Setting and System Conversion Thread.

[Zealot Vedas]

Just a general thread to post setting-specific Abilities, Weaknesses, and whatnot.

I intend to post stuff related to Exalted at first, perhaps more later. Everyone is welcome to post their own work, and I welcome any critique or suggestions regarding my own stuff.

Exalted:

I was thinking that the power level difference between the different Exalt types could easily be simulated by just having different ceilings.
For example, Solars, Abyssals, and Infernals could gain up to 20 points by taking weaknesses, while Lunars and Sidereals would be able to gain 15 points, and Dragon-Blooded could only gain 10.

Also, a couple of new abilities:

Cult: There is a group of people that worship you as a god, and you gain a stream of revitalizing Essence from their prayers and devotion. Each point of Cult allows you to use the Recover Endurance action one additional time each combat. If you have Cult 1, you may recover twice per combat, someone with Cult 5 could recover six times. However, you cannot recover Endurance in this way if you are at 0 health. In addition, your worshippers are vital to this ability. It is recommended that you take weaknesses related to the upkeep or defense of your Cult.

Lunar Shapeshifting (Lunars Only): You have a Spirit Shape, an animal form you may transform into at will, and potentially other shapes. You may add your Lunar Shapeshifting dice when performing actions appropriate to the shape you take, but are also limited by that shape. A mighty Tyrant Lizard would have difficulty attempting to use Art of Invisibility, for example. You may shift into your Spirit Shape at will, with no Endurance cost, but all other forms you acquire cost 5 Endurance for most forms, 10 for unusually powerful ones. A form lasts until you choose to shift out of it, although if your Endurance hits 0, you revert to either your Spirit Shape or your human form. You may gain additional forms through ritual hunts and roleplaying.

And that's all for the moment. I intend to do something for Sidereal Astrology, but haven't gotten around to figuring that out yet. I also intend to stat up some sample characters.

[sniffycrab]

Well in OVA Endurance and HP must be both at 0 for a PC to be defeated. As is Cult would make the PC recover every round and very hard to kill.

Is Health and Endurance still going to be linked in your game? Was making PC's very hard to kill on purpose?

[Zealot Vedas]

Yeah, it is meant to make PC's harder to kill. Exalts take a lot of punishment to put down. I am thinking of making it so that you cannot start with Cult above +2 though. Anything higher than that takes experience and roleplaying to acquire.

Plus, it does take a full action to recover, and some enemies have Cult as well.

[sniffycrab]

Here is a setting for -U- the game of stories that easily converts to OVA.

Dragon'skin (the Setting)
Description
Long ago there were dragons that roamed the earth. They were intelligent creatures that ruled the lands for ages. When the Empire of Atlantis came and desired to take all that it could see, the two sides warred. The Empire finally found a way to destroy the dragons. Their efforts, however, also destroyed their own continent. In the end, all that was left of the human empire was legend of Atlantis. All that was left of the dragons were their scales.

Years later, some ingenious humans discovered some dragon scales and unlocked their power, thus making them the first of what is called the Dragon'skin. Slowly but surely, over the ages, more humans have been introduced to the scales of the dragons and turned into powerful beings that walk among us. Near-immortal, powerful beings that live in the shadows of mankind directing it to their whims, much like their ancestors.

Characters
All Main Character Players take the role of a Dragon'skin. In addition, all Dragon'skin characters also have 1 dice in the Ability Dragon'skin for free which allows the character to sense other Dragon'skins, be immune to aging and its effects, need less sleep (1 day out of 7), have amazing health, and use Dragon'skin Abilities. I'm not sure how to handle char gen as either power ceiling or absolute zero.

Supporting Cast
Characters can be either Dragon'skins or humans.

Becoming a Dragon'skin
To become a Dragon'skin, one must have a dragon scale touching their skin and say "From Dragon skin to Dragon's kin." Instantly, and painfully, the person's body is rewritten and the scale is infused into their body, undetectable, except by other Dragon'skins.

The new Dragon'skin will feel infinitely better than they have and whatever ailments they had (including paralysis, lost limbs, cancer, a cold, etc.,) are cured. When the Dragon'skin dies, their scale separates from their body at the place it was infused, and can be used again by another person. Dragon scales cannot be destroyed and are very rare.

Social Dealings
Dragon'skins can sense when another one is nearby. This leads them to congregate and help or harm one another. In many large cities, there is an Alpha Dragon'skin that has claimed the city as his domain or kingdom. The Alphas often require all in their domain to be civil and obey their laws.

Of course, the blood of predators runs in the veins of all Dragon'skin, so Alphas are toppled, kingdoms modified, or clandestine shadow wars are fought somewhat regularly.

All of the Dragon'skin, however keep their powers as hidden as possible for fear of another Atlantis, and there is always an elder Dragon'skin in town to teach the newly minted of their kind their history and place in the city.

Types of Dragons
Each scale used to make a Dragon'skin is from a different type of dragon. Depending on the color of the dragon scale, each Dragon'skin favors different abilities and temperaments. All Dragon'skins, regardless of color, want one thing: power.

• Black Dragon'skins are nihilistic and destructive. They use anything they can get their hands on to destroy things, even societies.

• Blue Dragon'skins are calm and patient. They prefer to use water and diplomacy as the tools of choice.

• Green Dragon'skins are wild and in touch with nature. They tend to use claws and other natural weapons to defend their ways of life.

• Gold Dragon'skins are prideful and powerful. In general anything they do is enhanced, and they have a panache for the finer things in life.

• Red Dragon'skins are fierce and rash. They favor fire as their weapon of choice, and don't like to contemplate their actions.

• White Dragon'skins are cold and calculating. They use ice and time to make their best wishes unfold.

Possible Stories
Dragon'skin is a great Setting for political intrigue in the shadows of the modern world. Because dragons are naturally hoarding creatures used to being the apex predators, it makes any dealings with Dragon'skins a test in social interactions.

The following are some possible stories for Dragon'skin.

• Fall of the Prince - The Alpha Dragon'skin has always had a second in command called "the Prince". The Prince has been allowed to do as he pleases without reprimand from the Alpha. Last night, the Prince was killed by the Alpha for unknown reasons. Now, the Alpha is looking for a new Prince and the Main Characters are on the short list. Can they survive the other Dragon'skins vying for the position? And why did the Alpha kill the former Prince?

• Black Death - Bastion, a Black Dragon'skin has come to the city bringing a biological plague. He has put word out that he means to unleash it on the city in two days unless he is made Alpha. Every Dragon'skin in town is looking for the weapon and Bastion (who's gone into hiding). Everyone, that is, except some currying for Bastion's favor.

• White Lies - A Gold Dragon'skin was seen on the internet using a near-draconic form. The local White Dragon'skins believe this is a mistake that should be rectified by killing the offender. The Gold Dragon'skin has come to the players looking for help and shelter. She says she's been framed and promises money for helping her. Who do they believe, the Whites or the Gold? And why are the Whites so quick to declare death on one of their own kind?

[Zealot Vedas]

I like all of that. What time period does it take place in? Modern would be cool, but I also have a mental image of Green Dragon Druids fighting against Gold Dragon Romans.

[sniffycrab]

Modern Day is the default. Not Sure how to map the Dragon'skin ability to OVA.

[Zealot Vedas]

Well I don't know the specifics of what kind of powers the Dragon'skin grants, but I would say use either base zero or a power ceiling, whichever you think appropriate, and grant some free points in Abilities appropriate to the color. Maybe grant some appropriate attacks as well.

As a sidenote, I will be posting some slightly revised Exalted character creation notes and some example characters within the next few days.

[sniffycrab]

Well -U- let them have the full gambit of powers. So as is a Dragon'skin could have any ability or weakness in the OVA book.

Good luck with Exalted.

[Clay]

I think it says something about Exalted that lots of people love the setting, but so often people want to play it in other systems! Case in point, Exalted has come up on these forums several times before. You may find the information in these threads useful (or at least interesting):

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2135&hilit=exalted
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2254&hilit=exalted

And a fan converting OVA to use d10s (like those used in Exalted):
viewtopic.php?t=1911

[sniffycrab]

Well Clay, to be honest the system is rubbish. Exalted uses ticks instead of rounds, make many things sound cool but stink in actual play, and put a ton of work on anyone trying to GM. Everyone loves the setting but wish it had a different system. Hopefully the new 3rd edition will fix that.