Dice Trial by Fire - Exalted 2e OOC

[Rykon]

Do we need to slow down, or should I set up day two in like fashion? I understand we got 2 new people joining us, but I think the interrogation/reindoctrination could be a speed bump to their experience.

 

[Kalin Scarlet]

Any advice on artifacts and (de)menses I should pick up?

 

[Rykon]

Metasorcerous Phylactery from Lords of Creation which will give you some ways to enhance your spells, since we're limited to 3 dot manses at the moment... Gem of Sorcery in Oadenol's Codex.
Any weapon that fits your concept, but if you want to stat cheese high accuracy and rate are good things to have. Also any armor with no mobility penalty that fits your concept (Silken Armor can work) Alternative to investing in armor could be a 5 dot Infinite Resplendence Amulet from Lords of Creation as the utility from those things is rediculous.

EDIT: Note, make sure you double check the errata for any artifact weapon from the Core Rulebook. Also double check Magical Material Bonuses and the Errata to Magical Material Bonuses (they buff them slightly). If you go for something not Orichalcum for Weapon or Armor, also consider getting a Fivefold Harmonic Adapter from Wonders of the Lost Age.

I'm sure the others may have better ideas as well. I'm a little set in my ways as an Exalted Munchkin.

 

[Sherwood]

Any advice on artifacts and (de)menses I should pick up?

That somewhat depends on your style of combat. If you are going full out mage, you'll still want to have a fallback weapon besides your sorcery to use on times your Essence runs low. A powerbow would be a good place to go to, keeping you at range from the sharp pointies of the bad guys out there. Going for something smaller and easier to conceal? A Sling of Deadly Prowess is a good choice, but it doesn't have a hearthstone socket in it. You'll need to have some other item to place your stone(s) into to get their full use.

A good utility artifact that is very cheap is the Collar of Dawns Cleansing Light. Keeps you clean and disease free no matter how filthy you might normally get. This also protects your clothes. Very handy for a run through the swamps of the southeast where Rathess is.

If you go the archer route, there is the 3 dot Gladestalkers Stone that adds +3 Accuracy and Damage to all bow attacks.

Normally, I wouldn't allow you to do this, but with your character's background being a spellcaster, I'll make the exception to allow you to look at the 5 dot Third Hand Orb. It allows a spellcaster to store a single spell inside it to be cast at a later time. The downside is that the Essence used to cast the spell is committed until it is emptied from the stone. The other option is a bit cheaper at 3 dots, the Key of Mastery. It reduces the mote cost of a single spell chosen by your (Essence x2), to no more than half the cost of the spell. You can have more than one of the Keys of Mastery, but only one can be used on a spell at a time.

 

[Rykon]

That somewhat depends on your style of combat. If you are going full out mage, you'll still want to have a fallback weapon besides your sorcery to use on times your Essence runs low. A powerbow would be a good place to go to, keeping you at range from the sharp pointies of the bad guys out there. Going for something smaller and easier to conceal? A Sling of Deadly Prowess is a good choice, but it doesn't have a hearthstone socket in it. You'll need to have some other item to place your stone(s) into to get their full use.

A good utility artifact that is very cheap is the Collar of Dawns Cleansing Light. Keeps you clean and disease free no matter how filthy you might normally get. This also protects your clothes. Very handy for a run through the swamps of the southeast where Rathess is.

If you go the archer route, there is the 3 dot Gladestalkers Stone that adds +3 Accuracy and Damage to all bow attacks.

Normally, I wouldn't allow you to do this, but with your character's background being a spellcaster, I'll make the exception to allow you to look at the 5 dot Third Hand Orb. It allows a spellcaster to store a single spell inside it to be cast at a later time. The downside is that the Essence used to cast the spell is committed until it is emptied from the stone. The other option is a bit cheaper at 3 dots, the Key of Mastery. It reduces the mote cost of a single spell chosen by your (Essence x2), to no more than half the cost of the spell. You can have more than one of the Keys of Mastery, but only one can be used on a spell at a time.

I'll second Archery and Thrown as good options, though I'll note Thrown's charm support really shines for assassin/stealthy types. Another item worth mentioning for Archery is Plasma Tongue Repeaters or the Solar Cannon if flame throwing pistols or hand cannons appeal to you at all.

 

[Psychie]

The Glorious Solar Cannon is a real game changer. It does a base eighteen Lethal before any Charms are tacked on top of it to boost its hitting power. The downside to it is 1) it is a bright, loud, massive cannon that makes any sneak attack impossible to make with it. 2) it uses 2m of Essence per shot. Doesn't sound like much until you are in a long, protracted fight, then it really starts to bleed you dry. 3) it requires a level 3 hearthstone of either Solar or Fire Aspect to power it in addition to the motes you put into it, and while in the Cannon, the stone doesn't provide any benefit to you.

I'm not saying to skip the GSC, but be aware that it is a lot of weapon to use.

 

[Rykon]

Before I forget... Since Sherwood mentioned Collar of Dawn's Cleansing Light. We have access to 3 now I think, including the one from Chiaroscuro. MasterDAF , think one of these could be put on the dismantling block for study? It's a one dot, so theoretically all you'd need for mass duplicating is a reasonable supply source.

 

[MasterDAF]

Before I forget... Since Sherwood mentioned Collar of Dawn's Cleansing Light. We have access to 3 now I think, including the one from Chiaroscuro. MasterDAF , think one of these could be put on the dismantling block for study? It's a one dot, so theoretically all you'd need for mass duplicating is a reasonable supply source.

If that's what y'all request, I could definitely do that for my next crafting action. Being one dot, that'll also make it a lot easier to reverse engineer as it'll only have a difficulty of 1.

 

[MasterDAF]

[Pulled from the main thread:]

"I get what you're saying. I know a bit about how the First Age went to Malfeas, in no small part due to us. And I can't blame you for thinking history might repeat itself." She says. "But can you honestly say that the Usurpation made things better? True, the Shogunate could have been a lot worse, but then there was the Great Contagion, and then the invasion of the Fair Folk. More than half of Creation dead and lost to the Wyld. And now half of the old Solars fight for the underworld or the demons, the Scarlet Empress is gone, and the Realm's becoming a tyranny that's just as bad as ours was, and a lot weaker."

Sherwood How much of this do our characters know already? I didn't think we knew about the Abyssals being twisted Solars, and unless we dealt with one personally I didn't think we knew about the advent of the Infernals at all. The rest I imagine would be common history to anyone with a Lore of 1, but the Solars bit has me confused, as these are purposefully written in setting books to be mysteries and sources of debate (Abyssals) or well guarded secrets (Infernals). Promise I'm not trying to be a jerk about it, and I like the solo interrogation Annika is doing, but I would like some clarity concerning what we currently know in character so that I can continue to take actions based on info we have on hand.

 

[jaydude]

How much of this do our characters know already? I didn't think we knew about the Abyssals being twisted Solars, and unless we dealt with one personally I didn't think we knew about the advent of the Infernals at all. The rest I imagine would be common history to anyone with a Lore of 1, but the Solars bit has me confused, as these are purposefully written in setting books to be mysteries and sources of debate (Abyssals) or well guarded secrets (Infernals). Promise I'm not trying to be a jerk about it, and I like the solo interrogation Annika is doing, but I would like some clarity concerning what we currently know in character so that I can continue to take actions based on info we have on hand.

I don't think you're being a jerk at all. I can edit my post to remove the reference to the Abyssals and Infernals; I'm not picky about what Annika should know.

 

[Sherwood]

Good point. jaydude , please go ahead and edit your IC post.

 

[jaydude]

Way ahead of you, Shirley.

 

[Rykon]

I think we've got enough information for me to channel enough Southern Baptist to get past the Nixonian flapping jowels and "I don't want to hear any more questions about water gate."

Or rather i think i have an approach I can make work, or one at least appropriately dramatic.

Edit: and yes, I can't help but picture Mellar as a grumpy 50-60 something with a face like a bulldog and the facial expression like he sat on something pointy and unpleasant.

 

[jaydude]

"As for the present day, I like to think that we - that is, me and the other Solars - are going to learn from our mistakes, and make sure that something like the Usurpation never again becomes a valid option. And this isn't just me being idealistic. It's me looking at human history. Humans don't do everything perfectly. We try new things, make mistakes, disregard things that don't work, and hold on to things that do. That's how knowledge is built and formed. And Exalts may have the power of gods and dragons, but we were all human once."

That's a part of Annika's speech I wanted to include in my latest IC post, but at Lore 1, I didn't think she'd know enough about human history to be able to say it with any sort of conviction.

 

[Rykon]

Ah, most of my plan was to poke him out of being a punk and giving up on finding a solution. Creation deserves better than masters who have surrendered to death and mediocrity.

 

[jaydude]

I know that the Loom of Fate doesn't pick up stuff from the Wyld, but what about the Deathlords, and other stuff related to Oblivion?

 

[Rykon]

There's a separate Loom for that in 2E canon if I recall correctly.

 

[jaydude]

Thanks. Just curious about whether the Great Contagion could have been foreseen by the Sidereals.

 

[Rykon]

Psychie , I can max out my pools/effects for 6 really compelling arguments at once before running dry. I have them in mind, but I wanted to know if you had anything you wanted to try for convincing Mellar to quit the Bronze. I suspect we could turn him in one go if we coordinate.

 

[jaydude]

So, when are we going to start heading to Rathess?

 

[Rykon]

Once we've reached a conclusion for the prisoner dilemma. Right now we're still in the scene with Annika conversing with Mellar. After that plan is to attempt to convert Mellar without having to rewrite his entire memory. Wrapping up the Dragon-Blooded after that should be much easier to do if their Bronze Faction master is on board.

If you mean IC wise in terms of time frame. Probably a week minimum from current day just to be present for the close of celebrations. This is subject for extensions if we need more memory tinkering, training, or crafting done before leaving.

 

[jaydude]

Okay, thanks. What of the new characters? How is their creation coming along?

 

[Kalin Scarlet]

I'm almost done, I think. Just need to write down the background and ask our ST to look it over one more time, and I'll be set. Btw, can someone post a skeleton for the character sheet, like what you all used to post it here?

 

[jaydude]

Kalin Scarlet Here's mine, if you want to use it.

• Profile
• Stats
• Charms
• Combat
• Points spending/Other

• 
  Name:
  Gender:
  Caste:
  Anima Banner:
  
  Age:
  Height:
  Hair Color:
  Eye Color:
  
  Motivation:
  Virtues: Compassion 1, Conviction 1, Temperance 1, Valor 1
  Virtue Flaw:
  Intimacies:
  
  
  Backstory:
  
  
• 
  Health:
  -0: 00
  -1: 00
  -2: 00
  -4: 0
  Incapacitated
  
  Attributes:
  Strength 1, Dexterity 1, Stamina 1
  Charisma 1, Manipulation 1, Appearance 1
  Perception 1, Intelligence 1, Wits 1
  
  Abilities:
  Archery 0, Martial Arts 0, Melee 0, Thrown 0, War 0
  
  Integrity 0, Performance 0, Presence 0, Resistance 0, Survival 0
  
  Craft 0, Investigation 0, Lore 0, Medicine 0, Occult 0
  
  Athletics 0, Awareness 0, Dodge 0, Larceny 0, Stealth 0
  
  Bureaucracy 0, Linguistics 0, Ride 0, Sail 0, Socialize 0
  
  Favored abilities: Melee, Investigation, Resistance, Socialize, Thrown
  
  Backgrounds:
  
  Willpower:
  Essence:
  Personal Essence:
  Peripheral Essence:
  Committed Essence:
  
• 
  

  Name	Description	Cost	Duration

• 
  Attacks:
  

  Punch	Speed 5, Accuracy +1, Damage +0B, Defense +2, Rate 3
  Kick	Speed 5, Accuracy +0, Damage +3B, Defense -2, Rate 3
  Clinch	Speed 6, Accuracy +0, Damage +0B, Defense –, Rate 1

  
  Soak:
  Dodge DV:
  Parry DV:
  
  Dodge MDV:
  Parry MDV:
  
  
• 
  Experience:
  37 xp
  
  Bonus points:
  
  Notes:
  

 

[MasterDAF]

Kalin Scarlet In addition to the template jaydude provided, you'll need to use certain codes to create the tabs. They look like this (but replacing the parenthesis with brackets):

(tabs)(tab=Profile)
Character info and backstory and other good stuff....
(/tab)(tab=Stats)
Attributes and abilities and stuff...
(/tab)(tab=Charms)
Listing charms, and you get the idea. Once you finish all tabs, use the following codes.
(/tab)(/tabs)

This string of codes basically tells it to make a set of tabs, then names the tab, then closes the individual tab, then opens new one (rinse and repeat), then eventually close final tab and close all of tab creation. Except you'll be using brackets "[" and "]" instead of parenthesis.

Also if you decide to include the spoiler tag on your sheet somewhere, assuming you don't know how, you'll use the code (spoiler) and then follow it when you're done with (/spoiler), though again this will all be done using brackets rather than parenthesis.