Wuxalted Redux

Introduction

This is a work in progress to create a sleaker, more stream-lined version of Wuxalted, which itself a combination of Wushu and Exalted.

This work is intended as guide to help people who know Exalted and/or Wushu to play Exalted with Wushu-inspired lighter mechanics. This work is not intended to be a guide to help newcomers discover Exalted and/or Wushu.

Wushu is the property of Daniel Bayn, Exalted is the property of White Wolf Publishing, and Wuxalted was written by a bunch of guys on RPGnet. All the rest that's managed to slip through the cracks are my original ideas. My ideas are up for grabs, the rest is the IP of their owners.

Terminology

• Scarlet / Ebon: Yang / Yin from Wushu.
• Essence: This corresponds to the total dice cap one can gain when describing actions in Wushu, as well as to a character's maximum Chi.
• Mote: Chi in Wushu. Motes are a broad umbrella for Essence motes, Willpower and Health levels in Exalted.

Mechanics & Basics

As in Wushu, there are three levels of conflict: Conflict with Named Characters (Nemesis), Conflict with Extras (Mooks), and Minor Challenges (Scab rolls).

Conflict with Named Characters

To resolve how much narrative impact a described action has upon a scene, the action's dice are rolled against a target number that is determined by the Attribute and Ability most appropriate to that action; the target number is equal to the Attribute + Ability.

An appropriate Specialty allows a player to reroll one dice on his roll when luck is against him.

Minor Challenges

What a joy to find such clear tihknnig. Thanks for posting!

Character Creation

Solars

• Define Motivation, choose Virtue and describe your Flaw; choose your Caste.
• Assign points to Attributes; either choose to set one to 3, another to 2 and the last to 1, or set them all to 2.
• Assign points to Abilities; your Caste Ability starts at 1. All others start at 0.
• Assign points to Backgrounds; you may spend three points among the Backgrounds described in this section.
• Essence starts at 6.
• Record your Charm and Anima effects.
• Spend Bonus Points: You may spend up to 15 Bonus Points to round out your character; see the Bonus Points table for costs.

Dragon-Blooded

As with Solars, except they receive Essence 4 and their own particular Abilities. Dynast Dragon-Blooded get 6 Background points, however (Outcastes don't; sucks to be them!)

Example Characters

Here are some characters created using the rules above:

• Radiant Lodestar: Zenith Rockstar! (or as close as can be)
• Tepet Dunado: Air Aspect master tactician

Character Progression

Character progression, in the sense of characters getting 'better' or more poweful with time, remains in Wuxalted Redux as much a compromise between Wushu and Exalted as it does in Wuxalted; after all, in Wushu, character progression is not an issue, whereas in Exalted, it is the basis of the game's longterm structure. Characters in Wuxalted start out pretty kick-ass, so do you and your players feel they need to get better? If not, then it's simple: forget about it. If your characters are working and your players are happy, why upset the balance? If so, however, how do you go about doing it?

Well, the obvious method is to give them the occaisional extra Bonus Point at the end of an especially significant session (or when the players bitch loud enough!). Don't overdo it, though; keep in mind the fact that Wuxalted Redux is a very simple game as laid out and that there's only so much room to push things.

The other method is to increase the character's Essence to represent their growing power (see the Essence table). Granting them 'Established' status (+1 Essence) at the end of a suitable story arc spanning the survival and growth of a Circle of newly-Exalted Solars might be just the kind of reward the players will appreciate.

Bonus Points Table

Attribute	7
Ability	3
Specialty	1
Background	1

Tricks of the Trade: Running Wuxalted Redux

I'll insert tips on how to run the game as I go along here.

Antagonists

Ghosts

Essence 2 base.

Use the Abyssal Ability set.

Nemissary

Essence 3 base.

Charm: May spent 1 Mote to end a conflict by abandoning its current host and fleeing.