#GM Custom-School Design Guide

Contents

The protocol for when a GM directly designs a new school suited to their own table · campaign. A guide based on the patterns of this expansion's ~150 schools.

#§ Scent — Why Make Your Own

This expansion provides ~150 schools, but these are only a part of all possibilities. A GM's campaign has its own ideas · history · worldview, so there may be schools this expansion does not reach. This guide is the procedure for making them safely.

#§ Law — The 8 Custom-Build Stages

#Stage 1: Skill Selection

First, which skill's school is it? One of the core 36 skills.

• Skills that already have schools (Swordsmanship · Spearmanship · Archery · Unarmed Combat · Ninjutsu · Sorcery · Exorcism · Medicine): clarifying the point of distinction from existing schools of the core · 1st · this expansion is required.
• Skills that had no schools (Horsemanship · Mobility 6 · Exploration 6 · Command 6 · Barrier · Prophecy · Poisoncraft): this expansion introduces newly established maneuvers. Follow that pattern.
• The 6 dedicated skills (Fighting Spirit · Speed · Hardiness · Stratagem · Bearing · Fortune): schools forbidden. Use training methods (see the 20-01 framework).

#Stage 2: Type Selection

One of the 4 school types:

The GM selects the type most fitting for the custom school. Foreign School is recommended by this expansion (emphasizing the weight of Foreign School).

#Stage 3: Cultural Origin · Approach Conditions

Notation of source · period · cultural sphere (adhering to the 00-04 §period · cultural-sphere explicit-statement principle) — insert the following 3 lines right after §Scent or at the top of §Law:

**Source**: [origin of the school/text/tradition]
**Period**: [time of establishment or activity]
**Cultural sphere**: [country · region · people]

Examples:

• Source — German Liechtenauer Swordsmanship / Period — mid 14th century / Cultural sphere — Holy Roman Empire
• Source — Maya rite-of-passage oral tradition / Period — late 15th century / Cultural sphere — Central American Maya

Approach conditions: how can a PC learn this school? Background · general trait · learning from an NPC · Session 0 agreement, etc.

#Stage 4: Designing Licensed · Secret-Art Maneuvers (replacing the core base maneuvers)

Replace the 2 base maneuvers per skill in the core School Data with 2 maneuvers of your own school:

| stage | core base | school replacement |
|------|---------|----------|
| Licensed | (core base maneuver) | **[type] [maneuver name]**: Energy · check · effect · limit |
| secret art | (core base maneuver) | **[type] [maneuver name]**: Energy · check · effect · limit |

Type notation: [Kata] (a 1-time action), [Stance] (a sustained stance), [Upkeep] (the lull phase), [aptitude] (a constant effect), [Tactic:Kata] (squad unit), [technique] (tied to weapon · armor · consumable — core 03-07), [Non-Combat Action] (session · day · week unit — this expansion §13)

Energy cost: Licensed 1~3, secret art 3~5 recommended. Within Energy ±1 of the core base is safe.

Critical Expansion · Fumble prevention (this expansion 2 limited option): as a school add-on effect, Critical Expansion or Fumble prevention can be attached — under specific conditions (thrust only · while in stance · on a Surprise Attack, etc.). No overuse (1~2 maneuvers per school recommended).

#Stage 5: Add-On · Restriction (Balance)

• Add-on: a 1~2 line constant benefit. Not too strong.
• Restriction: a 1~2 line limit · condition. Balanced with the add-on.

#Stage 6: Approach Conditions · Play Type

• Approach: clear conditions (background · general trait · learning from an NPC, etc.).
• Play type: 2~3 keywords (e.g.: sniping · mountain · Scouting).

#Stage 7: Point of Distinction From Core Schools

Examine whether the custom school is a mere variant of an existing school. Points of distinction:

• Idea: a different philosophy even for the same technique.
• Use conditions: a different environment · time · NPC.
• Higher technique: a different effect at the secret-art stage.

This expansion's §4.4.0 "allowance of technique sharing" principle — some overlap is OK. But the reason for existing must be clear.

#Stage 8: Confirmation List

• [ ] Energy cost within ±1 of the core base
• [ ] Balance of add-on · restriction (a strong add-on with a strong restriction)
• [ ] ±1 strength versus core schools (balance versus other schools)
• [ ] Approach conditions clear
• [ ] No change to the core skill itself (only newly establishing · replacing maneuvers)
• [ ] No encroachment on the dedicated-skill domain (adhering to the training-method framework)
• [ ] Stating the principle of 1 school holdable at a time by one PC
• [ ] Examining conflict with the 1st expansion · this expansion

#§ Custom Template

# [school name] ([kanji · original])

**Type**: [Famous School / Secret Transmission / Self-Taught Style / Foreign School]
**Skill**: [skill name]
**Cultural origin**: [source]
**Play type**: [2~3 keywords]

## § Scent
[1~2 paragraphs: idea · history · culture]

## § Law

**Add-on**: [1~2 lines]
**Restriction**: [1~2 lines]

| stage | core base | school replacement |
|------|---------|----------|
| Licensed | [core base] | **[type] [maneuver name]**: Energy · effect |
| secret art | [core base] | **[type] [maneuver name]**: Energy · effect |

**Approach**: [conditions]
**Play type**: [keywords]

## § Point-of-Distinction Memo
- Versus core schools: [point of distinction]
- Versus this-expansion schools: [point of distinction]
- Balance: [examination of core ±1]

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*"[maxim]"*

#§ GM Custom-Build Recommendations

• Session 0 agreement: a custom school is recommended to be agreed with the PCs in advance.
• Sharing: a well-made custom school is recommended to be shared in this expansion's community (if any).
• Trial play: adjust effects after a 1~2 session trial.
• Training methods are separate: dedicated skills forbid schools. Design training methods following the 20-01 framework.

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"The hundred-branched paths are not predetermined. One person makes a new path with a single step."