Editing Exalted Redux2:Characters (section)

===Artifacts===

Artifacts can be wielded when not attuned, but provide no artifact benefits when used this way.  Attuning an artifact requires a commitment of 1 point of Essence Pool, and 10 minutes of concentration.  This Essence Commitment can be released, as normal, but doing so immediately de-attunes the artifact, and it must be re-attuned to regain the benefits.  Any ongoing effects from the artifact immediately end when the attunement is severed.  An artifact with a hearthstone set within it requires no committed essence to attune, only the 10 minutes of concentration.  The attunement can still be severed at will.  

Attuning an artifact with a hearthstone also attunes the hearthstone, granting it’s benefits in addition to those of the artifact.  Hearthstones can only be attuned to a wielder in this way.  Hearthstones without an artifact to channel their energy grant no benefit.

The Hearthstone Bracer Artifact proves +1 die to the Dodge Skill while attuned, in addition to having a hearthstone slot.

Some artifact levels have been adjusted, to match the changes to weapons and armor, as follows:

#Regular Armor
#One-handed Weapon, Shield
#Heavy Armor
#Two-handed Weapon
#Superheavy Armor


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:: ''These changes help balance artifact use among PCs, cutting down on the D&D-esque problem of characters practically dripping in magic items.  At the same time, the Essence Commitment cost is much harder to bear under the new Essence Pool system, so making all artifacts have an attunement cost of 1 mitigates some of this problem, as well as lending simplicity.  Allowing hearthstones to remove this cost increases the utility of hearthstones, and also limits the number of ‘free-artifacts’ because of the Permanent Essence limit on Hearthstone use.''

:: ''On another note, the level of a two-handed weapon artifact has been increased for a simple reason.  Using the above chart, the three major Melee fighting styles now require 4 points of artifacts to be fully equipped.  1h Weapon + Shield costs 4 dots, 1h Weapon x 2 costs 4 dots, and a two-handed weapon costs 4 dots, leading to a pleasing balance.''
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