Exalted Martial Arts

Gateway charms

Gateway charms are the charms which allow Terrestrial Exalted, Heroic Ghosts and Raksha to learn Celestial martial arts. That doesn’t mean they are limited to those Hero types, rather; they can be taken by any Exalt type, as well as Raksha and Ghosts. There are three sets of gateway charms available to characters; the Immaculate Order Spirit Mastery, the Iris Bulb Understanding of Secular and Profane Brokerage, and Tiger and Bear initiation.

The Immaculate charms and the Iris bulb initiation have similar mechanics, with the Iris Bulb being a less refined version of the Spirit Mastery charms. As such, they are moderately less powerful, but more flavourful for non immaculates. The initial charm of each allows the user to perceive immaterial spirits (although the Iris bulb initiation charm only allows the perception of an outline filled with irises). The second charm allows interaction (usually the administering of a sound beating) with immaterial beings, a very useful ability to the god bullying immaculate monks. These abilities are relatively useful to the Terrestrial Exalted and Raksha, who do not have easy methods of detecting or interacting with immaterial beings without some kind of artefact or other prop (a mirror for Dragonblooded, for example). Celestial Exalted generally have their own spirit perception charms, which are generally at least as good as the initiation charms. They also do not need to learn the initiation charms, meaning the Immaculate initiation is somewhat useless to them (unless they wish to totally specialise in Martial Arts, as spirit interaction charms are usually Occult charms).

The Tiger and Bear Initiation charms are very different in focus from the spirit manipulation charms of the other initiations. Where the spirit manipulation initiations focus on expanding your perceptions into the immaterial as a method of enlightening your essence, the Tiger and Bear initiation charms do it by mastering their martial skills: The initial charm, Tiger and Bear awareness, gives immunity to ambush and automatically detects anyone hiding by mundane means nearby. The second charm, Tiger and Bear unity is very much a heightening of the martial skill of the Hero, it grants several automatic successes to a martial arts roll, making it very desirable indeed, especially as it can be comboed normally.

Different groups are more likely to learn different initiations: Immaculates and immaculate taught Dragonblooded (they are unlikely to teach anyone else) will certainly learn Spirit Sight and Spirit Walking. Those learning from spirits could conceivably learn all three, but the Iris Bulb understanding is probably the most likely. Those learning from first age troop training devices or possibly war gods are likely to learn Tiger and Bear Initiation.

The Immaculate Spirit Mastery initiations can be found in Exalted: The Dragonblooded. Both the Tiger and Bear initiations and the Iris Bulb Understanding of Secular and Profane Brokerage initiations can be found in the Exalted Players Guide

Terrestrial Martial Arts

The terrestrial martial arts are the starting point for the supernatural martial arts, they represent the truly basic techniques that even enlightened mortals can achieve. This does not, however, mean they are useless.

Five Dragons Fight as One Style

This style is the ‘default’ terrestrial style. That is, it has very few flashy ‘concept’ charms and a whole load of utility charms. The initial two charms boost attack (Five Dragon Claw)and passive defence (in this case soak, Five Dragon Fortitude), however, the attack charm is somewhat weakened in that it doesn’t do anything if you are armed with a weapon capable of lethal damage. The form charm is a nice, utilitarian form charm, which increases soak (not uncommon) and mobility, as well as breaking strength. The pinnacle charm is a standard extra action charm that might well be found just post form charm in a celestial martial art, with a slightly increased cost. This is clearly much weaker than the celestial equivalent, but not unexpected. Other interesting or standout charms are Five Dragon blocking technique, which grants a persistent defence (sort of, it’s not very good, but it’s still persistent) and Five Dragon Fist, which is a strike for aggravated damage, relatively rare in the Exalted world. Concerning combo potential, the style is quite weak, with a lack of good supplemental charms, and since the users of this tree will most likely be Dragonblooded, comboing reflexive defences from it is unnecessary. The form weapons are both very good for this style, however. Swords and spears are in form for this style, so daiklaives and dire lances are appropriate form weapons (conceivably including grand daiklaives). Furthermore, the style is compatible with armour Overall, the style is quite useful for terrestrial level Heroes, giving a decent mixture of offensive and defensive capabilities, and an excellent form weapon. Naturally, the style shines in the hands of the Dragonblooded, where the free reflexive charm capabilities they possess allow greater flexibility. It is also conceivable that a Sidereal Exalt who has mastered Violet Bier of Sorrows style would choose this style, as it also works with daiklaives.

This style can be found in Exalted: The Dragon Blooded.

Crimson Pentacle Blade Style

Crimson Pentacle Blade's form weapons are shield and "polearm," the latter category including all weapons with a haft at least four and a half feet long. Included are spears, sledges, poleaxes, and scythes, and the artifact forms of these. It is relevant to notice that due to this, there is overlap with the form weapons of Five Dragon Style for users with a spear, and with Earth Dragon Style and Jade Mountain Style with the sledge. Note also that the first charm in the Style makes it possible to use a large shield in one hand and a normally two-handed polearm in the other without penalty, which would not normally be possible. It is generally assumed that Crimson Pentacle Blade users will be armed, as no charms exist to allow unarmed users to do lethal damage or to parry it without a stunt. Crimson Pentacle Blade does not permit the use of armor.

One unique feature of CPB is the "postures" it grants. Five are given, each of which emphases a particular approach to the style, with suggested clothing and weapon, although those are not mechanically required. Each posture provides a different "posture bonus," which is in effect an extra specialty dot for a particular sort of situation. These dots are cumulative with normal specialties, but cannot raise the total specialty applied to a roll above three.

As the Terrestrial styles go, it has perhaps more "style" than any of the others. Crimson Pentacle Blade has a very distinct visual approach, and one that works well with the Dragonblooded aesthetic in particular. Unfortunately, the promise of the potential is not fully realized in the mechanics, due to problems of the sort that afflict perhaps all of the Players Guide's martial arts.

This style can be found in the Exalted Players Guide. This summary was written by Random Nerd on RPGnet.

Jade Mountain Style

nothing yet

Celestial Martial Arts

Celestial Monkey Style

This style is somewhat unusual, both in the requirements for its users and the power of its charms. The majority of the style is somewhat weak, or at least not comparable to other celestial martial arts, however, two charms stand out as very useful and powerful: Four Golden Halo Monkey Realignment provides a persistent defence which doesn’t require an action to use, and further, it boosts your attack power, and Celestial Godbody Understanding allows any weapon to be used as a form weapon for this style and armour to be worn while using the style. Overall, except for advanced students, avoidance of this style is recommended.

This style can be found in the Exalted Players Guide

Ebon Shadow Style

This style combines good stealth with strong offence after the form and one nasty surprise for unprepared enemies. The nasty surprise is in the form of Distracting Finger gesture, which prevents an opponent from taking multiple actions. “How is this powerful, I just want to smash him?” I hear you ask. It is quite simple really: Fight somewhere where keeping your footing is difficult, and repeatedly distract your opponent. As long as they are forced to act to keep their footing, they will not be able to attack or defend. Then you smash him. It is also worth noting that Ebon Shadow contains one of the most powerful offensive charms in the celestial martial arts: Blow concealing gesture: Your opponent cannot react to the attack, meaning no defence at all, barring some combos. Yes, Let it sink in. No defence. Ebon shadow doesn’t combine too well with any other martial arts, as it doesn’t share in form weapons with any of them.

This style can be found in Caste Book Night

Hungry Ghost Style

This style sums up its original creators better than any other magic art in Creation; Hungry ghost is about killing things and eating their souls, and so are the Abyssal Exalted. This style focuses solely on strong offence, either by enhancing attacks or weakening targets. Further, it has some unusual essence effects, including an excellent initial charm, and a post form charm which allows you to entirely shut down charm based defences, if you are willing to pay the cost. To cap the style off, the capstone charm inflicts aggravated damage. This style combines spectacularly with Water Dragon and Tiger, both of which serve to strengthen its non-existent defence and enhance its killing power.

This style can be found in Exalted: The Abyssals

Mantis Style

Mantis style offers the strongest defence of any of the celestial martial arts, while offering good offence in a specific mould: Crippling your opponent, clinching him and taking his weapons. As sword-wielders often forget that without their weapons they are nothing more than angry children to a competent martial artist, this is an effective tactic. Mantis Style is relatively weak on the neat tricks common in other styles; instead it has strong, basic charms which are likely to be broadly useful. Further, it shares a form weapon (the seven section staff) with both Snake and Violet Bier of Sorrows style, allowing for some powerful combinations.

This style can be found in Caste Book Eclipse

Righteous Devil Style

This style is perhaps the most unusual of the Martial Arts. Unlike every other celestial style, Righteous Devil is useless without a weapon. Indeed it is useless without a specific ranged weapon: The Firewand. This, however, does not make it a weak style. On the contrary, the charms of the style are exceedingly potent, but must be looked at in the context of requiring a weapon. The style combines a subtly strong form, forcing a confrontation between yourself and your target, and dismissing his minions as if they are nothing, and some very strong offence charms, including an undodgeable incorporeal attack which cannot miss, and a powerful damage increasing attack. However, the style is utterly lacking in defence and relies totally on a weapon. If you wish to be a front line martial artist, avoid this style. If you wish to learn more than one style, avoid this style. If you wish to be a powerful ranged support fighter, this style is your friend. Righteous Devil is a strong style, if you pick right. It isn't, however, remotely forgiving of any mistakes. The lack of a speed increase for ranged weapons makes it weak in arena fights though, since the range advantage is totally negated.

This style can be found in Exalted: The Players Guide

Snake Style

Snake Style is in many ways the default celestial martial art, providing average defence (both soak and dodge) and mostly average offence. Snake form is one of the most useful of the martial arts form type charms, both boosting soak and forcing enemies to apply a penalty to their attacks, as well as providing a small increase in unarmed capabilities. However, Snake Style is in many ways defined by two charms: Essence Venom Strike and Armour Penetrating Fang Strike. The first allows you to inflict aggravated damage on your enemies, something rare and powerful in exalt to exalt combat. The second allows you to severely weaken an opponents armour defence for a single strike. Even better, the two can be comboed together, creating an aggravated damage attack which bypasses armour. This is not the only powerful combo Snake Style has to offer, and in many ways it is the combo possibilities of this style that make it so strong.

This style can be found in the Exalted Core. However several charms in the tree are revised in the Exalted Players Guide.

Tiger Style

Tiger Style provides two main benefits to its practitioners: Excellent attack capabilities, and an excellent cross style form weapon. Further, Angry Predator Frenzy Style is a potent attack charm, which when combined (not comboed however) with a combo of Raging tiger pounce and Spine Shattering Bite can severely inconvenience a single opponent, forcing them to the ground, where the second attack from Angry Predator Frenzy Style becomes more difficult to defend against. For added carnage, add Stalking Cat Movement and strike from the shadows. This style combines extremely well with Water Dragon and Hungry Ghost styles.This style is by far the best.

This style can be found in Caste Book Dawn.

Violet Bier of Sorrows Style

This style combines one of the most useful initial charms of any style anywhere with some potent long duration effects. The style becomes somewhat less useful post form, with some of the charms losing a little usefulness to Solars. However, Conclusion Pursuing Approach and Death Parrying Stroke both retain much usefulness. This style as a whole combines well with Mantis and Snake, however, most dedicated martial artists should look at learning at least a portion of this style. Sensibly, you should be able to deal with mortals and anyone without high dicepools without using any offensive charms, using only your form charm and shadow over water, with stunts to give you neutral essence flow. Only Snake and Mantis have reflexive counterattacks in the animal styles, but for maintaining a good defence while still attacking, shadow over water is the way to go, until you have Flow Like Blood.

This style can be found in Exalted: The Sidereals

Sidereal Martial Arts

All of the following styles can be found in Exalted: The Sidereals

Sidereal-level Martial Arts, the last of the three categories of supernatural martial arts, are the martial equivalent to Solar Circle Sorcery. In fact, dear player, it is cautioned not to rely on ever being able to learn these styles (even if you are a Chosen of the Maidens with the required Essence and Martial Arts ratings), for two reasons. First of all, a teacher needs to be found. Consisting themselves of the more powerful of the Five-Score Fellowship, there aren't that many of them. And if you're an impudent young Solar...

The second reason is that your Storyteller often loathes cheapness on your part. Hypocritical, perhaps, seeing as he (or she) just loves it when it's on the part of storyteller characters, but there you go. And the Sidereal martial arts are, honestly, the very peak of cheapness. Often the effects of the more powerful post-form charms rival or exceed that of the greatest of combat sorceries, yet cost less (far less with a Master's Sutra), are not vulnerable to counterspelling, and are instantaneous in their effects. That being said, let's take a look at them anyway.

Charcoal March of Spiders Style

The "classic" Siderial-level style, it progresses nicely from minimum essence four up to seven. On the surface it has themes of adding extra actions, extra movement, crippling essence stings, and instant death-attacks. Most of these can be used effectively without combos, due to the extra actions native to this form, but when used together they become irresistable. Attacking while dematerialized, perfect protection from harmful defense, and stealing an exalts access to her own essence pool is all possible. At its hight, a martial artist using this style and Conclusion Persuing Approach can attack every enemy within line of sight in a single combo fueled by her foes own motes and willpower. Powerful extra action charms, clever defense, and a toolbox of potent reflexive and supplemental attacks make Charcoal March of Spiders the pinnicle of Exalted martial arts.

Prismatic Arrangement of Creation Style

Containing perhaps the largest and most complex tree of any martial arts, this style can be considered a low-level Sidereal style. It consists of several 'form'-type charms with three or four pre-form charms, and a 'master' form charm that allows multiple forms to be active at once. The theme of the first form is physical combat, with unarmed combat offensive enhancements and defensive soak. Another two-charm substyle allows one to do aggravated damage and embeds a powerful Hearthstone in the forehead. Another sub-tree allows mimicry of other type of Exalt's anima effects, possession of people or objects, and a powerful attack avoidance form (Games of Divinity Form). The last allows the nullification or redirection of charms, sorcery, and astrology, as well as a form that gives a Permanent Essence of 10 for duration. The 'master' form gives perfect sensory abilities and allows two additional form-type charms to be used at once... or all the Prismatic Arrangement of Creation style forms.

Citrine Poxes of Contagion Style

nothing yet

See also Martial Arts

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Original author: Ubermonkey on RPG.net