MCU x Exalted RPG crunch - Steve Rogers

[tanithryudo]

Because this has been eating up my brain for over a month now and I have 80 pages (WTF brain?) of stuff written down on Google docs...


Short explanation:

* Essence is "level" for Exalts. E2 is lowest starting character, though you can start at E3 if you spend bonus points there instead of on other things. E5 is max you can go at under a century of age.

* Willpower is your mental resilience bar. I think it's average 4 for "mortals" and max 5. For Exalts, it starts at 5 and goes up to 10 max.

* Virtues go from 1-5. Human average is 2. 3 is mortal hero level. 4 is larger than life hero. 5 is probably neurosis level by modern standards (think Achilles=Valor 5; sulking away a war cuz Agamemnon insulted him.)

* Attributes go from 1-5. Human average is 2. 3 is exceptional. 4 is Olympic/Vogue level. 5 is Guinness Book of Records.

* Abilities go from 1-5. 1 is having some training at the skill. 2 is you can do it as a job. 3 is experienced/veteran at the skill. 4 gets you invited to hearings as expert witness on the skill. 5 is you define the skill in the dictionary. Specialties add a point to the related ability for that specialty.

This would be Steve's stats, pre-Serum:

Essence 1 (Heroic Mortal)
Willpower 5
Virtues: Valor 3, Conviction 2, Compassion 3, Temperance 1
Attributes: Strength 1, Dexterity 2, Stamina 1 / Charisma 3, Manipulation 1, Appearance 1 / Perception 2, Intelligence 2, Wits 2
Abilities: Bureaucracy 1, Linguistics 1, Socialize 1, Lore 1, Craft (Air) 1, Integrity 3, Survival 1
Specialties: Craft (Drawing), Survival (Urban)

Willpower 5 is the max a "mortal" can go, I think. Valor+Conviction+low Temperance is why he gets into fights all the time. Conviction 3 is the way he keeps trying to get into the military despite getting rejected time after time. EDIT 2/6/15: On further thought, high conviction is more like the public's perception of Captain America - the resolute patriot and all. Steve's actual motivations - that he didn't like bullies and he wanted to protect the homefront instead of being protected - are more inclined towards compassion. It's a bit of a paradox that he pretty much becomes a soldier required to kill due to compassion. It also occurs to me that SHIELD is high conviction (ruthlessness) and that the whole difference between Steve and them in CATWS is that he draws a line in sand - and that line aligns better coming from compassion than conviction. Though, this is all MCU!Steve of course. If we're talking 616!Steve, he seems to be high conviction as of the Civil War era; it's not for the better of the character, IMO.

Most physical attributes are 1 (below average), and mental/social attributes are mostly 2 (human average). Charisma is the only standout worth raising above average, IMO.
In a modern setting, everyone who passes high school should have a default Linguistics/Socialize/Lore 1. Anyone who's lived on their own (done taxes) has Bureaucracy 1. Craft 1 + Specialty for his art school background. Integrity 3 cuz he's extra stubborn. Survival + Specialty for having survived the Depression despite his health.


Steve's starting character sheet post-SSS & Exaltation:

(Assuming he Exalts during his rescue of Bucky & the 107th...)

Essence 2 (Starting Solar)
Caste: Zenith (More of an inspirational icon than conquering general)
Willpower: 10 (Maxed, duh)
Virtues: Valor 4, Conviction 2, Compassion 3, Temperance 2
Attributes:
--Primary: 5 Strength, 4 Dexterity, 4 Stamina
--Secondary: 5 Charisma, 1 Manipulation, 3 Appearance
--Tertiary: 2 Perception, 2 Intelligence, 3 Wits
Abilities:
--Caste: Integrity 4, Performance 2, Presence 1, Resistance 3, Survival 5
--Favored: Martial Arts 1, Melee 2, Thrown 2, War 3, Athletics 3
--Default: Bureaucracy 1, Linguistics 1, Socialize 1, Lore 1, Craft (Air) 1
--Other: Awareness 2, Investigation 1, Firearms 1
Specialties: Craft (Drawing), Survival (Urban), Performance (Media), War (Spec Ops)
Backgrounds: Backing (Army/SSR 3), Influence (Hero 2)

Physical attributes plus Athletics, Resistance, & Awareness were boosted by the serum. Most of fanon (and some canon) agree that SSS boosts senses, which fits Awareness better than Perception. Steve also must have some natural skill at investigation given how he found everyone he needs to, and how he spotted that important Hydra map with just a glance.

There’s 1 point of Archery/Firearms from boot camp (probably handled a gun there). There are 2 point of Performance from his USO experience as a professional dancing monkey. Presence on the other hand is still low as Steve is still kinda bumbly about interacting with people (especially women).

At least 1 point in MA/Melee/Thrown due to requirements for favored abilities. He’s currently used his shield in a melee sort of way, despite it not being a melee weapon (this should become an trademark exception for him once he gets his vibranium shield of course). He also must have some haxx natural skill at Thrown considering the stuff he is able to do throwing the shield eventually. Thus an extra starting point to Melee/Thrown.

The high points in Integrity, War, Survival for starting Charm requirements, which we won't cover here. Also, he's going to need a lot of War + Survival to get the rescued soldiers all the way back to camp (something that wasn't covered in the movie). Cuz leading groups stealthily through wilderness/enemy territory appears to fall under Survival for non-combat and War for combat; whereas the Stealth ability is only for personal sneakiness, which Steve sucks at per CA:TWS.

Comments

[cashew]

Okay, what is this new Exalted and how does this game work and why Cap?

(Clearly, I've been a little disoriented recently.)