Exalted Discussion: It was overdue, you know.

[Nikose Tyris]

When I get to 20 XP, I'll prove my worth to the group! Dattebayo!


...and yes, I know that doesn't actually mean 'beleive it'...

And thanks DB.

[Dragonsbane]

"Believe it" is a mistranslation, yes, "dattebayo"'s meaning is situational.

If we ever get to 20 exp, I'll be able to Ninja-Vanish and go superfast. At 24 exp I'll also be able to whale on pressure points. At 32 exp, I shall prove my worth...and at 40 exp, I shall be worthy to be called a Solar Exalted

[Mesden]

Uh...what'd we ever do against his character? Also, nothing of Tayuumi's should be showing(Body and features withstanding.) Went over it with Phoenix on how her short weaponry was covered by the typical long cape used in Wayfarer's clothing. And her armor is made to be unnoticed, just being fancy looking bracers and anklets.

Also, I finally read through all the flaws and merits in the player's handbook today, and with Phoenix's discretion, I'd like to make a slight change to my character before events can take place for it to be inable to allow.

I'd like to remove Enchanting feature(She honestly doesn't need it for what she does.) Add Lacking off senses(One point to stunt perception rolls, as she is inherently oblivious) and add the 3 point double jointed(She's an exotic dancer. What can I say?)

[Dragonsbane]

There were just a few comments made that bothered me, I'm trying to nip a problem in the bud. After all, I was the one complaining about Eclipses in front of you in the first place, it's my responsibility.

[PhoenixFlame]

Originally Posted by Dragonsbane

The dice I rolled are less than those for a Full Dodge anyway, it's a stunt, I like the way it looked. If you absolutely must, consider it a Full Dodge with Parry imagery substituted in. I haven't gotten any bonus dice for stunts either, and I've been stunting whenever I can. I should be getting motes and willpower back for it, or bonus dice, but I'm not. A little leeway won't break the whole system.

*Smackhead* D'oh. I've been forgetting that entirely for both antagonists and PCs alike. Anyway, consider round two's little perfect-defense faire never really cost anything, then. We'll continue as normal.

[Funka Genocide]

ok, here's my ten cents worth everyone.

Some of the characters are broken.

The level of knowledge or interraction with Sidereals prior to the start of the chronicle is unlikely at best and story-breaking at worst. Especially the character Derrick, which possesses an entirely impossible back story. Had the character actually participated in any of the events suggested to me, he would either be an illuminated Solar himself, far more powerful and hunted throughout Creation by wrathful Bronze and Gold faction Sidereals or long dead. In any case, the prerequisite tale to any of those would be so incredible as to trump any beginning chronicle, as this one is. It is impossible for a beginning character's life before the first story to be more exciting that his future. That's simple plot mechanics.

Another thing I want to address is the Cult of the Illuminated. For those of you not familiar, being recruited includes an intensive indoctrination process and years of concerted, often times harsh instruction at the hands of some of the most powerful Exalted and Gods in the employ of the Gold Faction. It is a life changing and defining endeavor. The foundations of every character would be washed away or crushed to rubble while an idealized saint would be manufatured in her stead. I doubt half the present characters would ever go for anything like this. This leads us to an important decision.

Do you want your character to be illuminated, sheltered and educated by the Sidereals in exchange for a certain loss of personal freedom or do you want to go it alone and deny the benefits of the Cult while maintaining full rein over your own characters motivations?

I can see many possibilities for either decision with great chance for role playing greatness, personally I'd like to see the party fracture in half and meet back up some short years later with intermittent role play making up the subsequent three years, defining the changing environment and the machinations of the enemies of creation as both good and evil build their forces in precipitation of an inevitable conflict.

It is up to you however, and it requires an extreme measure of selflessness to achieve a truly grand story. A dissapointing trend I notice with this group is a tendency to "break the fourth wall" by using external knowledge to influence the characters actions. This is bound to happen at some point or another, but should be guarded against and repressed as much as possible for the sake of your fellow players enjoyment.

If it is decided that this will be an entirely independent Solar chronicle then Jasper's role will change from a recruiter to a silent facillitator, offering small advice and secretly manipulating the Solars to achieve the Gold Faction's ends while still trying to bring them into the folds of the Illuminated.

If it goes entirely towards the Cult of The Illuminated Jasper will recede into the background as the young Solars undergo their training, eventually resurfacing as conflicts escalate and offering assistance to the incarnate saints the illuminated solars have become, paying the required lip service to Cult doctrine while secretly guiding his Solar companion's in their attempts to stifle threats to creation and the Cult.

If the group is split along ideological lines, then Jasper will interact most with the Illuminated Solars and the dynamics involved with combatting a great threat using teamwork between disparate ideologies will become the central focus of the chroncle. Personally this would be my favored set up, as it provides the most interesting chances for inter-character relationships as friendships form and hostilities occur between the Solar siblings while Jasper tries his damnedest to keep everything from falling apart and being forced to answer a lot of hard questions.

A few notes, one is it's not very friendly to murder Sidereal's. Solars are the chosen amongst the chosen, the true princes of Creation and beings beyond compare in most every aspect they choose to excel in. A single relatively young Solar would most likely best a Sidereal of equivalent experience in single combat, a circle of enraged Sun Children might engage in a frenzied mass murder of the chosen of the maidens.

I can see your beady little eyes gleaming with blood lust all ready...

My point is that just because your character can theoretically start tossing errant Sidereals from the top of his (newly acquired) manse doesn't mean they should. If you make the story a fight against the Sidereals or a personal vendetta it devolves into petty battles and murders and eventually the might of heaven forcing your exalted essence back into the cycle of reincarnation to find a more level headed host. I would encourage everyone to play in a manner that respects the other players and their goals. If your goal is to build an empire in the South and return Creation to the bygone glory of the first age, everyone should be helping to make the realization of that goal more interesting and exciting, either by cooperating meaningfully or opposing the intent intriguingly. Conversely, if your goal is to find an excuse to murder every last lying son-of-a-bitch to ever wear the grace of the maidens, well that's just not neighborly.

The point in all this is the necessity for a central focus of the entire troupe of players involved. If everyone goes off on their own (exclusive) agenda and leaves everyone else to do the same it's not so much a role playing game as it is an exercise in ego fabrication and narration. I'm all for well worded posts and incredible feats of heroism and tragedy, but the central focus of every player should be the enjoyment of his fellows, otherwise what's the point in playing?

We could all just sit back and write bad fiction like I do. :P

I propose that we hold off on story progression and clearly define what is desired out of this collective tale. I think a few histories need remodeling to bring them more in line with the prevalent milieu and the more limited scope of this story. Above all I think we need a healthy dose of comraderie and an at least basic premise of what "everyone" is going to do while leaving enough leeway for individual agendas to be followed. This might seem like a lot of work at first, especially in an internet forum where communication can be sporadic, but I believe an initial investment of honest effort in defining what should and could happen on a basic level will pay incredible dividends in the future in the form of a legendary story and an enjoyable past time for all involved.

Of course this is just my unbiased oppinion on the matters at hand, I'm not running things in this RP and if Phoenix deems it so all of this can be dismissed out of hand. I just want to see a great story unfold from the collective minds of this great bunch of actors (really, that's what you are, right?) and think we might need alittle more direction and unity.

I'll stop typing now. :B

[PhoenixFlame]

Just so you don't yell at Funka for overstepping his bounds, I've deliberated this with him, so... No flamewands, kay?

*Cough* Admittantly, I'd tried to ask "What do you want from this RP" earlier, and I should have stated it this bluntly. Thank you, FG. In truth, It'll be more fun for you all if you decide how to progress the story, rather than me running it DnD style.

[Nikose Tyris]

There's nothing wrong with my backstory; I just happened to have received my training that turned me from a farm boy into a Lawyer-of-sorts from a third party sidereal, who gave me some knowledge. I'm an ECLIPSE; By the end of this, I'll likely have found a way to get myself some goings with an abyssal, and learned some of their charms.

In no way does it break the story, it just means that my character IS inclined to be manufactured; hell, he IS manufactured to be this way, it's the way I designed the character, Funka.

Don't take my characters name as your target, I worked hard, and I actually have a genuine plan going as to where I want him moved. in no way is he broken, and I'm mildly irritated that you find my backstory so game breaking, when I've seen and heard of much worse.

And, if you have a problem, should have said something to me way earlier. :P If Phoenix has a problem with it too, have a chat with me on MSN or AIM as usual.

[Arhra]

Akeesha was purposefully created to have no real immediate goals. Her current motivation is to get on her feet, sort out her world view and get some money together so that she can begin to travel. Those prophetic dreams and memories are calling to her.

Something she is involved in is a search for answers. She has extensive memories of the First Age but her essence shard also contains personality fragments of her last incarnation. She knows the Dragonbloods overthrew the Solar with the Sidereals' aid, but she is not sure why. Also, she was betrayed by one of her closest advisors - a sidereal. This would make her very distrusting of the Sidereals.

Her second motivation also stems from her personality and memories. She wants to be one to reshape the world and restore its sullied glory. But Akeesha feels the need to know why what has happened has happened before she can start on that. Once she believes this problem resolved, she'll move heaven and earth to accomplish her goal.

[Dragonsbane]

Why wasn't I involved in these deliberations? I'm not changing my backstory, not one iota, and I see no point in playing if the future is already decided. What I "want" from this RP is to roleplay a ninja Night Caste, and learn Air Dragon Style, that's it.

If he knows anything about them at all, Hideki things Sidereals are a secret, elite group inside the Immaculate Order designed to work undercover (low Breeding) while being exceptionally powerful with Martial Arts.