Re: Announcements
There may be some delay with my new posts all around -- though, it seems to me everyone is generally slower. I apologize if it is due to any fault of my STing or writing ability.
Now for a longwinded ramble, these are thoughts that came up after a discussion I had with someone, but not necessarily related to anyone directly. It's just something I feel I have to say.
Not everyone is keen on how gritty I make this game or how I handle the mechanics. Coils is probably the least 'Exalted-y' Exalted game I run. I am harsh on the rules because I feel I need that to back up the scenario of 'Celestials enslaved by Dragon-blooded with advanced/experimental technology, who have prepared for decades if not centuries to specifically fight/subdue Anathema'. Running this scenario with Celestials has been a gamble for me due to the fact Exalted caters toward players who want to do big, epic story shaking things. In Coils the situation is reversed. You're supposed to be at the disadvantage. You WILL be Epic, but the buildup is purposefully slow, even stunted, until you've built enough of a base in the Coils that you can conceivably abstract most of the bad, and take on only the leaders and powerful folk left to defy you (hopefully with some challenge still remaining to it after you're all Ess 4 with 200+ exp). I want that Epic to feel like you worked your arse toward it.
I do my very best to make the rules support those disadvantages--so I am not put down as 'ST who makes life miserable for players on a whim'. That is probably the main reason why I am so rules-conscious in this game. Especially at a point where I truly *believe* the opposition ought to be at an advantage, not because I am sadistic or hate players to triumph, but because the setting and scenario I have created lends toward that.
Note for example that Immy* when she sang and spoke to the workers, did not need more than a post or two to get them fully on her side. They wanted to be led by a Celestial in the first place. Now take the elite soldiers of Burning Feather, who are part of a Force regularly trained to resist and subdue Anathema, at least long enough for the Immaculates to do it properly (because honestly, DB charms rarely cut it all alone unless you've got a huge group of 'em and THEN I have to break out the Mass Combat, wince). They're going to resist as long as they can with all the Willpower they've got, as long as their chain of command is unbroken. They've got Intimacies toward their own group and cause, their commanders likely even have Motivations against Anathema.
Jedevra trying to survive long enough to at least complete the Shock Matrix charge, is also something that came out of "if she could, she would." I had her spend all the energy she had. In the end she will probably die to Xurizu's spell. But she didn't think "you know, I think I'll just die rather than use all my essence, charms, virtues and WP" when faced with a superior opponent she wasn't prepared for.
I never just make strict rulings because I feel like it. I have a reason, I judge based on the story I am trying to tell which the players have signed up for. I run other games, I am capable of a very casual and lenient mode of storytelling. But that is not Five Coils. I am sorry for now, before and any time after in which my ST style for Coils is found stifling, frustrating or just plain unfair. The only thing I can say is, bring it up. Write a PM (this is the most reliable way to reach me about RPoL things as I have said in the past). I will try my best to work with you, but it is completely and totally possible that the game may not be a good fit for you. I understand that and am willing to let anyone go who feels that way.
Yes, I do make mistakes of judgment at times, or of omission (I can think of one in particular in Earthcalm that has bugged me for a little while and will likely retroactively alter). I am not infallible, but I cannot read minds either. I admit I take criticism hard due to my various personal issues (this is not anyone's fault). But I also take criticism seriously. I would rather know than not know.
* used only as an example! Sorry Immy!