Michael reviewed Exalted 3rd Edition by Eric Brennan
Review of 'Exalted 3rd Edition' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
After digging into the 3rd Edition book, I think I'm a fan.
Combat resolution is interesting and more straightforward (mostly). Requires two dice rolls to resolve most actions, but the Initiative Dueling system feels like it will be good at the table.
They take enough queues from Chronicles of Darkness to make advancement much less agonizing. The fact that every 50 XP characters just get more Essence is a huge improvement, and points costs look like they will grant satisfying advancement. They make specific call outs to how merits should be handled in play, and which ones are the purview of the GM to administer and which ones characters are responsible for acquiring.
Their social system is way easier to understand than the social combat from the previous edition, also likely taking some inspiration from Chronicles of Darkness' Social Maneuvering System. Reducing intimacies to simple ratings makes that system feel …
After digging into the 3rd Edition book, I think I'm a fan.
Combat resolution is interesting and more straightforward (mostly). Requires two dice rolls to resolve most actions, but the Initiative Dueling system feels like it will be good at the table.
They take enough queues from Chronicles of Darkness to make advancement much less agonizing. The fact that every 50 XP characters just get more Essence is a huge improvement, and points costs look like they will grant satisfying advancement. They make specific call outs to how merits should be handled in play, and which ones are the purview of the GM to administer and which ones characters are responsible for acquiring.
Their social system is way easier to understand than the social combat from the previous edition, also likely taking some inspiration from Chronicles of Darkness' Social Maneuvering System. Reducing intimacies to simple ratings makes that system feel a lot more manageable.
In general, I like the updates and expansion they have made to the setting; in particular, I like the Exigents and Liminal Exalted types.
I really like how they have updated Sorcery. That was always one of the cool promises of the Exalted setting that never lived up in practice.
The stunt system feels easier to grasp and the mechanical rewards feel more substantial.
Now, to wait for more material for the updated system...