Starting my first Exalted game.

[Killersquid]

Hey guys. The Local Game Store near my University doesn't play D&D 3.5, but I found out they play Exalted, so I bought a book and will be heading over there tomorrow to make a character. I just wanted to know what things about Exalted I should know besides the facts its everything awesome made even more awesome and what you read in the books, like what would be a fun concept for a new player to it?

[Talya]

Hey guys. The Local Game Store near my University doesn't play D&D 3.5, but I found out they play Exalted, so I bought a book and will be heading over there tomorrow to make a character. I just wanted to know what things about Exalted I should know besides the facts its everything awesome made even more awesome and what you read in the books, like what would be a fun concept for a new player to it?

Uh. i'm not entirely sure what you just said.

Exalted is lots of fun, but be prepared to embellish and describe in great detail your actions. Exalted storytellers tend to be highly flexible if what you describe you are doing sounds cool enough, and the game rewards such creativity. The "Stunt" is your friend. Try to come up with a 3-dice stunt per session.

[Kantolin]

I highly advise you have a chat with your storyteller about the storyline. Exalted can be really awesome, but sometimes someone will randomly say 'Lookshy', and you won't catch that you are supposed to know the relevance of that and not simply 'some place'.

Also, make sure you are aware of the style of game you're walking into. I've had problems with planning on a somewhat robin-hood style game, while a player wished to focus more on slowly succumbing to the allure of power.

None of that is meant to discourage at all; just to ensure maximum fun. Exalted is awesome and really, really fun to play. Be sure to be vividly descriptive with everything you can.

[streakster]

I wouldn't recommend total specialization in one area - Even if you're a melee fighter, have at least one social defense, for example. You don't want to be a liability.

[Killersquid]

Yea, I notice that since it lacks classes, it won't be a focus in one specialty, which is great, because I love freedom.

[Ravyn]

Which edition are you playing? You're going to want to make sure your books line up.

[Killersquid]

The game store supports 2nd Edition, which is what I bought as well.

[Smeggedoff]

Yea, I notice that since it lacks classes, it won't be a focus in one specialty, which is great, because I love freedom.

yeah, the freedom is pretty sweet. just be careful you don't spread out too much or you'll be defenseless against a combat specced non-extra
it's ok to specialise a litte for survival

[BobVosh]

I recommend martial arts at first. Weapons + armor != great melee characters. Everyone should know 1 stance, plus a few supporting charms for it.

[RPGuru1331]

I recommend martial arts at first. Weapons + armor != great melee characters. Everyone should know 1 stance, plus a few supporting charms for it.

...Please don't taunt the newbies. For Solar,s Martial Arts is extraneous if not Terrestrial, and then only to have low cost, low effect Charms.

In general, I'm going to second what Kantolin said. *talk to the GM*. It's an incredibly broad possibilities sort of game, and the story they've got set up should probably have some cursory thematic tie in to your character, at least.

Also, try and pick up what hte book says on the setting. In most games it's not too relevant since it won't be specific, but a lot of Exalted games happen in the book's setting, so it's important to understand some of the basics.

[BobVosh]

Ok, I apologize. If you have access to any book but the main one, espically scrolls of the monk, take a martial arts stance. Solar Hero is kinda crap, only a few that are worthwhile.

[Tengu_temp]

Ok, I apologize. If you have access to any book but the main one, espically scrolls of the monk, take a martial arts stance. Solar Hero is kinda crap, only a few that are worthwhile.

After reading the Scroll of the Monk, I got the impression that from non-Sidereal martial arts, Solar Hero is actually the best school. Others are more flavorful but usually crap either at offense or defense.

[Smeggedoff]

Yep, Solar hero is indeed one of the better styles.
there's also that fact that for a solar they count as native solar charms so you can expand the style as you see fit, and create some fairly powerful charms.

I am a big fan of martial arts though, my current character is going down that path.

[RPGuru1331]

After reading the Scroll of the Monk, I got the impression that from non-Sidereal martial arts, Solar Hero is actually the best school. Others are more flavorful but usually crap either at offense or defense.

It's one of the most powerful, but it pales compared to native Solar Charms. Hence why Solars should just ignore Martial Arts, besides *Terrestrial* ones, in terms of pure minmax efficiency. Terrestrial ones aren't taken for their power, but because they're low cost, low power. That's not an option a Solar will usually get.

Certainly, you don't usually need (or want) to minmax Exalted, but the point stands that bad advice is bad advice.

[Jerthanis]

It's one of the most powerful, but it pales compared to native Solar Charms. Hence why Solars should just ignore Martial Arts, besides *Terrestrial* ones, in terms of pure minmax efficiency. Terrestrial ones aren't taken for their power, but because they're low cost, low power. That's not an option a Solar will usually get.

Certainly, you don't usually need (or want) to minmax Exalted, but the point stands that bad advice is bad advice.

You can make a starting Solar Hero Stylist who does 200 B damage in four 50B increments with a 6 tick action. Solar Hero Form gives the same benefit as Hungry Tiger Technique, but as a Non-Charm action. Heaven Thunder Hammer is one of the best sources of bonus damage you can get outside of Solar Melee, and one of the best overall stunt fueling charms outside of Athletics.

Yes, Solar Hero Style isn't as world crushingly strong as Solar Melee charms, but suggesting it is not the enormous trap you're suggesting. Solar Hero Style doesn't preclude armor, which is the common celestial MA trap for newbies, and includes a couple halfway decent weapons as Form weapons. I'd say, "Avoid Mantis Style, Righteous Devil Style, and Dreaming Pearl Courtesan Style until you really get what makes Martial Arts work", but saying, "It's not as strong as native Solar Melee charms" will also be true of 100% of charms and sorcery you'll find anyway, so I'll debate who exactly is giving useful advice here.

Here's my advice Killersquid: Watch Hero, House of Flying Daggers, Legend of Drunken Master 2, Hard Boiled, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Fist of Legend, Beowulf, and this, then carefully read the descriptions of each Caste starting on page 91 and decide which flavor of badass you want to be. Develop your character from there with input from the ST on things like the focus of the story and on its overall mechanical specialization. Really, no advice is going to fit you perfectly into every group you come across, so communication is key. More than anything though, read the book itself.

[Artanis]

until you really get what makes Martial Arts work"

I think this is probably the best reason to avoid MA altogether for now. Remember, the OP says he's never played Exalted before, and no matter how good or bad it may be, MA is just plain more complicated than Melee. When you're trying to get the nuances of the mechanics down, it's a lot easier just to stick to whacking things with a Daiklave than it is to try to learn the system AND learn to use MA.

So for now, I'd say to avoid MA. Even the relatively simple and powerful martial arts like Solar Hero Style are things that should wait until the OP is confident that he's fully up to speed.

[PacifistMollusk]

Exalted is pretty sick dude. The class system is a bit disappointing. Still, i've played exalted probably twice as much as d and d. enjoy

[Kyeudo]

I think this is probably the best reason to avoid MA altogether for now. Remember, the OP says he's never played Exalted before, and no matter how good or bad it may be, MA is just plain more complicated than Melee. When you're trying to get the nuances of the mechanics down, it's a lot easier just to stick to whacking things with a Daiklave than it is to try to learn the system AND learn to use MA.

So for now, I'd say to avoid MA. Even the relatively simple and powerful martial arts like Solar Hero Style are things that should wait until the OP is confident that he's fully up to speed.

So what is the trick with Martial Arts then? I always assumed it was pretty much the same trick as Melee. Defend well until they give you an opening, then crush them like a beer can hit by a train.

[Tengu_temp]

The class system is a bit disappointing.

Would that be because of some weird and mysterious, profound reason, or because Exalted is not a class-based system?

[Poison_Fish]

Would that be because of some weird and mysterious, profound reason, or because Exalted is not a class-based system?

I blame the siderals. It's a great big conspiracy that you must label yourself as a class. It's just CONTROL man, CONTROL BY THE MAN.

[Grey Paladin]

I blame the siderals. It's a great big conspiracy that you must label yourself as a class. It's just CONTROL man, CONTROL BY THE MAN.

THE SIDEREALS ARE IN MY SKIN! UNDER MY NAILS! IN MY SPINE, MAN! IN MY SPINE!!

[Friv]

So what is the trick with Martial Arts then? I always assumed it was pretty much the same trick as Melee. Defend well until they give you an opening, then crush them like a beer can hit by a train.

The trick to Martial Arts is that, in ideal situations, every Martial Art is based around a compelling tactical theme, and if your other Charm choices don't either directly improve the strengths of that theme, or directly compensate for its weaknesses, you're going to get flattened.

Solar Hero Style is nice this way, because its theme is "Take Person A. Pulverize. Throw body at Person B. Repeat until no persons remain." Compensating for its weaknesses just means picking up some defenses, and supporting its strengths just means finding stuff that hits really, really hard. You don't need to focus on defense; instead, you focus on low-cost attack powers that force the other guy onto the defensive until he slips up, then pummels him.

A lot of MAs, however, have trickier themes, and people can easily fall into a terrible character build, mechanics-wise, if they don't recognize the mechanical theme of the MA they're using. For example, Snake Style is sort of an iffy style because a lot of its effects work best when combined with other effects.

[PacifistMollusk]

Would that be because of some weird and mysterious, profound reason, or because Exalted is not a class-based system?

I'm so sorry that I confused you simply because I didn't say the "lack of a" class system is disappointing. I thought this thread was for people who actually knew the basics of Exalted and would know something as trivial as the absence of a class system.
Since you probably prefer "proper English" instead of "chat speak," I'd like you to know that I am currently rolling on the floor laughing.

[Poison_Fish]

I'm so sorry that I confused you simply because I didn't say the "lack of a" class system is disappointing. I thought this thread was for people who actually knew the basics of Exalted and would know something as trivial as the absence of a class system.
Since you probably prefer "proper English" instead of "chat speak," I'd like you to know that I am currently rolling on the floor laughing.

[PacifistMollusk]

Here's my advice Killersquid: Watch Hero, House of Flying Daggers, Legend of Drunken Master 2, Hard Boiled, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Fist of Legend, Beowulf, and this, then carefully read the descriptions of each Caste starting on page 91 and decide which flavor of badass you want to be. .

I don't know, Killersquid could probably just watch The 5th Element and the search would be over.

[Tengu_temp]

I'm so sorry that I confused you simply because I didn't say the "lack of a" class system is disappointing. I thought this thread was for people who actually knew the basics of Exalted and would know something as trivial as the absence of a class system.
Since you probably prefer "proper English" instead of "chat speak," I'd like you to know that I am currently rolling on the floor laughing.

In that case, I'll only say that class systems usually do not work for level-less games like Exalted.
And why yes, proper English beats chat-speak anytime.