Difference between revisions of "Thus Spake Zaranephilpal/AlchemicalRelativePower"

Revision as of 19:15, 6 April 2006

Posted 15 Feb 2005 15:03, White Wolf Forums

On a scale of 1-10, I'd generalize the Exalted types with the following ratings:

Solar/Abyssal: 10
Lunar/Sidereal: 9
Alchemical: 8
Dragon-Blooded: 6

(Or so.)

In short, while Alchemicals are Celestial level, they're the bottom of that scale in the way that Solars reside at the top. The notable difference in favor of Autocthon's Chosen is that there are about a 1000 of them compared with about 700 Celestial Exalted of all types in Creation.

The power balance is made wonky because of the inherent modularity of Alchemicals, the mechanics of which I'm not at liberty to explain.

--Neph

I've got to say, that doesn't please me one bit. I'm assuming by the way you post this that Neph is, in fact, someone who should know these things from advance knowledge of the eventual fatsplat. I'm a huge fan of the Alchemicals, and always assumed they would've fit in at 9.9 on the 'solar scale', simply because they've got it all right. Unlike humans, which merely have a higher soul put into their body, Alchemicals are started from day 0 as bodies, lower souls, and higher souls of heros, Exalted, and other uber-stuff. No flaws there to limit you. Understandably, with the Alchemical's means of swapping charms, each charm has to be individually weak, so I imagine the high-powered combos that so characterize Solars will be absent, and this might explain the problem. On the other hand though, if I didn't know what was coming, I might still choose to have an Alchemical over a Solar with me - Solars are perfect at what they do, while Alchemicals, both by their swappable general multipurpose charms, and by their Attribute-based natures, are far more suitable to varied situations.

Anyway, I'm gonna shut up now. I just hope I don't have to house rule the Alchemicals back into 'coolness'.

-- GregLink

What, they can't be cool unless they're nearly as powerful as Solars? That's an awfully bleak outlook. - David.

Two thoughts. First, Neph thinks that Lunars and Sidereals have power parity. This is ridiculous. Second, Alchemicals have it all right? What you you smoking? They're perverted, brainwashed ghosts imprisoned in magic robots that have to be immersed in amniotic fluid periodically to keep them alive. They're not some miracle technology, they're a repellent combination of decaying, fraying souls that don't even earn their Exaltations; they're conscripted into them, and a poor, mechanical substitute for the Charm abilities of the true Celestials.

I can't even imagine a positive spin on that. - willows

Further, if the Alchemicals are better than the exalted... why didn't Autocthon use them in the war. You know, when he was fighting for his existance against his brothers and sisters, the Primordials? Why send the rejects to fight the Ebon Dragon? -Seraph

Well, they are souls of heroes. But, they also miss out on the divine Essence bit, which counts for something - even as a Primordial, Autocthon made use of Sol, Luna, and the Maidens because their Essence obviously imparts a great deal of strength to mortals. If that was 'replacable' then we'd never go down the Exalted road in the first place. -Xeriar

I think Autochthon did not create the Alchemicals until after he departed Creation, well after the Primoridal war. -- JesseLowe

What I meant was, if Alchemicals are better than Solars and Autochthon was capable of making things as cool as the Alchemicals, why would he have made the Solars in the first place? It makes sense for Autochthon to make second-rate Exalts to take care of his people while he slept. That was an emergency situation. The gods had a long time to plan their rebellion, and the Solars should be (and are described as, I believe), Autochthon's best work. -Seraph

The shards of the Unconquered Sun used to forge Solar souls are a much finer material for channeling might and heroism. Autochthon's essence is enormous and just full of good ideas, but it exists on an alien scale that doesn't really match up with human heroism. One can only do so much with one's starting materials--though the Alchemicals may be metaphysically more refined, they've been hobbled together out of what should be incompatible materials to anyone but the archetypical forge god. Such is my reasoning, anyways. _Wohksworth

There's also, of course, the question of what Neph is using as a gauge of Exalted power. Remember all the people who say Sidereals are more powerful than Solars (erroneously, IMHO, but that's irrelevant) - David.