Why should I play Exalted?

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I've lurked on this list for a while, and have noticed quite a few
posts on Exalted. I've never read any of the core books myself, and I
am a bit reluctant to start. I already have a fair collection of WoD
1.0 books, and I know that picking up a new game (as Storyteller) often
involves a somewhat large investment.

Therefore, my question is twofold:

1) Why should I play Exalted? I have read various high-level
impressions on it, such as it has a very rich setting, there is lots of
potential for anime-style wire-foo action, etc. I guess what I'm
looking for are some specific anecdotes and/or examples. When playing
Exalted, what sorts of situations have you come upon that make you
happy that you heard about the game? What potential do you see in the
game that makes you excited to come back to it week after week? I
guess I'm looking for you guys to sell the idea to me (and help me sell
it to my rather rag-tag troupe as well, since I can't run a game unless
I get them excited about it as well).

2) If I were to start up a game, what books would you put on your must
have list. I'm sure that I'd buy more in the future if I liked it, but
I don't want to drop a ton of cash in case either I or the players just
don't enjoy it.



Mr. Monk Goo

 

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Archived from groups: alt.games.whitewolf (More info?)

Mr. Monk Goo wrote:

> 1) Why should I play Exalted? I have read various high-level
> impressions on it, such as it has a very rich setting, there is lots of
> potential for anime-style wire-foo action, etc. I guess what I'm
> looking for are some specific anecdotes and/or examples. When playing
> Exalted, what sorts of situations have you come upon that make you
> happy that you heard about the game? What potential do you see in the
> game that makes you excited to come back to it week after week? I
> guess I'm looking for you guys to sell the idea to me (and help me sell
> it to my rather rag-tag troupe as well, since I can't run a game unless
> I get them excited about it as well).

My experience with actually playing Exalted is limited, since I don't
have a group at the moment, so I'll have to let other people field this
one if you seriously want some Actual Play stories. I'd also suggest
checking out the RPG.net Roleplaying Open forum here:
http://forum.rpg.net/forumdisplay.php?f=3
which has great support for Exalted.

However, I will say this -- one of the benefits of Exalted is an online
support community that's both large and, well, exuberant. Not much
negativity in Exalted discussions and lots of great ideas floating around.

> 2) If I were to start up a game, what books would you put on your must
> have list. I'm sure that I'd buy more in the future if I liked it, but
> I don't want to drop a ton of cash in case either I or the players just
> don't enjoy it.

The Exalted corebook is all you really need, of course. Beyond that...

Scavenger Sons is the book that fleshes out the setting, and has lots of
great hooks.

Exalted: The Dragon-Blooded has full rules for the Terrestrial Exalted,
the most numerous antagonists to the Solar Exalted, who are playable
straight out of the corebook.

Every other Exalted book is good (well, except for Caste Book: Twilight,
which is merely okay), and each focuses on a different bit of the game,
so you'll end up probably wanting all of them, but in terms of "must
haves" those are the two that come closest.
--
Stephenls
Geek
"I'm as impure as the driven yellow snow." -Spike

 

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Archived from groups: alt.games.whitewolf (More info?)

"Mr. Monk Goo" <mr_monk_goo@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:cfdi7i$o33@odah37.prod.google.com...
> I've lurked on this list for a while, and have noticed quite a few
> posts on Exalted. I've never read any of the core books myself, and I
> am a bit reluctant to start. I already have a fair collection of WoD
> 1.0 books, and I know that picking up a new game (as Storyteller) often
> involves a somewhat large investment.
>
> Therefore, my question is twofold:
>
> 1) Why should I play Exalted? I have read various high-level
> impressions on it, such as it has a very rich setting, there is lots of
> potential for anime-style wire-foo action, etc. I guess what I'm
> looking for are some specific anecdotes and/or examples. When playing
> Exalted, what sorts of situations have you come upon that make you
> happy that you heard about the game? What potential do you see in the
> game that makes you excited to come back to it week after week? I
> guess I'm looking for you guys to sell the idea to me (and help me sell
> it to my rather rag-tag troupe as well, since I can't run a game unless
> I get them excited about it as well).


If you're an Anime fan, do you enjoy the Final Fantasy games, Giant Robo,
Escaflowne? Fist of the North Star? The Tony Wong Jademan comics?

If so, I think you'll enjoy Exalted.

> 2) If I were to start up a game, what books would you put on your must
> have list. I'm sure that I'd buy more in the future if I liked it, but
> I don't want to drop a ton of cash in case either I or the players just
> don't enjoy it.

I'd recommend Exalted Core, Time of Tumult, and maybe the Player's Guide, to
start. Despite the fact that many of the other hardbacks are excellent
(Abyssals and Dragon Blooded), I'd recommend drinking in the full flavored
goodness of the Threshold, which is the default setting for PC Solars with
Exalted.

After playing a few games with Solars, I'm sure you'll find yourself wanting
to explore a niche within Creation and moving on from there.

CB