#National Tatsujin Tournament Overview and Rules
Contents
#§ Scent — Where Everyone Who Carries a Sword Gathers
The National Tatsujin Tournament(全國達人戰) is an unofficial martial-arts tournament held every 3 years in the region around Kyoto. It is hosted by Kyoto's influential court nobles (公家) and sponsored by various warrior houses. By record the first tournament began nearly 30 years ago, and among the contestants of that time were several swordmasters who later won nationwide names.
The tournament format is simple. Regional qualifiers → regional semifinals → Kyoto main tournament → grand final. Each stage runs 3~5 days, the whole course about 3 months. Qualifiers are held in each region (about 30 sites nationwide), and the regional semifinals are grouped into Kanto, Kansai, Kyushu, and Tohoku. The main tournament is held only in Kyoto.
There is no distinction of high or low birth in eligibility — ronin, samurai, peasants, fiends (when disguised), and gaijin can all take part. However, at each stage an oath from 3 witnesses (證人) is required. Without witnesses you cannot enter the qualifiers.
#§ Law — Tournament Structure Rules
#PC dan by Stage
| Episode | Stage | Recommended PC dan | Sessions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Regional Qualifiers | 3-dan | 3~4 |
| 2 | Regional Semifinals (Kanto or Kansai) | 5-dan | 3~5 |
| 3 | Foreign Invitation Episode | 5~6-dan | 3~5 |
| 4 | Shadow Tournament | 6~7-dan | 3~5 |
| 5 | Grand Final (Kyoto Main Tournament) | 7-dan | 4~6 |
This document contains all of Episodes 1~5.
#Tournament Bout Rules (Combat Variant)
Comply with the basic combat rules, with the following adjustments:
- Single-bout system(1:1 duel): the basic mode. A contest between 2 bodies. Wounds 0 → defeat.
- Best 2 of 3 system: regional semifinals and above. One round = 1 combat. Wounds recover automatically between rounds (apply 00-05 §3 Category A Tournament Variant — full Wounds recovery in the Lull Phase between rounds).
- Time limit: each round is at most 10 rounds. On overrun the referee declares (the one with superior Domination wins).
- Disallowed techniques:
- Lethal-intent techniques are forbidden (Jigen-ryu, Itto-ryu, and the like are lethal in essence but must voluntarily declare a "non-lethal mode" — voluntarily forfeiting the instant-death limiting condition)
- Poison is fully forbidden (Poisoncraft schools do not participate)
- Yoma summoning is forbidden (disadvantageous to some onmyoji)
- Outside support is forbidden (squad/NPC intervention forbidden)
- Referees: 3 referee-officials dispatched from the Kyoto court nobles (NPC authority +3 fixed). They arbitrate rulings.
#Referee Ruling Precedents
| Situation | Ruling |
|---|---|
| Clear lethal intent | warning 1 time, disqualification on repeat |
| Use of a disallowed technique | immediate disqualification |
| Interference with a referee | immediate disqualification + permanent expulsion from the tournament |
| Ambiguous ruling | referee consensus — 2d10 + referee authority +3 versus the contestant's Renown, an opposed check |
#Rewards (by Stage)
Prize unit: unified in kan(貫) (the gold-coin unit is avoided to prevent conflict with the core trade rules). 1 kan ≈ 1.5 gold approximate.
| Stage | Winner Reward | Participation Reward |
|---|---|---|
| Regional Qualifiers | 10 kan, fame +1 | 2 kan |
| Regional Semifinals | 50 kan, fame +3, school interest (free Novice admission) | 10 kan, fame +1 |
| Foreign Invitation Episode | 1 foreign Divine Treasure, fame +5 | a chance to learn a foreign-Adaptation feat |
| Shadow Tournament | (secret dealing, 50 kan~500 kan) | relationship-building |
| Grand Final | nationwide fame (a Tatsujin capstone-candidate narrative), 1 masterwork | fame +5, a chance for a class shift |
#Major NPC Organizations
- Kyoto court nobles — the host side. Political purpose (grasping the movements of regional swordmasters).
- Referee Council — 3~5 representatives from each school nationwide. They profess fairness.
- Shadow Tournament — a secret contest on the underside of the official tournament where assassins and fiends take part. Appears in Episode 4.
- Foreign envoys — representatives of Joseon, Ming, and Nanban. Appear in Episode 3.
#§ Linked Documents
"Let everyone who has the name of a sword come. Let us speak with blades." — Opening address of the 30th National Tatsujin Tournament