MartialArts/HarmoniousSolarWarriorStyle
Background
Unlike many martial arts trees, the path of the Harmonious Solar Warrior is a creation of the modern era, save for Transcendent Martial Arts Prowess and Awe-Inspiring Solar Warrior. Those two Charms were developed in the First Age, but no one really went beyond them; there was no cause to with all of Creation at the feet of Solars. Effectively, they could order sufficient ready-made artifacts, manse styles, and so on, that there was no need to make martial arts personally more flexible; instead, they'd focus on the perfection and egomania of adapting externals to their own personal idiosyncrasies, eccentricities, and madness.
However, in the modern era, Solars don't have that option. Often, a Dawn is stuck with what they have, what they can force out of their First Age memories... and their own personal ingenuity. This 'style' is the creation of a fairly advanced (multiple completed martial arts, including sidereal-level ones) Dawn Martial Artist by the name of Transcendent Tiger. Because he's mastered multiple different Martial Arts (with multiple different applicable weaponry), and because Dawns and Dusks are the only beings in creation to whom all forms of combat are Caste, are utterly fundamental to their existence- he was able to perceive both the commonalities of Essence-based combat and *specifically* the universality of the manifestations of the Perfected Lotus.
Training
The Harmonious Solar Warrior style actually has a lot more in common with t'ai ch'i and other meditative forms than it does with virtually any other "real world" style of combat. It's really a series of exercises, meditation, and outright internal alchemy using the Solar Essence-- and more specifically, the Dawn Essence, which transcends the very nature of combat on a basic level-- that allow an experienced Dawn to harmonize the empowered expressions of Combat through the Perfected Lotus. Their nature manifests around the bulbs of Lotus, spiritually, bringing it into balance and resonance with the other forms of combat that flow through the spirit of a Dawn Caste Solar.
Or, alternatively, warp and pervert the fundamental nature of reality with the toxic force of the spirits of the dead creators of all that exists; infecting the Perfected Lotus with the all-consuming death-urge of the *corrupted* masters of Combat, the Dusks.
It relies on three qualities- the universality of martial arts, the plenipotentiary (and permanent) excellence of Solars, and either the harmonic excellence of a Dawn, or the all-embracing corrosion of reality found in a Dusk.
Weapons and Armor
The special weapons and armor permissible to this style are only those that the specific Charms allow them to learn-- eventually, all of them.
Note
I am REALLY not certain about this style. While I'm currently hovering on the "yes" side for it (or I wouldn't have posted it), I'm not entirely certain about the power levels. It originally grew out of the idea to give TMAP and AISW a "tree" home. Note that where it says "This Charm can only be learned by a Dawn-Caste Solar; it is unavailable to any other being" or similar phrases, this is applicable only to this tree; Dusk Caste Abyssals would almost certainly have an inverted tree.
Transcendent Martial Arts Prowess</b>
<b>Cost:None Duration: Permanent Type: Special Minimum Martial Arts: 5 Minimum Essence: 3 Prerequisite Charms: One Complete Celestial Martial Art (all Charms)
After completing one expression of the Perfected Lotus, a Solar may choose to internalize the lessons that he has learned. The perfection and harmony of the way of the Martial Artist becomes second nature to the Solar, allowing him to stand above petty difficulties. Subtract two from the difficulty of any martial arts roll (minimum difficulty one). This does include cover like shields and other passive defenses, but specifically excludes active defenses such as parries and dodge charms. Although this Charm requires Martial Arts, it is an expression of Solar Essence and as such cannot be taken by any other type of being, unless, (like Moonshadow Caste Abyssals), such beings are capable of learning other entities' charm-types.
In Second Edition, this Charm is a Natural Solar Martial Art Charm (found elsewhere)
Awe-Inspiring Solar Warrior</b>
<b>Cost:None Duration: Permanent Type: Special Minimum Martial Arts: 4 Minimum Essence: 3 Prerequisite Charms: None
Over time, a Dawn can develop her anima to provide significantly more power and terrible majesty than normal. As a result, the Dawn's anima will subtract her Essence from the combat rolls of any being who does succeed at the Valor roll and attacks her. This Charm can only be learned by a Dawn-Caste Solar; it is unavailable to any other being.
In Second Edition, this Charm's effects alter the character's anima to add an effect such that her Essence is applied as an internal penalty to anyone attacking the Solar while her fear anima effect is active.
Unfolding the Blade Bulb</b>
<b>Cost:None Duration: Permanent Type: Special Minimum Martial Arts: 5 Minimum Melee: 5 Minimum Essence: 4 Prerequisite Charms: Transcendent Martial Arts Prowess, Awe-Inspiring Solar Warrior, Transcendent Melee Prowess
The path of the Harmonious Solar Warrior truly begins when the Dawn begins to unfold the bulbs of the Perfected Lotus within his own soul. By a series of exercises and meditations, the Exalt can harmonize his own mastery of weaponry with the universality of the Perfected Lotus. This harmony allows the Dawn to use any Melee weapon with any Martial Art as though he were unarmed. This Charm can only be learned by a Dawn-Caste Solar; it is unavailable to any other being.
In Second Edition, this Charm is unchanged.
Unfolding the Brutal Bulb</b>
<b>Cost:None Duration: Permanent Type: Special Minimum Martial Arts: 5 Minimum Brawl: 5 Minimum Essence: 4 Prerequisite Charms: Trancendent Martial Arts Prowess, Awe-Inspiring Solar Warrior, Transcendent Brawl Prowess
A different step in unfolding the Dawn Lotus of the Harmonious Warrior brings the essence of the two forms of unarmed combat together. The brutal precision of brawling is mixed with the transcendent purity of Martial Arts through the medium of the Dawn's fundamental attachment and mastery of all forms of combat by a series of exercises and meditations. Once this harmony is achieved, the Dawn may use any Brawl aids with any Martial Arts as though she were unarmed, specifically including Clinch Enhancers. This Charm can only be learned by a Dawn-Caste Solar; it is unavailable to any other being.
In Second Edition, this Charm is removed and replaced with the following Charm:
Unfolding the Martial Bulb
Cost:--; Mins: Martial Arts 5, War 5, Essence 4; Type: Permanent Keywords: None Prerequisite Charms: Transcendent Martial Arts Prowess, Awe-Inspiring Solar Warrior, Transcendent War Prowess.
As the Dawn unfolds the Lotus of the Harmonious Warrior, she develops an instinctive understanding of the causes and effects of command in battle. Leading an army becomes a simple extension of the Solar's own command of her body, mind, and spirit, unfettered by the base requirements of ordinary mass tactics and strategies. The Solar's grasp of things martial is such that her order of battle becomes harmonious and organic, placing its power where it is needed. The Dawn may substitute her Martial Arts score for War in any War roll made in mass combat.
Unfolding the Javelin Bulb</b>
<b>Cost:None Duration: Permanent Type: Special Minimum Martial Arts: 5 Minimum Thrown: 5 Minimum Essence: 4 Prerequisite Charms: Transcendent Martial Arts Prowess, Awe-Inspiring Solar Warrior, Transcendent Thrown Prowess
There is another path down which the Harmonious Solar Warrior must tread in order for true harmony to blossom in his warrior soul. The exercises and meditations which make up Unfolding the Javelin Bulb build on the channel between a Solar and a hurled weapon; emphasize the balance and connection created between muscles and hurling. This permits the Dawn to unify the use of Thrown weapons and the Martial Arts within the Lotus of his soul. Once this unification is achieved, the Dawn may use any Thrown weapon with any Martial Arts as though he were unarmed. This Charm can only be learned by a Dawn-Caste Solar; it is unavailable to any other being.
In Second Edition, this Charm is unchanged.
Unfolding the Bow Bulb</b>
<b>Cost:None Duration: Permanent Type: Special Minimum Martial Arts: 5 Minimum Archery: 5 Minimum Essence: 4 Prerequisite Charms: Transcendent Martial Arts Prowess, Awe-Inspiring Solar Warrior, Transcendent Archery Prowess
Although the way of the Archer seems to put distance between the warrior and her foe, a true Dawn understands that the ultimate expression of archery is the union between foe and fighter, no matter the distance. By meditating on this truth and performing a series of internal Essence alchemy exercises, the Dawn can harmonize the meditative aspects of Archery with the universality of Martial Arts via her own mastery of and attunement to all forms of combat. Once this harmony is achieved, the Exalt may use any Archery weapon with any Martial Arts as though she were unarmed. This Charm can only be learned by a Dawn-Caste Solar; it is unavailable to any other being.
In Second Edition, this Charm is unchanged.
Harmonious Solar Warrior Form</b>
<b>Cost:12 motes Duration: One Scene Type: Simple Minimum Martial Arts: 5 Minimum Archery: 5 Minimum Brawl: 5 Minimum Melee: 5 Minimum Thrown: 5 Minimum Essence: 5 Prerequisite Charms: Unfolding the Bow Bulb, Unfolding the Brutal Bulb, Unfolding the Blade Bulb, Unfolding the Javelin Bulb
The first pinnacle of the way of the Harmonious Solar Warrior allows the Dawn performing the Form Charm to fully merge the physical expressions of combativeness. The restriction and geomantic misarrangement of armor over a body is realigned by the Harmonious Solar Warrior Form, allowing him to use any Martial Arts charm with armor, even if they would ordinarily not be allowed to do so. This Charm also harmonizes the Solar with the mirror image of orichalcum; add the character's permanent Essence to the Speed and Damage of any attack he makes. Unarmed attacks count as lethal. Subtract the Solar's Essence (minimum 0) from the Mobility Penalty and Fatigue Value of any armor he wears. This Charm can only be learned by a Dawn-Caste Solar; it is unavailable to any other being.
In Second Edition, this Charm is Form-Type, Obvious, and costs 15 motes. It requires War 5, not Brawl 5, and Unfolding the Martial Bulb, not Unfolding the Brutal Bulb. In addition to its base abilities (since armor-compatibility is now the rule, rather than the exception), Harmonious Solar Warrior Form's concordant mastery of combative styles permits the Solar to activate a single additional Form-Type Charm. This effect does stack with (presuming it is repeated) the capability of Prismatic Arrangement of Creation Form to do so on a larger scale. As Speed is now fixed, rather than an initiative stat, this Charm's activation subtracts 1 from the Speed of all attacks and Dawn-Caste Charms the Solar uses.
If Harmonious Solar Warrior Form is used first, Prismatic Arrangement of Creation works normally, permitting either any of its sub-Forms or two Forms if a non-sub-Form is used to be activated simultaneously. However, should Prismatic Arrangement of Creation Form be activated first, Harmonious Solar Warrior Form's natural unifying effects pushes Prismatic Arrangement of Creation closer to perfection than anything short of developing 20 Celestial Martial Art forms as per Sidereals. In this instance, in addition to Prismatic Arrangement of Creation Form and Harmonious Solar Warrior Form, the character may trigger all of the Prismatic Arrangement of Creation's sub-Forms and two additional non-sub-Forms.
Perfecting the Blade Bulb</b>
<b>Cost:None Duration: Permanent Type: Special Minimum Martial Arts: 6 Minimum Archery: 5 Minimum Brawl: 5 Minimum Melee: 6 Minimum Thrown: 5 Minimum Essence: 6 Prerequisite Charms: Harmonious Solar Warrior Form
Once the Harmonious Solar Warrior has completed the first iteration of the Dawn Lotus, she may embark on a journey to evolve the power of the Lotus within her. Now his mastery over the Essence of combat can begin to complete itself. One of the first steps down this path is the Perfection of the Blade Bulb-- the masterful harmony between weapons that are extensions of the soul through the hand and the open hand itself. By Perfecting the Blade Bulb, the Solar merges the Essence of Martial Arts with that of Melee. She may now include non-reflexive Melee Charms in a combo with Martial Art Charms. Effectively, Martial Arts Actions may be considered Melee Actions for the purposes of Combo Use. This Charm can only be learned by a Dawn-Caste Solar; it is unavailable to any other being.
In Second Edition, this Charm is unchanged.
Perfecting the Javelin Bulb</b>
<b>Cost:None Duration: Permanent Type: Special Minimum Martial Arts: 6 Minimum Archery: 5 Minimum Brawl: 5 Minimum Melee: 5 Minimum Thrown: 6 Minimum Essence: 6 Prerequisite Charms: Harmonious Solar Warrior Form
Perfecting the Dawn Lotus may also be continued through the expression of Thrown weapons. The Perfection of the Javelin Bulb is the first mastery of distance; the penultimate harmony between hereness and thereness for the Dawn. By Perfecting the Javelin Bulb, the Solar merges the Essence of Martial Arts with that of Thrown. He may now include non-reflexive Thrown Charms in a combo with Martial Art Charms. Effectively, Martial Arts Actions may be considered Thrown Actions for the purposes of Combo Use. This Charm can only be learned by a Dawn-Caste Solar; it is unavailable to any other being.
In Second Edition, this Charm is unchanged.
Perfecting the Brutal Bulb</b>
<b>Cost:None Duration: Permanent Type: Special Minimum Martial Arts: 6 Minimum Archery: 5 Minimum Brawl: 6 Minimum Melee: 5 Minimum Thrown: 5 Minimum Essence: 6 Prerequisite Charms: Harmonious Solar Warrior Form
For the Harmonious Solar Warrior who has reached the first stage of the Perfected Dawn Lotus, the way unfolds to permit her to completely transcend the gulf between the apparently conflicting methods of expressing the Essence of unarmed combat. By Perfecting the Brutal Bulb, the Solar merges the Essence of Martial Arts with that of Brawl. She may now include non-reflexive Brawl Charms in a combo with Martial Art Charms. Effectively, Martial Arts Actions may be considered Brawl Actions for the purposes of Combo Use. This Charm can only be learned by a Dawn-Caste Solar; it is unavailable to any other being.
In Second Edition, this Charm is removed and replaced with the following:
Perfecting the Martial Bulb
Cost:--; Mins: Martial Arts 6, War 6, Archery 5, Melee 5, Thrown 5, Essence 5; Type: Permanent Keywords: None Prerequisite Charms: Harmonious Solar Warrior Form.
For the Harmonious Solar Warrior who has reached the first stage of the Perfected Dawn Lotus, the way unfolds to permit her to completely unify the martial actions of a single warrior (herself) and a mass unit (her command). Her command's order approaches formlessness, the ideal, hyper-responsive and perfectly matched formation. By Perfecting the Martial Bulb, the Solar merges the Essence of Martial Arts with that of War. She may now include non-Reflexive War Charms in a combo with Martial Art Charms. Effectively, Martial Arts Actions may be considered War actions for the purposes of Combo Use. This Charm can only be learned by a Dawn-Caste Solar; it is unavailable to any other being.
Perfecting the Bow Bulb</b>
<b>Cost:None Duration: Permanent Type: Special Minimum Martial Arts: 6 Minimum Archery: 6 Minimum Brawl: 5 Minimum Melee: 5 Minimum Thrown: 5 Minimum Essence: 6 Prerequisite Charms: Harmonious Solar Warrior Form
As an alternative completion of the merging of hereness and thereness, the Solar can return to the point of harmony between the bow and the soul. The eye as it passes along the arrow, the hand against string and staff-- all of these become as one with the mind and spirit of the Dawn. By Perfecting the Bow Bulb, the Solar merges the Essence of Martial Arts with that of Archery. He may now include non-reflexive Archery Charms in a combo with Martial Art Charms. Effectively, Martial Arts Actions may be considered Archery Actions for the purposes of Combo Use. This Charm can only be learned by a Dawn-Caste Solar; it is unavailable to any other being.
In Second Edition, this Charm is unchanged.
Transcendent Sifu Battle Mastery</b>
<b>Cost:20 motes, 1 Willpower Duration: One Scene Type: Simple Minimum Martial Arts: 7 Minimum Archery: 7 Minimum Brawl: 7 Minimum Melee: 7 Minimum Thrown: 7 Minimum Essence: 7 Prerequisite Charms: Perfecting the Brutal Bulb, Perfecting the Bow Bulb, Perfecting the Blade Bulb, Perfecting the Javelin Bulb
At this stage, the Dawn has become the ultimate Harmonious Solar Warrior. All forms of battle are as one to her, and she can transcend the limitations of mere skill to overcome any lesser foe. Until the end of the scene, the character's attacks and defenses are "minor perfect" attacks and defenses. The character must still roll to hit or defend. However, her attacks can only be defended against by perfect defenses. Furthermore, such attacks are partially inapplicable to parries; only parries that perfectly defend against ordinarily inapplicable attacks may perfectly defend against the Solar's attack; other parries must be rolled as normal, as though the perfect defense granted a reflexive parry. Perfect dodges function as normal.
The character may also parry any otherwise unblockable attack, but must roll to do so. If the opponent ordinarily does not roll to attack, he must make some sort of Attribute + Ability roll, with a bonus equal to his permanent Essence. The Solar may also use a perfect parry that would not function against inapplicable attacks against said inapplicable attacks. This Charm is not compatible with the use of Armor unless the Harmonious Solar Warrior Form is being used. This Charm can only be learned by a Dawn-Caste Solar; it is unavailable to any other being.other being.
In Second Edition, this Charm is Combo-OK and Obvious. Its effects are much more simplified. All of the Dawn's attacks are considered to be undodgeable and unblockable; Parry and Dodge DVs are inapplicable. The Dawn, however, may parry and dodge undodgeable and unblockable or otherwise inapplicable attacks, whether from a Charm's effect or from the inapplicability of surprise. It requires Perfecting the Martial Bulb rather than Perfecting the Brutal Bulb.
Comments
Hm. The higher-tier stuff seems a bit too powerful for the stat requirements (which still need, what, a thousand XP? to get to, but). I'd recommend increasing the minimum essence, at least, for a few of the higher ones. Don't ask me which ones specifically, I have no intuitive grasp of relative Essence-level power. Someone else? - Ril
Given it's a Sidereal level Martial Art, I'm thinking it should just flat out start at a higher level. Other than that, I don't see any problems with the Essence requirements. I mean, I think I understand why MA was chosen for this tree (really, it's the only combat ability that could pull something like this off), but the particular nature of MA is probably what causes the illusion of improper Essence levels. This kind of thing doesn't seem overpowered for the level of Essence they're at . . . for Solar charms (but I'm a little shakey on if Sidereal MA is supposed to be able to approach Solar power . . . I'm one of those 'Borgstrom = BAD, so no Siddie rules' guys). Given the recent publication of Ascendant Battle Visage in Cult of the Illuminated, which lets you add your Essence in auto-successes to anything but damage at . . . Essence 4 or so . . . this stuff doesn't seem at all bad for its Essence level. Plus . . . what most of it does is just change the combo rules a bunch. Ril mentioned it might take 1,000+ experience to get the reqs to master this . . . and I posit it would probably take as much experience to get much use out of the bulk of these charms. I can also see problems with Unfolding the Blade Bulb and a particularly powerful MA . . . but I don't think it would be any more deadly or powerful than a Solar with an Artifact 5 daiklaive would be with Solar charms of equivalent Essence level (assuming, of course, the Solar charms got properly scaled). ~ Andrew02
Okay. First off, I'm a Hitherby fan, so rawr! :) I do like Neph's mechanical work better, but I prefer Hitherby's storywork. Just me. Second, my original intent for the combo charms was not, for example, the idea that you could use Melee Charms with an Archery weapon, but that, if you had Martial Arts (x) (which is, say, tiger style), and you can make a rational combo "appearance" out of it, you could combine those Charms with your Archery Charms. More specifically, it's designed to permit using Archery Charms with Wood Dragon or Righteous Devil /very/ much, and others as they make sense. (like the tiger pounce/ambush charm as a shot from hiding or a back-up to thrown Ambush-charms). It is NOT intended to work anywhere without the medium of Martial Arts (although, conceivably, with the right Martial Arts weapon or brawl aid, you could get Martial Arts, Melee, and Brawl). With that in mind, I'd like to ask if (a) this intent is apparent in the work I've got, and (b) if this is an appropriate, or if I should just let anyone who masters this style go whole-hog on the Charms. --IsawaBrian
Additional Note: This is not canonical, but for GMs who believe there should be an "initiation" for Solars going for Sidereal Arts, or that there should be a way for Solars to gain access to Sutras, I might not-so-humbly suggest something working off Transcendent Martial Arts Prowess. -- IsawaBrian
I have a few minor concerns and two major ones.
The minor ones are pretty much nitpicks:
1. I see you split the branches into four like I suggested off-wiki, but the pre-reqs for the Form and ultimate charm are still two-branched. I've taken the liberty of adding the relevant charms, but if I'm mistaken just take it out.
2. Can we get a new name? Harmonious Solar Warrior is, I guess this is personal taste, but it just doesn't sound right. Unfortunately, I can't think of the perfect name either. Best I can come up is Grand Synthesis, but others probably don't like it. I just don't think the MA styles should be self-referential regarding the exalt. And even then, it still doesn't describe the style. I can see Harmonious, but when 4/5th of the Solars can't learn it, why
call it Solar?
3. When you say Dawn and Dusk only, do you really mean Dawn and Dusk only? What about Eclipses and Moonshadow? What about an Exalt that favors all five combat abilities? Yes? No? Why? Why not?
And my major concerns:
1. You are deliberately breaking the universality of Martial Art styles. Why? The tiered universality of Martial Arts and Sorcery is a pretty core assumption in Exalted. And you aren't just fraying the edges of universality like Righteous Devil, you pretty much tore at its heart by creating a Caste specific style. Not just Exalt specific. Caste specific. Why? The coolness factor? Well, yes, that argument always work, but for those fence-sitters who aren't sure whether this is cool or blah, perhaps a second and third reasons could make this style cooler.
2. The ultimate charm. Gah. Why are you introducing yet another level to the terminology? Let's examine an attack under this charm. It is not perfect, because it doesn't automatically hit. But it can't be defended except by a perfect defence. So this isn't a normal dice attack either. In the standard rules, an attack that can only defended by a perfect defense is the trait of a perfect attack. Note that applicability doesn't enter play yet. You say (off-wiki) that it's some sort of inverse Impeding The Flow, and okay, I can see that, but I don't have to like it. Moving on to applicability. Transcendent Sifu basically, as far I can tell, grants reflexive parry (does it? It never actually says so) that is always applicable, even if the attack says otherwise. More complexity that I don't like. Moving on the offensive applicability. You have this new term, "partially inapplicable". Ugh. Worse, this new term trumps a perfect defense. I'll grant you that in most games, this won't matter, as the standard perfect parry is HGD and ISS, which is perfect and applicability-trumping. But really, Exalted is complex enough and doesn't need new terminologies. Your "partially inapplicable" is like the first step to a perfection arms-race. Sure, it's a backpack nuke instead of a hydrogen bomb that a HGD-defeating attack would be, but still, it's a first step. Just pick one. Either the attack is inapplicable (unblockable), so a perfect parry that isn't applicability-trumping fails, or it isn't inapplicable, in which case a perfect parry succeeds. Period. Goodness, look at how many keywords I have to use to explain myself. IMO, scrap Transcendent Sifu. While the actual combat effects is probably appropriate for an Essence 7 charm, the introduction of new terms is really a can of worms that you shouldn't open.
May I suggest replacing the effect with "While this charm is active, you can combo any Archery, Brawl, Martial Arts, Melee, and Thrown charms you have or add those charms to an existing combo as if you've already bought the combo. You pay the normal willpower and essence cost and follows the normal combo rules, excepting where Perfecting The Bulb charms apply." This will still be powerful (though this might be Essence 6 than 7), and in my opinion fits the Harmony theme better.
- TonyC
- (1) Thanks! Forgot about that. >.>
- (2) Eh, I like the name. It refers to the internal harmony of the Solar Warrior, specifically-- the whole thing.
- (3) Yes, really Dawn and Dusk only. And the Dusk guys can't learn the Dawn version and vice versa. Only the Dusk and Dawn castes have all of these abilities as Caste Abilities. For anyone who gets there by favored, that's a quality of their personality, their training. For Dawn and Dusk, it's a quality of their soul.
- (1) Not all Martial Arts Styles are universal. Only three types of Exalt can learn Sidereal Styles; only one type can learn Dreaming Pearl Courtesan. Ditto Sorcery; only Solars can learn Solar Circle; only Abyssals can learn Void Circle Necromancy. It's not so much breaking the universality of Martial Arts as making this one an expression of Dawnness (or Duskness) that functions based on the same principles, but requires an extra oomph ahead of time.
- (2) It really isn't another level of terminology. It's an attempt to make the terminology clear. Basically, the character's attacks are unblockable save by perfect defenses, and his defenses parries may block attacks that shouldn't be blockable ordinarily, whether by no-roll perfect or by the 'unblockable' tag. I'm just trying to make it so that it's absolutely clear why and how this is done. If it's not, I can rewrite it.
- -- IsawaBrian
- (2) If you like the name, then rock on.
- (3) You realize that if we follow the idea to its logical conclusion, then there should be a Fire-Aspect only MA, a Chosen of Journeys only MA, a No-Moon only MA, and a Eclipse-only MA? Heck, why not a heroic mortal only MA. If you're cool with that, again, rock on. (Hint: wouldn't mind seeing a No-Moon only MA.)
- (1) That's why I said "tiered universality". And no, I think Dreaming Pearl Courtesan's Solar Charm pre-req is a bad implementation. Also notice that all those MA Styles are available to all Caste/Aspect/whatever provided the Exalt type can learn it. That is, any Dragon-Blooded can learn any Immaculate Martial Arts. Out-of-aspect Dragon-Blooded have to pay the extra mote surcharge, but they aren't outright prevented from studying it. Your MA is the first one I've seen that's Caste-specific.
- (2) I understand what you are trying to say. I just don't think that it's a good idea. I am particularly vehemently against the defense being able to parry a no-roll perfect attack. That, I repeat, while isn't a big deal combat-wise, is creeping into the perfection arms race.
- TonyC
- Regarding (3) - I would argue that each of the five Dragon-style MA's *ARE* Fire-Aspect/Earth-Aspect/etc. only MA's. Yes, a Celestial Exalt CAN learn them if they aren't that type, but they wind up paying a lot more Essence to activate them. Likewise, if you look at my MartialArts/KataSystem , I would like to propose that perhaps these are MA Charms instead of MA Katas - and therefore, shouldn't even be considered a Style at all. -Ialdabaoth
I'm just gonna jump in and say that I'm also entirely against the idea of Caste-specific MA charms. I'm nearly entirely against Exalt-specific MA trees as well, but I can see when some type gets a certain (minor) benefit, such as the Dragonblooded weapon bonuses, or the Sidereal sutras. While Telgar often has to lecture me on "theme", "feel", and such, I gotta say that this both breaks the 'theme' of MA (universal ability to learn) and also breaks the mechanics of it, as almost all charms that are caste-specific have sub-versions for each caste. (See "Auspicious Prospects for {Caste}" and its ilk). The imagery is good, and the effects are neat, but I'd be about 10,000 times happier if you'd just remove all the nagging "Dawn caste only, so my character is better than your Twilight that has all the combat abilities favored, nyaaa" things. (I'm also against the Night-caste only non-MA charms that have been popping up, but haven't jumped in there yet...). -- GregLink
- I don't use (Type)-specific martial arts very often. But when I do, it's because it's important for them to be that way. The Night, Eclipse, Zenith, and Twilight-only Charms I've written so far, for example, are that way because they're either adaptions or evolutions of the Anima abilities-- things that others simply don't have. Harmonious Solar Warrior was partially a development out of the Anima effect for a Dawn, but also a study in the uniqueness of what it means to BE a Dawn. Yes, a Twilight is still (a) a Solar, and (b) an Exalt, so there is a warrior heritage there. But it is not the same thing as being a Dawn. A Twilight is a magistrate, a sorcerer, a loremaster, in their heart-- which is why, irked as I am at the way of their Anima Ability, I'm having troubles making the Twilight-only metaeffects; a Dawn -is- War. Only Dusk Caste Abyssals have the same transcendent nature; even Battles-Caste Sidereals have Resistance and Presence (admittedly, Presence has a strong war component in the current style, and my opinion here may change depending on the Caste abilities there when 2.0 comes out) rather than the full set. A Dawn simply is war, raging across Creation and beyond.
- And it's that level of harmony which says why this has to be a martial art. Melee, Brawl, Archery, and Thrown individually don't have that level of unity, either. It is indeed in Martial Arts where the universality develops, which does make type-specific Martial Arts a bit odd. But it's not so much that it's a Martial Art that has an Effect that's being made into a Dawn-Only one; it's a Dawn-Only Effect that manifests in the manner of a Martial Art, to use the Perfected Lotus to fully realize the power within a Dawn. -- IsawaBrian
I don't have any difficulty with the theme of these charms - I was actually considering something similar for my Dawn Exalt, if the finale of a chronicle I'm playing it ends up with us going to Essence 6+. I do have a question, though: in the Second Edition version of the Form charm, what happens to the Speed bonus? Since initiative doesn't work the same way, and the Speed stat doesn't work the same way, does it just disappear, subsumed into the new ability to activate another form? If so, cool, it just isn't specifically stated. If you still intended there to be a bonus of that type, what would it be? - IanPrice
- Feel free to take this one if you want. I'm going to be going back to change the way Transcendent (x) Prowesses work soon-- to make them cheaper and clarify their use-- but other than that, the only change is, well-- yes, that should still be a bonus. It switches to a -1 Speed. If your campaign has a hard cap at Speed 3, then it should apply to this Charm; while powerful, it gives a _lot_ of bonuses. -- IsawaBrian
Still feeling the need to say that I'd never allow something like this anywhere near a game I played in. The charm effects, again, are mostly reasonable (and I like how the 2E ultimate charm got rid of a ton of unnecessary verbage), but the idea of a Dawn-Only MA just grates on everything I know. They're Solars - they can do anything. Are you telling me that Ten-Thousand Fields Aflame, master Eclipse general, with all Dawn-Caste Abilities favored, can't surpass limitations, do awesome things, and learn this style? Heck, Eclipses are better at integrating things than Dawns are. I might be partially mollified if the name were changed to something like "Harmonious Dawn Warrior Style", such that it at least implied (if not details) the existence of "Harmonious Twilight Warrior Style" and so on. Such limitations can never serve to improve a game, only harm it, and really don't make sense in the setting - other than a poorly written Dreaming Pearl Courtesan Style (which, I note, was fixed in Scroll of the Monk to no longer be Solar-specific), there's no previously known Solar-only style, much less Caste-only. Saying that Sidereal Martial Arts are Exalt-specific is limiting - that's not true. They're simply outside of the power range of some exalts. It's nothing to do with the 'purity of the Sidereal Essence' or some such metaphysical mumbo-jumbo, it's all pure raw power. I hate to sound so harsh, but I wanted to get this down so that anyone who stumbles across this style knows that it's contested, and not 'generally accepted'. I've seen people use the "Well, no one on the wiki had any real arguments against it" to demonstrate why something is reasonable. I just wanted to put a loudly dissenting vote on here. -- GreenLantern
- Firstly, the specificity of Sidereal Martial Arts is due to the use of sutras, which is indeed tied to their specific essence. Secondly, it's already stated up there that Eclipses can learn these as out-of-type charms. Thirdly, while 2e removed the Exalt-specific nature of Dreaming Pearl Courtesan Style, it added Solar-specific charms branching off of Solar Hero Style. Finally, why would a name change be so important? Arguably, the existence of the style itself implies that similar styles could exist for other castes in a setting using these charms. I think you should not be so hung up on the lack of an existing martial art for this purpose for other types. The purpose of these charms is, as I see it, to combat a tendency that is strong in high-essence Exalted - the tendency for everything to lose its unique flavor. The Dawn caste are warriors, perfect in all aspects of combat. To combine the all-embracing harmonic excellence of the martial arts with other forms of combat into a single expression of this perfection is a natural extension. That martial arts is universal among supernatural beings is the norm, true, but the majority of these charms are not simply Martial Arts charms. Mechanically, I would never expect a charm with Melee, Thrown, Archery, or War as a prerequisite to be universal. - IanPrice
Caste-specificity for charms also kinda grates on me, too. If this style was written to give an anima banner effect a tree home, why not simply remove the caste (I'd go so far as to remove type) specificity, but require a Dawn anima be active for any of the charms to function? Same basic thing, just gives a possible but difficult way for others to use this style. The additional requirements for activation would also let you up the power a bit... I think most of these charms are a little weak for their tier and reqs. ~Capric
