[Exalted, ?] Most High

We... haven't even seen the Sidereal splatbook yet. That conclusion seems a mite premature.

Nah, there have been interviews where people have asked about that. Plus, the Corebook backs that up.

The devs have outright said that they're attempting to put Solars back in their intended place as 'nobody else really competes' since they felt that that got lost in 2e. Personally, I think that's lame, but that's the way it is.
 
Nah, there have been interviews where people have asked about that. Plus, the Corebook backs that up.

The devs have outright said that they're attempting to put Solars back in their intended place as 'nobody else really competes' since they felt that that got lost in 2e. Personally, I think that's lame, but that's the way it is.
Funny, I got the opposite impression. Solars are intended to be superior in their area of focus to anyone else, but on the whole, they're weaker than they previously were.
 
Funny, I got the opposite impression. Solars are intended to be superior in their area of focus to anyone else, but on the whole, they're weaker than they previously were.

That's because everyone is weaker than they previously were. I'll grab you a quote if you want, though. I'll have to go digging, of course, but I can do that.
 
Do keep in mind that for all that Rihaku is arguing against the merits of Ivory having the sword right now, he's only doing that because it's winning. Rihaku likes to be the Devil's Advocate for the losing options.
 
That's because everyone is weaker than they previously were. I'll grab you a quote if you want, though. I'll have to go digging, of course, but I can do that.
Eh, don't worry about it. It's not really relevant for this decision point anyway.
Do keep in mind that for all that Rihaku is arguing against the merits of Ivory having the sword right now, he's only doing that because it's winning. Rihaku likes to be the Devil's Advocate for the losing options.
Well, obviously. It doesn't make the points any less valid!
 
We... haven't even seen the Sidereal splatbook yet. That conclusion seems a mite premature.

Relative weakness, yes, compared to what we could be. I'm just trying to prepare for Zao throwing us into the deep end, and you know he will. Then there's Anys to consider; regardless of Ivory's recent change in allegiances, do we really think we can rely on her help against Syn?

Not being able to solo Anys Syn (before all the damage her fight with Zao did to her) is weakness only by the extremely warped standards that seem to prevail in Rihaku's quests. And yes Zao may "throw us in the deep end" but who do you think he'd put Ulyssian against? A squad of Immaculate Martial Artists? Anys Syn? An elder Lunar? A Third Circle Demon?

And yeah if she's got Ambition I think the chances of her siding with Ulyssian over Anys Syn are significant enough to bet on. We can certainly reinforce them by choosing Night Time. And of course there's also Zao himself. Moon and Nilul can also be counted on to help us gather up support. Anys Syn is many things, but stupid is not one of them. Assaulting the Academy by naked force is a losing proposition now so she'll find another, less direct avenue of approach. And we need Ivory to run interference there.

Also the bleating from others about not ever getting the sword is just ludicrous. It is just not a serious argument. At all. If we want the sword and put in any serious effort at all, we'll get it.

And you know, for someone so eager to have Odyssial display his amazing powers and intellect I'm a little disappointed you'd pass up the opportunity to set up some glorious "just as planned" moment that lets him have outwitted Kejack and all the Sidereal Exalted in general even in their moment of maximum triumph.
 
Last edited:
....Dang, Cavalier really wants me to vote for Ambition being with Ivory for an just as planned momment.

'Sigh' I am really indisive here.

[x] Ambition
[x]- Ivory has it


Also

[X] Night time
To make it more likely she'll be our allie.
 
Not being able to solo Anys Syn (before all the damage her fight with Zao did to her) is weakness only by the extremely warped standards that seem to prevail in Rihaku's quests. And yes Zao may "throw us in the deep end" but who do you think he'd put Ulyssian against? A squad of Immaculate Martial Artists? Anys Syn? An elder Lunar? A Third Circle Demon?
Probably not the Immaculates, because that would damage our charade, but the others are firmly within the realm (heh) of possibility. Circles of Deathknights or invading raksha also spring to mind. The standards are warped, but they are firmly supported by the evidence of quests past.
And you know, for someone so eager to have Odyssial display his amazing powers and intellect I'm a little disappointed you'd pass up the opportunity to set up some glorious "just as planned" moment that lets him have outwitted Kejack and all the Sidereal Exalted in general even in their moment of maximum triumph.
Fair point. I suppose it feels less like cunning and more like an ex post facto justification for having Odyssial's prized weapon languish in Sidereal hands for millennia, because we're only now voting on it.
 
Do keep in mind that for all that Rihaku is arguing against the merits of Ivory having the sword right now, he's only doing that because it's winning. Rihaku likes to be the Devil's Advocate for the losing options.

It's practically my job! Well, mostly it is to correct any misapprehensions in the text that may lead to a given option being underestimated. I try to balance the options pretty closely.

Not being able to solo Anys Syn (before all the damage her fight with Zao did to her) is weakness only by the extremely warped standards that seem to prevail in Rihaku's quests. And yes Zao may "throw us in the deep end" but who do you think he'd put Ulyssian against? A squad of Immaculate Martial Artists? Anys Syn? An elder Lunar? A Third Circle Demon?

Odyssial's not guaranteed to beat a martially inclined Second Circle Demon in his current state, though he would probably have a close to 80% chance of winning. However, that is single combat in an unbiased fight, using some sort of artifact weapon, and is mostly due to the ludicrous power of Solar Melee. One can rarely ask for such convenient circumstances. Uly vs a few mid-tier DBs could be very dangerous for both sides.

He is a powerful combatant, though weaker than he could have been. A formidable Dawn for one just Exalted, very likely among the most powerful just-Exalted Dawns ever, but not nearly as capable of facing down seemingly impossible odds as he could be. Given that he is a Dawn, and that violence of some nature is his most powerful means of conflict resolution, this is merely adequate by Odyssial's extremely high standards. Odyssial expects to be the best within his area of focus, as soon as possible. That is many updates away, but in terms of IC time it will likely be relatively short.

Basically, Odyssial is like the Exalted version of High Expectations Asian Father. "Killed a 2CD? Why not a Yozi?"
 
If we choose for Ivory to have the Sword (whichever one we choose) does that mean we can't store it within our anima for safekeeping, as that inventory slot will have already been assigned to something else?

Because I would really like to be able to keep our Sword within our anima.
 
Probably not the Immaculates, because that would damage our charade, but the others are firmly within the realm (heh) of possibility. Circles of Deathknights or invading raksha also spring to mind. The standards are warped, but they are firmly supported by the evidence of quests past.

Fair point. I suppose it feels less like cunning and more like an ex post facto justification for having Odyssial's prized weapon languish in Sidereal hands for millennia, because we're only now voting on it.

The only times I recall we really, really took on something maybe out of Ulyssian's league we either chose to do so or demurred from doing so. Anys Syn and the elder Lunar from the first game were completely our choice, we declined to fight Ligier, and facing Exalts as a mortal was something we routinely risked. And since we are a sanctioned Dynast we'd have access to a lot more resources, as well as Dragonblooded allies.

As for "ex post facto" well hah, congratulations, you recognize the nature of voting for backgrounds in a Quest. Where you see some flimsy retcon, though, one can just as well see the handwaving necessary to account for an intellect beyond mortal fathoming.

Odyssial's not guaranteed to beat a martially inclined Second Circle Demon in his current state, though he would probably have a close to 80% chance of winning. However, that is single combat in an unbiased fight, using some sort of artifact weapon, and is mostly due to the ludicrous power of Solar Melee. One can rarely ask for such convenient circumstances. Uly vs a few mid-tier DBs could be very dangerous for both sides.

He is a powerful combatant, though weaker than he could have been. A formidable Dawn for one just Exalted, very likely among the most powerful just-Exalted Dawns ever, but not nearly as capable of facing down seemingly impossible odds as he could be. Given that he is a Dawn, and that violence of some nature is his most powerful means of conflict resolution, this is merely adequate by Odyssial's extremely high standards. Odyssial expects to be the best within his area of focus, as soon as possible. That is many updates away, but in terms of IC time it will likely be relatively short.

Basically, Odyssial is like the Exalted version of High Expectations Asian Father. "Killed a 2CD? Why not a Yozi?"

Well, yes, but white-room combat cuts both ways. Ulyssian is also going to be trying to stack the deck as much as he possibly can. And as a "Dynast" with Zao's support he's got plenty of room to do that, at least in the Blessed Isle and Seacrown.
 
Also, the sooner we get the sword, the sooner we can start mastering its Evocations.

You do need something to spend that Solar XP on. You're not a Martial Artist, and MA has some extreme mechanical obstacles in 3E anyway. Nor are you presently a Sorcerer, and it wouldn't make sense for you to spontaneously develop sorcerous talent. The only other thing would be improving your already near-peak-human stats, which is hilariously unnecessary.
 
You do need something to spend that Solar XP on. You're not a Martial Artist, and MA has some extreme mechanical obstacles in 3E anyway. Nor are you presently a Sorcerer, and it wouldn't make sense for you to spontaneously develop sorcerous talent. The only other thing would be improving your already near-peak-human stats, which is hilariously unnecessary.
But Rihaku, we're only Strength 4!:o
 
Assuming that Odyssial went out of his way to murderize swathe of DB during the usurpation before going down himself, wouldn't the nameless blade have enough DB blood on it to easily mimic any of their power should it be placed in his anima?
 
The only times I recall we really, really took on something maybe out of Ulyssian's league we either chose to do so or demurred from doing so. Anys Syn and the elder Lunar from the first game were completely our choice, we declined to fight Ligier, and facing Exalts as a mortal was something we routinely risked. And since we are a sanctioned Dynast we'd have access to a lot more resources, as well as Dragonblooded allies.
I was speaking specifically of Rihaku's other quests, incidents like Kakuzu or Gin. We are frequently placed in positions where we have to react to changing circumstances or where our own personal prowess is put to the test. Ulyssian can leverage his Dynastic resources and other allies, but those assets can be denied to us, at least in part, by enemy action. By people like Syn, with fingers in every Dynastic pie under the sun. You brought up Ligier and Rajakalueh; incidents like those are optional, yes, but they're also opportunities. Opportunities that require strength to seize. Incessant cultivation of personal prowess is just as in-character for Ulyssian as millennium-spanning plots are for Odyssial.

Ultimately, we won't be able to handle everything that comes our way just because we're Ulyssian. Our admittedly impressive track record of success thus far has been built on the opposite assumption: that we are screwed. And, because we're screwed, we must desperately eke out every scrap of power we can from what we're given. Ceding an artifact of immense power to Ivory, no matter how temporarily, just doesn't seem in line with that trend. Complacency is an enemy more deadly than any Exalt or demon. Victory is not given by Exalted grace, it is earned through blood, sweat, and tears. What form the next enemy will take, I do not know, but we must be ready. To do otherwise is to spurn Ulyssian's legacy.
 
Last edited:
I was speaking specifically of Rihaku's other quests, incidents like Kakuzu or Gin. We are frequently placed in positions where we have to react to changing circumstances or where our own personal prowess is put to the test. Ulyssian can leverage his Dynastic resources and other allies, but those assets can be denied to us, at least in part, by enemy action. By people like Syn, with fingers in every Dynastic pie under the sun. You brought up Ligier and Rajakalueh; incidents like those are optional, yes, but they're also opportunities. Opportunities that require strength to seize. Incessant cultivation of personal prowess is just as in-character for Ulyssian as millennium-spanning plots are for Odyssial.

Ultimately, we won't be able to handle everything that comes our way just because we're Ulyssian. Our admittedly impressive track record of success thus far has been built on the opposite assumption: that we are screwed. And, because we're screwed, we must desperately eke out every scrap of power we can from what we're given. Ceding an artifact of immense power to Ivory, no matter how temporarily, just doesn't seem in line with that trend.

The danger from Anys Syn comes from turning Dragonblooded against us; then would it not strongly behoove us to assure, as much as possible, that Ivory is willing to run interference for Ulyssian and has been encouraged to "optimize" so as to maximize her effectiveness doing that?

As for the rest, bleh. The armor would have Evocations as well and getting an Artifact sword from Zao or the Sesus treasury is a piece of cake. And Stealth is likely to be far more important while we're still trying to pretend to be a Dynast than raw blazing Solar power would. I am not particularly concerned that the Only Way We Won't Die or Be Sub-Optimal is if we have an Artifact N/A sword right out of chargen and instead "only" have Artifact 5 armor and an Artifact 2 Jade Daiklave.
 
The danger from Anys Syn comes from turning Dragonblooded against us; then would it not strongly behoove us to assure, as much as possible, that Ivory is willing to run interference for Ulyssian and has been encouraged to "optimize" so as to maximize her effectiveness doing that?
That or focus our attentions on enhancing the one asset she absolutely cannot subvert: ourselves. Speaking of her turning the Dragon-Blooded against us, there is the possibility of an assassination attempt by Flame, who I'm not sure we can beat reliably with our current build, not to mention Syn herself. Reluctant though she is to intervene directly, if she learns of our Exaltation, this is the one window where she might be induced to attack personally.
As for the rest, bleh. The armor would have Evocations as well and getting an Artifact sword from Zao or the Sesus treasury is a piece of cake. And Stealth is likely to be far more important while we're still trying to pretend to be a Dynast than raw blazing Solar power would. I am not particularly concerned that the Only Way We Won't Die or Be Sub-Optimal is if we have an Artifact N/A sword right out of chargen and instead "only" have Artifact 5 armor and an Artifact 2 Jade Daiklave.
Armor does tend to have fewer Evocations, as the relationship between artifact and user is more passive, but yes. If we sink our Solar experience into that and closing the few remaining holes in our stats, then bring melee up to snuff, we should be able to reclaim our blade in fairly short order, assuming no distractions arise.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top