- Location
- Pittsburgh, PA
Either 'Heath' or 'Crag'.
General Exalted Thread
- Thread starter Aleph
- Start date
How is that (most-played edition) determined? Sales numbers..?
- Location
- Ottawa
Nothing rigorous, just general impressions from being in the fandom.
But I'd be shocked if 2e was more played than 3e these days.
But I'd be shocked if 2e was more played than 3e these days.
Touch of Sepia
Artisan of the Vital Tincture
- Location
- Connecticut
Is 2e currently more played than 2e, perhaps, but much of the 2e community has been driven out.
Is 3e now played more than 2e at it's height, most certainly not.
- Location
- Canada
On a different topic, is anyone aware of any kind of Ysyr fan write ups? A quick search showed the massive 14 post RP thread, Ysyr must fall, which looks super cool, but lacking any kind of detailed setting write ups in the IC or OOC threads. Curious about non SV content if people know if it as well?
- Location
- my house
They show up in a campaign I'm writing but it only goes into their culture slightly
Their is a roleplay log on archive of our own call Wyld-Dark Sea where they are an important part of the game. One of the Solars was a slave of theirs and wants revenge.
I'm so happy <3 Thank you for reccing my campaign logs <3
I don't have an actual full doc for it, though I may try to make one, depending on my health issues. The big thing with Ysyr in Tales of the Wyld-Dark Sea is that the Engines of Ysyr, which spread Sorcery to a few of those born on the island, and mutate everyone else, have allowed a magocracy of pulp Sorcerer tyrants to rule over a massive population of slaves. They are an empire by magic power, but their infighting has cursed the land until it became a true wasteland, the only life on it is that which can thrive on poison and malice. They import food in vast amounts, grow it in biodomes constructed by magic and slave labor using imported dirt to grow crops, and force their overseas colonies to work to grow food to feed their empire. The Overlords are the top 100 Sorcerers, made powerful by demonic pacts and Sorcerous transhumanism, reaching the peak of what one who was once mortal can become without something like Exaltation to step in, and then lesser Lords rule various fiefdoms and work to sabotage each other and sustain Ysyr and grow their own power in an eternal flurry of backstabbing and viciousness, as they remake themselves in Hell's image, with Hell's aid, worshipping a pantheon of Demon Princes (Oribilis, Erembour, Sibri, Ipithymia as the most widely revered on Ysyr, them and their 28 souls, though others are worshipped as well).
With the River of Blood, the Cirrus Skiff, the Plague of Bronze Snakes, Infallible Messenger, enchanted ships of ironwood and magic, and demonic and raksha slaves, they are Prasad's great rival in the Dreaming Sea, disunited, but with far more Sorcerers than Prasad has Exalted, and with their Overlords rivaling, in some ways, the might of the Anathema, they are a forced to be reckoned with, and carefully so, for the Lords of Ysyr are ever arrogant and deceitful.
And a link to the actual gamelogs, starring @Omicron, @Maugan Ra, and @emeralis00, who are some of the best players I could have possibly asked for:
Tales of the Wyld-Dark Sea - CodexOmicron, emeralis00 (MeatcarpetPrincess), kaiyatime, MauganRa13 - Exalted (Roleplaying Game) [Archive of Our Own]
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
archiveofourown.org
I have started to read this thread in order to find out about cool homebrew demons (I read EarthScorpion's quest with the imprisoned Demon of prophecy descending from Oramus). Time will tell how far I make it in the thread before using the search function.
But I had some questions about demons. Many second and third circle demons are also locations/features. Is this a universal trait or is it more of a quirk that some demons follow. I kind of want this to be potentially universal but not necessarily universal if that makes sense? So if one of the Yozi fully unfurled their world body then all of their second and third circles would be present in some sense but the Yozi are not necessarily capable of doing so in their present condition.
Third circle demons are created by first and second circle demons as servants, tools, and playthings. And I'm not certain what this sort of process usually looks like. When Octavian decides to invent oil demons is it a technical process in a workshop, a weird biological function where, or something more mystical? Or when Zed was imprisoned were his servants summoned, new creations, or fresh spawning of old designs? Hmm. Selective pressures in hell. Just how some Demon species are widespread while others might exist primarily via the efforts of their progenitors.
But I had some questions about demons. Many second and third circle demons are also locations/features. Is this a universal trait or is it more of a quirk that some demons follow. I kind of want this to be potentially universal but not necessarily universal if that makes sense? So if one of the Yozi fully unfurled their world body then all of their second and third circles would be present in some sense but the Yozi are not necessarily capable of doing so in their present condition.
Third circle demons are created by first and second circle demons as servants, tools, and playthings. And I'm not certain what this sort of process usually looks like. When Octavian decides to invent oil demons is it a technical process in a workshop, a weird biological function where, or something more mystical? Or when Zed was imprisoned were his servants summoned, new creations, or fresh spawning of old designs? Hmm. Selective pressures in hell. Just how some Demon species are widespread while others might exist primarily via the efforts of their progenitors.
Blaque
Resident Catblob
- Location
- SLC UT
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
So early in 3e, someone posted a cool "Prehistoric Fauna in Books" doc. I couldn't find it at a point and frankly had my own interpretations of things, so made my own version at a point that I have now updated to even include my critter I chose for Many-Faced Strangers.
Anyone interested can check it out here. It basiclaly is "What is this animal IRL" for various critters through Exalted 3e, incluidng ones with more ambiguous origins that I have chosen to interpret. Enjoy.
docs.google.com
Anyone interested can check it out here. It basiclaly is "What is this animal IRL" for various critters through Exalted 3e, incluidng ones with more ambiguous origins that I have chosen to interpret. Enjoy.
Exalted Prehistoric Fauna
Exalted Third Edition Angler Lizard Tanystropheus Meyer, 1852 http://markwitton-com.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-lifestyle-of-tanystropheus-part-1.html https://twitter.com/MarkWitton/status/630774441501413376?s=20 http://www.prehistoric-wildlife.com/species/t/tanystropheus.html Armored Ter...
docs.google.com
- Location
- United States
So the answer to this is basically that it depends on the demon. There's no real standardized process for any of their manifestations, because they're all unique manifestations. If a Third or Second Circle manifests as a landscape, that's more representative of their nature and/or the massive amount of their power; that's why most of the location Demons are Third Circles. And as far as First Circles go, the way they're made also depends on the Demon in question. Unlike Third and Second Circles, who can represent emotional states or a certain purview, First Circles are inherently the result of a Demon's actions, either intentionally or unintentionally. Sometimes they can propagate as a species on their own, sometimes they can't, but the key here is that there is no "standard" way to do it. It's all based on what story you want to tell and what character you want to highlight.
1. Not all 3CDs are landscapes (for example, Jacinct is not literally a bridge, and Erembour drapes herself in the Dragon's shadows but is herself human-sized), but many have lanscape-scape bodies. Most 2CDs are not landscape scale - Octavian, for example, is just expy!Bowser.
2. Depends on the progenitor, their themes, their aesthetics, and the demon they're making. Octavian feels like the kind of chap who'll spit in a hole and have his people tend to it before pulling out a newborn demon a la the uruk hai, while another might pluck one of her hairs, tie it around a bone, and burn it in a fire. Just make sure it's aesthetic and fun and call it a day.
I was wondering, what are the different second circle demon titles about. The Warden Soul, Defining Soul etc. I sort of understand what they mean but having an overview would really clear things up. Also looking at some a list of demons I see a couple of second circles which apparently embody abnormal purviews. Is that an actual thing that people think is cool or is it another example of questionable creative decisions?
In addition I have been trying to brainstorm third circle demons. Such as an unstable soul of Cythera who seeks a way to turn back time (among several other impossible goals). A Soul of Metagaos who believes that people are ruled by their desires. And a soul of Metagaos who represents a desire to be an antisocial swamp monster.
In addition I have been trying to brainstorm third circle demons. Such as an unstable soul of Cythera who seeks a way to turn back time (among several other impossible goals). A Soul of Metagaos who believes that people are ruled by their desires. And a soul of Metagaos who represents a desire to be an antisocial swamp monster.
- Location
- The North
For the most part the titles held by Second Circle Demons refer to their conceptual relationships with their Oversouls, usually through metaphors. Berengiere is the Indulgent Soul of Ligier, and is herself an indulgent craftswoman who creates a one-of-a-kind wonder in the Demon City. You could look at this in a variety of ways: she represents an indulgence on Ligier's part, being a focused crafter with little else to her purview, able to single-mindedly pursue her art. She is the subject of much adoration and love by her cult, and through their worship she indulges. There's also the fact that she's the solitary tender of a lonesome grave - I wonder if that, too, could reflect something Ligier wishes he could indulge in.
I like to look at Defining Souls as representing the 'heart' of their Oversoul's conflict. For a fan example, take the Third Circle Soul Ackanes, the Moon Untethered By Night, created by @Zaleramancer An impossibly-powerful living stellar phenomena of a woman who strides across the surface of her untouchably hazardous moon without ever opening her eyes. She is defined, in turn, by Ayamra, the Maiden in the Maze. Make whatever connections you see fit to make, there.
Another fanmade example from Zale (who is really good at writing demons imo), this time coming from the Ebon Dragon. Radomil, the Golden-Heart Prince, is a shining and shimmering figure who wishes to help others. He is a noble and kind person whose breath is white snakes the touch of which heals the sick and the injured, who conjures a princely light that endows others with the power to bring about righteous ends. His heart bleeds for the thronging masses of demonkind, who come to his tower in search of nepenthe but find only disappointment, for his breath is cursed to never heal the ails of demonkind. He wishes, at the core of his heart, to end all human suffering in the world.
His Indulgent Soul is Jindra, the Unrepentant Slaughter Beast.
Exalted Demons are fun!
I like to look at Defining Souls as representing the 'heart' of their Oversoul's conflict. For a fan example, take the Third Circle Soul Ackanes, the Moon Untethered By Night, created by @Zaleramancer An impossibly-powerful living stellar phenomena of a woman who strides across the surface of her untouchably hazardous moon without ever opening her eyes. She is defined, in turn, by Ayamra, the Maiden in the Maze. Make whatever connections you see fit to make, there.
Another fanmade example from Zale (who is really good at writing demons imo), this time coming from the Ebon Dragon. Radomil, the Golden-Heart Prince, is a shining and shimmering figure who wishes to help others. He is a noble and kind person whose breath is white snakes the touch of which heals the sick and the injured, who conjures a princely light that endows others with the power to bring about righteous ends. His heart bleeds for the thronging masses of demonkind, who come to his tower in search of nepenthe but find only disappointment, for his breath is cursed to never heal the ails of demonkind. He wishes, at the core of his heart, to end all human suffering in the world.
His Indulgent Soul is Jindra, the Unrepentant Slaughter Beast.
Exalted Demons are fun!
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Since I've been pestered about it on Discord (for some reason people don't want to trawl this whole thread to find my XS stuff), I've added a new document to my Homebrew Hub document to hold XS homebrew.
For reference, this is the link: ESsential Things
For reference, this is the link: ESsential Things
HalfTangible
Only half sane (it's less cringe)
- Location
- Valkyrie, Primus
Final battle time
Circlemate rolls 19 dice, rerolling 1s until they fail to appear
Gets 4 successes.
Him: "OH COME ON!!"
EDIT: He uses Single Point and his sword just went from 15i to 54i in a single attack.
This guy has nothing to complain about.
Circlemate rolls 19 dice, rerolling 1s until they fail to appear
Gets 4 successes.
Him: "OH COME ON!!"
EDIT: He uses Single Point and his sword just went from 15i to 54i in a single attack.
This guy has nothing to complain about.
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I am. Still thinking/obsessing about Exalted. I've reached page 367 of this thread, the worst of the arguments seem to have died down. Or maybe I just got better at skipping over them. My brain is really active today and I feel a need to talk. I read through EarthScorpion's Green Cherry Demonomicon and it was good. Made me want to come up with a third circle and I did eventually come up with a decent concept, Haggar the Tomb Archivist, 12th soul of the Sphere of Speech. Reactions to random things. I like the idea of elemental races in the vein of the Gerudo from Legend of Zelda. And the idea that the Scarlet Empress might have been a clone of Adorjan to be amusing.
Read one of the Third Circles written by Aleph, Astrea the Heavenly Inferno, who is very cool. And she has a plothook about trying to create a new type of Exalted in the vein of the dragon blooded. I imagine they would actually be the creation of five different Third Circles, all tied with different luminary bodies in Malfeas. Ligier the Green Sun, Astrea the Heavenly Inferno, Sima the Seven Tailed Comet, Ululaya the Blood Red Moon, and the Contrary One (Noh who is also a moon). Their castes would possibly be named after lesser gemstones.
Read one of the Third Circles written by Aleph, Astrea the Heavenly Inferno, who is very cool. And she has a plothook about trying to create a new type of Exalted in the vein of the dragon blooded. I imagine they would actually be the creation of five different Third Circles, all tied with different luminary bodies in Malfeas. Ligier the Green Sun, Astrea the Heavenly Inferno, Sima the Seven Tailed Comet, Ululaya the Blood Red Moon, and the Contrary One (Noh who is also a moon). Their castes would possibly be named after lesser gemstones.
- Location
- Washington, USA
It's surprisingly compatible with her philosophy of rule, particularly "dishonor before death" - per Adorjan's excellency, that sort of exile with the prospect of return in a later emergency hits 'lays low the proud,' that whole thing about 'Her depredations inspire heroes to reach their full potential through the crucible of tragedy, invariably ruining their lives in the process,' as well as 'take away sources of comfort,' and return condition hits the last few clauses. There isn't a specific plan, but those exiled troublemakers will probably eventually be useful for some crisis or other, so creating such a strategic reserve constitutes "greater and immediate purpose" "whose consequences will not manifest until a later time."
And then there's the whole 'refuses to be understood' thing. What's her real name, anyway?
Hmm. Some people I know don't like the idea of new Exalts. I remember seeing Earth Scorpion complaining about it. But I had a thought, even if new Exalts are not possible it should be possible to create interesting stuff in the same vein. Just the Exaltion takes the form of a third soul and we know from the Lintha that there are other ways to add onto the basic human metabiology. Like Ligier could create a set of sword shaped behemoths that while native to hell can take up residence in a human soul granting power.
- Location
- Ottawa
3e has, for better or for worse, basically settled that argument. New Exalts are here, no sense arguing about it.
Personally I think that new non-Exalted splats are usually more interesting than new Exalted ones, and there are some Exalt types that ought to be something else. But as Devil-Tigers showed back in the day, people really like adding things to categories. Having an umbrella name with some cachet stimulates people's creativity considerably.
Personally I think that new non-Exalted splats are usually more interesting than new Exalted ones, and there are some Exalt types that ought to be something else. But as Devil-Tigers showed back in the day, people really like adding things to categories. Having an umbrella name with some cachet stimulates people's creativity considerably.
HalfTangible
Only half sane (it's less cringe)
- Location
- Valkyrie, Primus
Adding in too many new Exalt types could dilute the themes of those we already have. But I think Exigents are the best possible solution: if you want a new Exalt type you can make one with very few restrictions and it doesn't hurt anything the others have.
I also like Getimians, at least in theory; I have yet to play one.
I also like Getimians, at least in theory; I have yet to play one.
UrsaTempest
Don't Panic!
Being able to throw random Exalts in without having to readjust big-scale lore is great for Homebrewing, so I don't mind Exigents much.
I'm not entirely sure of others' angle, but well they're fine? I guess they could be useful here and there.
I'm not entirely sure of others' angle, but well they're fine? I guess they could be useful here and there.
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Beyond Exigents, which are just honestly a universally useful addition to exist and keep things more potentially mysterious all the time, the other two Exalt types added this edition are:
- Getimians, who I had to warm up to, but they're great: walking paradoxes with power to snarl fate, appearing from nowhere with grand ambitions about how the world should change, and the memories of how they did it before, in a world that never existed... except they can make others remember it. It's a niche that hasn't existed before, and it has a lot of room for them to be an ally or antagonist for anyone but Sidereals, where they are default antagonists by being a strange, dark mirror. Their backstories also emphasize the value of mortal heroes in the world. Go read "A Murder in Whitewall" if you haven't already.
- Liminals, who technically were canon in 2e, too, just with a minimal presence. They're by default made from the bodies of the fallen, with a remit to keep the living and the dead separated and a lot of body horror. They're a chance to help focus Abyssals by separating some of the "undead horror" stuff away from "vampire lords" that Abyssals have, and they also emphasize the point and value of mortals (with their Thread of Life), while also wrestling with themes of identity and nature.
There's also three Apocryphals, who are also all good, but don't have that same clear play space that doesn't really map to existing Exalt types that certainly also should fit in Exalted by default, so it's for the best that they're apocryphal even though I like them all.
The world and playspace of Exalted is enriched by having the expanded list of Exalt types this edition, and if you don't care for Liminals, they're just as easily ignored as how Sidereals already didn't show up if you didn't specifically need a Sidereal to show up before.
- Getimians, who I had to warm up to, but they're great: walking paradoxes with power to snarl fate, appearing from nowhere with grand ambitions about how the world should change, and the memories of how they did it before, in a world that never existed... except they can make others remember it. It's a niche that hasn't existed before, and it has a lot of room for them to be an ally or antagonist for anyone but Sidereals, where they are default antagonists by being a strange, dark mirror. Their backstories also emphasize the value of mortal heroes in the world. Go read "A Murder in Whitewall" if you haven't already.
- Liminals, who technically were canon in 2e, too, just with a minimal presence. They're by default made from the bodies of the fallen, with a remit to keep the living and the dead separated and a lot of body horror. They're a chance to help focus Abyssals by separating some of the "undead horror" stuff away from "vampire lords" that Abyssals have, and they also emphasize the point and value of mortals (with their Thread of Life), while also wrestling with themes of identity and nature.
There's also three Apocryphals, who are also all good, but don't have that same clear play space that doesn't really map to existing Exalt types that certainly also should fit in Exalted by default, so it's for the best that they're apocryphal even though I like them all.
The world and playspace of Exalted is enriched by having the expanded list of Exalt types this edition, and if you don't care for Liminals, they're just as easily ignored as how Sidereals already didn't show up if you didn't specifically need a Sidereal to show up before.
I (mostly) don't like the idea of new Exalts in 1e and 2e, but the 3e setting is sufficiently distinct that my objections don't apply to it.
For being as high powered as they are, 1e and 2e are still pretty sparsely populated at the topmost tiers of power. You've got the seven Incarna, you've got the dozen or so imprisoned Yozi, the four dead Neverborn, and you've got an inconstant number of Big Fey. And while Creation itself is free rein for the PCs to shape, the other realms presume a rigid status quo. It's not that you can't overthrow the Incarna or free the Yozi or whatever, but if you are then you're pushing against setting constraints quite deliberately.
It's a setting where Exalts (and beings capable of making Exalts) are purposefully rare and where a small change in their numbers has heavy implications. The return of the Solars is a big fucking deal because that tremendously upsets the power structure of the world. The Sidereals are a big fucking deal because it turns out the current power structure was wildly different then what a character would naively assume. The Locust War is a big fucking deal because not only are there seemingly new exalts raiding the countryside but because it means something that Autocthon still exists as a factor in heavenly politics.
3e isn't really set up that way. The Incarna are still the Incarna, but their position is more tenuous. We know there has been at least one other godly pantheon (the Niobraran League) that had presented a serious challenge to them, and there have likely been others. Exigents are a thing, there's a tasters choice of possible apocryphal exalts, and each of those has their attendant, dead, or conspicuously absent patrons who empowered them.
The setting is more populated with powerful and strange actors and more fluid in its power structure. While that may make any individual Exalt less dominant, it also brings Heaven closer to Earth (so to speak). Lower powered exalts like Liminals and certain Exigents are around solving problems and being heroes but not necessarily altering the face of Creation. The return of the Solars is still a big fucking deal and they may alter the face of Creation to a degree, but even then they're ultimately just one more strange thing in a setting full of strange things.
I'm not passing a judgement on which setting is "better," just noting that they are distinct. 1e (and 2e to a lesser extent) was designed to be a setting that has only barely weathered one apocalypse but might not survive the next. Introducing any new exalt would be highly impactful, because things are only barely stable as they are and any new factor might tip things over.
In comparison, 3e has had one apocalypse and might have another, but it won't exactly be the end of the world. The setting is much more flexible in what it can tolerate. You want to introduce four dozen Getimians or Heart-Eaters or whatever? Go ahead, nothing will break.
For being as high powered as they are, 1e and 2e are still pretty sparsely populated at the topmost tiers of power. You've got the seven Incarna, you've got the dozen or so imprisoned Yozi, the four dead Neverborn, and you've got an inconstant number of Big Fey. And while Creation itself is free rein for the PCs to shape, the other realms presume a rigid status quo. It's not that you can't overthrow the Incarna or free the Yozi or whatever, but if you are then you're pushing against setting constraints quite deliberately.
It's a setting where Exalts (and beings capable of making Exalts) are purposefully rare and where a small change in their numbers has heavy implications. The return of the Solars is a big fucking deal because that tremendously upsets the power structure of the world. The Sidereals are a big fucking deal because it turns out the current power structure was wildly different then what a character would naively assume. The Locust War is a big fucking deal because not only are there seemingly new exalts raiding the countryside but because it means something that Autocthon still exists as a factor in heavenly politics.
3e isn't really set up that way. The Incarna are still the Incarna, but their position is more tenuous. We know there has been at least one other godly pantheon (the Niobraran League) that had presented a serious challenge to them, and there have likely been others. Exigents are a thing, there's a tasters choice of possible apocryphal exalts, and each of those has their attendant, dead, or conspicuously absent patrons who empowered them.
The setting is more populated with powerful and strange actors and more fluid in its power structure. While that may make any individual Exalt less dominant, it also brings Heaven closer to Earth (so to speak). Lower powered exalts like Liminals and certain Exigents are around solving problems and being heroes but not necessarily altering the face of Creation. The return of the Solars is still a big fucking deal and they may alter the face of Creation to a degree, but even then they're ultimately just one more strange thing in a setting full of strange things.
I'm not passing a judgement on which setting is "better," just noting that they are distinct. 1e (and 2e to a lesser extent) was designed to be a setting that has only barely weathered one apocalypse but might not survive the next. Introducing any new exalt would be highly impactful, because things are only barely stable as they are and any new factor might tip things over.
In comparison, 3e has had one apocalypse and might have another, but it won't exactly be the end of the world. The setting is much more flexible in what it can tolerate. You want to introduce four dozen Getimians or Heart-Eaters or whatever? Go ahead, nothing will break.
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