II. Character Types


1. OLD TYPES (SCOUT / SENSHI, KNIGHT, VILLAIN)

==A. Sailor Senshi / Scout Overview

Sailor Senshi are superpowered heroines, guardians of celestial bodies in space, who fight in stylized sailor suits. They draw their power from within themselves, though they may launch Sailor Senshi Attacks by focusing their power though Items of Power. Each has an Element of Influence.

(For more, see p. 31-32 in the Sailor Moon RPG Resource Book.)

==B. Knight Overview

Knights are male counterparts of the Sailor Senshi, also superpowered guardians of celestial bodies. Their typical attire is formal wear, uniforms, or cultural clothing that acts on a particular theme. This theme is usually manifested in their Emotion of Influence and their Knight Attack. Often, they have a strong connection to one or more Sailor Senshi.

(For more, see p. 31-32 in the Sailor Moon RPG Resource Book.)

==C. Dark Villain Overview

Vilains are charged with dark power, and they can take many forms. They can channel this power into Dark Attacks. They are known to carry out tasks for their masters, which often involves draining energy from living targets. Dark Villains are also capable of altering their surroundings with Environ- mental Control and deflecting positive energy.

(For more, see p. 38-39 in the Sailor Moon RPG Resource Book.)

==D. Gender of Characters

The Sailor Senshi are exclusively female, Knights can only be male, and Villains can be either one. (Although, like the Sailor Starlights, a male civilian can transform into a female Sailor Senshi.)

==E. For More Information

For more information, refer to your "Sailor Moon RPG" source book. For more information outside the RPG setting, visit Hitoshi Doi's Online Encyclopedia:
http://www.tcp.com/doi/smoon/smoon.html

2. SAMURAI TROOPERS / RONIN WARRIORS

==A. Ronin Armor

A Samurai Trooper's power comes from his armor. Ronin Armor is charged with elemental powers that can be directed into a Ronin Attack. This attack requires that he focus this energy through his Ronin Weapon. The Ronin Armor may also act on its own to protect its wearer, by means of a Guardian Force that rests within it. It may also become strengthened when it is immersed in its own element.

==B. Special Trait

His Ronin Armor is bound to him by a Special Trait, a virtue that is a part of his personality. His Special Trait will manifest itself outwardly as a glowing kanji (Chinese symbol) on his forehead.

[For example, Ryo is linked to the Wildfire Armor (Rekka no Yoroi) by his Special Trait "Jin" (Benevolence). It is fire- elemental, and became more powerful when he was trapped inside a volcano. He focuses the armor's power through his twin todatchi when executing his SouEnZan ("Twin Flame Cut").]

==C. Gender Role

In the show, all Samurai Troopers are male. But, since the power rests in the armor and the armor conforms to the shape of its wearer, it is not unthinkable that Ronin Armor can be worn by a female hero.

==D. For More Information

For more information outside the RPG context, check out the Dark Warlords of the Dynasty page or Kikotei.Org:
Warlords - http://members.nbci.com/darkwarlords/
Kikotei.Org - http://www.fortunecity.com/tattooine/t1000/141/

3. MASHOU / DARK WARLORDS

==A. Special Trait

The Dark Warlords, like the Ronin Warriors, derive thier powers from their armor. Warlord Armor is linked to its wearer through a Special Trait as well. But, whereas the Special Trait of a Ronin Warrior sets him on the path of truth and justice, a Warlord's Special Trait does not neccessarily do this. [While Ryo's "Benevolence" trait ensures that he is a champion of justice, Sekmet (Naaza) exemplifies "Nin" ("Serene Endurence"), which can be used for good or evil.]

==B. Warlord Armor

Warlord Armor does not draw power from an Element of Power as a Ronin Armor does, although it may have some elemental properties. It is typically named after an animal. [Kale (Anubis) has the Panther (originally Jackyl) Armor, which has an elemental connection to darkness. Dais (Rajura) has the Spider Armor, which has no elemental connection.]

==C. Powers

A Dark Warlord can alter the environment to a degree, but his primary area of control lies in Personality Influence. He can control a person's desires or perceptions in such a way that the target will tend towards corruption and evil. [Dais (Rajura) is the Warlord of Illusion, Anubis (Shuten Doji) the Warlord of Cruelty, and so forth.]

==D. Weapons and Attacks

Lastly, Dark Warlords can be armed with a multitude of weapons, but they focus their Armor's power through a Warlord Primary Weapon when they launch their Warlord Attack. [Kale's Seondary Weapon is the claw on his gauntlet, but his Primary Weapon is the large nodachi he carries, with which he launches his "Black Lightning Slash."]

==E. Gender Roles

A Dark Warlord can be either male or female. [Anubis (Shuten) transferred the Ogre Armor to Kayura upon his death, allowing her to use its power.]

==F. For More Information

For more information outside the RPG context, check out the Dark Warlords of the Dynasty page or Kikotei.Org:
Warlords - http://members.nbci.com/darkwarlords/
Kikotei.Org - http://www.fortunecity.com/tattooine/t1000/141/

4. DUAL IDENTITIES

==A. Sailor Senshi / Scouts and Knights

A Senshi or Knight maintains a dual identity. When he or she transforms into their Champion of Justice alter-ego, their true identities are masked through magical means. [For example, Sailor Mercury's true identity as Ami Mizuno is known only to her Sailor Senshi friends. She "looks different" to everyone else around her.]

==B. Dark Villains

A Dark Villain's role as a supervillain is his true identity. However he or she may choose to disguise themself to opperate in the field unnoticed. [Nephlite often targeted Molly while using the alias of "Maxfield Stanton."]

==C. "Yoroiden ("Armor Legend"): Samurai Troopers" Characters

However, Ronin Warriors and Dark Warlords are not magically disguised when they activate their respective Armors. Unless their armor contains some additional feature (such as to hide thier faces behind a mask), they do not have a dual identity. They can be recognized and attacked while in "civilian" form. [Kayura was able to identify and attack Ryo and Rowan (Touma) in the crowded streets of Tokyo, even though they were not in full armor.]

5. POWER DYNAMICS

==A. Access to Powers

Typically, a Sailor Senshi or Knight gains access to his or her special powers by transforming from their normal selves into Champions of Justice. Transforming allows them access to their Sailor and Knight Attacks and their Elements or Emotions of Influence.

Ronin Warriors and Dark Warlords opperate similarly. They have no powers available to them when they are in civilian guise. They become powered when they don their mystical armor, gaining access to their Attacks as well as Element of Power or Personality Influence. However, there is an intermediate step between full armor regalia and civilian clothing: the sub-armor. The sub-armor may provide protection from harm.

A Dark Villain usually has access to any and all powers, regardless of whether or not he or she is appearing as thier true self or not.

==B. Attack "Priority"

All superpowered characters have access to one or more magical attacks. Some of these attacks have an advantage over others when one character's magical attack is used to defend against an aggressor's attack or when the attacks are launched simultaneously and collide head-to-head. The term used to describe this phenomenon in arcade fighting games is "priority."

The attack of a Dark Villain has priority over that of a Sailor Senshi. The effect of a Villain's Negaverse Attack is doubled when going head-to-head with a Senshi Attack. This may be negated if these attack involve diametrically opposed elements (GM's discression). However, this does not apply to Knight attacks. [For example, Catzi (Cooan) uses "Dark Fire," which has an advantage over Sailor Jupiter's "Jupiter Thunder Crash" ("Supreme Thunder"), but not so much against Sailor Mercury's "Shine Aqua Illusion." Catzi's attack has no such advantage over Tuxedo Mask's Rose Throw.]

In this expansion, the "positive energy" that powers the Sailor Senshi and Knights can be equated with the energy that powers the mystical armor of a Ronin Warrior. The "dark power" that surges through a Dark Villain can be likened to the power of Warlord Armor, given the Warlord's connection to the powers of evil. However, Ronin Armor and Warlord Armor are tied to one another in their mystical origins, and their powers are both tied to human virtue.

Therefore, barring elemental effects or other factors:

  • Villain Attack has priority over Senshi and Ronin Attacks.
  • Warlord Attack has priority over Senshi Attacks.
  • Warlord Attack and Villain Attack have no priority.
  • Warlord Attack and Ronin Attack have no priority.
  • Ronin Attack and Senshi Attack have no priority.
  • Knight Attacks are unaffected by priority against any attack.
  • (See p. 37 and p. 41 in the Sailor Moon RPG Resource Book for a more precise description of how "priority" opperates in a combat scenario.)

    ==C. Combined Attacks

    Sailor Senshi are capable of combining their attacks with one another. [This is seen in the instance of the "Sailor Planet Attack."] The Sailor Moon RPG allows them to join attacks with Knights as well, with all parties pooling their energy into a single effort. (See p. 33-34 in the Sailor Moon RPG Source Book for more.)

    Because the "positive energy" that flows through Senshi and Knights is the same as that within Ronin Armor, a Ronin Warrior can combine energy with a Knight or Senshi. [Four of the Ronin Warriors combined their strength to make a final strike against Talpa (Arago).]

    Ronin Armor and Warlord Armor are tied together by their origins. So, if a Ronin Warrior has become "Tainted By Evil" or a Dark Warlord has a "Question of Loyalty" (See "YOROIDEN DEFECTS" for more.), they may combine energy with each other. Ronin Warriors may combine attacks with each other. Dark Warlords may combine attacks or energy with each other. With- out the aforementioned defects, though, their energy may not mix. Lastly, Warlords may never combine energy with Sailor Senshi or Knights.

    Dark Villains cannot combine energy with anyone.

    Even though the energy is commonly combined to intertwine their attacks or is focused through a single player to launch a single, massive attack, the practice is not exclusive to combat. Energies can often be pooled to achieve other, more creative effects. [For instance, Sailors Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, and Venus joined their power in the Sailor Teleport. Also, Ryo, Sage (Seiji), Kento (Xiuli), Cye (Shin), and Rowan (Touma) merged their armors into a protective field called the Circle of Light.]

    ==D. Super Armor

    Certain mystical armors can be "upgraded" if other individuals contribute their power. This attribute is common to both Ronin and Warlord Armors. [The Armor of Wildfire can accept four other characters' power to become the Armor of Inferno. Talpa (Arago) can absorb all five Ronin Armors and four Warlord Armors at the same time.]

    Ronin Super Armor can be powered by Ronin Armor, Senshi Power, Knight Power, or Warlord Armor. Ronin and Warlord Armor can be used in conjuntion with one another, but Warlord Armor can not be used alongside Senshi or Knight Power to energize the Ronin Super Armor.

    These powers cannot be taken against their owner's will. They can, however, be taken if the contributor is unconsious and there is some mediating factor. (This also includes the "Strength of the Fallen.") [The Ancient (Kaosu) used his power to transfer the armor of two Warlords to Ryo when they were unconsious.] Also, other heroes may force their power on the host Ronin Armor if they feel the need, and can trigger the Ronin Super Armor against the host character's will. [Rowan, Cye, Sage, and Kento forced their power onto Ryo to defeat Dara.]

    Ronin Super Armor requires the powers of X number of contributors, no more, no less. They must be contributed all at once and released all at once. Otherwise, the power-up fails. [Ryo's Armor of Wildfire requires EXACTLY four other armors to become the Armor of Inferno.]

    Warlord Super Armor can be powered by other Warlord Armor or Ronin Armor. A major difference exists in that Dark Warlords CAN steal the power of others. Doing so, however, can be difficult. (See Dark Warlord Sub-Attributes, "Warlord Super Armor" section.) [Talpa was able to steal the armors of his Warlord servants, as well as the Ronin Armors.]

    Warlord Super Armor can be energized by the powers of up to X contributors. The effects are cumulative, and all other characters' powers need not be obtained at the same time. [Talpa progressively became more powerful as he absorbed the nine armors one by one.]

    While the Ronin or Warlord Super Armor is in effect, all players who are contributing to its activation have no access to their supernatural abilities. Not only do they lose thier powers, they also contribute the entirety of their Energy Points to the host character.

    Sailor Senshi and Knights maintain their Champion of Justice identities and appearences, but lose their attacks, powers, and possibly the advantages of their Items of Power.

    Ronin Warriors and Dark Warlords retain their armor in whatever form it exists (full armor or sub-armor). However, they do not have access to their attacks, powers, or any elemental effects of their armors or weapons.

    ==E. "Strength of the Fallen"

    Sailor Senshi and Knights have telepathic connections to one another. When one falls unconsious, he or she can still speak telepathically to Senshi or Knight allies. This link even surpasses the power of death, though only for up to about an hour.

    Through the "Strength of the Fallen," defeated allies may contribute their remaining energy points to allies, either directly into their reserves or into a combined attack.

    This telepathic link does not extend to Ronin allies, nor to converted Warlord or Villain allies.

    "Strength of the Fallen" may also be used to contribute the fallen comerade's power to Ronin Super Armor, but cannot do so directly, for want of a link to the Ronin Warrior. The contribution can be made indirectly through a Senshi or Knight intermediary who ALSO must contribute their strength.


    6. SUMMARY

    ==A. Character Types

    Character Type: Sailor Senshi		Sex: F
    Pluses: Combined Attacks, "Strength of the Fallen," Rejuvenation.
    Minuses: Attacks at disadvantage to Warlords and Villains.
    Powers: Elemental Control
    
    Character Type: Knight			Sex: M
    Pluses: Combined Attacks, "Strength of the Fallen," Rejuvenation.
    Minuses: Low-powered Knight Attack. 
    Powers: Emotional Control
    
    Character Type: Dark Villain		Sex: any
    Pluses: Attack priority, very powerful, Positive Energy 
    Deflection, Summon Minions, no need for transformation, 
    Mind Control.
    Minuses: Cannot combine energy with anyone.
    Powers: Environmental Control, Power Drain
    
    Character Type: Ronin Warrior		Sex: any
    Pluses: Combined Attacks, Limited Rejuvenation, Super Armor,
    elemental strength increase.
    Minuses: Attacks at disadvantage to Villains, exposed identity.
    Powers: Elemental Power
    
    Character Type: Dark Warlord		Sex: any
    Pluses: Combined Attacks, Super Armor, possible elemental 
    strength increase, attack priority, Summon Minions.
    Minuses: Exposed identity, limited combinaton partners.
    Powers: Personality Control, Environmental Control
    

    ==B. Energy Mixing

    Ronin Warriors, Sailor Scouts, and Knights can mix energy freely. (Combined Attacks, Super Armor, etc.)

    Ronin Warriors and Dark Warlords can mix energy under some circumstances. (Combined Attacks, Super Armor, etc.)

    Dark Villains cannot mix energy with anyone, but can drain it from others, possibly for their own use.


    Created Feb. 21, 2001
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