The Ghost:NPCCreationGuidelines/Attributes/Dexterity

Dexterity

Like with strength one and two the first few levels of dexterity require no further explanation, but the next four on the other hand need to be defined a little better. Dexterity is one of the two 'godstats' of Exalted, and unfortunately far to many players and GMs just put it at 5 for all of their characters for mechanical reasons, the guidelines bellow will give more thorough definitions of each level above average so that a more realistic approach can be taken.

3: Unlike Strength you should not feel justified in giving almost anyone above average Dex. Without native talent almost everyone has Dex 2, and it is something that can only be trained in a limited manner, the natural degree of Dexterity you have as an adult can be increased by no more than 2 dots through training if you are being realistic and not one of the exalted, but conversely your natural aptitude cannot take you to more than Dex 4. Jugglers, dancers, and warriors typically have Dex 3 and no higher, and most of them from training more than talent. Numerically people with Dex 3 are one in 100 or less.

4: Dex 4 is exponentially rarer than people with Dex 3, just as people with Dex 3 are rarer than people with Dex 2. Dex 4 is the province solely of those with natural talent for dexterity or an incredible degree of training, probably since birth. Characters who might have Dex 4 include Martial Artists, Circus Acrobats, Cat Burglars, and Assassins. Numerically one person in 10K has Dex 4

5: Now we get into the province of legends. Numerically one person in 10 million or less has Dex five, and GMs should er on the side of less. This is the province solely of those with BOTH a natural talent for Dexterity and training. People who have Dex 5 that people in the real world would recognize include the most legendary of Olympic figure skaters, Jackie Chan, and SEAL team 6. People in exalted who could possibly have this level of dexterity in Exalted include Ninja, Martial Arts Masters in their prime, and Princes of Thieves who's names will be legend in the criminal underworld.

6: Like STR this level of Dex is the stuff of mythology, but unlike STR I cannot think of a single instance of a hero who is legend for his Dexterity. There are those who are legend for dexterity related Abilities but I cannot think of a hero from folklore and mythology who is known for his incredible agility or speed which would not require charms in exalted to accomplish his legendary feats. As such without suitable god-blood or similar STs should probably consider 5 the upper limit of mortal Dexterity.