Character Creation for Sidereal Exalted

   Creating a Sidereal Exalted according to the following rules is not a time consuming activity. I have read the relevant material and have come across the basics. However, some of these assumptions are based off my ideas and are in no way connected to White Wolf. So, keep in mind that all this will be gone when WW comes out with the Sidereal Exalted core rulebook in 2003. That aside, let's get one with it.

   This is much like creating a Solar Exalted. You must think up a concept for the character, choose the apropriate Favor (read: Caste) and Nature. The Favors you may choose from are:

• Favored of Mars, Maiden of Battles
• Favored of Venus, Maiden of Serenity
• Favored of Jupiter, Maiden of Secrets
• Favored of Saturn, Maiden of Endings
• Favored of Mercury, Maiden of Journeys
• For a full description of these Castes, see p. 310-312 in the Exalted core rulebook.

   This is the same as creating a Dragon-Blooded. You get seven points for your primary attributes, six for your secondary, and 4 for your tertiary. See, not hard so far.

   Choosing Abilities is also much like Solar Exalted. Every Sidereal has a natural affinity with the Abilities that are exemplified by their Favor. Sidereal Exalted do get to choose four Favored Abilities. If your Sidereal is a member of the Bronze Faction, you get 35 points to divide among all Abilities, but at least 10 must be spent in Favored or Caste Abilities. This represents the extensive training many new Bronzes recieve upon their Exaltation. Gold Faction Sidereals begin the game with 25 Ability points, with at least 10 spent in their Favored or Caste Abilities.

   No ability can be raised above three without the use of bonus points at character creation. Sidereal Exalted can gain specialties the same as Solar Exalted, although they can never have more than three bonus points in an Ability. (I.E. you can only get a +3 in one specialty, +2 or +1 specialties, or three +1 specialties in any one Ability). You may buy Specialties with your Ability dots at a one for one ratio.

• Favored of Mars, Maiden of Battles: Dodge, Endurance, Melee, Presence, and Ride
• Favored of Venus, Maiden of Serenity: Athletics, Crafts, Performance, Socialize, and Thrown
• Favored of Jupiter, Maiden of Secrets: Investigation, Larceny, Lore, Martial Arts, and Stealth
• Favored of Saturn, Maiden of Endings: Brawl, Bureaucracy, Medicine, Occult, and Resistance
• Favored of Mercury, Maiden of Journeys: Archery, Awareness, Linguistics, Sail, and Survival

   Your Sidereal gains twelve background points at character creation. This represents the sheer knowledge and extensive training these Exalts have. After all, almost all the Sidereal's have grown up in one faction or the other. Each faction has extensive resources to aid their own goals. You cannot have more than 3 in any Background at character creation, without spending bonus points.

• Allies
• Artifacts - This background is different than that of the Solar Exalted book. A Sidereal Exalted gets twice the number of dots then the actual score to determine Artifacts he or she has available to him. This does not mean that the artifacts belong to the Sideral.
• Connections - Like the Dragon-Blooded, Sidereals must choose an aspect of where their Connections lies. You can take this Background multiple times.
• Henchmen - This Background refers to the number of people under the Sidereal's influence. Remember, the Sidereals were viziers and wise men, not rulers. They did not command, they whispered in the ears of those who did. This can bring its own power, which is why this background is available.
• Manse - Like the Dragon-Blooded, Sidereals have access to twice the rating of this Background to represent their vast power. This does not mean that they own or can always use the Manse or hearthstone, just that they have access.
• Reputation - As in the Dragon-Blooded book.
• Resources

   Well, lets face it. There is no way for me to come up with accurate charms since there is so little to go on. The best I can say is that you would need to look at the trends in the books. Or, you can look at the example I made in the character section, "Old Man". A Sidereal Exalt begins the game with 12 charms which represents their extensive training.

   Virtues for a Sidereal Exalted are the same as the Solar and Terrestrial Exalted. Five points to divide among the four Virtues. None can be higher than three during character creation, without the use of bonus points.

   Once again, similar to Solar and Terrestrial. Add your two highest Virtues and that is your Willpower score. This cannot be raised past 8 during character creation without the use of bonus points.

   Every Exalt begins the game with an Essence of 2. A Sidereal's Personal Essence Pool is equal to her (Essence x 2) + Willpower. A Sidereal's Peripheal Essence Pool is equal to her (Essence x 6) + Willpower + (sum of her Virtues).

   A Sidereal Exalt begins the game with 15 bonus points. Use the bonus point chart in the Exalted core book p. 101 for the costs of improving statistics.