Isekai Exigents

[CaptOtter]

I've been thinking about running an Exalted 3e game where the Circle is made up of individuals isekai'd from a nominally mundane world (i.e., basically our world.) I'd be curious to know, whether anyone has actually moved ahead with executing this concept, and if so, what if any tips would you have for someone looking to wade in. Second, is there any particular reason anyone can think as to why isekai'd character would necessarily have to be Exigents, or why they couldn't be Solars (or Lunars, etc.)?

[AnubisXy]

I ran several games with that premise, or Exalted/World of Darkness crossovers back during 1st edition. Some of the original Exalted source inspiration, such as Vision of Escaflowne or Magic Knights Rayearth had this isekai concept don't and center. One of the biggest things you're likely to encounter is players wanting to recreate modern technology (guns, cars, airplanes) in Exalted, possibly even using things like combustion engines or gunpowder in order to bypass the need for Essence. I think there's room for "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" feel, but you should decide before the game starts how willing you are to let players run with that.

Now modern technology like guns probably won't have much of an impact on Exalted vs Exalted combat (to paraphrase Grabowski, "If you can dodge a war god's spear thrust, you can dodge abullet just fine.") But that could have amajor impact on mass combat and the setting if people are driving around in tanks and humvee's blowing Wyld barbarians up. You might want to take a look at the Shards of the Exalted Dream for 2nd edition, which had a "modern Exalted" setting for some ideas.

[Dataweaver]

It's not that they can't be Solars, Lunars, Sidereals, or other types of Exalts; as I said in my last post, they effectively can — though technically, an “Isekai Solar” won't technically be a Solar, as his Exaltation comes either from his old world or from the Psychopomp, not from Creation's Unconquered Sun; and if the “Isekai Solar” was summoned, not reincarnated, he'll exist outside the Loom of Fate. Sand even if he's reincarnated into Creation, his Exaltation still comes from outside Creation; which means that it stands a good chance of not providing precisely the same benefits that a “native Solar” would have. For example:

Another thing to consider is the possibility that an Isekai Exigent from the modern world can bring in innovations that people native to Creation have never dreamed of. The Appendix in Shards of the Exalted Dream gives a good starting point in this respect, with a focus on Driving, Firearms, and Lore (a.k.a., computers); but other Abilities might be given overhauls or twists to represent what someone with modern sensibilities might be able to do with them, such as Bureaucracy, Investigation, or Medicine. The Isekai Exigent might even be able to bring some modern technology into Creation; or the might bring in some modern concepts that tweak what his Charms can do.

In the source material, I've seen an Isekai Assassin employ sniper rifles and orbital bombardment, and an Isekai Soldier arm up with pistols, grenades, a HMMWV, and even a submarine when the situation warranted. I've seen an Isekai Scholar revolutionize Lore (through her knowledge of books, rather than computers; which shows how you don't have to go all in into modern technology to radically transform a fantasy-esque setting) and an Isekai Noble use his modern understanding of Bureaucracy to rebuild a kingdom on the verge of ruin. Just about the only kind of Isekai'd character which I haven't seen bringing modern sensibilities into a fantasy world has been the Priest.

Personally, I would lean into the notion of an Isekai Exigent bringing modern notions into Creation; it's one of the main reasons to bring someone in from the modern world.

[Citadel97501]

Do we actually have an Exigent book yet as I would totally steal this idea

[pcontop]

I have this crazy idea that the bureaucracy outside bureaucracy of Creation would be made of anthropomorphic Shinmas. The Shinmas, while not existing all that much inside creation, exist pretty concretely outside it, and they are actually pretty nice guys to meet. They do answer the many questions that the soon-to-be Exalted do, and do their basic orientation on Creation. Unfortunately, Issekai Exalted can only meet them on their way in, as the Shinma exist just conceptually inside. Many are the Issekai that regret not making the right questions before entering...

[webkilla]

I have this crazy idea that the bureaucracy outside bureaucracy of Creation would be made of anthropomorphic Shinmas. The Shinmas, while not existing all that much inside creation, exist pretty concretely outside it, and they are actually pretty nice guys to meet. They do answer the many questions that the soon-to-be Exalted do, and do their basic orientation on Creation. Unfortunately, Issekai Exalted can only meet them on their way in, as the Shinma exist just conceptually inside. Many are the Issekai that regret not making the right questions before entering...

This will only work if the shinma your isekai solar meets is a pretty young lady who gets easily flustered, who for some strange reason has to accompany the solar into creation

[Yukiartic]

Testing Again