Character creation with 2.5 in mind. I'm looking only for Solars, Abyssals, Infernals:
* Character creation summary: 8/6/4, 28 abilities anywhere, 5 extra favored, 4 free specialties, 7 backgrounds, 10 charms, 2 free excellencies of your choice from the 1st, 2nd or 3rd Excellency of your splat (Infernals will have to fill in the required Excellency purchases for their Essence level with their 10 charm budget or with BP), 5 virtues, 5 willpower, no merits/flaws and 18 BP. BP costs are 4 for attribute, 2 for ability, 1 for favored ability, 4 for charms, 3 for favored charms, 1 for virtues and willpower, 1 for backgrounds.
* The need for/dependence on perfects are supposed to alleviated. Perfects also cost 8m+ now, so an average E2 character will only be likely to be able to perfect 3 or 4 times. While you can still get your perfects, not going so far up the tree will give you the ability to give your character more avenues to go instead of having a combat focus. Combat will be present, and will likely serve as the dramatic high point, but too much focus on your combat abilities (and the fear of being squashed in one hit) will narrow down your character's focus.
* That said, small boosts to your DV, soak and HL will be more helpful at character creation than the super expensive perfects.
Will advise on date for game soon.
How we're going to start
Things are coming to a boil at the city of Fort Bear. The yearly religious procession that occurs at the holy ground tends to attract devotees from all over, and things are heating up. The Gods have indicated signs of displeasure, as freak occurrences have plagued the League the last year. A snowstorm in the season of Fire, seismic rumbles and major unexplainable accidents have made life for the superstitious Haslanti people difficult. This year, the procession will be glorious - a last ditch effort to appease the Gods and elementals. The question on everyone's mind still remains, what has made them so wrathful?
Whether or not you're a citizen of Fort Bear, you have come to this city and it is clear that the extravagant procession in a time when the League is still struggling to get back on its feet is causing problems, but there are other small problems that can be seen. They are either inherent in the city, perennial problems that nobody has solved, or the conflicts that happen when the myriad barbarian tribes come together. Not all is well in the North, and it will take a lot of effort to rectify this.