Difference between revisions of "SpiritBuildingGuidelines/Demon"

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<i>Sample, in order, is Erymanthus, Angyalka, Chrysogona, Firmin, Gilmyne, Luminita, Neomah, Perronele, Tomescu, Anuhles, U'awa the Founder, Shadow Puppet Assassin</i> <br>
 
<i>Sample, in order, is Erymanthus, Angyalka, Chrysogona, Firmin, Gilmyne, Luminita, Neomah, Perronele, Tomescu, Anuhles, U'awa the Founder, Shadow Puppet Assassin</i> <br>
||                      ||Least||Avg||Med||Most||SDV||Sample||
+
||                      ||Least||Avg||Med||Most||Sample||
||Attribute dots||17||27||28||38||7||<i>25,32,30,17,35,38,28,19,20,--*,25,29</i>||
+
||Attribute dots||17||27||28||38||<i>25,32,30,17,35,38,28,19,20,--*,25,29</i>||
||Virtue dots||7||12||12||15||3||<i>7,14,11,11,15,12,14,15,12,12,7,9</i>||
+
||Virtue dots||7||12||12||15||<i>7,14,11,11,15,12,14,15,12,12,7,9</i>||
||Ability Dots||13||27||28||35||6||<i>27,35,34,24,29,26,24,13,30,29,31,27</i>||
+
||Ability Dots||13||27||28||35||<i>27,35,34,24,29,26,24,13,30,29,31,27</i>||
||# of Ability||5||9||10||11||2||<i>9,8,11,11,9,6,10,5,10,10,11,7</i>||
+
||# of Ability||5||9||10||11||<i>9,8,11,11,9,6,10,5,10,10,11,7</i>||
||Background dots||0||1||0||10||3||<i>0,0,10,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0</i>||
+
||Background dots||0||1||0||10||<i>0,0,10,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0</i>||
||# of Backgrounds||0||0||0||3||1||<i>0,0,3,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0</i>||
+
||# of Backgrounds||0||0||0||3||<i>0,0,3,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0</i>||
||Charms||3||8||7||18||4||<i>4,6,11,7,8,11,4,4,3,18,7,8</i>||
+
||Charms||3||8||7||18||<i>4,6,11,7,8,11,4,4,3,18,7,8</i>||
||Lethal Soak||0L||4L||4L||9L||3||<i>5,1,2,3,4,4,0,9,7,6,5,2</i>||
+
||Lethal Soak||0L||4L||4L||9L||<i>5,1,2,3,4,4,0,9,7,6,5,2</i>||
||Bashing Soak||2B||7B||8B||13B||3||<i>8,3,5,2,8,8,5,13,11,8,8,4</i>||
+
||Bashing Soak||2B||7B||8B||13B||<i>8,3,5,2,8,8,5,13,11,8,8,4</i>||
||Willpower||2||6||6||9||2||<i>5,3,7,2,7,5,5,7,7,9,5,6</i>||
+
||Willpower||2||6||6||9||<i>5,3,7,2,7,5,5,7,7,9,5,6</i>||
||Health Levels||6||10||9||12||2||<i>9,12,6,9,12,9,9,9,9,14,7,9</i>||
+
||Health Levels||6||10||9||12||<i>9,12,6,9,12,9,9,9,9,14,7,9</i>||
||Extra Powers**||0||2||2||4||1||<i>0,0,3,2,2,1,4,2,4,1,--,3</i>||
+
||Extra Powers**||0||2||2||4||<i>0,0,3,2,2,1,4,2,4,1,--,3</i>||
 
<i>*Anuhle atts vary wildly.<br>** This is the number of paragraphs in Other Notes that give demons extra powers or strange weaknesses.</i><br>
 
<i>*Anuhle atts vary wildly.<br>** This is the number of paragraphs in Other Notes that give demons extra powers or strange weaknesses.</i><br>
 
Notes: Strength and Dexterity can go up to 6, Charisma and Manipulation up to 7. A single ability can go up to 8. Up to 7 dots in specialties.
 
Notes: Strength and Dexterity can go up to 6, Charisma and Manipulation up to 7. A single ability can go up to 8. Up to 7 dots in specialties.
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== Essence 3 ==
 
== Essence 3 ==
 
<i>Sample, in order, is Agata, Amphelisia, Decanthrope, Hopping Puppeteer, Metody, Passion Moray, Stomach Bottle Bug, Bisclavaret, Corr'dal the Founder, Eristrufa</i> <br>
 
<i>Sample, in order, is Agata, Amphelisia, Decanthrope, Hopping Puppeteer, Metody, Passion Moray, Stomach Bottle Bug, Bisclavaret, Corr'dal the Founder, Eristrufa</i> <br>
||                      ||Least||Avg||Med||Most||SDV||Sample||
+
||                      ||Least||Avg||Med||Most||Sample||
||Attribute dots||13||24||23||33||6||<i>33,24,20,29,22,20,13,24,22,32</i>||
+
||Attribute dots||13||24||23||33||<i>33,24,20,29,22,20,13,24,22,32</i>||
||Virtue dots||9||10||10||11||1||<i>11,10,10,11,10,10,11,9,9,9</i>||
+
||Virtue dots||9||10||10||11||<i>11,10,10,11,10,10,11,9,9,9</i>||
||Ability Dots||9||23||21||46||11||<i>16,14,33,46,15,9,23,30,28,18</i>||
+
||Ability Dots||9||23||21||46||<i>16,14,33,46,15,9,23,30,28,18</i>||
||# of Ability||3||9||9||16||4||<i>8,5,16,10,9,3,9,11,8,7</i>||
+
||# of Ability||3||9||9||16||<i>8,5,16,10,9,3,9,11,8,7</i>||
||Background dots||0||0||0||4||1||<i>0,0,3.5,0,0,0,0,0,--,0</i>||
+
||Background dots||0||0||0||4||<i>0,0,3.5,0,0,0,0,0,--,0</i>||
||# of Backgrounds||0||0||0||1||0||<i>0,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,--,0</i>||
+
||# of Backgrounds||0||0||0||1||<i>0,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,--,0</i>||
||Charms||3||8||7||15||4||<i>4,3,5,4,10,9,3,15,11,13</i>||
+
||Charms||3||8||7||15||<i>4,3,5,4,10,9,3,15,11,13</i>||
||Lethal Soak||0L||4L||4L||8L||3||<i>4,8,3,3,8,0,0,3,5,6</i>||
+
||Lethal Soak||0L||4L||4L||8L||<i>4,8,3,3,8,0,0,3,5,6</i>||
||Bashing Soak||1B||7B||8B||11B||3||<i>9,10,7,5,11,2,1,4,8,9</i>||
+
||Bashing Soak||1B||7B||8B||11B||<i>9,10,7,5,11,2,1,4,8,9</i>||
||Willpower||3||6||6||9||2||<i>8,5,9,6,3,5,5,6,9,7</i>||
+
||Willpower||3||6||6||9||<i>8,5,9,6,3,5,5,6,9,7</i>||
||Health Levels||6||11||9||20||4||<i>9,9,6,20,13,7,9,10,9,13</i>||
+
||Health Levels||6||11||9||20||<i>9,9,6,20,13,7,9,10,9,13</i>||
||Extra Powers**||1||1||1||2||1||<i>2,2,2,1,1,1,1,1,--,--</i>||
+
||Extra Powers**||1||1||1||2||<i>2,2,2,1,1,1,1,1,--,--</i>||
 
Notes: Strength can reach 13, Appearance can reach 6. Hopping Puppeteers have 4 Crafts at 7 dots. Up to 5 specialty dots.<br>
 
Notes: Strength can reach 13, Appearance can reach 6. Hopping Puppeteers have 4 Crafts at 7 dots. Up to 5 specialty dots.<br>
  
 
== Essence 4 NEEDS MORE SAMPLES ==
 
== Essence 4 NEEDS MORE SAMPLES ==
Can anyone else find Essence 4 demons? Corebook, STC, [[GoD]] checked... After the other demons are documented, maybe we can speculate on the limits of stats.<br>
+
Can anyone else find Essence 4 demons? Corebook, STC, GoD checked... After the other demons are documented, maybe we can speculate on the limits of stats.<br>
 
<i>Sample, in order, is Teodozji, Kimberry's Dawn*</i> <br>
 
<i>Sample, in order, is Teodozji, Kimberry's Dawn*</i> <br>
 
||                      ||Least||Avg||Med||Most||Sample||
 
||                      ||Least||Avg||Med||Most||Sample||
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== Essence 5 ==
 
== Essence 5 ==
 
<i>Sample, in order, is Akianshi, Sondok</i> <br>
 
<i>Sample, in order, is Akianshi, Sondok</i> <br>
||                      ||Least||Avg||Med||Most||SDV||Sample||
+
||                      ||Least||Avg||Med||Most||Sample||
||Attribute dots||27||28||28||29||1||<i>27,29</i>||
+
||Attribute dots||27||28||28||29||<i>27,29</i>||
||Virtue dots||11||12||12||13||1||<i>11,13</i>||
+
||Virtue dots||11||12||12||13||<i>11,13</i>||
||Ability Dots||29||34||34||39||7||<i>29,39</i>||
+
||Ability Dots||29||34||34||39||<i>29,39</i>||
||# of Ability||10||11||11||12||1||<i>12,10</i>||
+
||# of Ability||10||11||11||12||<i>12,10</i>||
||Background dots||5||10||10||15||7||<i>5,15</i>||
+
||Background dots||5||10||10||15||<i>5,15</i>||
||# of Backgrounds||2||4||4||6||3||<i>2,6</i>||
+
||# of Backgrounds||2||4||4||6||<i>2,6</i>||
||Charms||11||11||11||11||0||<i>11,11</i>||
+
||Charms||11||11||11||11||<i>11,11</i>||
||Lethal Soak||4L||8L||8L||12L||6||<i>4,12</i>||
+
||Lethal Soak||4L||8L||8L||12L||<i>4,12</i>||
||Bashing Soak||5B||9B||9B||13B||6||<i>5,13</i>||
+
||Bashing Soak||5B||9B||9B||13B||<i>5,13</i>||
||Willpower||8||9||9||10||1||<i>8,10</i>||
+
||Willpower||8||9||9||10||<i>8,10</i>||
||Health Levels||14||16||16||17||2||<i>14,17</i>||
+
||Health Levels||14||16||16||17||<i>14,17</i>||
 
Notes: One ability can reach 6.
 
Notes: One ability can reach 6.
  
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:That would make sense if demons of the same circle are built on a bonus point system from a baseline.  Spending points on Essence means less points are available to raise other stats. - [[Raindoll]]
 
:That would make sense if demons of the same circle are built on a bonus point system from a baseline.  Spending points on Essence means less points are available to raise other stats. - [[Raindoll]]
::Indeed, demons must be built on a system like that.  Elementals and gods tend to just increase in overall power as their essence grows, but demons must work a bit differently.--[[UncleChu]]
+
::Indeed, demons must be built on a system like that.  Elementals and gods tend to just increase in overall power as their essence grows, but demons must work a bit differently.--UncleChu
  
Could it be that the addition of Essence 3 charms makes them much more useful at certain things? While the Essence 2 guys are stuck around doing things manually (due to their low-Essence charms), the higher essence demons have stronger charms that make up for it? Since there are no pre-reqs in the spirit or demon world, having 4 Essence 3 charms (e.g. FLB, FFBS, Infinite Melee Mastery, Tiger-Warrior Training Technique) and a Melee Excellency makes you a heck of a lot better of a combatant than, say, 5 Essence 2 charms (Bulwark Stance, Leaping Dodge Method, Rout-Stemming Gesture, etc).  I'm guessing there's a similar correlation among demon and spirit charms, so perhaps those Essence 3 abilities really kick butt? -- [[GreenLantern]]
+
Could it be that the addition of Essence 3 charms makes them much more useful at certain things? While the Essence 2 guys are stuck around doing things manually (due to their low-Essence charms), the higher essence demons have stronger charms that make up for it? Since there are no pre-reqs in the spirit or demon world, having 4 Essence 3 charms (e.g. FLB, FFBS, Infinite Melee Mastery, Tiger-Warrior Training Technique) and a Melee Excellency makes you a heck of a lot better of a combatant than, say, 5 Essence 2 charms (Bulwark Stance, Leaping Dodge Method, Rout-Stemming Gesture, etc).  I'm guessing there's a similar correlation among demon and spirit charms, so perhaps those Essence 3 abilities really kick butt? -- GreenLantern  
: Woah woah, wait, spirits can learn and use Exalted charms?  I mean, sure, I can see them having Excellencies (though these stats are 1E), and I can see them being able to teach charms, but using them? In terms of spirit charms, raising Essence only unlocks more potent charms.  Everything is still rolled with Atts, Abs, and Virts, which puts them at a disadvantage.  The biggest difference is higher essence means penalties can only limit you a certain amount.  Certainly gods and elementals increase overall with an Essence increase.  Why are demons different?  Here's my fluff speculation: 2nd Circle demons can only devote so much essence into crafting first circles.  They can choose to make a more potent essence spark, or they can choose to make them more apt with reality-based traits. *shrug* In the end, the fluff and special demon powers define the difference, it seems. --[[UncleChu]]  
+
: Woah woah, wait, spirits can learn and use Exalted charms?  I mean, sure, I can see them having Excellencies (though these stats are 1E), and I can see them being able to teach charms, but using them? In terms of spirit charms, raising Essence only unlocks more potent charms.  Everything is still rolled with Atts, Abs, and Virts, which puts them at a disadvantage.  The biggest difference is higher essence means penalties can only limit you a certain amount.  Certainly gods and elementals increase overall with an Essence increase.  Why are demons different?  Here's my fluff speculation: 2nd Circle demons can only devote so much essence into crafting first circles.  They can choose to make a more potent essence spark, or they can choose to make them more apt with reality-based traits. *shrug* In the end, the fluff and special demon powers define the difference, it seems. --UncleChu   
  
:Oh, I'm not claiming spirits can learn Exalted charms. I'm merely using those extremely familiar charms as comparison points for how Essence 3 charms are in fact, way super mucho awesomer than Essence 2 charms, and as such, in many situations, might make up for the lower general Attribute+Ability scores. Especially given that at some level, demons ''are'' spirits, and spirits have an aspect that they're good at. If that function is suitably covered by those few Essence 3 charms, then they don't need more, really. As to your point, I also agree with your claim. Perhaps there is some finite power-pool there - that's why there are no Essence 6 first-circle demons. The second-circles just don't have the juice. -- [[GreenLantern]]
+
:Oh, I'm not claiming spirits can learn Exalted charms. I'm merely using those extremely familiar charms as comparison points for how Essence 3 charms are in fact, way super mucho awesomer than Essence 2 charms, and as such, in many situations, might make up for the lower general Attribute+Ability scores. Especially given that at some level, demons ''are'' spirits, and spirits have an aspect that they're good at. If that function is suitably covered by those few Essence 3 charms, then they don't need more, really. As to your point, I also agree with your claim. Perhaps there is some finite power-pool there - that's why there are no Essence 6 first-circle demons. The second-circles just don't have the juice. -- GreenLantern
  
There are some pre-requisites, at least in the extended spirit-charm trees given in the [[GoD]] appendix. They don't strictly have to be followed, though, and they're still shallow. <br> -- [[Darloth]]
+
There are some pre-requisites, at least in the extended spirit-charm trees given in the GoD appendix. They don't strictly have to be followed, though, and they're still shallow. <br> -- [[Darloth]]
 
:Indeed. I'm thinking of second edition, where page 294 notes that "Instead of Charm cascades, ... spirit charms are grouped into families of like powers.... The only prerequisite for a spirit charm is a certain Essence trait and the type of spirit using that charm." At least in 2nd Ed, canonically, there are no prereqs for spirit charms, as far as I can tell. -- GL
 
:Indeed. I'm thinking of second edition, where page 294 notes that "Instead of Charm cascades, ... spirit charms are grouped into families of like powers.... The only prerequisite for a spirit charm is a certain Essence trait and the type of spirit using that charm." At least in 2nd Ed, canonically, there are no prereqs for spirit charms, as far as I can tell. -- GL
  
Hi.  Sorry I haven't posted much; I have a major exam well-- today, so I've been studying my heiny off.  I'd disregard Kimberry's Dawn; it's a rather clearly heavily altered being and smushed into a certain, unlikely to be often repeated circumstances.  It'll throw off the data without actually giving us information about what demons of this type are like. -- [[IsawaBrian]]
+
Hi.  Sorry I haven't posted much; I have a major exam well-- today, so I've been studying my heiny off.  I'd disregard Kimberry's Dawn; it's a rather clearly heavily altered being and smushed into a certain, unlikely to be often repeated circumstances.  It'll throw off the data without actually giving us information about what demons of this type are like. -- IsawaBrian
:Yeah, good call.  I'll leave it as an example of an Essence 4 demon, but take out the stats that are clearly number-skewing.  Stuff like ability dots and willpower are still relevant, I think. I think over all, Essence 4 is a weird place for demons.  Teodozji is an exceptionally powerful 1st circle, and the Dawn is an exceptionally bizarre second circle.  Maybe Ess4 can only truly be determined once we have the other essence levels added. --[[UncleChu]]
+
:Yeah, good call.  I'll leave it as an example of an Essence 4 demon, but take out the stats that are clearly number-skewing.  Stuff like ability dots and willpower are still relevant, I think. I think over all, Essence 4 is a weird place for demons.  Teodozji is an exceptionally powerful 1st circle, and the Dawn is an exceptionally bizarre second circle.  Maybe Ess4 can only truly be determined once we have the other essence levels added. --UncleChu
 
::Just what Background is it that Makarios has at 33? - [[Trithne]]
 
::Just what Background is it that Makarios has at 33? - [[Trithne]]
:::Those are his total background dots.  It says Artifact 1-5 (8 each) or something like that.  He has sick tons of artifacts. --[[UncleChu]]
 

Revision as of 03:37, 23 May 2006

All the demons that have come to pass, and all the ones that shall be

These are the souls of the souls of the souls of the Yozi. They're what happens if each of your organs and each of your cells had independence, and you were an unimaginable entity beyond comprehension.

Essence 2

Sample, in order, is Erymanthus, Angyalka, Chrysogona, Firmin, Gilmyne, Luminita, Neomah, Perronele, Tomescu, Anuhles, U'awa the Founder, Shadow Puppet Assassin
|| ||Least||Avg||Med||Most||Sample|| ||Attribute dots||17||27||28||38||25,32,30,17,35,38,28,19,20,--*,25,29|| ||Virtue dots||7||12||12||15||7,14,11,11,15,12,14,15,12,12,7,9|| ||Ability Dots||13||27||28||35||27,35,34,24,29,26,24,13,30,29,31,27|| ||# of Ability||5||9||10||11||9,8,11,11,9,6,10,5,10,10,11,7|| ||Background dots||0||1||0||10||0,0,10,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0|| ||# of Backgrounds||0||0||0||3||0,0,3,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0|| ||Charms||3||8||7||18||4,6,11,7,8,11,4,4,3,18,7,8|| ||Lethal Soak||0L||4L||4L||9L||5,1,2,3,4,4,0,9,7,6,5,2|| ||Bashing Soak||2B||7B||8B||13B||8,3,5,2,8,8,5,13,11,8,8,4|| ||Willpower||2||6||6||9||5,3,7,2,7,5,5,7,7,9,5,6|| ||Health Levels||6||10||9||12||9,12,6,9,12,9,9,9,9,14,7,9|| ||Extra Powers**||0||2||2||4||0,0,3,2,2,1,4,2,4,1,--,3|| *Anuhle atts vary wildly.
** This is the number of paragraphs in Other Notes that give demons extra powers or strange weaknesses.

Notes: Strength and Dexterity can go up to 6, Charisma and Manipulation up to 7. A single ability can go up to 8. Up to 7 dots in specialties.

Essence 3

Sample, in order, is Agata, Amphelisia, Decanthrope, Hopping Puppeteer, Metody, Passion Moray, Stomach Bottle Bug, Bisclavaret, Corr'dal the Founder, Eristrufa
|| ||Least||Avg||Med||Most||Sample|| ||Attribute dots||13||24||23||33||33,24,20,29,22,20,13,24,22,32|| ||Virtue dots||9||10||10||11||11,10,10,11,10,10,11,9,9,9|| ||Ability Dots||9||23||21||46||16,14,33,46,15,9,23,30,28,18|| ||# of Ability||3||9||9||16||8,5,16,10,9,3,9,11,8,7|| ||Background dots||0||0||0||4||0,0,3.5,0,0,0,0,0,--,0|| ||# of Backgrounds||0||0||0||1||0,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,--,0|| ||Charms||3||8||7||15||4,3,5,4,10,9,3,15,11,13|| ||Lethal Soak||0L||4L||4L||8L||4,8,3,3,8,0,0,3,5,6|| ||Bashing Soak||1B||7B||8B||11B||9,10,7,5,11,2,1,4,8,9|| ||Willpower||3||6||6||9||8,5,9,6,3,5,5,6,9,7|| ||Health Levels||6||11||9||20||9,9,6,20,13,7,9,10,9,13|| ||Extra Powers**||1||1||1||2||2,2,2,1,1,1,1,1,--,--|| Notes: Strength can reach 13, Appearance can reach 6. Hopping Puppeteers have 4 Crafts at 7 dots. Up to 5 specialty dots.

Essence 4 NEEDS MORE SAMPLES

Can anyone else find Essence 4 demons? Corebook, STC, GoD checked... After the other demons are documented, maybe we can speculate on the limits of stats.
Sample, in order, is Teodozji, Kimberry's Dawn*
|| ||Least||Avg||Med||Most||Sample|| ||Attribute dots||-||36||||-||36,--|| ||Virtue dots||13||13||13||13||13,13|| ||Ability Dots||35||38||38||40||40,35|| ||# of Ability||8||10||10||12||12,8|| ||Background dots||0||3||3||5||5,0|| ||# of Backgrounds||0||1||1||1||1,0|| ||Charms||6||13||13||19||6,19|| ||Lethal Soak||-L||8L||-L||-L||8,--|| ||Bashing Soak||-B||-B||||-B||12,--|| ||Willpower||7||8||8||9||9,7|| ||Health Levels||-||9||-||-||9,-|| ||Extra Powers**||-||3||||-||3,--|| * Kimberry's Dawn is a ship as well as a demon, so a lot of its stats just don't fit. Only numbers that look on par with the Teodozji are kept.)
Notes: Stamina can reach 6. One ability can reach 6.

Essence 5

Sample, in order, is Akianshi, Sondok
|| ||Least||Avg||Med||Most||Sample|| ||Attribute dots||27||28||28||29||27,29|| ||Virtue dots||11||12||12||13||11,13|| ||Ability Dots||29||34||34||39||29,39|| ||# of Ability||10||11||11||12||12,10|| ||Background dots||5||10||10||15||5,15|| ||# of Backgrounds||2||4||4||6||2,6|| ||Charms||11||11||11||11||11,11|| ||Lethal Soak||4L||8L||8L||12L||4,12|| ||Bashing Soak||5B||9B||9B||13B||5,13|| ||Willpower||8||9||9||10||8,10|| ||Health Levels||14||16||16||17||14,17|| Notes: One ability can reach 6.

Essence 6

Sample, in order, is Mara, Florivet, Gumela, Lucien, Makarios, Zsofika
|| ||Least||Avg||Med||Most||SDV||Sample|| ||Attribute dots||31||39||39||46||6||32,31,38,39,46,45|| ||Virtue dots||8||13||13||16||3||14,8,12,14,11,16|| ||Ability Dots||38||55||52||79||15||38,54,49,79,46,64|| ||# of Ability||11||14||14||19||3||11,16,15,19,12,13|| ||Background dots||1||11||8||33||11||10,6,1,7,33,9|| ||# of Backgrounds||1||3||2||5||2||5,2,1,2,4,2|| ||Charms||10||15||14||22||4||22,13,14,16,14,10|| ||Lethal Soak||4L||14L||16L||20L||6||4,20,18,13,16,15|| ||Bashing Soak||5B||16B||18B||22B||7||5,22,21,16,12,20|| ||Willpower||9||9||9||10||1||9,9,10,10,9,9|| ||Health Levels||12||14||15||16||2||14,12,16,16,13,15|| ||Extra powers||1||3||3||6||2||1,3,4,2,3,6|| Notes: Manipulation and Perception can reach 7. All other attributes can reach 6. One ability can reach 10, one to 7, and three to 6. Up to 4 specialty dots. One background can be obscene, a second can reach 6.

Comments

What the shit... almost every Avg number drops for Essence 3 (compared to Ess2) except health and essence pool. Weird...

That would make sense if demons of the same circle are built on a bonus point system from a baseline. Spending points on Essence means less points are available to raise other stats. - Raindoll
Indeed, demons must be built on a system like that. Elementals and gods tend to just increase in overall power as their essence grows, but demons must work a bit differently.--UncleChu

Could it be that the addition of Essence 3 charms makes them much more useful at certain things? While the Essence 2 guys are stuck around doing things manually (due to their low-Essence charms), the higher essence demons have stronger charms that make up for it? Since there are no pre-reqs in the spirit or demon world, having 4 Essence 3 charms (e.g. FLB, FFBS, Infinite Melee Mastery, Tiger-Warrior Training Technique) and a Melee Excellency makes you a heck of a lot better of a combatant than, say, 5 Essence 2 charms (Bulwark Stance, Leaping Dodge Method, Rout-Stemming Gesture, etc). I'm guessing there's a similar correlation among demon and spirit charms, so perhaps those Essence 3 abilities really kick butt? -- GreenLantern

Woah woah, wait, spirits can learn and use Exalted charms? I mean, sure, I can see them having Excellencies (though these stats are 1E), and I can see them being able to teach charms, but using them? In terms of spirit charms, raising Essence only unlocks more potent charms. Everything is still rolled with Atts, Abs, and Virts, which puts them at a disadvantage. The biggest difference is higher essence means penalties can only limit you a certain amount. Certainly gods and elementals increase overall with an Essence increase. Why are demons different? Here's my fluff speculation: 2nd Circle demons can only devote so much essence into crafting first circles. They can choose to make a more potent essence spark, or they can choose to make them more apt with reality-based traits. *shrug* In the end, the fluff and special demon powers define the difference, it seems. --UncleChu
Oh, I'm not claiming spirits can learn Exalted charms. I'm merely using those extremely familiar charms as comparison points for how Essence 3 charms are in fact, way super mucho awesomer than Essence 2 charms, and as such, in many situations, might make up for the lower general Attribute+Ability scores. Especially given that at some level, demons are spirits, and spirits have an aspect that they're good at. If that function is suitably covered by those few Essence 3 charms, then they don't need more, really. As to your point, I also agree with your claim. Perhaps there is some finite power-pool there - that's why there are no Essence 6 first-circle demons. The second-circles just don't have the juice. -- GreenLantern

There are some pre-requisites, at least in the extended spirit-charm trees given in the GoD appendix. They don't strictly have to be followed, though, and they're still shallow.
-- Darloth

Indeed. I'm thinking of second edition, where page 294 notes that "Instead of Charm cascades, ... spirit charms are grouped into families of like powers.... The only prerequisite for a spirit charm is a certain Essence trait and the type of spirit using that charm." At least in 2nd Ed, canonically, there are no prereqs for spirit charms, as far as I can tell. -- GL

Hi. Sorry I haven't posted much; I have a major exam well-- today, so I've been studying my heiny off. I'd disregard Kimberry's Dawn; it's a rather clearly heavily altered being and smushed into a certain, unlikely to be often repeated circumstances. It'll throw off the data without actually giving us information about what demons of this type are like. -- IsawaBrian

Yeah, good call. I'll leave it as an example of an Essence 4 demon, but take out the stats that are clearly number-skewing. Stuff like ability dots and willpower are still relevant, I think. I think over all, Essence 4 is a weird place for demons. Teodozji is an exceptionally powerful 1st circle, and the Dawn is an exceptionally bizarre second circle. Maybe Ess4 can only truly be determined once we have the other essence levels added. --UncleChu
Just what Background is it that Makarios has at 33? - Trithne