Okay, in this thread, I'm going to explain to EVERYONE in this guild why I and the other Captains all agreed to make it so hard to get higher powers. Some of these should be obvious, but there are several that aren't so obvious.
First and foremost, this is a ROLEPLAYING guild. Because of that, good roleplaying is the key to EVERYTHING in this guild. Show me and the Captains that you can spell, use proper grammar (like you learned in English), that you know how to describe things properly and completely, and that you know how to construct a good story. Show me that you can accomplish your goal without automatically hitting other characters and without pulling powers out of no place. Show me that you can work within the constraints of your character description and your power descriptions and STILL win, and then I will call you an accomplished roleplayer and one of the elite.
That, frankly, is the ONLY path to advancement in this guild and the primary way to get what you want.
This means that we don't care about the mechanics of the play, the "roll-playing" part, meaning the mechanics of battle, the "to hit" scores, the dice, the rulebooks of how to resolve combat, the combat system and so on. Those mean absolutely nothing to the leaders of this guild. It is ALL about how well you play your character.
That is why I have you come up with such a complete description of your character, from the color of his eyes to the abilities he has learned. Having that information means that you can focus on playing your character, instead of wondering how to fire this kido gun at someone.
Second, because of this first point, the powers have been locked down because, frankly, many of you don't know how to roleplay. Oh, you do okay generally and can describe stuff adequately, but most times I have to read five or six times to really understand what you are saying and how your character is acting. In no case is a one line post acceptable, mainly because I can't react properly to "I move over to you and slash at your head." Where some of you would use that line to attack, I'd use a paragraph to describe the same action. The more complete description you have in your post the better. If I can see how your character is moving when it attacks me, I can react properly and come up with a counter.
Third, there simply isn't enough power people in this guild to go around. Frankly, ANYONE can come up with an uber-powerful skill or power, but it's very hard to come up with a well played character that will allow you to do the same thing. So awarding the power seats to those who are proven exceptional roleplayers seems a fair way of acknowledging the best roleplayers.
Want to have Shikai? Want to be able to shunpo? Want to earn a Vice Captain's slot? Be a good roleplayer. If you don't know how to, talk to your Captain, talk to those in power positions of VCs and Caps to help. Read about how to roleplay effectively on websites online.
This kind of gaming is about ACTING, not about killing everything in sight.
Because of that, giving skills and powers is a way to reward you for good roleplay. It is the only way to earn them. If you aren't getting those powers, then you aren't playing the best you can.
Also this guild should be FAIR. I'm working my backside off to make sure that EVERYONE in this guild has a chance to get to the same level as anyone else. The only fair way to do that is to make the unbalancing powers, the really high level things, restricted to people who aren't going to abuse them and use them inappropriately. Why use Bankai to kill a normal, run of the mill Hollow, when your zanpakto is just as effective at doing that?
To that end, I have designed this so that everyone has a chance to excel in roleplaying. It's not about power. Heck, I'm not the most powerful shinigami in this guild. It's arguable that Jan-san and Aizen are more powerful than I am, but I like to think I'm a better roleplayer, and if not the best, then at least one of the best in this guild.
That means that someone coming in who is a good roleplayer has just as much chance of becomming a Captain and a Guild Vice Captain as anyone else, but they have to be able to handle themselves and be able to play well with others. Not beat them into a pulp, but PLAY, that is, after all, what this guild is for.
Because of all this, the powers have been locked down, needing approval and training. So that everyone, the newest n00b to the most experienced, has an equal chance to excel. So that they all have an equal chance to be the best at what they do. I don't want this guild being a "my bankai is bigger than your bankai" kind of guild. That breaks it up faster than anything.
I hope this is clear. I'm getting tired of explaining this and even more tired of everyone coming at me trying to find more and better ways to circumvent the rules on powers. It's getting to the point of really wanting to ban people for this, but since I'm fair, I'm not.
So keep this in mind when writing your character descriptions and your powers. And realize that roleplaying is king, not power.
First and foremost, this is a ROLEPLAYING guild. Because of that, good roleplaying is the key to EVERYTHING in this guild. Show me and the Captains that you can spell, use proper grammar (like you learned in English), that you know how to describe things properly and completely, and that you know how to construct a good story. Show me that you can accomplish your goal without automatically hitting other characters and without pulling powers out of no place. Show me that you can work within the constraints of your character description and your power descriptions and STILL win, and then I will call you an accomplished roleplayer and one of the elite.
That, frankly, is the ONLY path to advancement in this guild and the primary way to get what you want.
This means that we don't care about the mechanics of the play, the "roll-playing" part, meaning the mechanics of battle, the "to hit" scores, the dice, the rulebooks of how to resolve combat, the combat system and so on. Those mean absolutely nothing to the leaders of this guild. It is ALL about how well you play your character.
That is why I have you come up with such a complete description of your character, from the color of his eyes to the abilities he has learned. Having that information means that you can focus on playing your character, instead of wondering how to fire this kido gun at someone.
Second, because of this first point, the powers have been locked down because, frankly, many of you don't know how to roleplay. Oh, you do okay generally and can describe stuff adequately, but most times I have to read five or six times to really understand what you are saying and how your character is acting. In no case is a one line post acceptable, mainly because I can't react properly to "I move over to you and slash at your head." Where some of you would use that line to attack, I'd use a paragraph to describe the same action. The more complete description you have in your post the better. If I can see how your character is moving when it attacks me, I can react properly and come up with a counter.
Third, there simply isn't enough power people in this guild to go around. Frankly, ANYONE can come up with an uber-powerful skill or power, but it's very hard to come up with a well played character that will allow you to do the same thing. So awarding the power seats to those who are proven exceptional roleplayers seems a fair way of acknowledging the best roleplayers.
Want to have Shikai? Want to be able to shunpo? Want to earn a Vice Captain's slot? Be a good roleplayer. If you don't know how to, talk to your Captain, talk to those in power positions of VCs and Caps to help. Read about how to roleplay effectively on websites online.
This kind of gaming is about ACTING, not about killing everything in sight.
Because of that, giving skills and powers is a way to reward you for good roleplay. It is the only way to earn them. If you aren't getting those powers, then you aren't playing the best you can.
Also this guild should be FAIR. I'm working my backside off to make sure that EVERYONE in this guild has a chance to get to the same level as anyone else. The only fair way to do that is to make the unbalancing powers, the really high level things, restricted to people who aren't going to abuse them and use them inappropriately. Why use Bankai to kill a normal, run of the mill Hollow, when your zanpakto is just as effective at doing that?
To that end, I have designed this so that everyone has a chance to excel in roleplaying. It's not about power. Heck, I'm not the most powerful shinigami in this guild. It's arguable that Jan-san and Aizen are more powerful than I am, but I like to think I'm a better roleplayer, and if not the best, then at least one of the best in this guild.
That means that someone coming in who is a good roleplayer has just as much chance of becomming a Captain and a Guild Vice Captain as anyone else, but they have to be able to handle themselves and be able to play well with others. Not beat them into a pulp, but PLAY, that is, after all, what this guild is for.
Because of all this, the powers have been locked down, needing approval and training. So that everyone, the newest n00b to the most experienced, has an equal chance to excel. So that they all have an equal chance to be the best at what they do. I don't want this guild being a "my bankai is bigger than your bankai" kind of guild. That breaks it up faster than anything.
I hope this is clear. I'm getting tired of explaining this and even more tired of everyone coming at me trying to find more and better ways to circumvent the rules on powers. It's getting to the point of really wanting to ban people for this, but since I'm fair, I'm not.
So keep this in mind when writing your character descriptions and your powers. And realize that roleplaying is king, not power.
