Weimann
2011-02-14, 05:38 AM
So it happens that in my quest to find an interesting Exalted game, I've acquired a D&D game. Go figure. It's a fact that more people play D&D than Exalted I guess. Still, I'm not complaining; as long as the system is usable, it's more important to have your group together and playing with people you like.
However, since there's no setting provided in D&D (read: no setting I don't have to pay extra for), I was considering running the game in a mock-up of Creation, the Exalted world. It's a very rough draft, but here are some of the points I've considered (since last night, when we got the idea, so yeah, unfinished :P).
Just like in Exalted, the world is divided into 4 cardinal directions, each with an elemental theme, and at the far end lies the elemental pole of that element. North is Air, South is Fire, West is Water and East is Wood. In the middle is the Blessed Isle, representing Earth.
The Blessed Isle is the base of the Draconic Empire that governs most of the world through satrapies and slave states. The Dragons here are actually born of the dragons, and the Scarlet Empress, an age old red dragon is the undisputed ruler. These dragons are empowered by the potent blood of their matriarch, making them significantly stronger than dragons not sworn to the Empire. However, there are rumors circulating that the Empress is gone from her throne, and no one knows why. There is unrest stirring in the Empire. Note: one of the players want to play a draconic race, that could be interesting.
Outside the Blessed Isle, the world is mostly populated with the Core book races. Humans and halflings are spread out everywhere, as they are wont to be. Elves keep in the east where it's mostly forests and generally lead a tribal life. Dwarves were originally a race that evolved around on the Blessed Isle, around the elemental pole of Earth, but when the Empire came most of them were killed, enslaved or driven into exile. The biggest dwarf holds today are in the north, but many are scattered around as well. Humans are found in greatest concentration in the west, taming the seas and wind, and are also often traders who sail the rivers and waterways into the main land. And pirates. They are also pirates. I dunno who lives in the south, really. MAybe gnomes? Sand gnomes?! :smalleek:
The Draconic Empire is not Mordor. While it reveres dragonkind as the superior race and will respond with violence against any threat to their lands, they are also the main hub of technological, magical and cultural development in the world. Some human and dwarven nations approaches it, but it's degree of civilisation is indisputably the greatest.
I'll also have Lookshy in there once I figure it out.
So as you can see, a rather faithful translation (read: copy-paste) of Creation. What has not happened is any kind of First Age; there are no god-kings waiting to come back. There might have been greater nations now forgotten, but no world-spanning age of glory.
How does this look like a first draft I literally dreamed up parts of this night?
My second question is about the power my PCs should have at their disposal. I am aiming for an "Exalted-esque" adventure where the players are the driving force in many respects; I've even added a mandatory Motivation line to their character sheets (and I'm considering a free level-up on completion of said Motivation). I would therefore like them to be strong enough to be able to realistically accomplish rather high Motivations. What kind of point buy should I use for that? I'm thinking 32 or 34 using this (http://nc-gamers.com/pointbuy.aspx) distribution method.
However, since there's no setting provided in D&D (read: no setting I don't have to pay extra for), I was considering running the game in a mock-up of Creation, the Exalted world. It's a very rough draft, but here are some of the points I've considered (since last night, when we got the idea, so yeah, unfinished :P).
Just like in Exalted, the world is divided into 4 cardinal directions, each with an elemental theme, and at the far end lies the elemental pole of that element. North is Air, South is Fire, West is Water and East is Wood. In the middle is the Blessed Isle, representing Earth.
The Blessed Isle is the base of the Draconic Empire that governs most of the world through satrapies and slave states. The Dragons here are actually born of the dragons, and the Scarlet Empress, an age old red dragon is the undisputed ruler. These dragons are empowered by the potent blood of their matriarch, making them significantly stronger than dragons not sworn to the Empire. However, there are rumors circulating that the Empress is gone from her throne, and no one knows why. There is unrest stirring in the Empire. Note: one of the players want to play a draconic race, that could be interesting.
Outside the Blessed Isle, the world is mostly populated with the Core book races. Humans and halflings are spread out everywhere, as they are wont to be. Elves keep in the east where it's mostly forests and generally lead a tribal life. Dwarves were originally a race that evolved around on the Blessed Isle, around the elemental pole of Earth, but when the Empire came most of them were killed, enslaved or driven into exile. The biggest dwarf holds today are in the north, but many are scattered around as well. Humans are found in greatest concentration in the west, taming the seas and wind, and are also often traders who sail the rivers and waterways into the main land. And pirates. They are also pirates. I dunno who lives in the south, really. MAybe gnomes? Sand gnomes?! :smalleek:
The Draconic Empire is not Mordor. While it reveres dragonkind as the superior race and will respond with violence against any threat to their lands, they are also the main hub of technological, magical and cultural development in the world. Some human and dwarven nations approaches it, but it's degree of civilisation is indisputably the greatest.
I'll also have Lookshy in there once I figure it out.
So as you can see, a rather faithful translation (read: copy-paste) of Creation. What has not happened is any kind of First Age; there are no god-kings waiting to come back. There might have been greater nations now forgotten, but no world-spanning age of glory.
How does this look like a first draft I literally dreamed up parts of this night?
My second question is about the power my PCs should have at their disposal. I am aiming for an "Exalted-esque" adventure where the players are the driving force in many respects; I've even added a mandatory Motivation line to their character sheets (and I'm considering a free level-up on completion of said Motivation). I would therefore like them to be strong enough to be able to realistically accomplish rather high Motivations. What kind of point buy should I use for that? I'm thinking 32 or 34 using this (http://nc-gamers.com/pointbuy.aspx) distribution method.