At the beginning of the game, characters will already be Exalted (regardless of how complete your character is), and will have just been summoned (a large glowing and intricately detailed magic circle will have appeared under them and seemed to have swallowed them up) or have died (potentially Exalting at the very cusp of death as they transition into the game).
Note: All characters must start with Essence 2, it cannot be increased at character creation. Charms must be selected from the core book for that Exalt type with the possible exception of Martial Arts charms
Character Creation for Solar/Abyssal/Infernals
Chose Concept, Caste, and at least 4 Intimacies, including one Defining, one Major, one positive, and one negative
Attributes: 8/6/4
Abilities:
Caste Ability options for Solar/Abyssal/Infernal Exalted (Pick 5 of the 8 to be Caste abilities, others are just normal abilities unless you chose to Favor them as well)
• Dawn: Archery, Awareness, Martial Arts, Dodge, Melee, Resistance, Thrown, War
• Zenith: Athletics, Integrity, Performance, Lore, Presence, Resistance, Survival, War
• Twilight: Bureaucracy, Craft, Integrity, Investigation, Linguistics, Lore, Medicine, Occult
• Night: Athletics, Awareness, Dodge, Investigation, Larceny, Ride, Stealth, Socialize
• Eclipse: Bureaucracy, Larceny, Linguistics, Occult, Presence, Ride, Sail, Socialize
Pick 5 of the 8 listed abilities for your caste to be Caste Abilities. Select 5 Abilities to be Favored Abilities. Assign 28 dots of Abilities (Exalts can raise abilities to 5 even without bonus points). At least one dot must be assigned to each Favored Ability (you do not have to put starting dots in Caste Abilities). Assign 4 specialties as well.
Advantages: Assign 7 dots of backgrounds (none higher than 3 without BP), Select 10 Charms, assign 5 dots to Virtues (none higher than 4 without BP)
Finishing Touches: Records Essence of 2, Willpower 5, calculate Personal and Peripheral Essence and health levels.
Spend 18 bonus points at any time during character creation.
Bonus Points: Attribute 4, Ability 2 (1 if a Favored or Caste Ability), Background 1 (2 if being raised above 3), Specialty 1 (2 for 1 if Favored or Caste Ability), Virtue 1, Willpower 1, Charms 4 (3 if in Favored or Caste Abilities)
Character Creation for Lunars
Chose Concept, Caste, and at least 4 Intimacies, including one Defining, one Major, one positive, and one negative
Chose a spirit shape and a Tell
Attributes: 9/7/5; Note Caste Attributes and select two Favored attributes
Abilities: Select 1 Favored Ability and note Survival as a favored ability
Assign 25 dots, including at least 1 to each Favored ability; none higher than 3 without BP
Advantages: Backgrounds 7 (none higher than 3 w/o BP), 8 Charms or Knacks (at least 1 knack and 1 charm, 4 charms must be Favored attribute charms), Virtues 5 (none higher than 3 w/o BP), Virtue Flaw
Finishing Touches: Records Essence of 2, Willpower 5, calculate Personal and Peripheral Essence and health levels.
Spend 18 bonus points at any time during character creation.
Character Creation for Sidereals
Chose Concept, Caste, and at least 4 Intimacies, including one Defining, one Major, one positive, and one negative
Attributes: 8/6/4
Functionary of the Bureau of Destiny
Select 4 favored abilities
Abilities: Distribute 35 dots - 15 to Favored and Auspiceous abilities - 20 unlimited. Nothing above 3 without BP.
Must have the following: Awareness 2, Bureaucracy 2, Linguistics (Old Realm) 1, Lore 3, Martial Arts 2, Occult 2, Socialize 1, Stealth 1, and at least one dot in Archery, Melee, or Thrown.
Journeys: Athletics 2, Linguistics (Old Realm and one other) 2, Resistance 2, Survival 2, and Ride or Sail 3
Serenity: Craft or Performance 2, Linguistics 2, Medicine 2, Presence 2, Socialize 3
Battles: Archery or Melee 3, Athletics 2, Dodge 2, Presence 2, Wars 2
Secrets: Awareness 2, Investigation 3, Larceny 2, Socialize 2, Stealth 2
Endings: Awareness 2, Dodge 2, Integrity 2, Martial Arts 3, Stealth 2
Assign 4 specialties
Advantages: Backgrounds 15, Charms 12 (5 from Caste/Favored, no more than 3 SMA), Colleges 7, Virtues 5 (none higher than 3 without BP)
Finishing Touches: Records Essence of 2, Willpower 5, calculate Personal and Peripheral Essence and health levels.
Spend 18 bonus points at any time during character creation.
Ronin Sidereal
Select 4 favored abilities
Distribute 25 ability dots - 10 favored - 15 unlimited - none higher than 3
Advantages: Assign 7 dots of backgrounds (none higher than 3 without BP), Select 8 Charms (5 favored/caste, no SMA), assign 5 dots to Virtues (none higher than 3 without BP), not dots in Colleges
Finishing Touches: Records Essence of 2, Willpower 5, calculate Personal and Peripheral Essence and health levels.
Spend 18 bonus points at any time during character creation.
Bonus Points: Colleges cost 2 or 1 if the House is that aligned with the character's Caste