IsleOfJade/SupportCharacter

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Playing a Support Character

The key to playing and enjoying a support character is understanding one’s role in the story. Support characters are never the hero of the story, but they can be heroic and can be the hero of an appropriate situation within the story. They can save the day, if that is within their concept, but in the end they aren’t going to overshadow the Hero in importance to the outcome of the story itself. Han Solo, for example, redeems himself at the end of Star Wars IV by returning to the rebel fleet and making it possible for Luke to fulfill his destiny in destroying the Death Star.

Support Characters invariably define themselves by how they relate to the Hero. They have specific roles to play, and playing those roles correctly is the key to having fun with them. Obi-Wan Kenobi is mentor to Luke. Han Solo is both comic relief and a foil to Luke’s naiveté and optimistic outlook. Lea is the damsel-in-distress, but quickly turns that on its head.

It is important to note that although Support Characters play a subservient role to the Hero in the course of the story, they are not subservient to the Hero in how useful they are or how enjoyable they are to play. Support Characters are often more wise and/or powerful than the Hero. They always have skill sets that the Hero does not that ultimately prove essential to the overall outcome of the story. They can also be more downright fun. While the Hero contends with self-sacrifice (the fundamental Hero concept), the Support Characters need not focus on such a serious matter and are free to be motivated by whatever the player so chooses. Although Obi-Wan is chiefly concerned with training Luke so as to defeat the Empire, Han is concerned with himself and saving his own skin.

Support Characters are extremely varied in concept and design, and offer much greater flexibility of choice in character creation than does the Hero.

Support Character Creation

Most of the normal rules for Exalted character creation apply here. The default template we will be using for Support Characters is the outcaste Dragon-Blood template. That is because, although the Jade Isle is located near to the Blessed Isle and also to Lookshy, neither type of Terrestrial Exalt is likely to come to Two Rivers School of Enlightenment and Martial Arts to train, as very few will have heard of it. And all characters—Support or Hero—must begin the game as students at the school. It’s also a good default power level for the game.

Other concepts are viable in this game, and I will consider any reasonable request for a character concept. I will judge the character based on relevancy to this game as well as in regard to game balance, although raw power will not be my only guide. Role, uniqueness, and usefulness will play a larger role in guiding us than raw might. Since other concepts may require different rules, those below are only for Dragon-Bloods.

Be sure to see my Houserules and those employed by Prax and the Black Orchid Society for changes I will be employing in-game.

Step I: Choose Concept

Choose Archetype, concept, elemental aspect, and Motivation.

All characters begin play as advanced students at the Two Rivers School of Enlightenment and Martial Arts. As such players should choose a Martial Arts concept for their characters. Players are strongly encouraged to further define the concept so as to differentiate their character from the others.

All normal rules apply, except all Support Characters should choose one or more Archetypes that define their role in the story. You are free to invent your own Archetype, but appropriate sample mythological Archetypes include:

  • Anti-Hero – The foil to the Hero, his beliefs and Motivation are often at odds with those of the Hero. That is not to say he works against the Hero, as that is the role of the Shadow or Villain. Rather, the Anti-Hero is on the Hero’s side, but often for different reasons. Han Solo is Anti-Hero to Luke.
  • Guardian or Soldier – The Guardian is a warrior who protects the Hero, either because the Hero is weak or because there is a threat that the Hero cannot face because of some lacking quality or ability. The Soldier is a fighting companion to an otherwise strong Hero. Both are stalwart characters who often respect action over words, although not always.
  • Herald or Damsel-In-Distress – In Exalted this should not be the helpless princess in a tower, as that is anti-thematic. However this is always a character who needs the aid of the Hero for one reason or another. This character is often a love interest of the Hero, but need not serve that role. Another name for this type of character is Herald. He announces the coming danger or challenges the Hero will face.
  • Mentor - The mentor is a character who aids or trains the hero. The essence of the mentor is the wise old man or woman. Although Master Li fulfills this role, I consider a secondary Mentor Archetype if a good concept.
  • Shaman or Wizard – The shaman understands the deeper mysteries of the universe. He acts as a guide to these mysteries and through them aids the Hero along his journey. The Shaman need not be a sorcerer, but usually is.
  • Shapeshifter - The Shapeshifter's mask misleads the Hero by hiding a character's intentions and loyalties. He changes role or personality, often in significant ways, and is hard to understand. That very changeability is the essence of this archetype. The shapeshifter's alliances and loyalty are uncertain, and the sincerity of his claims is often questionable. This keeps the hero off guard and forces the Hero to question beliefs and assumptions.
  • Trickster - The Trickster is a clown, a mischief maker. He provides the comedy relief that a story often needs to offset heavy dramatic tension. The trickster keeps things in proportion. The trickster usually represents the force of cunning, and is pitted against opponents who are stronger or more powerful.

Step II: Choose Attributes

All normal rules apply. Dragon Blooded characters start with 7/6/4 to distribute among the nine attributes.

Step III: Choose Abilities

Characters must begin play with Martial Arts ooo or higher, and Martial Arts must be a favored Ability. Outcastes start with 25 Ability Points, at least 13 of which must be from Aspect or Favored Abilities; at least one dot must be in each Favored Ability; none may be higher than ooo without spending bonus points. Taking a fifth dot in any Abilitiy costs double. No character may take a combat related specialty above +1 at character creation, except in punches, kicks, clinches, or other forms of unarmed combat, which may be up to +2.

Step IV: Choose Advantages

I have modified the rules for some Advantages. See below.

  • Choose Backgrounds (7 — except for breeding, use Backgrounds from Exalted Core and from Scroll of the Monk; Mentor ooooo is free; Artifact is not permitted without my express permission, and only at double cost and when its use is for character enhancement and not just a dice adder; three new Backgrounds are available; no background other than Mentor may be higher than ooo without spending bonus points; taking a fifth dot in any Background costs double).
  • Choose Charms (7 Dragon Blooded Charms, at least 4 of which must be from Aspect or Favored Abilities; Characters may not elect to take the Celestial Martial Arts option per the normal rules, nor may they select Terrestrial Circle Sorcery. Instead a character who wants Celestial Martial Arts or Celestial Circle Sorcery should see the new Backgrounds, which are more powerful anyway).
  • Choose Virtues (5 - none may be higher than ooo without spending bonus points).
  • Choose Intimacies (Up to starting Compassion. All support characters should begin play with an intimacy focused on Master Li, The Two Rivers School, or the Hero. All three are viable. I will accept a character who does not have an intimacy to any of these three if and only if good reason is given (I define "good")).

Step V: Finishing Touches

Record Essence (2), Willpower (sum of character's two highest Virtues), Personal Essence pool (Essence + Willpower + any gained from Breeding), Peripheral Essence pool ([Essence x 4] + Willpower + [sum of the two highest Virtues] + any gained from Breeding) and health levels (7 + any gained from Charms).

Bonus Points

Bonus Points (15) may be spent at any time during character creation.

Comments

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- Created by Yeled