Ho boy, here we go.
So two things: I'm GM Reviewing Mouko's TA because of reasons listed below, and then I'm GM Reviewing a current mechanic in the RP.
Reasons for Review: Ryoushi Sousei (or Shuryouki, as I've come to rename it) generates a diminishing return on the summons' Resonance gain to such a point that it eventually becomes impossible to attain Overdrive with current mechanics.
Suggested Changes: Remove the split Resonance Bar mechanic, and allow for both Mouko and the summons to generate Resonance.
Reviewed sentence bolded for posterity.
Reasons for Review: The reasons for this are actually pretty simple: the drop-off in Resonance return without the use of personal percentile-cost abilities doesn't sustain this rule in the system.
With this rule, any Advent Human does not pay equal to or greater than 5% of their base reiatsu per round fails to generate any. If they do successfully generate 10% Resonance, but then fail to meet this condition the following round, they are losing an investment of reiatsu that is always greater than the amount they paid the round prior.
Advent Human base techniques are always flat cost. This means that the amount of Resonance they generate as an Advent Human goes up in strength diminishes. Without the use of percentile abilities, which must be used through Feats or Awakenings as all natural abilities of an Advent Human are flat cost, this state eventually demands that a player spam abilities, before ultimately negating the possibility of building from 50% Resonance to 100% Resonance with base techniques at all.
With an implicit rule for combat writing that states that spamming abilities in one round is distasteful, this mechanic runs directly counter to it, and forces an Advent Human writer to potentially betray the fighting style or persona of their character so as to not forsake their own momentum.
Suggested Changes: I have, previously, suggested a couple of changes. My first and usual suggestion is to allow any expenditure of reiatsu during a round of combat to be requisite enough. The logic of gaining momentum holds as they are continuing to utilize their spiritual abilities, and it allows an Advent to utilize base techniques more freely without feeling obligated to overuse them or utilize higher-cost abilities instead.
This suggestion has also been shot down. Another suggestion would be to lower the requisite amount from 10% Resonance to 5% Resonance per round. Failing that, I would suggest any alternative that would allow for Advent Humans to more freely utilize their abilities without feeling as though their investment on the reiatsu spent isn't wasted by halting their momentum immediately, as well as still giving incentive to put pressure on an opponent or continue to put up a strong front.
So two things: I'm GM Reviewing Mouko's TA because of reasons listed below, and then I'm GM Reviewing a current mechanic in the RP.
Initial Awakening for Reference[ Ryouhi ] - "Companion Flame"
[ Manifestation ]
In a flash of energy, two tigers coalesce from Mouko's energy. Their fur is a soft vermilion, slightly translucent, allowing others to see the swirling energy held within. The tigers are intangible by nature, capable only of being interacted with naturally by Mouko herself. When an ability is in use, the energy within their forms glows, giving them the appearance of being aflame. Their physical speed is considered akin to that of a normal tiger.
[ Yaru ] - "Kill" (0% Resonance)
Paying 800 of her reiatsu per use, Mouko infuses one of her tiger companions with energy. They become tangible to the world around them, gaining half of her attacking stat for the purposes of a single attack. If the attack misses, or the tiger is damaged significantly, the ability ends and it reverts to an intangible state.
[ Karu ] - "Hunt" (0% Resonance)
Paying 3% of her reiatsu per use, Mouko infuses one of her tiger companions with energy. They remain intangible, but gain speed inherent to Mouko's own until the ability is dispersed or exchanged for Yaru. While in use, Mouko may use her Agility techniques through the affected tiger while mounted, or off of the affected tiger as a platform.
[ Naru ] - "Roar" (25% Resonance)
As Mouko's ability to manipulate and utilize reiryoku becomes more natural, she becomes capable of discharging it violently through Naru. Paying 10% of her reiatsu, she discharges an explosion of energy around her or one of her created companions for a 10m radius.
[ Ryoushi Sousei ] - "Twin Hunters"
[ Manifestation ]
The twin tigers of her Initial Awakening become permanent, their forms consolidated and fuelled by the power of Mouko’s True Awakening. Their fur gains a flame-like quality, flaring and waning with their own spiritual strength. They gain an inherent sentience akin to that of a loyal pet, their primal instincts allowing them to function without direct orders.
Upon reaching True Awakening, Mouko distributes the reiatsu bonus gained from True Awakening directly to the summons’ reiatsu as well as 30% of her base reiatsu. Ryou and Ishi automatically possess stats equal to 20% of Mouko’s base reiatsu, in addition to the paid amount. Mouko’s Resonance then caps, and is unable to rise beyond 50%. The summons gain their own Resonance bar equal to 25% of Mouko's base reiatsu, accounting for the other half of her Resonance.
Upon the summons reaching 100% Resonance, both they and Mouko enter Overdrive and gain access to their Overdrive Ability. Upon creation, each tiger is given a respective spread for their stats, listed below:
Ryou:
Combat: 70%
Agility: 10%
Fortitude: 20%
Ishi:
Combat: 10%
Agility: 70%
Fortitude: 20%
[ Houkatsu ] - "Inclusion" (50% Resonance)
Upon entering True Awakening, Mouko may share a single base technique apiece to her summons. These must be selected and declared upon creation of the summon. Changing a shared technique requires Mouko to pay 3% of her reiatsu per change, and may only change a summon’s shared technique once per round.
[ Sabetsu ] - "Distinction" (50% Resonance)
Paying 1% of their reiatsu, Ryou or Ishi may increase or decrease their size to within a 15m height. Once paid, the size change may only be reversed by repaying the cost of the ability.
[ Kakusan ] - "Diffusion" (50% Resonance)
Paying 20% of their reiatsu, Ryou or Ishi may create a single clone the same size as them. This clone has stats equal to half of the respective creator’s, and are distributed according to the summon which created it. This clone then lasts the following round before dissipating.
If the clone merges with one of the original summons, or another clone, its reiatsu is given to the other, but subtracts the amount of reiatsu regained in Resonance.
[ Tenka ] - "Ignition" (50% Resonance)
Paying 10% of their reiatsu, Mouko or her summons may set themselves aflame. The flame is harmless to them, and is capable of melting through solid stone. This coating of flame serves as both a weapon and shield, the amount paid in acting as its durability and output. The ability degrades normally as per barrier rules.
[ Senbu Gachan ] - "Apex Crash" (100% Resonance)
The terrifying realization of the nature of her soul, Mouko's Overdrive Ability may be used once Ryou & Ishi have fulfilled their half of Mouko's Resonance. Paying 10% of her reiatsu, Ryou & Ishi are subsumed, using all of their remaining reiatsu as additional power for the attack.
Clasping her hands together, she concentrates her energy into a single point between them before unleashing it outwards. Depending on how she releases the attack, it can be unleashed at various angles.
The ability itself is two-fold, bearing both a powerful wave of energy capable of vaporizing all in its path, and a heady psychological impact in the form of a spectral tiger lunging at the opponent, with those who witness the ability's use struck by an innate sense of panic.
Reasons for Review: Ryoushi Sousei (or Shuryouki, as I've come to rename it) generates a diminishing return on the summons' Resonance gain to such a point that it eventually becomes impossible to attain Overdrive with current mechanics.
Suggested Changes: Remove the split Resonance Bar mechanic, and allow for both Mouko and the summons to generate Resonance.
Reviewed sentence bolded for posterity.
An Advent’s maximum Resonance is equal to one half of their total Reiatsu. Any Reatsu they spend increases their Resonance by an equal amount. From 0% to 50% Resonance, An Advent has access to their Initial Awakening, as well as unlocking their first Resonance Attack at 25%. From 50% to 100%, an Advent gains access to their True Awakening, and is granted their Overdrive attack at 100%. Additionally, the Advent receives a 10% boost to all stats upon reaching 100% Resonance. At 50% and above, the user must gather momentum or lose it: if they do not gain at least 10% Resonance per turn, they instead lose 10% Resonance.
Reasons for Review: The reasons for this are actually pretty simple: the drop-off in Resonance return without the use of personal percentile-cost abilities doesn't sustain this rule in the system.
With this rule, any Advent Human does not pay equal to or greater than 5% of their base reiatsu per round fails to generate any. If they do successfully generate 10% Resonance, but then fail to meet this condition the following round, they are losing an investment of reiatsu that is always greater than the amount they paid the round prior.
Advent Human base techniques are always flat cost. This means that the amount of Resonance they generate as an Advent Human goes up in strength diminishes. Without the use of percentile abilities, which must be used through Feats or Awakenings as all natural abilities of an Advent Human are flat cost, this state eventually demands that a player spam abilities, before ultimately negating the possibility of building from 50% Resonance to 100% Resonance with base techniques at all.
With an implicit rule for combat writing that states that spamming abilities in one round is distasteful, this mechanic runs directly counter to it, and forces an Advent Human writer to potentially betray the fighting style or persona of their character so as to not forsake their own momentum.
Suggested Changes: I have, previously, suggested a couple of changes. My first and usual suggestion is to allow any expenditure of reiatsu during a round of combat to be requisite enough. The logic of gaining momentum holds as they are continuing to utilize their spiritual abilities, and it allows an Advent to utilize base techniques more freely without feeling obligated to overuse them or utilize higher-cost abilities instead.
This suggestion has also been shot down. Another suggestion would be to lower the requisite amount from 10% Resonance to 5% Resonance per round. Failing that, I would suggest any alternative that would allow for Advent Humans to more freely utilize their abilities without feeling as though their investment on the reiatsu spent isn't wasted by halting their momentum immediately, as well as still giving incentive to put pressure on an opponent or continue to put up a strong front.