#Progression (成長體系)

Contents

A 10-step level structure called dan (段). Odd dan build identity; even dan strengthen fundamentals.

Related Entries: Classes · Skills · Renown Title · Attributes

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#Scent — The Path of Advancement

From a novice warrior first standing on the battlefield to a battle-tested commander, there are ten moments of realization. At odd dan, battlefield realization is engraved as "traits"; at even dan, constant training raises the foundations called "attributes and skills."

1st dan is a greenhorn who has just taken up the sword. 5th dan is a warrior whose name is known. A Tatsujin (10th dan) is a legend whose name rings across Sengoku.

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#Law — 10-Step Alternating Progression Table

#Specialized Class 1st-Dan Setup

The class inherent training at 1st dan (1 Trained + 3 Novice) is written in starting automatic skills at the top of each class document.

#Freedom of Trait Choice — Lower-Dan Traits Can Be Chosen

When you gain a new trait slot on advancement, you may choose traits from lower dan as well as traits from the current dan.

Principles:

• You cannot take the same trait twice (except traits explicitly marked repeatable, such as "Tough").
• General trait slots can always choose freely from all general traits (no stage restriction).
• Choosing a lower-dan trait has narrative justification: "the character trained longer and strengthened fundamentals."
• A 5th-dan samurai can choose the 3rd-dan trait "Declare Duel" in a 5th-dan class trait slot.
• A 7th-dan scholar can choose the 5th-dan trait "Overall Command" in a 7th-dan slot, if they did not already take it at 5th dan.
• A 9th-dan character can use a 9th-dan slot on the general trait "Tough."

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#Fundamental Growth Details (Even Dan)

• Attribute +1: add +1 to 1 desired attribute (maximum cap +3).
• Skills +2 points: freely allocate 2 skill points. Watch proficiency caps:
• Licensed-or-higher (Licensed / Master / Saint) counts share one cap: 1 at Dan 1, +1 per even-dan promotion (Dan 2, 4, 6, 8, 10) — 1/2/3/4/5/6 at Dan 1/2/4/6/8/10.
• Master (4 points) is possible from Dan 2 and only among the 6 class-allowed skills. Saint (5 points) is Tatsujin (Dan 10) only.

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#Trait Types

#Class Traits

Choose from the 3/5/7/9 dan lists on each class page. These strengthen the class's tactical identity.

#Advanced Class Traits

Unlocked from 7th dan. Powerful abilities that significantly bend combat rules. Choose from each class's advanced list.

#General Traits

Can be gained regardless of class. General-purpose combat/exploration abilities. Each trait is classified into one of the 5 maneuver types.

#Background Traits / Background Growth

Traits provided by Backgrounds. Gained at 1st dan and 5th/9th dan.

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#Advancement Conditions

#Scent

Advancement is not simply accumulating experience points. It is realization on the battlefield, a moment of growth at the border of life and death. GM and players decide advancement by agreement.

#Law — Rule

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#Schools and Progression

#When Schools Are Learned

A school is learned by spending 1 trait slot. It can be learned at the following times:

#Unlocking School Maneuvers

School maneuvers are tied to skill proficiency:

A school replaces the skill's Licensed maneuver and secret art (Master-stage maneuver). Weapon technique slots (uchigatana One Flash, zanbato One Stroke, etc.) are unrelated to schools.

#Changing Schools / Expulsion

#Growing Without a School

Even without learning a school, the basic techniques of Licensed/Master remain usable. Schools are a choice. In builds where trait slots are precious (many traits required), a build without a school may be better.

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#Dual Build (二重構成, Dual Build / Multiclass)

#Scent — Two Paths

Kagura Nobutsuna is both samurai and scholar. Honganji Shonin is both a Pure Land monk and an arahitogami. Some people find one path insufficient, and walk two paths.

A dual build borrows the traits of a secondary class on top of the primary class. You can use the power of both classes, but neither reaches its extreme. The total cap of 10 dan does not change.

#Law — Dual Build Rules

#Learning Conditions

#Secondary Class Prerequisites

#What You Gain from a Secondary Class

#What You Do Not Gain from a Secondary Class

#Dual-Build-Exclusive Renown Titles (Tatsujin, 10th Dan)

When a dual-build character reaches 10th dan (Tatsujin), they gain 1 unique Renown Title trait based on the primary+secondary combination. This is a state possible only at the border between two classes, impossible to classify as either one.

GM Note: The table above is an example of major combinations. For combinations not listed, GM and player should design a unique Renown Title together. Principle: "weaker than the ultimate ability of either class, but possessing a unique synergy that neither has."

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From 1st dan to Tatsujin. Ten moments of realization make a legend. For one who walks two paths — there is an eleventh realization.

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#Adaptation (適應) — Expansion Classes Only

#Scent — Learning by Those Not of This Age

Some do not belong to this age. A modern person swallowed by a Spirit Realm rift, a heroic spirit summoned from another time and space, a celestial fallen from the divine realm into the present world. They do not know this age's martial arts. They do not know samurai sword forms, esoteric mudras, or feng shui earth veins.

But they learn. They watch allies fight on the battlefield, stand against enemy techniques, and make the skills of this age their own. This is adaptation — not formal apprenticeship, but observation and imitation on the battlefield.

#Law — Adaptation Rules

#Eligible Classes

Only modern humans, heroic spirits, and celestials (the 3 outsider classes) can use this. The official 18 classes (Base 6 + Expansion 12) and fiend classes cannot use it (use dual build instead).

Adaptation and dual build are mutually exclusive. Classes using adaptation cannot use dual build, and classes using dual build cannot use adaptation.

#Adaptation Slots

#Adaptation Penalty

Because this imitates the techniques of this age, it is slightly less efficient than the original.

#Specialization Bonus

If you borrow 2 or more traits from the same class, the penalty is waived from the 2nd trait onward.

Beyond observation lies mastery. The more deeply you learn one class's techniques, the closer you come to the original.

Example: If a modern human borrows the samurai 3rd-dan trait "Declare Duel" through adaptation, it has Energy +1 penalty. If they later also borrow the samurai 5th-dan trait "Guarding Stance" through adaptation, Guarding Stance has no penalty (2nd borrowed trait from the same class).

#Principle: Adaptation Conversion Limits Only Frequency

This principle is identical to ../co-99-meta/co-99-02-core-principles.md Principle 5.

Traits borrowed through adaptation keep the original trigger conditions. Only frequency changes.

• [Kata]/[stance]/[upkeep]: Energy cost +1. Conditions and effects remain as written.
• [aptitude]: "always" → "1 time per round." Original trigger conditions (for example: infiltrating, holding a specific weapon, maintaining a specific stance, etc.) are preserved. If the conditions are not met, the trait does not trigger in that round.

This rule creates no additional interpretation. "Adaptation does not create new rights not written in the original." Example: a celestial who borrows the shinobi 3rd-dan [Ambush] through adaptation cannot claim, while not infiltrating, that "the adapted version is unconditional automatic critical." The original requires infiltration, so the adapted version also requires that condition.

#Scent of Adapted Traits

Traits borrowed through adaptation may use the original name and scent as written, or may be reinterpreted through the character's own age/culture. Mechanical effects are the same (after applying penalties).

• Modern human borrows Immovable Formation → "defensive position construction" (modern tactical term)
• Heroic spirit (Karna) borrows Declare Duel → "Indra's Duel" (Indian mythic interpretation)
• Celestial borrows Tough → "Residual Divinity" (remaining divine power)

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