Editing SoF Exalted/Backgrounds

This page is intended to serve as a translation guide for Exalted Backgrounds. This will not contain new mechanics or the like, but rather direct people to the parts of Strands that perform the same function as those Backgrounds did in the Storyteller mechanics.

The primary means by which Backgrounds are represented in Strands is through Aspects. For extremely important and significant Backgrounds, these might be reflected in the Character Aspects (particularly the Background Aspect if you're using the Aspect Alphabet). Lesser, but still signifant Backgrounds might be represented with Speciality Aspects, particularly the Foes, Gear and Help Aspects. An advantage of using Aspects for many of these is that they can be Invoked to make appropriate declarations, and be Compelled when they are potentially troublesome.

However, there are also Advantages which enhance the feeling of certain Backgrounds or address their main precepts directly. Those are outlined below.


=Mundane Backgrounds=


==Allies==

The primary means of representing Allies is through the Help Speciality Aspect.


==Backing==


==Class==

CLASS
This Background denotes a character’s place within the
rigid society of Autochthonia. It subsumes the functions of
Influence, because jurisdictional authority is incorporated
directly into an Autochthonian’s social class. It subsumes
Resources, because although Autochthonia does see some
bartering and trade, particularly between nations, it has no
fixed monetary unit, and individual hoarding is strongly discouraged. It subsumes Followers, because cults of personality
are outlawed as disruptive. A social class’s administrative
burdens dictate how many assistants and followers one of its
members may requisition or appoint to assist in his labors.
While an observer from Creation might believe Alchemicals stand outside of this rigid system, the truth is that
they are enshrined in a special position as state-sponsored
heroes. Unlike Creation’s Exalted, these industrial czars,
technological innovators and mechanized warriors do not
rule. Instead, they perform epic feats on behalf of their nation. Greater degrees of autonomy, luxury and authority to
requisition goods and personnel are granted as they labor for
the good of their mortal brethren. As such, all Alchemicals
(save for those of the Adamant Caste) begin play with Class
••• for free and may raise it with bonus points to reflect a
particularly illustrious service record before play begins.
Autochthonian mortals exiled or born into outcast colonies do not use this Background and must scrape together a
subsistence using Followers, Influence and Resources

ence using Followers, Influence and Resources.

X This is the rating of the Lumpen underclass and, in
games where the Seal of Eight Divinities has been
breached, of slaves from Creation. Class 0 provides a
tolerable standard of living equivalent to Resources
•, but imposes a -1 external penalty on all social
interaction with individuals of higher Class.

• As a general laborer or aide of the Populat, your
character enjoys a sparse but comfortable standard
of living equal to Resources ••. She lives in a dormitory with several dozen individuals, the entirety
of which is communal property. In a game incorporating Creation-dwelling loyalists, members of this
Outsider caste also share this Class rating, though
they are barred from entering Autochthonia.

•• Your character is a shift chief of the Populat,
overseeing anywhere from 20 to 300 workers. She
lives in a Resources ••• apartment with about a
dozen peers.

••• Your character is either a foreman of the Populat,
responsible for overseeing an entire factory, a junior
member of the Tripartite (and thus also require
Backing at 1–2 dots) or a young or notably disruptive
Alchemical. She enjoys a standard of living equal
to Resources •••, with a small staff of personal
aides (ostensibly for professional use only). Your
character’s rank allows her to requisition goods and 
services valued at Resources ••••, but she might
need to justify such requisitions to her superiors.
Foremen live in suites housing six peers, while
the most junior members of the Tripartite pair up
in sparse but spacious apartments. Slightly more
experienced Tripartite members and all Alchemical
Exalts have small private domiciles befitting their
importance. Your character receives a situational
bonus die to all social rolls when interacting with
characters of lower Class.

•••• Your character is a regional supervisor of the
Populat, directing an entire industry within
her city. Alternatively, she is a veteran member
of the Tripartite (with Backing at 2–3 dots) or
a seasoned or unusually active Alchemical. Your
character has a standard of living equivalent to
Resources ••• or •••• according to her sensibilities and may freely requisition goods and services
as valuable as Resources ••••• if she is willing to
justify such extravagances to her local Tripartite
Assembly. Your character’s private residence/office complex is spacious and comfortable, roughly
the size of a townhouse in Creation, and she has
an extensive staff of aides and assistants. Your
character receives a situational bonus die to
social rolls when interacting with characters
of lower Class.

••••• Your character is a director of the Populat
or a senior leader in the Tripartite (with
Backing at four to five dots). Alternatively,
your character is an elder or phenomenally
accomplished younger Alchemical. She lives,
as befits her authority, in a palatial residence,
most likely living at Resources •••• or
••••• depending on her ego. Only the most
egregious abuses of requisition power and/or her
staff will be censured. Your character receives a
two-die situational bonus when interacting with
characters of lower Class.

==Command==



'''Abyssal Command'''


==Connections==


==Contacts==

The primary means of representing Contacts/Spies is through the Help Speciality Aspect. You may also use the Organisation rules if a character has a more formal setup to run their networks of eyes and ears. In this instance the Expert Advantage Headquarters may be relevant.


==Face==


==Family==

The primary means of representing Family is through the Help Speciality Aspect.


==Follower/Henchmen==

The primary means of representing these is through the Help Speciality Aspect.


==Influence==


==Mentor==

The primary means of representing a Mentor is through the Help Speciality Aspect.


==Patron==

The primary means of representing a Patron is through the Help Speciality Aspect.


==Reputation==

Depending on whether the character is famous or infamous, either the Foe or Help Speciality Aspects could work to model Reputation. Of the Expert Advantages, Well-Known is directly appropriate.


==Resources==

The primary means of representing Resources in SoF is, unsurprisingly, the Resources Ability (though this is used for more than just a measure of wealth in the game). This is further nuanced by Speciality Aspects focusing on Resources. In addition, you might consider the following Expert Advantages: Good Investment, Grease the Wheels and Money Talks. Finally, the Heroic Advantages Money is No Object and Persistent Speciality Aspect (for a Resource-based Exceptional Skill, for example) also support the notion of having a lot of money.


==Retainers==


==Spies==


=Supernatural Backgrounds=


==Arsenal==


==Artifact==


==Breeding==

Breeding for Dragonblooded or Inheritance for God-Blooded, mechanically this is represented by [[SoF_Exalted/New_Advantages#Wellspring |Wellspring]]. If especially significant, it might also be an Essence-based Speciality Aspect or even a Character Aspect.


==Cult==


==Destiny==


==Familiar==


==Heart's Blood==


==Manse==


'''Celestial, Infernal, and Underworld Manse'''


==Past Life==


==Savant==


==Solar Bond==


==Unwoven Coadjudicator==


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