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08:40, 28th March 2024 (GMT+0)

IC: "Usurpers of All That Was" Exalted 2e (Adult--implicit)

Posted by V_V
V_V
member, 1037 posts
Mon 10 Apr 2023
at 10:33
  • msg #1

IC: "Usurpers of All That Was" Exalted 2e (Adult--implicit)

This is a an adult game premise, but from my end it's due to adult themed topics, such as that of the Underworld's Brothel of former R***ists being transfigured, and equally mature topics being an immediate backdrop, that prompt me to use this tag. Keeping reading for more information.

To be clear, and up front. This is something that will take me two years to set up. Two RL years. Minimum. I have tons of transcription to do, that is well worded but just broken into fragments and needs to be gathered. Not to mention the fact I'll need to get visual set pieces onto the board. This work I would consider a labor of love, but I don't want to divert my attention to a project that has no interest.

We're looking for interest for a game that will probably run into 2030 and hopefully longer, but start no earlier than 2025.

So that out of the way, this is a game that has very specific set of opportunities, so I've chosen some limitations of what can and can't be played, not just exalt types, but also castes. Certain blanketed charms/spells that will have either no use, and therefore should not be taken (as they probably won't have much screentime); or the charms or spells will divert the focus of the game in a way that substantially slows or speeds the progress of the RL game time. That is how long the game will play out.

The premise is to perpetuate the idea of the new usurping the old. Just as every generation of power has, this new sweep of characters seek to make their own rules, and fashion the worlds to meet those rules. Warlocks that seek to become heretics, Viziers that seek to depose Kejak and create their own Heavenly agenda and laws, Lawgivers that wish to return the glory--and gory history--of the first age.

The locales I intend to focus on are power structures of the Creation, Malfeas, the Labyrinth, the Underworld and Yu Shan.

This game would have enough themes that touch upon adult material that I would want this this be an adult game. If that means explicit scenes for players to players, or players that seek out STCS, than so be it, but most of it is so that certain very mature content can be talked about without need for flowery language, though not bereft of the place and poetry for innuendo.

This is an anti-hero blurred with anti-villain. Very gray characters, that stay as far from the Scenery Taste Delicious and Vanilla exalted.

This is a game that will be location and icon based, as a foundation, populated further by entities the PCs seek vengeance upon, or reunion with, and objects the PCs covet and hate.

This is isn't quite a political game, more a conquering of the established power centers, whether keeping the place and even people intact and just deposing the rule, or to raze it wholesale, or some different change of hands.

I'm thinking the game will be separated into a trilogy, each series with three stories. The first story being the union of the group by a Anys Syn, the Chancellor of Strife, Shieldbearer and Chair on the Crimson Panoply. Anys Syn will have used spells and charms to both locate and collect the group. She will have a proposition of great providence stemmed from an oath she made by a former incarnation of an Eclipse or Moonshadow. Anys Syn will be optional to have as a mentor, and will be quite a powerful Sifu.

The option for non-solars and non-abyssals to learn sidereal martial arts will be dangled behind a series of hoops. So if there was never a game for your Stewards, Warlocks, and Dragonblooded to learn SMA, this is the game to check that box. It will not be without GREAT risk though, both as a character, and your investment as a player.



So this is the game pitch. It's very well defined, and I will be glad to discuss the limited caste, charms and spells if interest is shown--but not here, and as it would be "calling" or getting "dibs". I can say this much; no Alchemicals, though Fiend/Eclipse/Moonshadow will have chance to find Alchemicals, vats, installation circumstances.  Dragonblooded of any aspect have a blanketed permission. Though I will warn you, I'll not be adjusting XP for exalt types. They're set that way to show ease and frequency of progression. So for that XP disparity, DB are probably not going to as appealing for that reason. Celestials are really what I'm assuming.  That said an akuma Dragonblooded, an outcaste, or just a bitter dynast would be fine if you really want to have free reign of what you can create with a DB.

So other than discussion on special limitations, if there are any questions on the genre, pace, tone, or general tolerance of special concepts; I'll be glad to discuss that. My prime objective for this is to gauge interest. It will require players that can both follow hooks, and populate the sandbox with their own nemeses and loves, coveted artifacts and places set to rule.

I do not think I can get this ready in less than two years. I am very slow. I have a history of this. I also have a history to retain and not give up on long term plans. If anything taking so long ensures I don't get fatigued.



I'm eager to see what interest, and how much of it, there is.
This message was last edited by the user at 11:29, Mon 10 Apr 2023.
serrasin
member, 40 posts
Mon 10 Apr 2023
at 23:00
  • msg #2

IC: "Usurpers of All That Was" Exalted 2e (Adult--implicit)

quote:
We're looking for interest for a game that will probably run into 2030 and hopefully longer, but start no earlier than 2025.


So by we, are you working with other STs; or do you have players already planned?

It's difficult to commit to a game that wont begin a year from now. That being said, every exalted game that I have seen here or elsewhere has met with significant demand. Are you just checking for interest at this point, or are you looking for players to submit in the near future and work on developing characters now to ease game planning?
This message was last edited by the user at 23:02, Mon 10 Apr 2023.
V_V
member, 1038 posts
Tue 11 Apr 2023
at 00:47
  • msg #3

IC: "Usurpers of All That Was" Exalted 2e (Adult--implicit)

In reply to serrasin (msg # 2):

I think it was a bit of my eccentricity showing. I probably should have said "I". The collective "we", is an inclusion of prospective players. It's just how I approach a group activity. While I know the interface control a GM alone has in a game on RPoL, I fundamentally argue against the notion of a game belonging to a GM.  I won't be the sole arbiter, but more the final arbiter after discussion has commenced. It's a subtle distinction, but for me, it's worth being explicit about. I am in a position to appreciate a Co-GM, or an editor. If such positions are filled, they will emerge naturally during the process of recruitment.

serrasin:
It's difficult to commit to a game that wont begin a year from now

I appreciate the fact people want to have the organic freedom to play what they want, when they want. I'm one of those people as a player. I'm not asking for promises here. I'm not asking anyone to commit, like a pledge. I don't hold players in my games, as obligated to play. I know taste change, and things come up. Right now, I just want to know if the concept is appealing, or missing key information.

So I just want to see if the concept is interesting. It will deteremine merit to working on this. I also wanted to be honest about the time frame, but I'm not counting characters before their RTJs, such as chickens before their hatched. If there's a critical point left in the dark, that I can shed light on here, I may need a prompt by someone to even know it's not apparent.

serrasin:
looking for players to submit in the near future...(?)


Yes...in a word. I'm looking to start the game in 2025, but recruit players gradually from a point after I have a home, until 2025. I want to not only patch my game with player prescribed entities and goals, but weave that into the underlying fabric of the series.

I have a clear, albeit simply put, theme to the game. Having player set goals to pursue, and projects to plan, will help give part of that ownership back to the players.


serrasin:
work on developing characters...to ease game planning?


Not so much to ease on planning, but curate and include the frequent player driven antagonists, lost loves, or abducted family; that I often have to curb because it's harder to work into an already tight paced plot. Ease in that the I won't be trying to plug these parts in after the cake is fully baked and ready to taste.

The first step is me having a home. I won't know I have a home until I have one. It looks promising this month, but I'm not certain. That's the very first step. Right now, however, at this very moment, I have an interim of time.

Rather than start a game, only to go on multiple hiatuses, I'm gauging appeal. I'm looking to develop the parts players will point out, that I haven't thought to consider.

serrasin:
every exalted game that I have seen here or elsewhere has met with significant demand


I hope so. My experience has been wildly varied, from six RTJs in one game's lifespan, to thirty before game start in another game. In a third game, I had a single RTJ within hours of resurrecting a game, and two more within a few weeks upon simply activating the red asterisk.

If in a few months, I haven't garnered interest, I can decide to recruit players for this by advertising. Alternatively, I may decide to post another pitch. If I have a show of interest here, that heavily influences my decision to stick with this project.
serrasin
member, 41 posts
Tue 11 Apr 2023
at 01:37
  • msg #4

IC: "Usurpers of All That Was" Exalted 2e (Adult--implicit)

Well mark me as interested. I'll always make time for Exalted.
tpeters
member, 19 posts
Tue 18 Apr 2023
at 18:32
  • msg #5

IC: "Usurpers of All That Was" Exalted 2e (Adult--implicit)

I am interested. Exalted has always piqued my interest. I just haven't had the opportunity to jump in. The two year preparation is fine by me. It would give me time to learn the system and flesh out what is needed. The dark nature of the characters is also appealing.
V_V
member, 1055 posts
Event: Arrival
Horizon: May 5th
Fri 5 May 2023
at 01:51
  • msg #6

IC: "Usurpers of All That Was" Exalted 2e (Adult--implicit)

I'm going to start working on this then. I hope this will won't prevent, or artificially bump, further discussion; but I feel a person new to the system being not only willing to wait, but having a good way using that time, is worth as much as five willing players, who are all veterans.

The inclusion of the aforementioned attention upon advertising and opening, prompts me to start the process from this day. To be simple, for my records, I'll record it as MAy 5th 2023. Just because 5-5 is easier to remember. It won't take less time than two years to fully assemble, but it could be done sooner after that point than much later. Also, the act of starting is the step that is first required. So I am, I'll start the planning.

When I pick a board for the game, I'll open for alpha discussion. In the meantime, I'll check this thread periodically until it dips below page 5. I can be Rmailed if you reply to this from it being on page 6 or later; as I'll have probably figured discussion to have stopped and won't be as aware of an update to page 1.

July 2024 will likely be the deadline I'll have to get in contact with you two and others, as to the state of the game address. I may have to move again, in July. If I do, I'll want to inform people that's part of a delay. If I don't move, I'll be able to secure a longer timeline on th next update, and a plan of updating those as the game takes form.
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