Character gen challenge

[cardinalsin]

I'm working up a one-off set in a different universe to Exalted, but using the Exalted rules including charms. I'm going to assign charms to characters but without using the charm trees or ability/essence minima, and without being restricted to any given exalted type.

So I was wondering if you guys would have any ideas on charms to pick. The aim is to pick charms which are (a) cool (b) fit the concept and (c) easy to explain in a short paragraph on a character sheet, because it's unlikely the players will have played exalted before (though they are veteran roleplayers and have played other white wolf games).

The things I need are:

- Charms for a character who is supposed to feel like a sorcerer, but not in a big "cloud of adamantium butterflies hurling" way. The style of thing I'm thinking of is more like the stepping from one shadow to another ability at the top of the Ebon Shadow tree.

- Charms for a character who is a social bunny and rogue type.

- Charms for an assassin/bodyguard.

- Charms for a character whose abilities are animal themed, specifically they should be panther-like in nature. Think werebeast, but the transformation is more into a kind of slightly alien, mutant panther thing rather than a panther per se, and the abilities should be on a par with other charms, i.e. not just equivalent to turning into a mundane animal.

Any suggestions would be welcome!

[bravesirrobin]

You might find some good inspiration in both lunar and dragon-blood books if you haven't looked there already. will think about specifics in a little while.

what kind of power level are we talking? if it's very exalted like, you may want everyone to have some sort of perfect defense?

[johandenerad]

On top of what books/power level, roughly how many charms for each character? I've already thought of two-billionty for the assassin-bodyguard, like a number to narrow down to

[bravesirrobin]

also, excellencies? they're pretty damn useful, but slightly more dull than other charms thematically.

[cardinalsin]

Errr, good questions.

Yes, very much looking at the DB/Lunar books or even abyssal/sidereal if appropriate.

Power level wise, think essence 3, but I'm all in favour of giving people cool or interesting abilities even if the requirements exceed this level, as long as they aren't too unbalanced.

Number of charms... I dunno, not masses I guess, since it's a one-off for people who don't know exalted and I don't want them to spend half the session reading their character sheets. So in addition to excellencies (which are definitely in btw), maybe a dozen charms? Does that seem very restrictive? Don't forget you don't need to worry about prerequisites.

Basically the objective is to design characters who are very specialised (except the panther thing, which is kind of unique) with the explicit assumption that not everyone will be capable of taking part in every encounter, and the expectation that in most cases there will be one character who is *way* better than the others for the task at hand (there are good reasons for this). So no, not everyone (except the assassin) should necessarily have a perfect defence, though I guess if the assassin character had a really good one while others have one of the less good ones (if there is such a thing) that might work.

[scarletharlot]

The Panther should get fury ok tags on a variety of charms (if we're mixing the books then somehow on non-lunar charms too I suppose) - cue JD who actually understands about the fury ok charms.

For your sorcerer who doesn't know sorcery what about sidereal martial arts (my comps kinda dead so I can't refer to many, help someone else) but there's one low down in Quicksilver Hand of Dreams that lets you put someone to sleep with a condition by which they can wake up. That's quite sorcerous. 6m essence 2.

The second one in Scarlet Patterned Battlefield - you dematerialize whilst moving - is essence 4 (4m) but might be good for the assassin or sorcerer - dramatic, but very cool for sneaking up on people.

On the celestial level Dreaming Pearl Courtesan has a couple of great ones for an assassin (depends what type of assissin they are like) but Lethal Paper Fan Attack, 3m (needs to be combo-ed with an excellency really), turns anything thematic into a weapon, fans, origami, flowers etc. Vindictive Concubine's Pillow Book Understanding takes essence+martial arts from opponents armour soak for 3m, basically as they're kicked in the nuts. Fragrant Petal Fascination Kata, where beautiful petals of essence flow round the character, freezes everyone in place whose dv the character beats with a charisma+ma roll, and they're disposed to believe pretty much whatever they're told, 10m 1wp.

Chaps what are the Malfean sorcery tagged ones like? They might make the most sense for the sorcerer but amazon haven't delivered my book yet.

A bit short on the books am I at present.

[cardinalsin]

Those sorcery-esque abilities sound perfect, which means I'm now going to have to get hold of the sidereals book somehow.

The assassin is actually more of a sneak in during the night and shiv you assassin than a make nicey nicey then randomly kill you during conversation assassin. But the improv weapon ability sounds like a good one for unrelated background reasons ;D

[oneiros]

Abyssals have a slightly better/different improv thrown weapons charm in Improvised Assassins Trick. Sidereal Stealth charm Walking OUtside Fate may also be good.

FYI, the MA sorcerous-esque ones SH mentions are in Scroll of the Monk rather than Sidereals book. Ooh, Crypt Bolt Attack (though you can restyle that) from Abyssals gives the Force lightning effect if you want the sorceror to have some offensive capacity.

For the Social Bunny depends on the type of social you want - conniving trickster or silver-tongued diplomat? Socialise, Presence or Performance based? Irresistable Salesman Spirit (Solar), You and Yours Stance (broken, Sidereal ), Husband-Seducing Demon Dance (Solar) are good but in different ways.

[cardinalsin]

I'm thinking more conniving trickster than silver-tongued diplomat.

I definitely think giving the sorceror some offensive capacity would be good. For him I'm thinking he will best benefit from tricks others can't duplicate (the dematerialisation thing sounds ideal). The lightning bolt dealie sounds worthwhile, since it is effectively (I'm guessing) an unarmed ranged attack. But it's important that he should lose in a toe-to-toe duel with the fighter character.

[bravesirrobin]

you could check out the dragon blood thrown attacks too - they're basically like orb of... from DnD.

i've always thought flight of seperation was thematically awesome and would vote for giving the sorceror that.

[johandenerad]

This hasn't really got any regard for power level, just some ideas. Sorry for lateness.

BT=Black Treatise
BaWT=Black and White Treatise


Nifty Sorcerer

All Encompassing Sorcerer's Sight - Solar

Bone Puppet Dance - BT, 25
Coin of Distant Vision - BaWT, 40
Fugue of Truth - BaWT, 48
Hungry Creeping Shadow - BT, 29-30
Mists of Eventide - BaWT, 53-54
Open the Spirit Door - BaWT, 54

Demon of the First Circle - Solar,
Flight of Separation - BaWT, 45-46

Efficient Secretary Technique - Sidereal, Investigation charm

Eagle-Fish Transition Prophecy - Lunar, 186

Social Bunny and Rogue

Flawlessly Impenetrable Disguise - Solar
Lock Opening Touch - Solar
Flawless Pickpocketing Technique - Solar

Cash and Murder Games - Sidereal, 149

Butterfly Eyes Defence - Lunar, 173
Mystic Butterfly Fraud - Lunar, 174

Assassin-Bodyguard

Striking Cobra Technique - Solar, 240

Easily Overlooked Presence Method - Solar, 230
Invisible Statue Spirit - Solar, 230

Den Mother Method - Lunars, 195
Predator Distraction Method - Lunars, 151-152

Prior Warning - Sidereals, 173
Expected Pain - Sidereals, 173-174

Mutant Panther Man

Graceful Crane Stance - Solar, 222
Monkey Leap Technique - Solar, 223
Unshakable Bloodhound Technique - Solar, 211

Deadly Beastman Transformation - Lunar, 137?
Hybrid Body Rearrangement - Lunar, 135
Monkey Arm Style - Lunar, 135
Predator is Prey Mirror- Lunar, 180-181

Raging Tiger Pounce - SotM, 108