Exalted TV Show in Development

[Savage Schemer]

It looks like there's an Exalted TV series in production. Read the news about it here: https://www.dicebreaker.com/games/exalted/news/exalted-rpg-tv-adaptation-announcement

 

[Isator Levi]

I think I'd be most interested to see a representation of Nexus.

 

[UnplayedRanger]

Suddenly the decision to have a more user friendly Exalted with Exalted Essence makes a lot more sense.

 

[Isator Levi]

Suddenly the decision to have a more user friendly Exalted with Exalted Essence makes a lot more sense.

Of course! It wasn't a response to the years of roleplayers being highly vocal about that being a thing they wanted, it was all part of the long term multimedia plan to have a product ready for the casual players won over by a TV show.

Wheels within wheels...

 

[Rich H]

If anyone thinks that Exalted Essense is accessible enough for non-RPers, or even many RPers that aren't into crunch and dozens and dozens of pages of exception-based mechanics, then... I want some of whatever they're smoking!

I actually think they'd be better off producing completely systemless almanacs or gazzettes of the world and history, etc to appeal to a potential TV audience. I realise they nearly do these already but I reckon those would appeal more and also quite a few gamers who hate the system would buy them in my opinion.

 

[Matthias]

I’m surprised they went for live-action - Exalted to my mind really needs to be Weird! and Epic! which requires either being animated or more money than I can imagine being pumped into this.

(I mean, actually I would be even more on board with a sitcom set in a tea house in Nexus than what they probably have in mind, but.)

 

[Savage Schemer]

I’m surprised they went for live-action - Exalted to my mind really needs to be Weird! and Epic! which requires either being animated

...I could actually go for a really well done Exalted animated series. Who knows? If the tv show does well, maybe well get an over-the-top animated spin-off.

 

[Isator Levi]

Right now I'm actually thinking of ways that you could convey Exalted, particularly Solar, power in a manner that uses constraints to its advantage. Things like presenting swordplay that is unnervingly fast and precise and still pulls out the bolts of golden fire but saves them for special occasions.

Exalted is conveyed by the look, but it's also in the scenario of being the returning members of that great union of heroes who were on top until they became really messed up, and needing to deal with how things have gone with the other heroes in the meantime.

That and a world where the regular people are a bit more savvy to handling the supernatural that lives all around them.

 

[Rogerdee]

Things like Zu Warriors, or Monkey King would be some of the best examples of a Solar. Now I guess Crouching Tiger would be akin to Dragon blooded.

So to get the action right, this is going to be a tall order

 

[Fenris-77]

My first though was "Oh dear...", I'm hoping I'm wrong.

 

[Isator Levi]

Things like Zu Warriors, or Monkey King would be some of the best examples of a Solar.

I don't know, apart from the stuff that non-Dawn Castes do, I feel as though this skews too far away from things like Hungry Tiger Technique and One Weapon, Two Blows and even Peony Blossom Attack in favour of...

What exactly in the published Solar Charm sets before Second Edition Essence 6 does Monkey King level stuff?

 

[Rogerdee]

I don't know, apart from the stuff that non-Dawn Castes do, I feel as though this skews too far away from things like Hungry Tiger Technique and One Weapon, Two Blows and even Peony Blossom Attack in favour of...

What exactly in the published Solar Charm sets before Second Edition Essence 6 does Monkey King level stuff?

Seriously you should watch it, it is great.
Watched it a few days ago, but it is so over the top that I think it fits in my opinion.

 

[AsenRG]

T'is simple to convey Solar power level if you have 7 Shadows Evasion and stunt it appropriately.
But I'd make the main a Brawl specialist and hire an MMA star.

 

[Isator Levi]

T'is simple to convey Solar power level if you have 7 Shadows Evasion and stunt it appropriately.

That does raise the question about what form of Exalted depiction might play better on screen, because there's a difference between Second Edition's "Seven Shadows Evasion costs about as many motes as you get back from the stunting so can be used constantly" against Third Edition's "unbeatable evasion, but gets used up and needs a reset by certain actions".

Obviously neither is going to translate exactly, but there's a different underlying tone to each that could.

I feel as though being able to dodge something that logically should be impossible to dodge is definitely something you want in an adaptation of Exalted, but it needs to have a way for that to work that doesn't create an impression of action with no stakes.