Flowing Body Ascension and the Recent Errata

I found myself really puzzled by the latest errata: http://wiki.white-wolf.com/exalted/index.php?title=Latest_Errata

Don't get me wrong, I like all of those changes (other than the change to the Conviction Flaw of Invulnerability), I was just surprised to see that, of all the horribly, horribly broken charms in DotFA, the one that was singled out for errata was... Flowing Body Ascension? You've got to be kidding me. Surely, like, a dozen other charms would have been above it on any sensible list, topped by the "Z" charm which shall not be named.

Well, most people largely consider the Solar charms in that book to not exist and thus they should NEVER be taken into consideration for future balance issues.  However, the Lunar(although I have major quibbles of my own with certain charms) and Dragon-Blooded sections were largely good.  Flowing Body Ascension marked a new paradigm in terms of mechanics for what would come later and Holden changed it to reflect his view of how it should be for people that are less than Solar level. 

I have to agree with him on it.  No idea why 3 motes had to be added, but the willpower cost was definitely needed for the spamming to not be as constant as it would be before.  Guess they need it to be an additional 3 motes so Solars and their ilk can be extra special with less prices.

Shadowfang:

I found myself really puzzled by the latest errata: http://wiki.white-wolf.com/exalted/index.php?title=Latest_Errata

Don't get me wrong, I like all of those changes (other than the change to the Conviction Flaw of Invulnerability), I was just surprised to see that, of all the horribly, horribly broken charms in DotFA, the one that was singled out for errata was... Flowing Body Ascension? You've got to be kidding me. Surely, like, a dozen other charms would have been above it on any sensible list, topped by the "Z" charm which shall not be named.

Because venturing into the Solar side of the errata would have eaten up at least 3,000 words.

What's the issue with the Conviction Flaw actually becoming something that might, you know, ever happen?

Your question has been fully adressed, so I'm going to comment on this :

Shadowfang:

I like all of those changes (other than the change to the Conviction Flaw of Invulnerability)

That was an extremely needed fix. As of this errata the flaw worked like a non-flaw. The only way to use it was for the GM to invent a convoluted plot just for that (that might be nonsensical or impossible for some Motivation), and it worked like "no flaw/no defense" from the start of the fight, making work to make the flaw apply an exercise in PC slaying.

Holden:

Because venturing into the Solar side of the errata would have eaten up at least 3,000 words.

Haha. Sad but true. Though, why not just release official errata for that book? Then the word count wouldn't matter.

Holden:

What's the issue with the Conviction Flaw actually becoming something that might, you know, ever happen?

I agree the Conviction flaw needed to be fixed, I just don't really like the new version. I'm not really a fan of the flaws of invulernability to begin with, so I guess my opinion doesn't really matter. The extra cost for acting against intamicies just didn't sit right with me. I think there's already far too much mechanics for intimacies, so I don't like seeing even more mechanics that involve them.

Shadowfang:

Holden:

Because venturing into the Solar side of the errata would have eaten up at least 3,000 words.

Haha. Sad but true. Though, why not just release official errata for that book? Then the word count wouldn't matter.

That sounds like a great idea.

Holden:

That sounds like a great idea.

If such theoretical errata were to come about, any idea on what kind of rough timescales it would be under?

molez:

Holden:

That sounds like a great idea.

If such theoretical errata were to come about, any idea on what kind of rough timescales it would be under?

One that would be completely out of my control and thus irresponsible to speculate about.

*Ponders if Hamster and Friends haven't effectively already done just that*

Holden:

One that would be completely out of my control and thus irresponsible to speculate about.

Fair enough! I shall just take quiet satisfaction in my interpretation of your original response then. :)

That there are more items in more need of an errata doesn't mean what was done wasn't a necessary errata piece also. The correct response ought to be "great job, everyone involved, now where's the rest of the stuff?" Not "I don't care about X, give me Y because I say so!"

Making sure that fans are happy and that all noted problems are addressed properly is what Errata Team Prime is all about.

Morangias:

That there are more items in more need of an errata doesn't mean what was done wasn't a necessary errata piece also. The correct response ought to be "great job, everyone involved, now where's the rest of the stuff?" Not "I don't care about X, give me Y because I say so!"

There are things beyond the control of the freelancers addressing errata that prevent it from going directly up on the wiki the moment it's written.  You really should be thanking freelancers like Holden, Neall and Nephilpal for pushing these errata items as much as they have already, otherwise, they might still be in the delayed holding pattern that some of the other errata seems to be in.

Bodhisattva:

Making sure that fans are happy and that all noted problems are addressed properly is what Errata Team Prime is all about.

It would be great if we could get more information on what is in the pipeline. All I think we have seen of late is the stuff from Glories (which, don't get me wrong, was VERY welcome), I just think that at the moment errata looks a bit dead on its feet. I'm sure that isn't the case from what has been said, but such a small percentage of Exalted players trawl through threads like this one to get information. Even if it was just a - "What the Errata Team Prime is currently focusing on" or something similar?

*Hands out cookies for Errata Team Prime and all others associated not only with fixing problem material, but also those who create both new problem material and new non-problem material.*