Welcome to Gaia! ::

It's getting to the point where I have so much stuff in my geek-brain that I need to write it all down to make sure everyone is on the same page. I'll do my best to create a complete and comprehensive guide to Boxa Libre. If you have any questions, or suggestions for what to add, please let me know and I'll do so.

The goal is to have a sport that's easy to understand, but also provide a great amount of optional depth and subtle nuances...much like a real sport. How much or how little you participate with that is up to you.

RP structure and Rules are covered in another post, so scroll down past this one if you're curious about that.

The biggest thing to remember is that while there are rules, the primary point is for it to be entertaining. We can make up rules and unexpected things as we go, as long as it doesn't contradict established rules. In other words: within the established rules, feel free to do it however you want. And of course, there are specific types of Boxadors that bend the rules anyway. More on that later. ninja

I invite you to take what's here and make characters of your own. I'd be excited to see what you come up with.


What is Boxa Libre?

Basic Definition:

The national combat sport of the southern tropical island of Pluma de Relámpago where masked fighters jump, throw, punch, and slam each other in an arena...with the help of live music and bounce pads. xp

Expanded Definition: [CLASSIFIED]

Real World Inspiration:

Lucha Libre, Pro Wrestling (WWE, etc.), Fighting Games, Sports, Aztec Lore, Colliseum combat (Spanish matators, Greek gladiators, etc.), Mesoamerica, and a bunch of little things




Lucha Libre

Roughly "free fighting" in Spanish, it's a sport that's been around since the early 1900s, but became popular in the 1930s. Lucha Libre truly became a thing when El Santo ( "The Saint" ) became a cultural icon in Mexico. He wore a silver mask with Silver pants, and he created the idea of the Luchador persona. The person and the mask, together, were a new identity. The guy would shower with the mask on, and would never be seen without it. He only revealed his identity long after he retired, and he ended up being buried with the mask (real name: Rodolfo Guzmán Huerta).

Luchadores wear masks to invoke the spirits of animals, heroes, the powers-that-be (i.e. nature), and pop culture. That's where it gets interesting. Some of the first animal-themed luchadores were felines and birds of prey. These are direct references to the ancient Aztec tiger / jaguar knights, and Eagle Knights respectively. The Luchador masks are primarily a Mexican thing because it's pride in that heritage.

Boxing

Boxing has been around forever. Like, ancient Egyptian times forever. Boxing has evolved over time, but one of the most influential boxer is Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr.). He was a tall boxer, but moved like a shorter guy. He was very skilled and full of personality. Before that, boxing was more of dudes hitting each other. He revolutionized Boxing. He was one of the few athletes in any sport to completely "define the terms of his public reputation" (Joyce Carol Oates).

I like the idea of fighting being fun to watch and rooting for a person. That's one thing that Lucha Libre has in common in that regard. But there's no denying that Ali's skill was what brought people back. Otherwise he would have just been a braggart.

Boxing itself is a really interesting sport to watch. To be successful in boxing you have to have skill, ability, persistence, and courage. To willingly go in and be potentially punched in the face is tough, to be sure. Not to mention that the greatest boxers in the world pretty much make it an art.

That's not to say that I've been watching boxing matches all of my life. Honestly, I'm somewhat of a poser in that regard. I simply have a great appreciation for the fighting STYLE of boxing itself. I took one boxing class in college, and I've watched the boxing anime: Hajime no Ippo (and its sequel series Hajimo no Ippo: New Challenger, and Hajime no Ippo: Rising). Lastly, I play the Nintendo "Punch-Out!!" video games. So I'm a fan of the IDEA of boxing.

I also personally like the idea of using the upper body and technique for offense, and the feet for movement and drawing power from. Boxing in of itself is a sport that fascinates me. It's rather unique in that the upper body can only be hit by the fists. That's what make it stand out to me as a fighting style and sport. It has a strict set of rules and is something that I've been a fan of since childhood.

My Take

I wanted to create a fun fantasy sport that was entertaining to watch and become a part of. The above quote sums it up perfectly. Boxa Libre is more than just two masked people fighting. It's a national pass-time that everyone is a part of. It's the crowd, announcers, officials, musicians, fighters, and the ladies they represent.

It's in a foreign setting because I wanted the first impression to be something brand new. Tropical island, limeapples, a sport that people don't really know much about (compared to all the other Gaia stuff like werewolves, and xXxSuperAngelDevilSpecialSnowflakeslOllololxXx kind of stuff), but also exist in that same world. Not everything will be revealed at the start, so let's have fun building this fight-tastic phenonenon of Boxa Libre together. cool

Boxa Libre has elements of magic and the supernatural to it, but fundamentally it's a contest of what human beings are capable of. It's about people overcoming great odds, and putting their honor on the line in a contest of skill.

Lucha Libre and Pro Wrestling is all staged. It's definitely entertaining, but I like the honest aspect of boxing to it (except in cases where those fights are rigged...but whatever). It's the acrobatics and showmanship of Lucha Libre and Pro Wrestling combined with the precision, skill, and technique of boxing. I wanted to show you this before explaining things in detail. I like to think I did a good job.
3nodding

What is a Boxador?

Basic Definition:

A masked combatant approved by PAR to participate in Boxa Libre. They're divided into two types: Técnicos and Rudos.

Técnico (Technician): A Boxador who follows the rules and is a traditional ranked fighter. Most of what's described relating to Boxa Libre applies to them.

Rudo ("Rude One" / Maverick): [CLASSIFIED....but coming very soon ninja ]





Técnico Expanded Definition:

Boxa Libre combines pugilist punching techniques, quick footwork, for holds & throws, and acrobatics. Feet are used for maneuvering (dashing, dodging, jumping, and lifting), but can NOT be used for attacking.

While there are many variations, all styles of Boxa Libre styles fall somewhere in are part of a triangle spectrum.



Técnico de Perforar (Punch Technician) - This style is the closest to a traditional boxer. Using fists to attack and feet for ground movement is their preferred method.



Strengths

+ Very good at dishing out accumulated damage over time

+ Defense is a priority. The best Perforar-types are capable of winning with mimimal damage, if any

+ Balance of strength and agility, which makes it widely accessible

+ Able to fight against Luchar-types with quick feet and hard strikes


Weaknesses

- Most risk against Volar-types since they lack the durability of Luchars, and are grounded

- Most commonly used style, it's also the most predictable

- Failed counter-punches can be devastating



Técnico de Luchar (Grapple Technician) - This style can be either grounded or aerial. It relies on getting close to the opponent and attacking mainly with throws and slams.



Strengths

+ Most potential to cause a lot of damage very quickly

+ Able to handle Volar-types by throws and interception tactics

+ Can combine aerial and ground maneuvers for techniques

+ Are often capable of finishing matches decisively (submission holds, choke slams, piledrivers, etc.)


Weaknesses

- Fundamental "sturdiness" required. They need to be able to take damage to get in close.

- Vast amounts of brute strength and stamina are absolutely necessary

- Tend to be slower than Perforar-types, which are more adaptable to tactics than Volar-types

- Style completely relies on grabbing, so creativity is required



Técnico de Volar (Flying Technician) - This style is by far the most popular for spectators. Volares are the fastest and most agile. Their tactics are about constant movement and landing strikes and grapples in mid-air.



Strengths

+ Extremely fast and are difficult to hit

+ Skilled Volars consider Perforars target practice

+ Momentum adds to the effectiveness of techniques


Weaknesses

- If trajectory is too predictable,can lose quickly

- Low damage output ratio against Luchares

- Extensive training required to be able to handle aerial combat (breathing, kicking off surfaces without damaging yourself, etc.)


It's generally frowned upon to rely on one style exclusively. While technically possible, Boxa Libre shines when the Boxador combines elements of all three to suit the situation. It's just that a person is typically more adept at one of those three areas.


My Take

The three different types just comes from the classic rock-paper-scissors mechanic. I like the idea of one particular style not being the overall best, and there being merits to each type. It's also to help inspire potential styles. Of course, the real fun comes from how characters that favor particular styles clash. It's not always so simple in practice....

Both men and women can be Boxadors.

Despite it being a matriarchal society, I'm not going to limit it to just men. The rule just says a Boxador is, "A masked combatant approved by PAR to participate in Boxa Libre". wink



What is a Nagual? ( Pronounced: "Nah-Gwall" )

Basic Definition: The manifestation of the Boxador's spirit using the Boxador Mask as a medium, usually in the form of a beast or creature.



Expanded Definition: [CLASSIFIED]

Real World Inspiration:

Naguals come from the Mesoamerican folk culture, referring to people who can transform themselves into beasts. This differs from the traditional Werewolf idea because it's more spiritual. I see it as a meeting point between the ideas of Lycanthropy and Totemism. Wikipedia provides a pretty concise introduction:



Basic Purpose: A Nagual is there to provide a visual representation of what the Boxador character is. You get an idea of who this person is all about by looking at them (via the mask and costume they wear), and the nagual helps to paint that picture.

Verde is a green-faced gentleman, who is gentle and kind. However, he can also be ferocious and intimidating against his enemies when he wants to. Patiently waiting for the right moment to pounce, he has cat-like and raptor-like qualities. Adept at both air and ground combat, he was able to out-pace and defeat El Fregar Menta in the end. All of these elements together can be summed up as the Quetzagriffon. So if you look at that kittybird, it sums up his character in a nutshell.


Expanded Purpose: [CLASSIFIED]


Boxadors and their Naguals are able to participate if they join a PAR-certified Gimnasio or Estable.


Gimnasios and Estables

What is a Gimnasio? (Gymnasium / Gym) [Sara Soto pic]

A Gym is an establishment with a physical building (called a Gimnasio / Gymnasium) that is run by a Coach. PAR approves retired Boxadors as coaches, as they're the most qualified trainers. Typically Coaches recruit young talent and take them through the 10 year training period necessary before they can apply for their first ranked match.

Gyms can have any number of Boxadors, but they typically range between One and Ten members. There are exceptions, but larger ones tend to become Estables. This is partially because Gyms are required to own or rent their own physical space...for their actual Gym.

At minimum: A Gym must have 1 Coach, 1 Boxador, 1 Bard, and 1 Lady of Faith.

What is a Bardo de la Battala? (Battle Bard)

Battle Bards are PAR-approved practitioners of musical competition. They serve to support the Gyms they enlist with, and to amplify the Lady of Faith's abilities during a match with their music,

A Battle Bard (or simply: Bard) is an all-in-one band. While not as fit as the paragons of fitness that are Boxadors, Bards must be able to move and create music independently. This requires a lot of rhythm, timing, and aptitude with a multitude of methods for creating music.

Bards who prove their worth earn a Mask, which serves as their power source to amplify their music.

Despite having similar technology to Gaia Prime, Pluman Bards' instruments don't run on conventional electricity. It's directly related to their Nagual.


What is a Dama de Pilar? (Translated as: "Lady of Pillar". Localized as: "Lady of Faith")

The Lady of Faith is the woman the Boxador fights for. Much like how sports in the real world compete under a banner (flag), they compete in service of their Pillar of Faith.

Pluma de Relámpago's culture is heavily matriarchal. So much so that women are the upper class, while the men start in the lower class. In this context, the better a Boxador does...the more status a Boxador can earn.

Lady of Faith's duties

Ladies of Faith take an active role in the matches. They are in charge of coordinating the support from the crowd, the bard, and the Boxadors themselves. An excellent Boxador with a bad Lady of Faith will draw out limited potential.

Ladies of Faith can conduct, cheer, play music, or rally the energy of the people in some fashion. PAR is fairly lenient on the method so long as the Lady of Faith does not physically enter the fight themselves.

The idea is to be like a Lord (or Lady in this case) commanding a Knight or Knights, and fighting in their honor. The Lady of Faith is the authority figure, but is also not required to fight themselves.

Unlike every other recognizable character in Boxa Libre, Ladies of Faith are not required to wear a mask. Their appearance alone gives them celebrity-like status, as well as the Boxador's and Bard's Naguals are serving under her command anyway.

A Lady of Faith can represent a single person, a tag-team, a gym, or even an entire stable of Boxadores.

What is an Estable? (Stable)

Stables are a more loose term than Gyms. Stables can be members of one Gym, two Gyms, or even a bunch of free agent Boxadors working as a collective.

Leaders of Stables are called Promoters. They can be a current or former Boxador, a Lady of Faith, a Bard, or even an Announcer.

Stables can be best described as "Alliances", and are more often seen in the higher ranks. It's a way of recruiting the top talent while also not needing to worry about having to worry about the limitations of Gyms.


What is PAR?

Primario Boxa Libre Asociación de Reglamentos

PAR is the Pluman Government's official regulatory organization for Boxa Libre. They exist to enforce the rules of conduct, but also to advertise and hold bouts for the public to view. It's because of them that Boxa Libre is a national pass-time.

Any given Boxa Libre event has the following PAR officials:

Los Jueces de Río (Judges of Rivers / Security)

Security tends to get a lot of flak for being the least qualified (nicknamed "Renta-Policia"), but are important nonetheless. They keep things moving, and prevent any major harm to come to anyone when they do their job right.

Some former Boxadors, failed Boxadors, or even legitimate police officers join these ranks. Masks are only given to the most accomplished and worthy.


Los Jueces de Vigor (Judges of Vigor / Doctors):

Doctors are there to assess the health and well-being of the Boxadors, Bards, and Ladies of Faith. Their job is to make sure all of the spiritual energy flows well and obviously to make sure no one gets badly injured or killed. When an injury comes into question, the Referee may ask for the Doctor's help to find an appropriate solution.

Pluman Doctors are more shamanistic, and they were the oldest discipline to incorporate Masks. They learned how to communicate with spirits and helped PAR formalize the mask acquisition process. One of the reasons why getting a mask is so tough is because someone with a weak mind could have health issues.


Los Jueces de los Fuelles (Judges of Bellows / Referees):

The Referee is the enforcer of the rules and makes the final decisions during a match. To become a referee, it requires intense training in the Academia de Justicia de Ocio (Academy of Leisure Justice). Only handful of people pass the tests, but those who make it are nationally renown for their abilities. Amatueur referees are not seen in El Hexagono Menor. However, trainees can gain experience in Exhibition Matches.

A Referee's inauguration ceremony is donning their mask and obtaining their Nagual. This symbolizes their dedication to the cause, and putting their own personal identity aside for their duty.

Los Jueces de Plumas (Judges of Pens / Moderators):

Considered the sister discipline to Referees, Moderators are forged at the Academia de Justicia de Ocio. They are expected to know the PAR regulations like the back of their hand and assist the Referee in making tough decisions during a match.

Outside of a match, they tend to do the paperwork for the matches, making sure everything is in order. Ticket distribution, discussion rule exceptions, amending rules, approvals, etc. are all done through them.

Since this is a paperwork type of position, masks are only given on a case-by-case basis. There are far more Moderators than Referees.



Proclamador (Announcer)

Announcers have the most broad spectrum of people out of all the disciplines involved with Boxa Libre. Announcers can come from the Media, Legal, Faith, or even Combat areas of Boxa Libre. Usually announcers have to prove that they can keep the story of what's happening on the canvas going to the audience in some fashion.

They must have a fundamental understanding of PAR regulations, and are able to provide an unbiased perspective while also providing quality commentary. It's the least enforced field, but is still considered to be a vital aspect of the competition because it helps advertise and educate people about Boxa Libre itself.

Much like Referees, Announcers will don a mask to show their dedication to the cause more than their own personal identity. The bar is high for them to prove themselves, but are trusted once they do so. However, a mask is not required if the announcer would be more recognizable otherwise.

There can be between One and Three announcers per match.



Why Music?

1. When exercising, I found that listening to music increased my effectiveness.

2. I love listening to music when writing RP stuff, and playing video games.

3. I was inspired by Jien, Sara Soto, and Music Park in general.

4. "Music soothes the savage beast". Naguals are spirit beasts, and I like the idea of music influencing Boxadors through their animal avatars.


Music in Boxa Libre is secondary only to the fight itself. Just like how cheering and jeering can affect the mood at a sporting event, it's a way for the audience to get more involved with the fight.

Instead of a Boxa Libre bout just being the normal RP fight where everyone else just watches and says "Wow!" or "That thing sure did happen!", people can influence how things go to a degree.

So far we've seen Boxadors be powered up by Ladies of Faith and Bards. I wonder what else can happen...?


If you have any additional questions, please let me know and I'll do my best to answer it here or in other posts in this thread. 3nodding

[Minor Circuit: RP Structure and Rules - RESERVED]

[Elite Circuit: RP Structure and Rules - RESERVED]

[Pluma de Relámpago Lore and History- [RESERVED]

Pluma de Relámpago: Regions Overview

Pluma de Relámpago is a large tropical island that has several different biomes and has a population of about 20 million people.

The original inspiration for the island's size, climate, and location was Hispanola: the most populated land mass in the Caribbean (has Haiti, Dominican Republic, etc.). Though I'd say it's a bit bigger.

I'm sharing this because if you want to make characters for Boxa Libre stuff, I wanted to give you enough context to go on. There's 8 main regions, all of them are radial. So the same general rules can be said for the same radius regardless of where the location is.

For example, if someone is living up north...and is in Region 3...it's comparable to another person living in Region 3 for the south. It starts with the Royal City and works its way outward to the ocean. I hope you enjoy this!





Cartegena is at the very center of the island at a high altitude. It's where the Queen and Princesses live, as well as PAR's headquarters. This is an absolutely massive metropolis and has the most highly-advanced technology the country has to offer.

People who are granted access to the Royal City are given a Royal Transportation Pass. This allows them to come and go via Teleportation Lightning technology (more on that in Region 6: Musa).

Of course, this travel is highly regulated, and there are additional (slower) means of technological transportation available.

People who live here are all esteemed individuals who contributed greatly to Pluman Society. Woman or man, if you haven proven yourself to be the best at what you do within Pluman society: you will be welcome here.

What makes this country stand apart from others is that women are given a social advantage over men, opposed to the other way around like the rest of the world. However, unlike other cultures, the "this gender is superior" thing is a bit different. In Pluman culture, women are given a social advantage at birth because they're the ones that carry life and give birth. Despite this, even if you are a woman: you must earn the privilege to live in Cartegena. A woman who contributes nothing will not be given anything. This applies even to the Queen and Princesses as well (though the Royals are another topic entirely). This is the basis for the culture's "matriarchal meritocracy".

With that in mind, an abundance of both men and women live in the Royal City as equals. For men, they simply need to prove themselves more to be recognized. It's not so much that women think they are superior to men, it's just that they look at a man and say, "What have you achieved?". It's that mutually understood idea that men need to perform more deeds to bridge that social gap. The sub-culture within the Royal City is actually one of equality, because everyone has earned a place there.

Case in point: one of the most famous and beloved referees is a man: (El Bufer).

Boxadors who participate in the Major Circuit Promotion Exam are overseen and proctored by the Boxador Elite and PAR representatives here.




Just beyond Cartegena is this ring of mountains that surround it on all sides. Cielo Mountains are a particularly very harsh environment, even for snowy mountain standards. Lots of jagged rocks, uneven surfaces, blizzards, and wild beasts. It's not impossible to live there, but people generally don't tend to.

People often come here on their way to the Cartegena for the first time, and those who make it are welcomed...as they proved themselves by overcoming that struggle. Though the amount of people who succeed vs. the amount of people who try are definitely fewer in comparison.





Down from the mountains is the Jungle of Cipactli, also known as the "Blood Rainforest" ("Selva Tropical de Sangre" ). Named after the Devil Beast Cipactli, this jungle is vast and dense with various kinds of trees, plants, and most notably: unusually large and aggressive wild predatory beasts.

Due to this harsh environment, people who live here tend to be very strong, because it's survival of the fittest here in a quite literal sense. This is where the Boxador Stable "Los Rugidos Sangrientos" ("The Bloody Roars" ) resides and trains.

This is often the location of many Major Circuit bouts.





The Badlands, also known as "la región árida" ("the arid region" ) is full of crags, desert, and a whole lot of nothing. There's a few towns here or there, but overall it's a wide stretch of dry land that seems to go on forever. The current Minor Circuit Champion, El Rebote de Bronce (The Bronze Bounce) is said to come from there.

People say that legendary Boxa Libre commentator "El Narrador" ("The Narrator" ) Russ McGraw is from there, but no one's exactly sure where he's from. He talks like a foreigner, but has been around for so long...so it's really hard to say.

People that live here tend to be more laid back, yet vigilant at the same time. People come and go often, like the wind over a crag. While not as aggressive as the mountains or the jungle, this place has claimed plenty who were careless.

This region is known for its tart and sweet fruit that grows from the cactus-like trees: Limanzanas. Abuelita Smith and her family have many orchards in place, so this has done wonders for the people living there.




Further out from the badlands are calmer environments. Generally green and full of milder wildlife. Someone once called the local fauna "mildlife", and the nickname stuck.

This place has an abundance of natural resources, and is the first real respite since the Royal City. As a result, people dubbed it a blessing from Teotzin, the Divine Quetzagriffon. This region has many as temples of worship.

With survival being easier here, people have space to move their energies into other activities..and Tendicion de Teotzin became the creative and religious hub of Pluma de Relámpago.

People gather here to celebrate the arts such as painting, sculpting, performance, and music. This is where the Bard Academy, Oración de los Vientos (Prayer of Winds) is housed. Cartenega provides additional funding for these creative pursuits, as well as the Temples' upkeep. Ladies of Faith gather here for additional training.




Musa is a place that is naturally in a rainforest, but has since become more of an urban region. It has an abundance of rainstorms, and of course...lots of thunder and lightning. Because of this, people often spend their days indoors. The city runs on the lightning as an energy source, and is known as the Engineering Hub of Pluma de Relámpago.

The brightest minds often flock to this place, and some of the greatest technology has come from this region...including the Teleportation Lightning: El Camino del Cielo (The Sky Path / Heaven's Road). Through analyzing the local lightning, the scientists and engineers have been able to replicate it as manufactured phenomena and combine it with with advanced application of quantum mechanics manipulation for practical use. As you'd expect, this Region is highly valued by the Royal City. As a result, there's many Research Cities around the country in this region.

But this place is not all about work.. The elder princess Pacal likes to visit this Region in her off-time and listen to the thunderstorms. It can also be very relaxing.




Atlahua is the Pluman Ocean Goddess, so it's fitting that this place is a large coral reef. Near here, people live on stilt houses here, and this is considered the most relaxed place in the entire country. People here tend to not be very wealthy, but their lives are simple. Fishing and nature preservation are disciplines people tend to pursue if they live here.

The Boxador Stable: La Corazoa comes here to train here with their time off. Of course, they also do plenty of training here.




Beyond the coral reefs is the actual outer-most region of Pluma de Relámpago. This region has the most variety due to it being the closest to the ocean. Tons of beach cities, with four of of them housing a El Hexágono Menor of their own, where Minor Circuit Boxa Libre is performed in their cardinal position on the island (North, South, East, and West).

Out of all of the regions, Fin is probably the most diverse. Boxa Libre is a huge part of the culture, and this is where the magic happens for the Minor Circuit.

Many people made their start here, from many disciplines. This place also serves as border-patrol, so there's a decent amount of Royal Technology here to help with that.

But like any other region, Fin has its downsides. This region is the most densely populated, and there's issues that come along with that. Many boys who grow up here live in slums, hoping for a better life. Many of them claim it. Some don't. It all depends on the individual.