The file provided is not the final version of Second Coming, as a fairly cursory glance through the document will no doubt reveal. It is meant to function as a "playable preview". Sufficient background information and rules are presented to allow the easy construction of modern Dragon-Blooded and Solars as player characters. A list of changes to be made for the final version, as well as an F.A.Q. (Feebly Answered Questions), follow the download links. Enjoy!
* Supplemental downloads, for things like sample adventures to run with Second Coming groups, example characters for the setting with full statistics, etc. A special optional rule document for "advanced" firearms rules, with more detailed firearms rules and stats for specific types and brands of guns in greater individual detail, may see the light of day eventually.
* Imbedded MIDI music, mouse trailers, dancing hamster .gif files, horribly spawning frames, yellow-on-green color scheme, and all other mandatory Geocities page content. (Kidding!)
* Actual cosmetics, probable relocation to a large site with sane data transfer limits so the annoying third-party download link can be dropped.
* A site forum? Maybe, maybe not. It probably depends on how many people take interest.
Changes for finalized version -
* Due to overwhelming demand, the use of German will be heavily toned down. Specific terms for in-game content will remain, but their useage will be restricted to the in-context speech of the groups and individuals who instituted said terms in the backstory.
* Balance tweaks will be made to firearms and vehicles, no doubt with heavy input from the playerbase.
* All of the "primary" Exalts (Solars, Lunars, Sidereals, Dragon-Blooded and Abyssals) will be made fully playable. Backstory information will be provided for the Fair-Folk and Alchemicals enough to run them as NPCs at least.
* Game rules will probably relocate from the Solars chapter to a new rules chapter, as mixing the two is no longer in line with the pattern of the document.
* So, guess who forgot Blondie was Hitler's dog's name? Mee-eee! I ask for your forgiveness in this embarassing gaffe and promise to find a better name in the final version. The reason for this error is touched on in the F.A.Q.
* Chapters will be prefaced with art pieces by professional artist Pana Stamos, so long as Ms. Stamos' busy career permits.
* A credits section will be included to offer proper honor to my playtesters, those who offered constructive suggestions, and those who aided in the actual construction/formatting of the Second Coming "book" itself. "You know who you are" isn't nearly enough.
* Formatting should be a little prettier. Dressed-up chapter and section headings, unintrusive cosmetic watermarks, and other aesthetic details will be included.
* The document may be converted to two-column format, but early efforts in that vein proved more confusing and ugly than anything else.
* Full technical data and artwork for the artifact firearms designed by consultant Christopher "Stussy" Cunningham will be provided, once the technical data has had a chance to be revised. To paraphrase Mr. Cunningham, as the actual physical properties of these weapons stand, there is no chance "any humanoid creature" could use them, regardless of their prowess.
* Omission to be clarified: Firearms mounted on warstriders use their normal stats. There's little practical advantage to scaling them up. Firearms may be mounted or carried.
* Future chapters will clarify the mysteries and unanswered questions of the backstory.
* More vehicles, if I can ever bear to look at that chapter again.
* Unclarities in vehicle rules rectified; they were worse than I initially realized.
* Solar Charm "Postmodern Alchemy Technique" heavily revised or removed/replaced. I know the Sidereals have some infinite wealth loops, but darn it, I'm not gonna let that kind of thing be my fault.
Feebly Answered Questions (F.A.Q.) (not all of them have actually been frequently asked)
Q: What did you mean by-
A: Nothing. Little to no content in Second Coming is in any way metaphorical or allegorical. At most, the references made are to video games and anime, however obliquely. For example, "Blondie" was a reference to the two-part anime OAV Ai No Kusabi (parental discretion strongly advised), NOT to Hitler's dog. No offense meant to a probably sweet old dog, but references to anything besides games and anime are unintentional unless explicitly stated otherwise.
Q: Why is (x) so much different than its analog in normal Exalted?
A: My goal with Second Coming wasn't just to create Exalted with guns and motorcycles. The world of Second Coming has the room to explore themes and dynamics that the original game did not. This is not a statement of superiority in any way. It is simply my feeling that some of the areas where the game's dynamics vary are "seperate but equal" chances to look at Exalted from a whole new angle, not just in terms of where the game takes place but in terms of how.
Q: Why haven't you responded to my e-mailed suggestion for the firearms rules?
A: I anticipate this is gonna be one of the most hotly argued topics. I'm going to have to repeat myself blue in the face on a lot of points if I try to conduct any meaningful dialogue on it via e-mail. Discussion on this particular topic, unless it turns out to be less controversial than expected, will probably be best handled on the official Exalted forum.
Q: There's another modernization for Exalted out/in progress, and it's better.
A: Cool! Link me to it, I might want to try it out.
Q: I tried out Second Coming, and I want to tell you all about my group and the story!
A: Normally, discussing past roleplaying with outsiders to one's group is a faux pas. Very rarely is it interesting to anyone else. However, Second Coming's sorta my baby, and as a result I'm interested in any and all of its tribulations. So please, if you feel any urge to report back on your gameplay experience, be it to praise, complain, brag, or just tell a story, don't hesitate! If you don't mind your account being published and enough people do so, a section for game stories (or even fiction) may go up on the site. This is your chance to go on an hour-long tangent about your gaming group and receive only rapt attention. Take it, if you feel even the slightest inclination.
Q: I have comments!
A: Just hit the e-mail address at the top of the page. However, I would ask that all comments be constructive. This isn't just a way of saying "criticize nicely". I'd prefer it if all opinions, regardless of their positivity or negativity, be substantiated. As tempting as it is to only demand "constructive" quality from complaints, it's really probably best if even praise is backed up logically rather than given off-the-cuff. It helps me distinguish which comments should be taken to heart and which should be met with a thank-you and little else.