A work of genius.
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Exalted is easily one of the finest fantasy settings ever created, both in terms of the breadth and depth of the setting and its remarkable richness at every level. Whatever aspects of fantasy and storytelling you like, you will find them in this setting and the sheer size of the whole construct means that you can very easily avoid anything that you don't like about it.
The game mechanics are also very strong - clearly the culmination of many years of evolution in White Wolf's Storyteller system (even if that evolution seems to have gone down a much inferior path with the second World of Darkness - a real disappointment after the heights scaled by the first). Although the rules can seem overwhelming at first and it can seem like there is a massive number of powers and magic items to remember, the basic mechanics are simple enough that only a little effort is required to get a clear handle on them and simple experience will bring familiarity with all the rest. Whatever effort you expend will be worth it - Exalted rewards those that really persevere with it, but doesn't punish those that don't either.
This really is the best system and setting out there at present - if I could save only one published roleplaying game from the fires of nuclear oblivion, it would be this one.
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Classic / Epic / Manga Fantasy....
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Exalted is an inspired product by White Wolf. In terms of setting I'd have too say that it owes a lot to Hawkmoon and Elric by Michael Moorcock whilst the characters draw not only from that source but things such as Ninja Scroll, Hero, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (supernatural martial arts) but could just as easily fit into a Ong Bak street fighting style and it seems to draw upon Final Fantasy VII, VIII, X & X2 games for weapon designs. The characters are a LOT more powerful than those around them as they are reincarnated heroes (or villians) who have the power to shape the world around them. If you want low-powered this probably isn't the game for you, if you want larger than life heroes that perform incredible feats of heroism before breakfast & then quickly nip too "save the world" you don't need to go further than this game.
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Wushu meets Moorcock
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This is the second edition of Exalted, and forms the beginning of a much more ordered release of books. There will be five 'sets' of supplements, each consisting of five titles, and covering all aspects of the Exalted world.
Exalted is an RPG published by White Wolf, and for those of you (like me) for whom that brings up images of werewolves and vampires dealing with the tragic ennui of existence, worry not; this is a whole different setting.
The game takes place in the vast, flat expanse of Creation, a world in which the gods gifted certain humans with awesome power to become the Exalted. The players take the parts of the most powerful type of such, the Solar Exalted, who have been reincarnated centuries after they were betrated and overthrown.
The game world is a marvellous piece of imagination, taking influences from the most over-the-top aspects of martial arts films as well as themes and magitech from Moorcock's books, particularly the Hawkmoon series.
Players empower their characters by developing traits, skills, fighting techniques and Charms- the distinct powers that are their god-given right. The rules system is the usual WW concept of imagination and free-wheeling play over heavy rules, which has to be said fits this setting far better than their other titles.
The new edition of the book itself is gorgeous; a chunky hardback in full colour, with manga-style illustrations throughout and clearly laid-out text. It has rapidly become the only game my roleplaying group regularly use.
Exalted comes very highly recommended; for being a fantasy setting unlike most of the sub-Tolkein clones, for having awesomely cool concepts (look out for the Abyssal Exalted) and for being a well-thought out edition that is easy to pick up and fun to learn. Link to the rest of my reviews for the supplements that have been released so far.
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