Quote Originally Posted by Indon View Post
Maybe out of character, but in-character, hero styles are meant to be an Exalt type's instinctive expression of martial combat.
No, Hero Styles are a Martial Art to imitate an Exalt type's instinctive expression of Martial Combat, just like Tiger style is a Martial Art to imitate the way a Tiger fights. Exalts find it easier to learn their own Hero Style simply because it is easier to imitate yourself than other people. The instinctive expression of Martial Combat comes in the expansion Charms for the Exalt type, and I don't see a huge problem with having Knack expansions to the style (other than the clunkiness of having Knacks with Charms as prerequisites).

Also, Martial Arts styles should not require the innate abilities of those they imitate. Lunar Hero Style should no more require shapeshifting than Tiger Style should require claws and a tail. Martial Arts is about fighting along a set of themes, using whatever the style imitates as an icon to help you focus on those themes. Some sort of Cat Style could teach you how to fight with the themes of surprise, stealth, and grace, using a Cat as a focus to help you think along those lines. Likewise, Lunar Hero Style should teach you how to fight along the themes of adaptability, protection/stewardship, being a predator, and survival of the fittest, using Lunars as a model.

Remember that Lunars are not just 'the shapeshifting Exalt', and likewise, their Hero Style should not be focused around shapeshifting, and instead be about their thematics.