Exalted social combat

[Darth_Versity]

So my Zenith for our 2ed game started as a combat character, but I quickly out classed the other players, so I only get involved in major battles any more.

Instead I'm focusing more on social abilities (I am a king so social skills help), and I'm looking at the best way to be effective in that department. I currently have an Appearance of 7 thanks to my Hearthstone and was looking for ways to put that to good use by increasing the penalty to enemies MDV.

Any help or advice is welcome, and I can post up my full stats if you want.

[Longes]

Err, can you clarify the question? What exactly do you want? If you just want bigger appearance - buy Infinite Resplendence Amulet. Just remember, that it would make your hearthstone useless.

[The Rose Dragon]

Buy stuff that supplements normal social attacks, rather than has its own rules if you want to make use of your Appearance (with the exception of Husband-Seducing Demon Dance, which adds Appearance as bonus dice). In particular, Irresistible Salesman Spirit and Terrifying Apprition of Glory are very nice Charms, even though they largely limit you to natural mental influence.

One thing to remember is that it is very hard to influence someone who has reason to reject your influence, such as an Intimacy or a Motivation that goes against your influence, and physical combat removes you from social combat timing and makes most of your attempts at mental influence useless.

[Darth_Versity]

Sorry, I'm posting on my phone and it makes it hard to review what I've written so I completely missed my actual question.

Are there any particularly effective social charms/items that stand out? What about combo's? is it cost effective to make social combos or just have the ability to use excellencies as innate abilities to supplement any social charm.

I'm especially interested in making my new socialise charm effective. The one which changes an entire societies beliefs over time. I can't remember its name but I'm prety sure its the very first socialise charm in the main book.

[Longes]

Buy Black Claw style. It has a charm that gives enemy a penalty equal to your appearance.

[The Rose Dragon]

You no longer create individual combos since the latest errata. Instead, every valid combo you can know is available to you. That doesn't mean you can combo a Simple Charm with a Combo-Basic Charm, or put a Charm without the right keyword into a Combo, but you don't pay XP or spend training time for it.

As for items, my favorite is Necklace of Solar Charisma. It only gives +3 to Appearance, but it doesn't have undesirable side effects like obviating stealth or making you supernaturally obvious.

[Longes]

As for items, my favorite is Necklace of Solar Charisma. It only gives +3 to Appearance, but it doesn't have undesirable side effects like obviating stealth or making you supernaturally obvious.

IMHO, it's overpowered. It's an Artifact 3 that gives +3 to Charisma AND Appearance without any drawbacks. It's way better that Infinite Resplendence Amulet.

[TheCountAlucard]

Swear to a one-dot Adjuration with Beguilement on it. Now all of your social attacks are UMI by default.

Swear to some more one-dot Adjurations with Glorious Hero Form on them; boost all your Social Attributes by one.

Swear to some more one-dot Adjurations with Surpassing Excellence on them; each gives you an effective +2 specialty that stacks with real specialties.

Swear to another Adjuration, or a one-dot Oneiromancy, with Imposition of Law; at that Attribute+Ability+Specialty roll, you cannot fail. The only thing that bypasses this is Charms and stunts, so you should literally always be able to persuade normal folk of anything, or at least force them to spend Willpower.