start with the holidays being here.

 

[Alectai]

There still room in this?

 

[Sherwood]

I have all my spaces filled at the moment. I can add you to the list of interested parties in case someone drops out, though.

 

[Alectai]

Fair enough