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Shinto & Abilities FAQs
What is
Shinto? Shinto is a Japanese
philosophy of personality types. Squaresoft uses
Shinto in many of its games, most notably in
Xenogears, as well as the same concept of
Elements for its abilities. If you want to
understand more about Shinto and personality
types or need to figure out which Element your
character belongs to, go to Shinto
Personalities. How
does Shinto determine your abilities on
Eldridge? Your Element determines the
class of abilities your character can draw from,
while your Ether level determines whether you
are capable of learning and using those
abilities. Ether level increases with training,
but your Element classification is determined at
birth. Some people are Multi-Element, but will
only be able to use the abilities of their main
Element. They may with training be able to call
upon the Elemental Attack of their lesser
Element, but for example, a water-wind will not
suddenly pick up empathy no matter how long and
hard they train.
What
about magic or other world system
powers? While incanted magic is an
almost entirely lost art on Eldridge (there is
only one known practitioner of what is called
the 'Arcane'), magic and other world system
abilities are allowed, so long as there is an
external source for them (ie, a wind may cast a
fire spell provided he uses components and has
magic training and manna available, or by using
materia or a guardian force, etc). However, note
that when using magic outside your Element, you
will be weaker with it than you would with your
own Element. Characters from other world systems
find themselves naturally limited in
non-external spells and abilities by Eldridge's
strange manna, thereby giving some sense of
equality. Because of its proximity to Celestia,
priestly powers operate at the same level as
that of the god's homeworld. Racial abilities
are also allowed, but try to keep it sane here.
Munchkins tend to tick Jessie Blanche off.
;) What is
Ether? Ether is the power that
resides in every person in varying levels of
strength. Similar to chi, it can be considered a
life force. Ether evidences itself within the
Element class of a person's Shinto personality,
although the specific manifestation will vary
from person to person. Each person's Ether
belongs only to their main Element, although
Multi-Elements can learn to draw upon the
Elemental Attack of their lesser Elements. Ether
level is measured on a scale of 1-500. Ether
level can be increased with training, however
most people 'top out' at an Ether level of
200-300. How do I
learn abilities and increase my Ether
level? Easy, you just have to find a
teacher who knows that ability or an Element
Class with an understanding of that ability to
train you. Ether levels are increased by
practice with using Ether, similar to building
muscle strength and endurance. Ether and Element
exhibit themselves differently in each
individual and everyone has differing levels of
skill within each ability. Just because you're a
master with Lightning, for example, doesn't mean
you'll automatically be great with the 'lower'
ability of Tornado. It's freeform, make your
characters interesting and varied. What is
the limitation on abilities a character can use
during battle? All abilities come with an
Ether Cost. Your Ether level determines the
amount of Ether you have available, with each
ability used draining from that number. When you
run out of Ether, you lose consciousness. Ether
can be restored by rest, elixir, or the fruit
ariberries from which the elixir is derived.
Ether can also be temporarily boosted by use of
the drug 'Drive', however, the dangerous side
effects of this drug make it a highly controlled
substance and it is illegal to possess for
non-EDF personnel. When using 'Drive' your Ether
is raised to double your level and all abilities
require only half the Ether Cost. 'Drive' will
also make an Element Class extremely vulnerable
to AEROD state. What
is Element Class? Element Class refers to
certain people who by nature have a higher Ether
level than others and a stronger aptitude for
training. These gifted Ether users are referred
to as Element Class because they are capable of
passing the stringent testing to become an
Element in the Eldridge Defense Force. Element
Class start at an Ether level of 300 and are
capable, with training, of reaching 500. An
Element Class with sufficient training is
capable of determining if someone has the
potential to be Element Class. In addition,
those with the potential will often naturally
manifest the Psi ability of their
Element. How do
different Elemental Attacks do
damage? Elemental Attacks come in
three levels. The lowest level strikes one enemy
with moderate damage, the middle level strikes
one enemy with heavy damage, and the highest
level is an area effect, causing heavy damage to
any targets in that area. An Elemental Attack
will do double damage if it strikes someone of
the opposing Element and half damage if it
strikes someone of the same Element. What is
an AEROD? Automatic Ether Reactive
Offensive Deployment is a state which only
Element Class can reach. AEROD is a dangerous
and uncontrolled state which results from severe
emotional imbalance or use of the drug 'Drive'.
AERODs do not cause damage to the Element Class
producing them. Each Element has its specific
AEROD state:
Fire:
Firestorm The Element Class will
generate a field of intense heat igniting all
flesh within a 25' radius. Water: Boil The Element Class will
achieve a temporary state (about 5 minutes)
similar to berserk, nearly indestructable and
capable of incredible strength. They are
immune to all Ether abilites and physical
attacks will cause little damage. They are
more likely to attack their allies than their
enemies in this state and will seem cold and
robotic. Wind:
Shockwave The Element Class will
create a vacuum in a 20' radius, followed by
an immensely destructive implosion. Shockwave
is the most lethal AEROD. Earth:
Quake The Element Class will
create an earthquake of magnitude equal to
double one-hundreth their Ether level (ie, an
earth with Ether level 400 will be the
epicenter of a quake of (400/100) x 2
magnitude, or 8.0).
What is
Looping? Looping is a difficult ability
to learn whereby someone of Element Class draws
Element from another and combines it with their
own Element for an Elemental Attack. Looping is
easiest for Winds, almost natural, and most
difficult for Earths. Multi-Elements can also
learn to loop between their Elements. In a
looped Elemental Attack, the Ether Cost is
credited against the caster and negligably
against the person the Element is drawn
from. A note
about 'Drive' 'Drive' is a powerful drug
which can temporarily (for a period of minutes
to days depending on the user) powerfully
increase your Ether. However, it has strong and
often devestating side effects. 'Drive'
instantly creates an unstable emotional state,
making the user volatile and uncontrolled. Users
of Element Class will become vulnerable to
repeated incidents of AEROD state. This effect
is most evident in winds, followed by waters,
fires, and earths, with earths most able to
control their reactions to the drug. When using
'Drive' a person may react by becoming
susceptible to external influence (most common
in waters) or extremely violent towards even
their closest allies (most common in fires).
Judgement is highly impaired in all users and
they will make decisions and perform actions
while under the influence of the drug that may
be the exact opposite of their moral standards.
Excessive use of 'Drive' can lead to psychosis
and brain damage. Because of these side effects,
'Drive' is a highly controlled substance only
available to EDF Elements and personnel cleared
for its use and is to be used in cases of life
or death emergency only.
Ability
Classes by Element
Ether level required to learn a
ability/Ether Cost to use a ability is listed in
brackets [ / ] after the ability. Note:
this is freeform roleplay, so nobody is keeping
track of numbers. You're expected to have a good
idea of your character's limitations, these numbers
are basically to give you a ballpark figure to work
from.
Fire Elemental Attack: Fire
[200/10], Fireball [300/20],
Flamethrower [400/50]
Shape: Fire [100/1]
Self & Allies: Attack Up [100/5],
Accuracy & Evasion Up [200/5],
Counter Attack [200/5]
Enemy: Accuracy & Evasion Down
[200/5], Dazzle [300/5], Lure
Attack [300/5]
Loop: Wind (Fire Twister)[400/20], Earth
(Lava Flow) [400/20], Water (Scalder)
[400/40]
Psi: Confuse [400/5] Water Elemental Attack: Water
[200/10], Frost [300/20], Ice
[400/50]
Shape: Water [100/1], Ice
[200/5]
Self & Allies: Remove Negative Effects
[100/5], Heal [200/5], Defense
Up [200/5], Attack Up [200/5],
Speed Up [200/5], Block Negative
Physical Effects [300/5], Shield
Elemental Attack [300/5], Remove KO
[300/5]
Enemy: Change Water Temperature (either cool or
heat liquid in object or body)
[300/5]
Loop: Wind (Cyclone) [400/20], Earth
(Quicksand) [400/20], Fire (Scalder)
[400/40]
Psi: Scan Physical [400/5] Wind Elemental Attack: Tornado
[200/10], Lightning [300/20],
Plasma [400/50]
Shape: Air (Illusion)[200/1]
Self & Allies: Speed Up [100/5],
Remove Negative Mental Effects [200/5],
Shield Elemental Attack [300/5]
Enemy: Slow [200/5], Stop
[300/5], Add Loop to Physical Attack
[400/5+Loop]
Loop: Water (Cyclone) [300/10], Fire
(Fire Twister) [300/10], Earth
(Sandblast) [300/20]
Psi: Empathy [300/2], Scan Mental
[400/5] Earth Elemental Attack: Temblor
[200/10], Stone [300/20], Meteor
[400/50]
Shape: Earth [100/1], Stone
[200/5]
Self & Allies: Attack Up [200/5],
Defense Up [200/5], Ether Defense Up
[300/5], Counter Attack [300/5],
Berserk [300/5], Heal (self-only)
[400/5]
Enemy: Chi Attack Single Target
[200/10], Chi Attack Area Effect (20'
diameter) [400/20]
Loop: Water (Quicksand) [450/25], Fire
(Lava Flow) [450/25], Wind (Sandblast)
[500/50]
Psi: Mind Control [400/5]
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