Reiryoku Levels

[Mudo-Toshin Ruide]

Reiryoku Level: A character’s reiryoku level is a figure to represent, you guessed it, the strength of their reiryoku [Spiritual Power], which filters down into their physical strength, speed, endurance, etc. via their Character Dynamic. More information on the Reiryoku level system can be found here.

If you just came from the character template page, welcome!~ I am Ruide, creator of the Reiryoku Level power system, and this is the "here" that the template page was talking about, where any relevant information regarding the system and its applications can be found. I'll start with the basics, FAQs.

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What is Reiryoku?

Reiryoku (霊力, Spiritual Power) is a power aligned with the spiritual sensitivity and willpower of the user. It is used by Shinigami to provide power for their various feats and to effectively channel the powers of their Zanpakutō. It can also be used to cast Kidō, magic spells created by the Shinigami. Reiryoku can even be coalesced into a physical form and thrown or shot as a projectile. As a display of potency, spiritual beings have the ability to incapacitate the opponent's movement and simultaneously frighten them, by means of dispersing Reiryoku into the air. The aforementioned ability is known as Reiatsu (霊圧, Spiritual Pressure), possessing power that could be literally felt within the atmosphere.

:: This is the definition as listed on the Bleach Wiki, cited 12.25.2010

Basically, Reiryoku is the force by which bleach characters measure their strength, whether in the real, physical sense, or in some other personalized way. While a character's lifestyle, personality, and special abilities determine their specific qualities, it is the level of their reiryoku that encompasses their overall progress, which makes it important to any character who wishes to partake in competitive combat.

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How does this effect my character?


Ultimately, your character's Reiryoku Level determines how much power he or she has access to. A character with a higher Reiryoku Level, on average, will be stronger, faster, and more durable than other characters; their offensive and defensive abilities will be more effective, and their abilities to sense and manipulate spiritual energy will be more defined. This is true for average characters, but as you know, every character has their own fields of expertise, as explained in the Character Dynamic section of the template; a character who invests a lot of his development into physical strength and power is still likely to be stronger than a smaller, more nimble character, even if he is at a lower level.

:: A Note: One Reiryoku Level, in any given situation, is generally not enough to incur an overwhelming advantage over an enemy, especially not in the beginning of a match [as both parties begin to tire, the differences in their physical abilities become more apparent]. Other factors, such as the versatility of a character's abilities and their own tactical skill, are also important factors, but are not generally reflected by their Reiryoku level; remember this when partaking in combat.

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How do I know where to start?


Don't worry about filling in the Reiryoku Level section yourself. It is our duty as staff members to make that judgment when we approve your applications. Basically, our judgment is based off of the quality of your application, the depth and effort invested in your character, and so forth, and also on your character's personal strengths; characters with a large array of skills at their disposal, be they Kido, Zanpakuto abilities, or the like, will undoubtedly begin at a lesser Reiryoku Level to reflect the spread of their training, whereas characters with minimal extra abilities [or none at all], may subsequently be awarded higher Reiryoku levels to represent their reliance on brute force and physical ability.

Unless submitting an application for a rank of Captaincy or its equivalents, the maximum Reiryoku level for any newly accepted character will be ten, and only for the physically specialized types mentioned above ("Normal" well-rounded characters should expect no higher than Reiryoku Level eight, and Kido/Ability specialists will be even further limited).

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The above information should be enough to get you through the character creation process, so stop here unless you are looking for specific details. Advanced descriptions will be provided in a separate post, but it is not necessary that you read them to finish your application.

[Mudo-Toshin Ruide]

Mechanical and Advanced Info

The Reiryoku Levels


This is not particularly pertinent information for an application, but for those who plan on developing their characters after they are approved, applying for a captain's position, etc., this is where you'll find the specific details about each level. Reiryoku Levels in their entirety range from zero to twenty-five, and can be approximated in a general manner with the following landmarks.

• Level 0 - Characters at this level do possess reiryoku, but not enough to be a real presence in the spiritual world; humans at this level cannot interact with spiritual entities, and vice versa, and are understood to possess only the most basic of human strengths.
  
  
• Level 1 - As soon as a human develops the ability to perceive spiritual entities, they have achieved Reiryoku Level 1; souls residing in Rukongai that reach this level grow hungry, and are often targeted by Shinigami Academy for recruitment.
  
  
• Levels 2-3 - Any character with the capacity for a spiritual power has a Reiryoku level of at least 2, and levels 2 and 3 form a good figure for the majority of graduates from shinigami academy. Characters with a "Beginner" mentality will often be placed in this range.
  
  
• Levels 5-9 - This area is where most canon seated shinigami are found. The strongest and most talented of starting characters will begin here in this range, and it is suggested that most characters do not rush to achieve ranks 10 and up without first developing a solid style and ability theme.
  
  
• Levels 10-14 - Canonly, this represents where Shinigami Lieutenants and their racial equivalents generally belong. Please note that, here on SoulxSociety, your character's rank in a division or organization has no relevance to their Reiryoku level, as these are social titles only intended to be given to those of sufficient ability.
  
  
• Levels 15-20 - Similarly, Canon captains, Espada, and equivalently powerful characters fall into this range of Reiryoku levels, representing the peak of character development. Depending on your character's distribution of power, skill, and abilities, they will reach their maximum potential somewhere on this level, and no longer be allowed to increase their strength/learn new abilities.
  
  
• Levels 21-25 - Affectionately referred to as the Forbidden Levels, Reiryoku levels 21-25 are reserved for the most viciously powerful and destructive characters, including Zaraki Kenpachi, Sosuke Aizen, and Shigekuni Yamamoto. Only plot characters will ever be allowed to obtain this level of strength, and they should not be taken lightly by any character.

As one would expect, the difference in power between each level you achieve and the one above it will increase gradually as you grow stronger (the difference between level 1 and level 2 isn't quiet as large as the the difference between 2 and 3, etc.); however, the relevance of that distance also decreases in more powerful characters, as weaker characters are more likely to have means of competing with their stronger opponents the higher up you get. Expect to start feeling the gap right away if your opponent is three or more levels higher than you, and to pretty much get stomped at five ranks higher; this is a general guideline that does not necessarily apply to all characters and conflicts.

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Gaining Strength


Characters can become stronger in two ways. The first, and the more obvious, is to increase their Reiryoku Level; this makes them stronger and more effective in their chosen specialties, and is a staple of any combatant. The second is by creating and training new talents: expanding your knowledge of Kido, developing a special Reiryoku skill, or developing a new attack with the powers of your Zanpakuto or racial ability. Be wary, as these two methods are always balanced; the higher your Reiryoku level, the more difficult it will be to train new abilities, and the more abilities you have, the harder it will be to become stronger. More versatile characters cap out earlier, so use caution and do not just develop as many abilities as you can, and do not fret~ once you have created an ability, you may always add to or upgrade its strength, which has less of an effect on your development than creating extra abilities. Templates and guidelines for new abilities and developments can be found here

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Making a Strong Character Dynamic


The key to creating a good, strong character is to not become insecure about your abilities; don't try to cover all your bases and handle everything, and don't get too intense and throw all of your effort into a single proficiency; use what fits together. In Bleach, there are strong ties between a character's ability set and their personality, and that is part of what makes a quality character, not just your efficiency, but your authenticity. I'll put up some basic dynamic ideas to tease your brain.

Fierce: This character is strong and quick, relying on power and aggressiveness to keep on top of enemies that attempt to flee and attack at range; he may have only one ability, but it too is strong and difficult to avoid, and is used as his trump card to catch enemies unaware.

Brutish: This character is powerful and sturdy, not particularly fast, but physically strong enough to block attacks he may not dodge, and extremely dangerous to anyone who gets close enough for him to strike. He may have one defensive or offensive ability, but mostly relies on his own power to get the job done.

Clever: This character is quick-minded and inventive, using his nimble feet to keep himself at a distance while assailing his opponent with accurate, cost-effective attacks. He may have his own unique array of unpredictable abilities, which could prove to be a difficult obstacle as one becomes entangled in his strategies.

Well there you have it, your basic Rogue-Fighter-Mage triangle. You can mix and match your attributes however you like; just don't try to create something uncharacteristic, or (lol) try to cheat the system and make a "perfect" dynamic, 'cause not only will you lose my respect, you'll also fail, and I hate to see people get their hopes up and turn out disappointed :P. Just a personal note from me.