Combat System Power Scales - Ranking As to Beasts

Beasts are ranked on an alphabetical scale representing their power, threat level, and difficulty to kill. The lowest rank is G and goes up to at least A. Each step on the scale is approximately an order of magnitude. Ranking is a human convention, and the ranking of species of beasts is typically decided by bureaucratic committee.[1] Ranking is determined by among other things:

the physical dimensions of the beast (i.e., size); weight; age (juvenile/adult/elder); whether the beasts are in a pack, flock, congress, etc.; and any inherent physical characteristics which may make such a beast more or less dangerous (e.g., armored hide, sharp claws).

Additionally, these characteristics are not necessarily independent of each other and may operate together to greatly increase a creatures rank (e.g., heavier and older beasts will have greater ki, which at lower ranks will make them tougher and faster, and at higher ranks may lead to use spiritual attacks).

For example, consider the Gray Wolf. A juvenile Gray Wolf would be G-ranked, as it would be so small and immature as to be a threat to almost nothing. On the other hand, a typical adult Gray Wolf could be up to 0.8 m in height, and average 40 kg. While much smaller than a typical adult human, they are fast, agile, and have sharp teeth and claws, all of which contribute to classify a lone adult Gray Wolf as an F-rank threat, likely mid-ranked. And while lone Gray Wolves do exist, Gray Wolves will typically hunt within a pack, led by an exceptionally strong individual, with relatively excellent teamwork. As such, a pack of Gray Wolves will easily be E-ranked. On the other hand, there are reported incidents of lone elder Gray Wolves of significantly above average height and weight which alone would be E-ranked.

As to Humans

Originally, there was just a single scale on which spiritualists and beasts were measured. However, after one too many mishaps where too few spiritualists were mustered to defeat a beast, and in one of the few bureaucratic victories in Dorflich, it was decided that all humans would be ranked one notch below where they would be objectively on the scale. The idea behind doing so was that a single spiritualist vs. a single beast on the same scale, the spiritualist would be victorious 95% of the time (within 2 sigma). E.g., a single F-ranked (obj. E-ranked) human should be able to handle a Raptor alone.

Nonetheless, because the scale is exponential (or logarithmic) there remains significant difference within each level. There is no qualitative change inherent in the scale, though certain characteristics are more common higher up. To the contrary, qualitative changes would tend to lead to changes in the species’ ranking.

For this reason, although the majority of adult humans remain G-ranked, objectively they are F-ranked. As such, adult humans have no problems at all with G-ranked threats (that 95% threshold), but it would be a coin toss with F-ranked threats (since same level), such as Boar and lone Gray Wolves. Additionally, a significant portion of the adult human population, though not dedicating their lives to becoming spiritualists, will be F-ranked (E-ranked objectively) simply by virtue of naturally growing stronger and will form the backbone of any emergency militia. As such, even without necessarily needing to call on spiritualists, hamlets will often turn to a local F-ranked member to deal with slightly more troublesome beasts such as Boars and lone Gray Wolves. A militia of F-ranked humans will have effective ranking of E-rank (D-rank objectively), and thus can easily handle E-rank threats such as a lone Dire Wolf or an Elk, and will be a toss-up against D-rank threats such as Moose and Bison.

Armor

Highly effective for humans ranked G, F. Moderately effective for E, and D rank. Minimal effect for C, B, and A rank. At higher power scales, the strength of an aura so outclasses ordinary materials, that armor is no longer significantly effective.

Weapons

largely melee; the ammunition of ranged weapons cannot be endowed with ki; also such, largely used only by non-spiritualists for hunting or as a weapon of last resort; on the other hand, ranged ki attacks do exist, though they remain less effective than a melee attack with ki. As such, lower level spiritualists will tend to use long melee weapons, while veterans will often swap to shorter ones in order to inflict greater damages, while their experience allows them to survive.

Nonetheless, a heavily armed spiritualist will usually have some disposable range weapons on them which though not able to be kept infused with attuned ki, will nonetheless prove deadly to their extraordinary strength. Throwing daggers or stars are favored, though 75 mm grooved metal spheres are common (thrown like a baseball). Slingshots are also common.

The Three Pillars of the Sword

Named after a sword, but applies to all weapons. Represents the three areas in basic training for use of a weapon. All three may be attained by training and experience; the first two entirely physical, and the third by a combination of physical and spiritual. A spiritualist is said to have attained a pillar when they have mastered and so, contrapoint to the Spiritual Stages, there are no levels of lesser competency recognized.

Blue Pillar (Your Body Is a Sword) – perfect control over body.

Red Pillar (The Sword Is Your Body) – perfect control over sword (weapon); understand the sword such that it moves with the grace and ease as if it is a part of your own body

Green Pillar (Your Body and Sword in the World) – perfect knowledge of and control over surroundings. Sure footing. Never slip. Greatly increased agility. Seamless use of the environment in combat.

Training Needed by Characters

Evert

Becca

Sam

Vince

Lennie

OTL

NTL

NTL

NTL

NTL

NTL

a) Spiritual

i) Strength

X

T

ii) Control

X

T

iii) Spiritual Techniques

X

X

b) Physical

i) Strength[2]

X

T

ii) Agility

X

T

iii) Weapons training

X

X

c) Combat

i) Beast & Man (i.e., experience)

X

X

ii) The Stages of Spiritualism

(1) First

X

X

(2) Second

X

X

(3) Third

X

X

(4) Fourth

[]

iii) The Pillars of the Sword

(1) First

X

T

(2) Second

X

X

(3) Third

?

[]

[1] Individual beasts may differ in ranking from that typical of their species.

[2] Must be combined with rest; the imbalance between Evert’s body and ki leads to accelerated muscle growth, which is a fluke of his situation; Further, the weight of one’s ki is a part of a spiritualists training regiments. It is known that the weight of the ki leads itself to growth in muscular strength. What is less well understood is that the growth in muscular strength can lead to a growth in ki.