Tue Jun 14 '22 Announcement
almost 2 years ago – Tue, Jun 14, 2022 at 06:23:24 AM

Hello Chosen of the Little Gods,

We're supposedly in the quiet "squishy middle" part of our campaign before we ramp up for a big finale, but there still seems to be plenty to talk about! We've hit another Stretch Goal, adding more content to our stretch goal companion supplement, we've got another few targets ahead of us, and today - our next chapter from the draft manuscript!

In case you missed it, there were also a few cool pieces of Exalted Third Edition news that came out of the Onyx Path online convention over the weekend! That is, in addition to all the interesting discussion about this book and the others currently in the works. The team revealed the subtitle for the Sidereals book (Charting Fate's Course), which I think may be the next book in the queue after Exigents. And beyond that, Paradox (the owner's of the Exalted IP) have given Onyx Path the green light to begin their work on Abyssals as well!

Let's look at our most recent achievements! First up, we started taking little hafl-step pauses in between our regular expanded content goals to mark some milestones, add a celebration, and marshal our resources as we press forward.

UNLOCKED! - At $120,000 in Funding - Exigents Digital Wallpaper

Epic Exigents artwork will be used to create a wallpaper for your computer desktop. This digital wallpaper will be added to the rewards list of all Indiegogo backers supporting this project.

Once we had cleared that stage, we were back on to add more expanded content to our stretch goal supplement!

UNLOCKED! - At $125,000 in Funding - Exigents Expanded Content: The Bleak Warden

A design seed for the Bleak Warden, detailing the gaoler-Exigent’s history and nature and the divine prison he oversees while providing traits and sample Charms to use as a beginning point for designing a full Charm set yourself.

We're going to repeat that pattern for the next four goals of the campaign as we build to the final week.

At $130,000 in Funding - Exigents T-shirt on Redbubble

An Exigents-themed Indiegogo Backer shirt will be hosted on Onyx Path’s Redbubble store for a limited time. Only backers will be notified when the shirt becomes available for purchase.

At $135,000 in Funding - Exigents Expanded Content: Streets of Great Forks #2

An expansion to the Great Forks gazeteer, providing an in-depth portrayal of the city’s three thearchs and exploring a variety of cults, faiths, shrine-gangs, and heresies

At $140,000 in Funding - Exigents Mobile Wallpaper

Epic Exigents artwork will be used to create a wallpaper for your mobile device lockscreen. This mobile wallpaper will be added to the rewards list of all Indiegogo backers supporting this project.

At $150,000 in Funding - Exigents Expanded Content: The Foxbinder

A design seed for the Foxbinder and Wicked Grin Shifune, detailing the history and nature aof both the Exigent and her mischievous patron god while providing traits and sample Charms to use as a beginning point for designing a full Charm set yourself.

More Great Forks!! Love that! And really happy to hopefully add more content for the Foxbinder! I think a few of us were hoping for that for a while now!

Throughout the course of this campaign, I'll be sharing the entire current draft manuscript for Exigents: Out of the Ashes. That means you'll be able to read the entire book before we reach the end of the campaign, though it'll be broken out into a few chunky downloads.

Once the campaign is over and our Pledge Manager is up and running (say, mid-July?), I'll compile all of the sections together and make those available in a single download for all backers of this project, so you'll have something to reference and review (and play with!) right up until the PDF of the book is released!

As noted, we're getting our second last Chapter this week, the final of our "example Exigents" - the Sovereigns of Uluiru! So dig in to Chapter 8 and enjoy!

DRAFT MANUSCRIPT PREVIEWS

As I said, really good stuff here - and you can help make it even better! Breaking the chapters out into different updates helps guide and focus the conversation, and helps the development team keep on top of the feedback while this manuscript goes through its’ final development and editing stages.

In fact, if you want to provide feedback directly to the development team, Onyx Path has created a special Feedback Form just for this Exigents project. You can access that here: https://forms.gle/q4bAHWFeBo5dMcdh8

So dig into Chapter 8 and think about what you might like to craft with these rules! Share your feedback with the developers using the feedback form.

ONYX PATH DISCUSSION CHANNELS

If you've got questions about the rules or setting, or just want to discuss this game with other fans (as well as the Onyx Path writers and developers!), you can check out these Onyx Path discussion zones:

I should note that the Exalted Forums on the Onyx Path site are a little touchy lately, and that's being worked on. If you can keep up with the chat on the Discord page, there's a lot of little bits from the Online Convention floating around in there.

As we approach the final week of this campaign (and look at those next four Stretch Goal targets), please continue to spread the word about this campaign on your social media and in your social circles. We've come a long way, but still have a final NINE DAYS ahead of us to read more of the manuscript and maybe add some additional supplemental content.

Coming This Week: We'll have our official "Final Week" Countdown start on Thursday, and I'll spend that last week going over a few items to make sure we're all on the same page (timelines, rewards, stretch goals, etc.). I'll also have a preview from our very last chapter - read a sneak peek about Creating New Exalted on Friday, with the full Appendix coming in one week, on June 21.

We're almost in the homestretch, so let's read the newest chapter, build up our forces and make a decisive strike next week as we bring this campaign in for a landing!

Mon Jun 13 '22 Announcement
almost 2 years ago – Mon, Jun 13, 2022 at 06:07:11 AM

Hello Chosen of the Little Gods,

It hasn't quite been a week yet since we saw the manuscript section for the Puppeteer, and just a few days since we learned about The Architects, but we've already got our next manuscript section coming tomorrow tomorrow. So let's get a sneak peek in preparation!

The Sovereigns of Uluiru

The god-kings of Uluiru blaze with glory. The best and brightest of the royal family bathe in the rainbow flame of dead gods; those who survive its overwhelming power emerge from it Exalted.

The Sovereigns are bright — so terribly, wondrously bright. To look on them is to be blinded with devotion and pride. They weave magic from crystal and auroral light, summoning prismatic armies or binding monsters in a diamond’s facets. They intrigue against one another, jockeying for position — most of all now that the first and greatest of the Sovereigns, Queen Ulu, is dead. More than anything else, they burn: The power inside them is not wicked, but neither is it right. It consumes them if they let it, quickens their worst instincts, transfixes them with ceaseless pain, and turns them into tyrants and torturers.

Sovereign Chronicles

The Sovereigns are one of that rare breed of Exigent whose numbers can support self-contained chronicles, with each player creating a Sovereign to engage in a ruthless game of statecraft, guile, and glory. While Sovereign chronicles follow many of the same story beats as the Dragon-Blooded, they’re smaller and more intimate in scale. It’s all but certain that every Sovereign knows each and every one of her peers, and while the royal family has many branches, they’re just that — branches of one family, far smaller than even the smallest of the Great Houses but no less proud or complex. When the Sovereigns contend for the throne, it’s not against cousins six-times removed, but against brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts, parents and children.

Sovereigns can do well in mixed games as well; their overall strength make them a good fit for playing with Dragon-Blooded. Playing up the similarities and contrasts between these two types of Exalt can help to emphasize the many ways in which family, duty, and pride can manifest. They’re also particularly apt in mixed-Exigent games: As a rare state openly ruled by Exigents, Uluiru may serve as a sanctuary for other Exigents, especially those who might serve as useful allies, agents, and catspaws.

In games with Solars, Lunars, and other Exalted subject to Realm propaganda, Sovereigns can be more difficult to integrate. They lack the raw power of Solars and Lunars, and their most powerful Charms often depend on flaring their animas, announcing their presence for miles around. While Sovereigns can distinguish themselves in many roles as crafters, performers, socialites, and lieutenants, they cannot compete directly with Solars in the same areas of expertise — at least not without approaching the issue laterally rather than head-on.

Character Creation

Sovereigns use the character creation rules for Ability-based Exalted designed for Terrestrial play with the following modifications.

Step Three: Craft, Integrity, performance, Socialize are their Sovereign Abilities, analogous to Caste Abilities. Their Charms utilize only these five Abilities.

Step Four: Sovereigns receive five free dots that can be divided among Backing, Command, Contacts, Cult, Followers, Influence, Resources, and Retainers to reflect their royal upbringing and social status.

Step Five: Sovereigns receive five free Excellencies in addition to their starting Charms, which must be chosen for their Sovereign or Favored Abilities.

Anima

Sovereign anima banners encompass the colors of the aurora but also those of precious gems glinting in the line, typically with one or two colors predominating among the rest. The most common are jewel tones of amethyst, sapphire, ruby, and emerald. These colors are often then integrated into a Sovereign’s personal heraldry. Their iconic animas might display a towering crystal giant that reflects her self-image, a rain or precious gemstones or a ferocious blizzard of sharp-edged diamonds, a garda bird with wings of seven-colored flame, an extravagant palace, a whirlwind of fireglass blades, a shrike overseeing a field of crystal thorns, a dragon with gemstone scales, or the like.

Sovereigns with Fount-of-Glories Incarnation are capable of reaching a level beyond bonfire: transcendent anima.

Martial Arts

Sovereigns are restricted by the Terrestrial keyword (Exalted, p. 427) when using Martial Arts.

Sorcery

Sovereigns can initiate into the Terrestrial Circle of sorcery. Their Occult Ability determines whether they receive the Favored Ability discount on spells.

Charms

Fount-of-Glories Incarnation

Cost: —; Mins: Essence 3
Type: Permanent
Keywords: None
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: None

The Sovereign’s soul is a fathomless flame, a light to equal that from which she arose in Exaltation.

The Sovereign gains access to a new level of anima beyond bonfire: transcendent. At transcendent, her anima banner rises up to the sky and fills the heavens like an aurora, visible out to (Essence x10) miles. For purposes of Charm calculations, transcendent anima is valued as 4. Transcendent anima fades back to bonfire at the end of the scene.

Upon purchasing this Charm, the Sovereign’s player creates a new anima power that reflects her personality and character concept, which can only be used at transcendent anima. (See p. XX for advice on designing anima powers). These anima powers are more powerful than those typically possessed by Exalted intended for Terrestrial play, approaching the level of Solar anima powers. Example transcendent anima powers are below:

Crystal-Fire Champion Mantle: The Sovereign adds (Essence/2, rounded up) to her base Initiative.
Glory Beyond Limit: Once per day, the Sovereign may pay expend her transcendent anima and pay one Willpower to reset one of her Charms.
Nemesis-Slaying Halo: Once per day, the Sovereign may expend her transcendent anima when she makes a decisive attack against an enemy she has a negative Major or Defining Tie toward. If she succeeds, she doesn’t reset to base Initiative.
Reach for the Crown: Once per day, the Sovereign can choose a Simple, Supplemental, or Reflexive Sovereign Charm she doesn’t know, although she must still meet its prerequisites. She can use it while at transcendent anima.

Eye for Avarice

Cost: 5m; Mins: Craft 2, Essence 1
Type: Simple
Keywords: None
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: None

The Sovereign knows what dreams of wealth dwell in the hearts of princes and monks alike.

The Sovereign makes a special ([Perception or Wits] + Craft) read intentions action against a character. Success reveals any Intimacies directly related to wealth, material possessions, or luxury. If the character has no such Intimacies, the Sovereign still intuits some lesser desire — a taste for red wine, love of ivory baubles, or preference for blue silk over red.

In either case, if she leverages this information when making a gift or bribe, she adds a non-Charm die on her next bargain or instill roll against the character, or (Craft/2, rounded up) non-Charm dice if she created the item personally.

Impervious Diamond Vault

Cost: 3m; Mins: Craft 3, Essence 1
Type: Simple
Keywords: Stackable
Duration: One day
Prerequisite Charms: Loupe-and-Bit Trick

The Sovereign cannot trust mere steel and timber to guard her treasure-house, sealing her vaults behind fireglass.

Touching a door, window, container, or similar opening, the Sovereign encases it in fireglass, locking it against all save her and those she permits. Rolls to pick this magical lock are made at difficulty (Sovereign’s Intelligence), or (Essence + Intelligence) for rolls not enhanced by magic. Feats of demolition use the difficulty for fireglass.

The Sovereign can stack this Charm to maintain (Essence x2) such seals.

Emerald Eidolon Awakening

Cost: 10m, 1wp, 10gxp, 2xp; Mins: Craft 5, Essence 2
Type: Simple
Keywords: None
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Bejeweled Retainer Eidolon

The Sovereign transforms faceless drudges to unique individuals, refining her eidolons into gemstone champions.

The Sovereign undertakes a major project (Exalted, p. 240) to give an eidolon a distinctive appearance and features. This project has difficulty 3 and takes one week to complete. Such rolls typically use Craft (Gemcutting), though others can be used if appropriate, especially with a stunt.

Success grants the eidolon intelligence comparable to an adult human and one of the following benefits:

Artificer’s Apprentice Tutelage: The eidolon’s dice pool for crafting increases to 14 dice. It can use this pool to make an influence roll against a single target by creating something that will provoke a response, similar to written influence. Once per session, the Sovereign can reveal that the eidolon’s previously completed a major project with any Craft she has dots in.

Crystal Courtier Enchantment: The eidolon’s dice pools for investigation, read intentions, social influence, and subterfuge increase to 10. Its Appearance, Guile, and Resolve increase to 6. With a successful read intentions or profile character roll, it also learns what its creator would want it to do based on the information revealed.

Diamond Sage Enlightenment: The eidolon’s dice pools for investigation, lore, medical treatment, and mysticism increase to 10. It gains all Lore backgrounds the Sovereign possesses and any others appropriate to the eidolon’s experiences. It can perceive and physically interact with dematerialized characters.

Jeweled Warrior Acclamation: The eidolon’s dice pools for attacks, grapple control rolls, combat movement, and Join Battle increases to 10. Its unarmed withering attack’s damage increases to 13B/3. Its Parry increases to 5 and its soak and Hardness increase to 14/10.

Wicked Sapphire Assassin: The eidolon’s dice pools for attacks, subterfuge, stealth, and Join Battle increase to 10. Its Evasion increases to 5. It has perfect balance and can move up walls and similar surfaces or under upside-down on roofs and the like, able to hang in place indefinitely.

An eidolon can only receive one of the above benefits; the Sovereign may exchange benefits with a subsequent use of this Charm.

The Sovereign preserves the minds of these eidolons within her Essence after Bejeweled Retainer Eidolon ends; she may recreate them with a subsequent use. She can’t do this for those destroyed by other means.

This Charm’s experience point cost is waived the first time the Sovereign uses it. If the eidolon is destroyed, the experience cost is refunded.

So, just a tiny tease today... you'll be able to see all of the craft that went into the Sovereigns tomorrow when we get the complete draft version of Chapter 8 and learn all of the secrets of these Exigents.

On Thursday, we're going to start our final week countdown, so we are starting to get close to the end, but still have some steps in our journey. By tomorrow, we'll have seen the four "sample Exigent" write-ups from the book, but there will still be one big section left to preview - the Appendix! We'll have a preview from that part of the book coming before the weekend.

But time is running out! Please remember to share your excitement about this campaign on your social media and in your social circles, and let's see if we can add another section or two to our stretch goal companion and ensure that more Exalted fans get an opportunity to examine Exigents while there's time.

Tomorrow: Chapter 8 - The Sovereigns of Uluiru

Fri Jun 10 '22 Announcement
almost 2 years ago – Fri, Jun 10, 2022 at 07:54:31 AM

Hello Chosen of the Little Gods,

Oh, to have some Exigent powers related to NOT deleting your work by accidentally testing a link that opens in the tab you're working on. Or something, ugh. LOL, I'm just retyping this from memory, so let's get right to business.

This week we get a Double Dose of the Draft Manuscript, with a special Friday release for Chapter 7. We've had some peeks into the Architects, but let's see how they're truly built in today's manuscript section.

Before we dig into that, though, a few quick pieces of business for today.

Firstly, today is the start of the Onyx Path Virtual Gaming Convention! Streaming on Onyx Path's Twitch channel, the Opening Ceremonies start at 5:00 PM EDT tonight! Last year, they started off their convention with some cool announcements about new projects, so tune in to see the team and possibly learn some secrets in the works! Of just to see everyone with the most energy they'll have all weekend - a lot of effort goes into this weekend, and you can measure that effort by comparing everyone during the Opening and Closing ceremonies! It's like the characters between season 3 and 4 of Stranger Things! They've been through it!

OK, I'm rambling now. It's a good time, is what I'm saying.

ALSO - check out the EXALTED PANEL streaming at 7:00 PM EDT tonight! A chance for the developers and writers to share what's up in the world of Exalted Third Edition. I'm guessing there will be lots of Exigents talk, so make sure you read Chapter 7 before tuning in!

Secondly, there's been some fun discussion about bits of our draft manuscript in the IndieGoGo comments section, and Vance has dropped in when he can to answer questions and make clarifications. But, as awesome backer S.B. pointed out, sometimes you may get faster replies or more discussion in a few dedicated Exalted and Onyx Path discussion zones. So let me share some other places to examine Exigents.

ONYX PATH DISCUSSION CHANNELS

I should note that the Exalted Forums on the Onyx Path site are a little touchy lately, and that's being worked on (maybe more news in the Online Convention?). I'll also say that I'm not testing these links again, so I hope they all work! (I clicked one to make sure it directed properly about twenty minutes ago, and have had to retype all of this since it redirected my update page!)

Always fun to talk Exalted with the developers and suepr fans!

As noted, we're getting our second chapter this week. We've seen some of the blueprints and building blocks for the Architects, but see the complete build with Chapter 7!

DRAFT MANUSCRIPT PREVIEWS

So dig into Chapter 7 and become a Champion for your city! Share your feedback with the developers using the feedback form, and please continue to spread the word about this campaign on your social media and in your social circles. We've come a long way, but still have a final two weeks ahead of us to read more of the manuscript and maybe add some additional supplemental content.

And please, check out the Onyx Path Virtual Gaming Convention starting tonight!

I'm going to slowly hit the "post" button and step away from my computer now... I wish us all luck!

Thu Jun 9 '22 Announcement
almost 2 years ago – Thu, Jun 09, 2022 at 07:20:52 AM

Hello Chosen of the Little Gods,

I know it's just been a few days since we received the draft manuscript for Chapter 6, so we're still untangling the strings of Pakpao and her abilities. But who wants to stop when we're on a roll, so let's catch a sneak peek at The Architects ahead of draft manuscript Chapter 7 coming to us tomorrow!

But before we get to any of that, let's review where we sit with Stretch Goals, because we've unlocked another one!

UNLOCKED! - At $120,000 in Funding - Exigents Digital Wallpaper

Epic Exigents artwork will be used to create a wallpaper for your computer desktop. This digital wallpaper will be added to the rewards list of all Indiegogo backers supporting this project!

Well done! And this serves as an excellent launching point towards our next goal which adds new content to our expanding Stretch Goal companion.

At $125,000 in Funding - Exigents Expanded Content: The Bleak Warden

Now, this won't be the first time we've had a sneak peek at The Architects! Around the end of last year, there was a small preview that went out on the Onyx Path website, starting the hype train for the Exigents: Out of the Ashes book! You can check that preview out <here> and I'll try not to double up - though some stuff may have changed a bit since that original preview, I'm not sure. You'll be able to read the entire draft manuscript version of Chapter 7 tomorrow to see for yourself!

City Fathers and Architects

A city father’s role within the Celestial Bureaucracy is to oversee her city and send occasional reports to the Bureau of Humanity. Heavenly law prohibits city gods from directly ruling over their cities, though plenty corruptly exert their influence on a city’s mortal governance or rule outright in defiance of a law with few left to enforce it. They often take after their cities. In part, this is a numinous manifestation of their divine office, but even beyond that, one cannot live in and be the god of a place without being in some way influenced by its culture.

Enjora is the city mother of Imensc, a fortified haven carved into the stone and ice of a cliff near Mela’s Fangs by the nomadic peoples who first settled the area. She’s an implacable protector of her city but glacially slow-moving, occasionally overlooking important affairs that happen to quickly for her to notice, like sicknesses and sea raids. An Architect of Imensc might be Chosen to confront such a peril to the city, a steadfast paragon and watcher from the walls who embodies the fortress-city’s strength and can endure the icy wastes beyond it, focusing on the Attributes of Perception, Stamina, and Strength.

Ato-Prin is city parent of Atossok, a trade-city built around a Southwestern oasis. Clothed in colorful batiks and adorned with sparkling jewels, they’re a striking presence on the city’s market days and festivities. Through the Diamond Road trade route has made both Atossok and Ato-Prin very wealthy, it also brings foreign influences aplenty; the city’s baths have run red in infamous massacres in Atossok’s history following trade delegations meeting there. Ato-Prin keeps watch over the city’s peace but is ill-versed in the schemes and skullduggery plied by foreign and Atossoki merchants alike. An Architect of Atossok might possess supernal power in this arena, able to deal with cutthroat merchants on their own terms, focusing on the Attributes of Dexterity, Manipulation, Wits.

Hadarath, found in the Great Western Ocean’s Spindrift Archipelago, is a ruined city of the First Age, populated by a small community of humans seeking shelter amid the ruins as well as a larger population of Dragon Kings, prehuman saurians whose ancestors founded Hadarath and other great cities and kingdoms. In the Second Age, most Dragon Kings are still young by their species’ standards, yet to awaken to their full mental and spiritual potential. Hadarath’s Dragon Kings largely disregard its human populace but have occasional dealings with them: commerce, culture, religion, crime, and romance bridge the divide between species. The current city father, Far-Flung Clarion, is a nostalgia-ridden romantic who walks the ruined city’s streets to mourn its lost greatness. He favors the Dragon Kings over mortals, taking a saurian form wreathed with flaming glyphs from their High Holy Speech. While he has little predilection toward Exalting a human champion, circumstances may force his hand to protect his cherished ruins and Dragon Kings. An Architect of Hadarath could intercede between communities to bring humans and Dragon Kings closer together or exemplify the city’s intellectual and philosophical legacy to stave off threats, focusing on the Attributes of Charisma, Intelligence, and Stamina.

Brick by Brick

Though each Architect reflects the city that empowers her, they’re all bound together by Wun Ja’s Essence and by the idea that is the idealized city. Still, no two Architects are wholly identical. As city gods take on their cities’ natures and qualities, so too do those natures and qualities express themselves in their Architects’ magic. And while they may draw upon that magic in any city, and even outside of one to a certain extent, they’re at their most puissant within the city they were Chosen to serve.

An Architect is often known by her city’s populace; beloved, revered, and sometimes even worshipped as part of her city god’s cult practice (though not in those cities where the Immaculate Order is strong). Others remain hidden or take pains to conceal their identity when acting publicly, the better to act quietly on their patrons’ behalf.

The Immaculate Order favors Architects willing to embrace the Philosophy and work to uphold order. Few know a city as well as an Architect, and few can root out corruption, malfeasance, and treason so well. When Architects actively oppose Immaculate teachings, the Order attempts to eliminate them or bring them to heel. Often, this provokes a flurry of activity not only in the city in question, but in Heaven, where Wun Ja and her associates leverage their political power to rein in the Immaculates.

Anima

The anima banners of Architects vary widely among individuals, always shining in colors that are emblematic of the Architect’s home city: the hues of sunset over a seaport, the banners that mark a city’s many temples, a city’s soil and the stone from which its structures are quarried. It’s very common for Architect anima banners to include more than just visual displays, often manifesting her city’s sounds and scents.

An Architect’s iconic anima banner might be a symbol associated with her home city, an animal native to her home city, prominent aspects of urban life in her home city, or a structure or monument — either real or idealized.

Architects can spend one mote to perform one of the following effects:

Manifest a sound or smell associated with their home city, or a phantasmagorical visual display of a symbol associated with it. These are obviously illusory if examined but suffice to confirm the Exigent’s identity as the Architect of her home city to the learned.
Sense the direction and approximate distance to the nearest city within (Essence x5) miles.

Anima Effects

An Architect’s anima effects depend on the Foundation Attributes chosen for her city:

Appearance—Picturesque Vista Embodiment: Once per day, the Architect can add (higher of Essence or 3) non-Charm dice on an influence roll with any Attribute to instill a Tie of lust or attraction toward herself or a to seduce someone with a persuade or bargain roll. If she has Hideous, this applies to threaten rolls instead.
Charisma—Never a Stranger: The Architect ignores up to (Essence) points of penalties on influence rolls with any Attribute caused by faux pas, unfamiliarity with local customs or group dynamics, or inappropriate clothing or demeanor. She can pay three motes to treat any negative Ties a character has towards foreigners or outsiders that applies to her as one level of intensity lower for a single influence roll.
Dexterity—Bounding Steeplejack Hustle: For five motes, the Architect can use her reflexive move action to leap an entire range band vertically or horizontally without needing to roll and suffers no falling damage for the rest of the round. At bonfire, this power is free.
Intelligence—Living Library Concentration: The Architect adds +2 non-Charm Resolve against Psyche effects that affect or alter her thoughts, memories, or emotions. She adds (Essence) non-Charm dice on Mental Attribute rolls involving memory.
Manipulation—Enigmatic Charlatan Smile: Once per day, the Architect may Mute a single mote cost.
Perception—Eye for Detail: The Architect ignores up to (Essence) points of penalties on Perception rolls based on the environment or other poor conditions. She can spend three motes to reroll 1s until they cease to appear on a (Perception + Awareness) roll.
Stamina—Built from Brick: For two motes, the Architect gains +(higher of Essence or 3) soak or Hardness 4 against an attack.
Strength—Load-Bearing Might: For two motes, the Architect adds (Essence) to the raw damage of a withering attack or as non-Charm dice on a feat of strength roll
Wits—Backstreet-and-Alley Compendium: The Architect has a perfect mental map of every city she’s been in, able to discern the exact distance and route to any urban location she’s been to before. She adds (Essence) non-Charm dice on rolls to navigate to or within a city, rolls to withdraw from combat within a city (Exalted, p. 199), or rolls with any Attribute to find or learn of an urban location.

Martial Arts

Architects are restricted by the Terrestrial keyword (Exalted, p. 427) when using Martial Arts. They can’t learn Sidereal Martial Arts. Architects are limited in their ability to combine Martial Arts Charms with their native Charms. When an Architect makes a Martial Arts attack, she can enhance it with Architect Charms or Martial Arts Charms, but not both. Architect Excellencies are exempt and can be used freely with Martial Arts Charm. This restriction doesn’t apply to Charms that are already active and provide an ongoing benefit, nor does it apply to any action other than attacking.

Sorcery

Architects are capable of initiating into the Terrestrial Circle of sorcery. Their Intelligence Attribute determines whether they receive the Favored Attribute discount on spells.

Charms

Heart-Baring Sculpture Stance

Cost: 3m; Mins: Appearance 2, Essence 1
Type: Reflexive
Keywords: None
Duration: One scene
Prerequisite Charms: None

The Architect’s every gesture and change of expression conveys more than words ever could, radiant with passion.

Anyone who can see the Architect can discern her current emotional state without needing to roll, and she suffers −1 Guile to conceal emotion-based Intimacies. Any character whose emotional state is the same as or similar to hers is treated as having a Minor Tie of sympathy toward her. If the Architect succeeds on an Appearance-based influence roll against such a character, that Tie becomes permanent unless the target spends Willpower to resist.

An Appearance 3, Essence 2 repurchase lets the Architect apply this Charm’s effects to one of her emotion-based Intimacies rather than her current emotional state.

Welcoming Alehouse Appeal

Cost: 8m, 1wp; Mins: Appearance 5, Essence 2
Type: Simple
Keywords: Metropolis, Psyche
Duration: One scene
Prerequisite Charms: Perfection of Aesthetics

The Architect’s beauty is more intoxicating than the wares of any wine merchant or opium dealer.

When a character sees the Architect for the first time in a scene, he rolls (Wits + Integrity) at a difficulty of (her Appearance, including bonus dots). The Architect’s player can opt to exclude specific characters from this effect.

Characters who fail the roll are treated as having a Major Tie of interest toward the Architect for the scene. The Architect may choose to have this instead impose a Major Tie of infatuation on characters with a compatible sexual orientation (unless their player invokes the Red Rule, Exalted, p. 222). Affected characters also suffer a −2 penalty, as uncoordinated and mentally foggy as if they’d overindulged in liquor or drugs. For characters with the Addiction Flaw (Exalted, p. 167), their Addiction becomes being in the Architect’s presence.

This Charm is incompatible with the Hideous Merit.

Metropolis: In urban venues where alcohol, narcotics, or similar vices are on offer, any 1s on rolls to resist this Charm subtract successes.

Shadowed Alley Disappearance

Cost: 3m; Mins: Appearance 3, Essence 1
Type: Supplemental
Keywords: Metropolis
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: None

The Architect’s surroundings conspire to conceal her: falling leaves whirl about her, smoke drifts from forges to obscure her, and shadows lengthen.

When the Architect makes a Stealth roll, opposing rolls suffer a −1 penalty. This increases to −2 if she’s taken cover behind an artificial structure, or −3 for full cover.

Mass Panic Technique

Cost: 6m; Mins: Appearance 4, Essence 2
Type: Supplemental
Keywords: Metropolis
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Crowd-Panicking Intensity, Urban Legend Notoriety

The Architect’s terrifying mien turns even the most seasoned of armies into shambolic mobs, scattering them from the battlefield.

The Architect adds (Archery, Brawl, Martial Arts, Melee, Thrown, or War) dice on a threaten roll, an inspire roll to spread fear, or an instill roll to create Ties of fear. Affected characters lose (Architect’s Essence/2) Initiative, which she doesn’t gain. Battle groups instead lose that much Magnitude. If this causes a battle group to make a rout check, it rolls at +1 difficulty.

This Charm can only be used once per scene, unless reset by landing a decisive attack and then building to Initiative 6.

Metropolis: In cities or while fighting in defense of a city, the Initiative lost increases to (Essence), and the Architect gains up to (higher of Essence or 3) of the Initiative lost by her targets.

Overwhelming Hustle Strike

Cost: 5m, 1wp; Mins: Dexterity 4, Essence 1
Type: Simple
Keywords: Keystone (Wits), Metropolis, Withering-only
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Runaway Cart Swiftness

The Architect strikes with the speed of a cutpurse’s nimble fingers or a rat’s excited scurry, overwhelming foes with her swift barrage.

The Architect makes two withering attacks against a single enemy. She only gains Initiative from the attack that deals the highest damage, maximum (Essence + Wits). If she’s dual wielding two identical weapons, this increases to (Essence + Wits + 1).

This Charm can only be used once per scene, unless reset by crashing an enemy and then landing a decisive attack against him on or before her next turn.

Metropolis: In cities, the Architect need only pay the cost of non-Excellency Charms once to apply their effects to both attacks.

Keystone: An Architect with Wits as a Foundation Attribute may learn this as a Wits Charm.

Steadfast Sentry Attitude

Cost: 2i; Mins: Dexterity 2, Essence 1
Type: Reflexive
Keywords: Metropolis, Perilous, Uniform
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: None

The Architect fends off her enemy’s blows as if she were a seasoned city dweller regarding an errant pigeon with jaded disinterest.

The Architect adds +1 Defense and can successfully defend against attack rolls with successes equal to her Defense.

Metropolis: In cities, this Charm loses the Perilous keyword and the Architect can spend herself into negative Initiative using it.

Singularity of Doors

Cost: —; Mins: Dexterity 5, Essence 4
Type: Permanent
Keywords: Keystone (Wits)
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: Portal to Portal

No door in the city is beyond the Architect’s divine access.

Once per story, when the Architect uses Portal to Portal in a city, she can travel to any doorway or similar opening in that city that she’s been to before.

This Charm can be reset with a legendary social goal that benefits a city.

Keystone: An Architect with Wits as a Foundation Attribute may learn this as a Wits Charm.

Museum-Mind Atelier

Cost: 3m; Mins: Intelligence 4, Essence 2
Type: Reflexive
Keywords: Metropolis
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Citywise Factotum Education, Peripatetic Sage’s Footsteps

The Architect’s memory palace stretches on block after block, honing her recollection beyond all limits.

Reliving her memory of a single scene’s worth of events, the Architect rerolls 6s until they cease to appear on a roll to introduce or challenge a relevant fact, or on any mental Attribute roll that memory is germane to. Alternatively, she can reflexively add +1 non-Charm Resolve against an effect that would alter her memories or create false memories.

Metropolis: In an urban location where the recalled memory occurred, the Architect rerolls 5s until they cease to appear or increases the Resolve bonus to +2.

Just a random taste of what's to come. Between this sneak peek and the Charms that were previewed on the Onyx Path website back in November, we seem to be in for something quite fun tomorrow!

And remember, the Chapter 7 draft manuscript won't be the only new source of Exalted info tomorrow - the Onyx Path Virtual Gaming Convention starts tomorrow, with the Opening Ceremonies at 5:00 PM EDT, and the EXALTED PANEL streaming at 7:00 PM EDT tomorrow night!

Tue Jun 7 '22 Announcement
almost 2 years ago – Tue, Jun 07, 2022 at 05:42:57 AM

Hello Chosen of the Little Gods,

What a week it's been! Last Tuesday, we shared chapter 5 from the draft manuscript. Since then, we've unlocked two more Stretch Goals and taken a peek at today's subject, the Puppeteer!

UNLOCKED! - At $105,000 in Funding - Exigents Expanded Content: The Chosen of the Dice

A design seed for the Willow Specter, the Chosen of the Dice, detailing the history and nature of Plentimon’s Chosen and providing traits and sample Charms to use as a beginning point for designing a full Charm set yourself.

UNLOCKED! - At $115,000 in Funding - Exigents Expanded Content: Miracles of Divine Flame #2

More Charms for the four playable Exigents featured in the book — including powerful high-Essence Charms.

Coming up next, we've got a quick stop to celebrate on our way to the next expanded content Stretch Goal.

At $120,000 in Funding - Exigents Digital Wallpaper

Epic Exigents artwork will be used to create a wallpaper for your computer desktop. This digital wallpaper will be added to the rewards list of all Indiegogo backers supporting this project.

At $125,000 in Funding - Exigents Expanded Content: The Bleak Warden

Before we dive into Chapter 6, if you want a quick refresher for the first 5 Chapters and don't wanna go back and read them yet, or just wanna hear some other takes, check out the latest episode of The Deliberative Podcast, where they spend a few hours getting all excited about Exigents (and units of measurement and a few digressions about previous edition lore and some hunger for Abyssals before they dig in)! Click to listen now...

The Deliberative Podcast V2.0 Episode 5: Exigents Part 1 Discussion

If you DO feel like re-reading the first five chapters, no worries - I've got you covered below!

As noted, today is Puppeteer day. We've seen some hints about her Charms in a previous update, but that was just starting to pull the strings. So check out Chapter 6, now available!

DRAFT MANUSCRIPT PREVIEWS

So dig into Chapter 6 and learn more about Pakpao. Share your feedback with the developers using the feedback form, and please continue to spread the word about this campaign on your social media and in your social circles. We've come a long way, but still have just over two weeks ahead of us to read more of the manuscript and maybe add some additional supplemental content.

Coming up this week - with the Onyx Path Online Virtual Convention starting on Friday, we're going to have a second draft chapter preview this week, digging into Chapter 7 all about The Architects! We'll have a sneak peek in the next few days, and the full draft chapter coming right before the Onyx Path convention starts on Friday!

EXIGENTS: Out of the Ashes for Exalted 3rd Edition

Created by Onyx Path Publishing - Exigents: Out of the Ashes

Latest Updates from Our Project:

Tue Jun 14 '22 Announcement
almost 2 years ago – Tue, Jun 14, 2022 at 06:23:24 AM

DRAFT MANUSCRIPT PREVIEWS

ONYX PATH DISCUSSION CHANNELS

Mon Jun 13 '22 Announcement
almost 2 years ago – Mon, Jun 13, 2022 at 06:07:11 AM

The Sovereigns of Uluiru

Sovereign Chronicles

Character Creation

Anima

Martial Arts

Sorcery

Charms

Fri Jun 10 '22 Announcement
almost 2 years ago – Fri, Jun 10, 2022 at 07:54:31 AM

ONYX PATH DISCUSSION CHANNELS

DRAFT MANUSCRIPT PREVIEWS

Thu Jun 9 '22 Announcement
almost 2 years ago – Thu, Jun 09, 2022 at 07:20:52 AM

City Fathers and Architects

Brick by Brick

Anima

Anima Effects

Martial Arts

Sorcery

Charms

Tue Jun 7 '22 Announcement
almost 2 years ago – Tue, Jun 07, 2022 at 05:42:57 AM

The Deliberative Podcast V2.0 Episode 5: Exigents Part 1 Discussion

DRAFT MANUSCRIPT PREVIEWS

EXIGENTS: Out of the Ashes for Exalted 3rd Edition

Created by Onyx Path Publishing - Exigents: Out of the Ashes

Latest Updates from Our Project:

Tue Jun 14 '22 Announcement almost 2 years ago – Tue, Jun 14, 2022 at 06:23:24 AM

DRAFT MANUSCRIPT PREVIEWS

ONYX PATH DISCUSSION CHANNELS

Mon Jun 13 '22 Announcement almost 2 years ago – Mon, Jun 13, 2022 at 06:07:11 AM

The Sovereigns of Uluiru

Sovereign Chronicles

Character Creation

Anima

Martial Arts

Sorcery

Charms

Fri Jun 10 '22 Announcement almost 2 years ago – Fri, Jun 10, 2022 at 07:54:31 AM

ONYX PATH DISCUSSION CHANNELS

DRAFT MANUSCRIPT PREVIEWS

Thu Jun 9 '22 Announcement almost 2 years ago – Thu, Jun 09, 2022 at 07:20:52 AM

City Fathers and Architects

Brick by Brick

Anima

Anima Effects

Martial Arts

Sorcery

Charms

Tue Jun 7 '22 Announcement almost 2 years ago – Tue, Jun 07, 2022 at 05:42:57 AM

The Deliberative Podcast V2.0 Episode 5: Exigents Part 1 Discussion

DRAFT MANUSCRIPT PREVIEWS

Tue Jun 14 '22 Announcement
almost 2 years ago – Tue, Jun 14, 2022 at 06:23:24 AM

Mon Jun 13 '22 Announcement
almost 2 years ago – Mon, Jun 13, 2022 at 06:07:11 AM

Fri Jun 10 '22 Announcement
almost 2 years ago – Fri, Jun 10, 2022 at 07:54:31 AM

Thu Jun 9 '22 Announcement
almost 2 years ago – Thu, Jun 09, 2022 at 07:20:52 AM

Tue Jun 7 '22 Announcement
almost 2 years ago – Tue, Jun 07, 2022 at 05:42:57 AM