So after two threads full of why Exalted and its Dev-team suck incarna-level in magnitude - how would you do an Exalted game done right?

What do you need to do what Exalted wanted to do?
Exalted's fluff always promised stuff that the mechanics never delivered. There are many more fans of Exalted - the setting out there than there are Exalted - the whole package fans ... and i always thought that that's a shame.

So...how would YOU do it?

I am mostly interested in the mechanical side, but if you have ways you want to make the setting "more Exalted" than tell us that as well...even if it's a whole new setting (as this is a "Exalted with the serial numbers filed off" thread...so i guess we need some setting changes as well...right? Right?! ... )

I would start with this: http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/144651/Exemplars--Eidolons?term=exemplars+and+

Then I would take a good, hard look at the free advanced rules that Kevin Crawford put out for pushing E&E to demigod-levels of play, including rules for high-powered sorcery and organizations. It would still need some work and tweaking in areas, but at least I'd have a solid base to build on. And combat with a decent-sized group wouldn't take five hours.

Quote from: Anglachel;840155So after two threads full of why Exalted and its Dev-team suck incarna-level in magnitude - how would you do an Exalted game done right?

What do you need to do what Exalted wanted to do?
Exalted's fluff always promised stuff that the mechanics never delivered. There are many more fans of Exalted - the setting out there than there are Exalted - the whole package fans ... and i always thought that that's a shame.

So...how would YOU do it?

I am mostly interested in the mechanical side, but if you have ways you want to make the setting "more Exalted" than tell us that as well...even if it's a whole new setting (as this is a "Exalted with the serial numbers filed off" thread...so i guess we need some setting changes as well...right? Right?! ... )

By now I can do Exalted with, more or less, any system that has more or less freeform magic, and with many that have discrete effects. So mechanically, it's simply no longer an issue.
My last trick was to develop a way to run it with Sorcerers of Ur-Turuk of all games, because it was new.
Currently we're playing Exalted using Runequest6 rules. And the GM is doing to the setting the same thing you have to do any setting in order to run it:).
Namely, you have to decide on your vision of the setting and the setting's conflicts, and stick to it, while still being ready to allow unorthodox solutions;).
I guess it's more a "which system do I want to use" issue for me.

In a way, I can credit the poor rules of Ex2 for this. I'm not even making effort to file the serial numbers off, I've bought the setting and can play it in any way I see fit.

Kill the rules. All of them. The modified storyteller system doesn't handle slightly superhuman characters like Vampires all that well (in any of its incarnations). It completely fails at a more powerful scale, even before the characters are reaching for divinity. There are much, much better alternatives out there. Depending on the intentional scope of the game, I would suggest a set of rules that might work with superheroic characters of truly mind-numbing power, as well as ordinary characters, namely a version of the Runequest/BRP system; Stormbringer or any of the related Eternal Champion based games should work as a rough foundation to build and expand on.

A significant part of the game should be about becoming exalted, not being it. The resulting powers become a lot more rewarding if the players have to work for it. Apotheosis is a pretty decent carrot to dangle in front of most players, but the important part is becoming a god, not necessarily being one. That is then a pretty good follow-up.

Simplify the game dramatically. Get rid of or streamline the "Feat chain" (I forget what term the game actually used) way of handling powers and kung-fu moves and such.

I'd probably use something like Apocalypse World, mixed with a robust but simple combat system underneath.

At present, I'm using a houseruled Mutants and Masterminds 3e to run Exalted and it's worked pretty well so far.  Setting wise, my players and I worked out what we liked the most and either axed or changed the stuff we didn't.  The end result would probably infuriate most Exalted fans, but as long as everyone is having fun, I could care less.

The setting, as hinted at, was never my problem. Sure, i don't use all of it at once, but that is true for all published settings i used over time.

Where i really think Exalted lacks is in the rules-department. Such potential gone to waste with the clunky and unfitting rules.
Maybe the new Sardonyx system could do Exalted (at least better than the existing system does, but that is not a high bar at all)...who knows.

For me, i have some options/ideas : Strange Fate could do the trick and well, i think (never tried it so far though). Something similar to Fate that i can see me using - Cortex + in its heroic iteration (there even is a good fan-hack for Exalted in that system). I think it can handle epic well and as it was designed for superheroes, well, we are right on the spot.
Lately i have been reading the newest OVA...and i like it. I think it could do Exalted reasonably well (but i have no real-play experience with the system).

Recent rumour on the Eden forums said that Beyond Human was in the editing and layout phase. I'd like to see if Cinematic Unisystem could be adapted for Exalted level characters.

I think it's actually pretty easy: start with a functional supers system. Work out what you need from there.

Honestly, I'd say that FATE more or less covers anything you'd want to do with Exalted - particularly when it comes to stunting.

Sardonyx would be a good system.  Could easily make mortals be TN 8, terrestrials TN 7, Celestrials TN 6, and Solar level exalted be TN 5.  This means solars would have more chances of success which is powerful.  I would expect the Unconquerable Sun to have TN 1 since he is the most perfect being in that setting.

Though I am working on something as well.  Mainly my custom system that bridges FATE like games with traditional games.  Well bridge in the way I like it and how many traditional gamers would like it.  Mainly fuck the meta gaming fate points and put more focus on awesome character descriptors that empowers your character.  As in something organic in play instead of meta.

A example would be Din the Strong.  When doing normal feats of strength Din just passes the test with a number of degrees of success equal to his rank of that asset.  When pulling off extrodinary feats of strength that is thought to be impossible Din uses heroic points to do it as if using mana for casting a spell.  When Din wants to restore points he doesn't just make odd choices, or do things that screw him over for heroic points.  No he just lift weights and train to improve his mighty muscles during his rest time to regain those heroic points.

Quote from: Godfather Punk;840410Recent rumour on the Eden forums said that Beyond Human was in the editing and layout phase. I'd like to see if Cinematic Unisystem could be adapted for Exalted level characters.

I'm only somewhat familiar with Classic, but I'd love to see what Beyond Human will look like if it ever comes out. Supers is still something of an unfulfilled niche in my RPG library.

What about Qwixalted?

I know the designers and helped play-test it. I thought it did Exalted brilliantly. I was never a big fan, but this lighter version made it super fun (INHO).

Quote from: Warthur;840460Honestly, I'd say that FATE more or less covers anything you'd want to do with Exalted - particularly when it comes to stunting.

I've used Mutants and Masterminds because in Superhero games, stunting is just part of the way it's meant to be played, no special rules necessary for over the top action.

And that's pretty much what I would do, if I really wanted to run a Super Fantasy game.