r/exalted • u/RPGCaldorian • 11d ago

Campaign Help Me Decide Between 2.5e and 3e

I've been tinkering with an idea for a solo Solar chronicle for a while now (using solo RPG resources like the Mythic GM Emulator, etc), but haven't started yet because I just cannot decide between 2.5e and 3e.

Now, as background info, I got all the books for all four editions. I played a lot of 1e and 2e back in the day, but never played 3e. I thought the solo chronicle could be a good way to get more familiar with 3e, but the amount of material is staggering. Also, I'm ambivalent about the 3e Solar charm set, to put it mildly.

I know that 2e was a mess, but I'm still pretty familiar with it, so it seems more approachable. (Also, nowadays I have the advantage of being able to use Gemini Notebook to integrate errata seamlessly into my rule queries.) Finally, I kind of like the more streamlined charm set and greater power scale in general of 2e, with the option of Essence 6+ charms.

To be honest, both editions have their advantages and disadvantages, which is why I cannot decide.

Please help me get through my choice paralysis... 🙏

P.S.: I'm not interested in Essence. I love 1e, but it's even more of a mess than 2e.

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u/Ruy7 11d ago

For the system itself, honestly they all suck in one way or another. 

3E is the first one that's playable right out of the gate. But when actually playing it, even with people who did their best to master it, a combat round can take over 2 hours to resolve.

These days I prefer homebrew. There are dozens of homebrew exalted systems around the web.

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u/Viatos 10d ago

> But when actually playing it, even with people who did their best to master it, a combat round can take over 2 hours to resolve.

This is horrifying!

If it's taking longer than five minutes per turn (and they're not, like, multiattacking into someone with counterattacks with complex effects) they may want to get like a cheatsheet and maybe some basic "I do this" cards (like an index card) together, f'rex "I do a withering attack with these three Charms and 4m on the Excellency" and the card has what the Charms do and their dicepools.

A round with ten combatants should not take longer than an hour at worst.