I've got a preview for you from our next manuscript drop. This is from the first half of Chapter 2, which we'll get next Tuesday as part of our regular draft manuscript downloads. As a reminder, we get a new manuscript section every Tuesday and we'll have the entire approved draft manuscript on our screens before any pledges are processed or payments collected.
Chapter 3 is all about antagonists.
The term Antagonist in Exalted: Essence refers to any character controlled by the Storyteller and built using the Antagonist rules. Often, these characters will stand in opposition to the players’ characters, at least at first, but the Exalted are powerful forces of change with the ability to sway opinions, topple hierarchies, and confound the best-laid plans of others. Not every Antagonist will fill the narrative role of actively opposing the protagonist characters, and some may play the role of both enemy and ally over the course of a campaign.
A cast of interesting Antagonists will challenge the players’ characters in multiple ways. This can include direct mechanical challenges like combat, but also indirect challenges like navigating a complex political landscape or making difficult moral choices. This chapter should help you design a world full of interesting people for your players’ characters to interact with, whether as direct enemies or complicated allies.
Interesting Mortals
Though it is rare for mortals to stand on a level with the Exalted, they lend key skills to central figures, form into battle groups that unlock new tactics at great scales, and may gather unusual magic or temporal power that provides troublesome for Exalted.
Battle Rager
Though many professional soldiers rely on keeping an even head to succeed in pitched combat, the battle rager trains to channel their heightened emotions into a tireless assault. The most famed traditions across Creation often make use of enhancements like specialized drugs or the blessings of patron spirits.
Lethal Momentum: Each time this character gains Power, add 1 Power to a second pool of temporary Power. This Power is added to her normal Power when making a decisive attack, and can also be added to an attack that uses desperate assault. She cannot make an attack with more than 10 Power.
Whim of War (Outnumber): This character makes Rout checks as if her Drill were Elite, and increases her Resolve by 2 against effects based on fear, trickery, or mental control. This character cannot gain the formation attack and opportunistic threat Qualities.
Battle Ragers represent a force of elite warriors who rely on individual strength even in great numbers, using their qualities to make up for poor Drill. Their lethal momentum pays dividends for allies who spend time lending them Power.
Martial Warlock
In the dark interior of Wu Jian, where gangs of martial artists battle for territory and prestige, it is not uncommon for anyone to make unwise decisions in pursuit of strength. Cast out and left for dead, this prodigy accepted an offer from a demon to take on its powers in exchange for his obedience to the whims of Hell. Though he thinks his mind his own, his Essence twists him to wreak pain and chaos even as he seeks justice.
Martial Proficiency in Tiger Style (Exalted Essence p. 317, 289)
Burning Hatred: When the Martial Warlock takes damage, they immediately form a negative Tie to the character who caused it, or strengthen one they had before the scene. If they gain a negative Tie from any other source, they immediately gain it at Major intensity.
Fueled by Hate: Once per turn, after the Martial Warlock successfully attacks a character whom they have a negative Tie towards, they immediately gain 1 mote or 1 Power. If the Tie is major, they gain an additional Power with either option.
The Martial Warlock cultivates their desire for vengeance, and should seek reasons to deepen their hatred of anything that stands in their way. Demons may occasionally appear to aid them, though these are closer to handlers than allies.
Titan Hunter
In corners of the world that boast populations of large animals, such as Thunder Lizards and Yeddim, the daring and desperate attempt to make an enterprise of hunting them. In the Age of Sorrows, few traditions remain for felling great beasts, making any surviving groups of specialists a prized resource. The Realm pays great bounties to those who aid them in defeating shapeshifting Lunars, but large groups of Titan Hunters are all but unheard of, only found in hostile lands that demand their skills.
Virtues: Discipline/Courage Primary Pool(9): Hunting Giant Beasts, Wilderness Navigation Secondary Pool(7): Senses, Movement Tertiary Pool (6) Health Levels: 5 Resolve: 3 Defense: 3 Hardness: 3 Soak: 3
Attacks and Qualities
Find the Weak Spot: Withering attacks against creatures with the enormous size or legendary size Qualities do not suffer a success penalty.
Take It Down (Outnumber): The Titan Hunter’s maximum damage against targets with legendary size is the Size of his battle group. Against targets who are prone or caught with the ensnare gambit, there is no maximum damage. If the battle group is at least Size 2, it can make gambits against enemies of any size without penalty.
Wilderness Ways: Once per session, when the Titan Hunter or an allied character fails a roll on a Travel Venture in a region the Hunter is familiar with, the Hunter mitigates the severity of the consequence. The Titan Hunter activates this after the Storyteller determines the consequence.
Titan Hunters are useful assets for groups venturing into strange wilderness or on the trail of a great behemoth. Well-prepared enemies may have a group of Titan Hunters on hand to deal with players who have access to the Legendary Size Quality, such as Lunars and warstrider pilots.
Tomorrow we'll look at some interesting adversaries that, uh, aren't human. Thursday will be Strange Beast day!
And then on Friday we'll get the kick off for the Onxy Path Virtual Convention running all weekend!
