[Exalted, ?] Most High
- Thread starter Rihaku
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- exalted (white wolf)
Yeah, there was intense debate, but ultimately the Bronze Faction prevailed because the Gold option was simply too great a risk to take, with the fate of the world at stake. What I'm saying is that if they can reliably manipulate the an appreciable number of Solars to turn against their own Lord Strategos in the midst of slaughtering the rest of them, then their manipulation skills are such that the Vision of Gold would've been a less dicey proposition.
Alectai
Speaks Words of Wisdom... On occasion
Could very well have been "Hey, we've got a 70% chance of pulling this off, but that's a 30% chance of disaster, I'm not willing to take that chance!"
The debate would not have been "Intense" if it was pretty clear the risky option was unlikely to pay off.
And it could have been that the Vision of Gold was a glorious long shot that the idealists among the Sidereals pushed for, yet were narrowly overcome by Chejop's cadre. It's difficult to know for sure. But, living in fear of Sidereal reprisal when the Usurpation is inevitable anyway strikes me as pointless. Odyssial is a master strategist, a transcendent genius of warfare on a level that makes the Roseblack look like a child playing at being a soldier. There is no basis for thinking that he cannot turn these plots aside.
Rihaku
The Internet
There is another use for XP, for those of you unconcerned with Greatness. At prodigious cost, it can be used to reduce Heartlessness in a later option. It's definitely not worth it if you're going to choose Conquering King for the XP alone, but it's something to keep in mind. There is a tricky balancing act between maintaining enough XP to get to Greatness 10 and its benefits while also buying off Heartlessness, though.
@Rihaku Is the "separate sub-bureau devoted to the endings Odyssial caused" a reference to Jade Empire?
So revoting (I don't know if I'll be changing anything, as I'm rereading the voting options as I decide):
[X] Lord Strategos - The thoroughness and genius of his tactics, culminating in the episode of the Odyssian Horse, led to Odyssial's ordination as the Lord Strategos of the Exalted Host, the highest of High Command. His dictates would shape the very nature of the Primordial War, and by its end the Titans indeed began to wish that they had never heard the name Odyssial.
It makes us pretty much the most politically powerful dude, including giving Uly access to the weapon that founded the Scarlet Empire. It opens up further options in later epochs; these options will likely be of great power considering that they are based on the greatest political power ever. Also, the Primordials fear us personally. How cool is that?
Plus, in all likelihood we will be taking a Heartlessness Might option. This means that each Heartlessness might option gives us 100k+ XP.
[X] Protector of the West - As one of the most formidable of the Host, Odyssial was granted the mandate of a Directional Protectorate. With authority to monitor, investigate, and defend an entire Direction of Creation, his rightly paranoid self was able to install countless caches of arms, equipment, and loyalist cells throughout the archipelagos and beyond.
This gives Odyssial complete control over the West direction, and increases the spread of his legend. Odyssial is going to be a Greatness 10 Solar who is personally feared by Primordials and lead the entire Exalted host, and we can increase his legend. Reputation OP, plz nerf! Also it gives us sleeper cells across the West, ready to flock to our banner should we take any action, and will be fermenting discontent in the face of Immaculate propaganda. Plus there's the weapons caches we've seeded over the West.
Honestly, I'm not even that worried about the ship.
[X] The Conquering King - Acquiring much territory in the countless conflicts of this Era, Odyssial learned how to conquer and rule. In the millennia to follow, his peoples would want for little, and never suffer the deprivations of a triumphant aggressor, not even as a part of Odyssial's schemes.
This has great synergy with the Protector of the West. It increases our rulings fourfold, which is great when combined with the huge holdings granted by the Protector. This increase in ruling size, plus the increase in the loyalty of our populace, will likely serve to increase the amount of still loyal Odyssial cells, and the amount of surviving caches. Plus it grants 100k XP.
I figure with this we'll be sitting at at least 900k XP.
Personally, I'm fine with having lots of Heartlessness but I'm not seeking it out, as it does come with disadvantages. That's one of the reasons I'm choosing Lord Strategos (other than being the ruler of the entire Exalted host. I mean, goddamn): as you mention, there are additional epochs incoming. We are likely to choose at least 1 Heartless Might option, and that would boost our XP by 20% at minimum; we should at least be benefiting from any increase in Heartlessness.
So revoting (I don't know if I'll be changing anything, as I'm rereading the voting options as I decide):
[X] Lord Strategos - The thoroughness and genius of his tactics, culminating in the episode of the Odyssian Horse, led to Odyssial's ordination as the Lord Strategos of the Exalted Host, the highest of High Command. His dictates would shape the very nature of the Primordial War, and by its end the Titans indeed began to wish that they had never heard the name Odyssial.
It makes us pretty much the most politically powerful dude, including giving Uly access to the weapon that founded the Scarlet Empire. It opens up further options in later epochs; these options will likely be of great power considering that they are based on the greatest political power ever. Also, the Primordials fear us personally. How cool is that?
Plus, in all likelihood we will be taking a Heartlessness Might option. This means that each Heartlessness might option gives us 100k+ XP.
[X] Protector of the West - As one of the most formidable of the Host, Odyssial was granted the mandate of a Directional Protectorate. With authority to monitor, investigate, and defend an entire Direction of Creation, his rightly paranoid self was able to install countless caches of arms, equipment, and loyalist cells throughout the archipelagos and beyond.
This gives Odyssial complete control over the West direction, and increases the spread of his legend. Odyssial is going to be a Greatness 10 Solar who is personally feared by Primordials and lead the entire Exalted host, and we can increase his legend. Reputation OP, plz nerf! Also it gives us sleeper cells across the West, ready to flock to our banner should we take any action, and will be fermenting discontent in the face of Immaculate propaganda. Plus there's the weapons caches we've seeded over the West.
Honestly, I'm not even that worried about the ship.
[X] The Conquering King - Acquiring much territory in the countless conflicts of this Era, Odyssial learned how to conquer and rule. In the millennia to follow, his peoples would want for little, and never suffer the deprivations of a triumphant aggressor, not even as a part of Odyssial's schemes.
This has great synergy with the Protector of the West. It increases our rulings fourfold, which is great when combined with the huge holdings granted by the Protector. This increase in ruling size, plus the increase in the loyalty of our populace, will likely serve to increase the amount of still loyal Odyssial cells, and the amount of surviving caches. Plus it grants 100k XP.
I figure with this we'll be sitting at at least 900k XP.
Is the cost of buying off Heartlessness going to be proportional to our total XP? Because if not then we might still get a net benefit on XP using the 20% XP boost of LS.
Rihaku
The Internet
No. It's entirely serious.
There is a reference - or, perhaps, more than one - in this update, but you guys probably won't get the obvious one unless you play Dota.
Vote tally:
##### 3.19
[X] The Rose Blossoms
No. of votes: 10
Usernames, Brekouh, Cavalier, Alectai, vali, TheOtherSandman, CharlBaal, Happerry, Walker, nairit
[X] The Sword of Endings
No. of votes: 18
Thomasfoolery, Mannan, Garlak, Usernames, Guile, Brekouh, Orm Embar, Halcyon-Days, Tylonius, Cavalier, TheOtherSandman, CharlBaal, Happerry, Walker, nairit, vel10, Halycon-Days, cyberswordsmen
[X] Lord Strategos
No. of votes: 10
Robotninja, Thomasfoolery, Usernames, Orm Embar, Halcyon-Days, trekbook, Dark Lord Bob, vel10, Tylonius, Halycon-Days
[X] Protector of the West
No. of votes: 19
Robotninja, Thomasfoolery, Mannan, Garlak, Usernames, Guile, Orm Embar, Halcyon-Days, Cavalier, Alectai, vali, TheOtherSandman, CharlBaal, Happerry, Walker, nairit, Dark Lord Bob, Halycon-Days, cyberswordsmen
[X] The Conquering King
No. of votes: 12
Robotninja, Thomasfoolery, Mannan, Garlak, Guile, trekbook, Dark Lord Bob,Alectai, vali, vel10, Tylonius, cyberswordsmen
##### 3.19
[X] The Rose Blossoms
No. of votes: 10
Usernames, Brekouh, Cavalier, Alectai, vali, TheOtherSandman, CharlBaal, Happerry, Walker, nairit
[X] The Sword of Endings
No. of votes: 18
Thomasfoolery, Mannan, Garlak, Usernames, Guile, Brekouh, Orm Embar, Halcyon-Days, Tylonius, Cavalier, TheOtherSandman, CharlBaal, Happerry, Walker, nairit, vel10, Halycon-Days, cyberswordsmen
[X] Lord Strategos
No. of votes: 10
Robotninja, Thomasfoolery, Usernames, Orm Embar, Halcyon-Days, trekbook, Dark Lord Bob, vel10, Tylonius, Halycon-Days
[X] Protector of the West
No. of votes: 19
Robotninja, Thomasfoolery, Mannan, Garlak, Usernames, Guile, Orm Embar, Halcyon-Days, Cavalier, Alectai, vali, TheOtherSandman, CharlBaal, Happerry, Walker, nairit, Dark Lord Bob, Halycon-Days, cyberswordsmen
[X] The Conquering King
No. of votes: 12
Robotninja, Thomasfoolery, Mannan, Garlak, Guile, trekbook, Dark Lord Bob,Alectai, vali, vel10, Tylonius, cyberswordsmen
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That list is incorrect. At the very least it is missing two of my votes.
It'll wait in his anima, to be retrieved by Ulyssian upon his Exaltation. Currently, the Unfinished Blade is at Artifact 4, but with options in future epochs it can be increased to N/A.
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I am hardly surprised. With this many options, the script practically had a fit; I'll go through and fix the count in a second.
Ok, checked everything manually; everybody's votes should be accounted for.
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[X] The Conquering King
I think we are planning on making her an option in a later epoch. You did confirm each one will have her as an option.
The way I see it these three options by themselves will make up a pretty good background even if we do nothing with the later epochs except bond with Lea.
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It's possible, but not guaranteed. Still... there are advantages to not having our Heartlessness halved where she's concerned. A positive intimacy towards Ulyssian does not necessarily translate into a positive intimacy towards his comrades or ideals, after all.
Rihaku
The Internet
The effects aren't the same, however. Affecting her Second Age sanity isn't the same as her Second Age affection, and vice versa. Plus, they're synergistic. An affectionate and sane Lea is better than one that is only one or the other.
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- The end of all things
[X] Lord Strategos - The thoroughness and genius of his tactics, culminating in the episode of the Odyssian Horse, led to Odyssial's ordination as the Lord Strategos of the Exalted Host, the highest of High Command. His dictates would shape the very nature of the Primordial War, and by its end the Titans indeed began to wish that they had never heard the name Odyssial.
[X] The Rose Blossoms - Though he spent much of his time pursuing self-improvement, Odyssial spent much time as well with his closest companion from the Primordial War. Together, they suffered many tribulations, went on many adventures, and shared many joys. In the blackness of his hatred for the world and its makers, she comforted and supported him without judgement. When she danced in the maelstrom of masks, when she lost all memory of her own heart, he was there to remind her of the true shape of her face, which to him was always its most beautiful.
[X] The Sword of Endings - Sepulchral Pearlescence was a spry, slight Chosen of Endings, violet of eye and black of hair, with a crooked (and knowing) grin ever present on her face. Her delicate alabaster fingers, unblemished by even a single day's hard work, were threaded through with prayer strips to the Haywain and the Sword. In her right hand she held mourning, and in her left hand she held death. She began following Odyssial in the Primordial War, to manage and observe the effects that his storm of endings sent through Fate. Later, that was made her permanent assignation, after it was determined that this was cheaper than setting up a separate sub-Bureau to handle endings of which Odyssial was the cause.
[X] The Rose Blossoms - Though he spent much of his time pursuing self-improvement, Odyssial spent much time as well with his closest companion from the Primordial War. Together, they suffered many tribulations, went on many adventures, and shared many joys. In the blackness of his hatred for the world and its makers, she comforted and supported him without judgement. When she danced in the maelstrom of masks, when she lost all memory of her own heart, he was there to remind her of the true shape of her face, which to him was always its most beautiful.
[X] The Sword of Endings - Sepulchral Pearlescence was a spry, slight Chosen of Endings, violet of eye and black of hair, with a crooked (and knowing) grin ever present on her face. Her delicate alabaster fingers, unblemished by even a single day's hard work, were threaded through with prayer strips to the Haywain and the Sword. In her right hand she held mourning, and in her left hand she held death. She began following Odyssial in the Primordial War, to manage and observe the effects that his storm of endings sent through Fate. Later, that was made her permanent assignation, after it was determined that this was cheaper than setting up a separate sub-Bureau to handle endings of which Odyssial was the cause.
Oh, I know, but we do know that Lealope will survive into the second age, which means that if she still has a positive relation with Odyssial, then she would probably work to preserve Odyssial's legacy, plus if Odyssial died in the Usurpation as the ruler of the the entire western direction then that would lend her a place to retreat to during the Usurpation which should follow her as the Lunar Mate of their lord and thus provide resources to fight the Sidereals. At least I hope.
[X] Protector of the West
[X] The Rose Blossoms
[X] The Sword of Endings
[X] The Rose Blossoms
[X] The Sword of Endings
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Personally, I'm weirded out by how at least once (and it appears twice will soon follow) XP-boosting options have lost when there's a time sensitive need for XP.
Wheneve anyone chooses a third option they need to ask themselves:
Is this option sufficiently better than Lord Strategos (ruler of everything, access to the weapon that built the Scarlet Empire) that you are willing to pay 170k XP to choose it over Lord Strategos. Because that's what every choice but LS costs: 170k.
Wheneve anyone chooses a third option they need to ask themselves:
Is this option sufficiently better than Lord Strategos (ruler of everything, access to the weapon that built the Scarlet Empire) that you are willing to pay 170k XP to choose it over Lord Strategos. Because that's what every choice but LS costs: 170k.