The Widowed
11-27-2005, 11:32 PM
The story about Urban Bushido
Urban Bushido is a superhero coalition of martial arts stylists who (at least in a roleplaying perspective) dedicate their lives to protecting the innocents who live in crime zones and similarly afflicted urban areas. True to the "teach a man to fish" philosophy, Urban Bushido teaches an amalgam of martial arts, commando training, street fighting, street smarts and crime prevention techniques to the residents of King's Row and other "inner city" regions of Paragon City, specializing in instilling confidence in children and teenagers by the Way of the Warrior--the better to keep the youths out of street gangs--as well as instructing women's self-defense courses. In this capacity, Urban Bushido not only teaches self-defense to civilians and superheroes but also attempts to guide these pupils towards a state of peace, honor and confidence which can only come through mastery of the Bushido way.
Eligibility
Urban Bushido presently exists as a supergroup whose membership is limited to certain types of Scrappers and Tankers in regards to their attack powers, as detailed below:
Scrappers
Martial Arts
Katana
Broadsword
Claws
Dark Melee (with Hachidan or Godan approval; If neither are unavailable, a Shodan may make the decision instead; The Shodan is expected to inform a Hachidan of his or her decision afterwards.)
Tankers
Super Strength
Battle Axe
War Mace
Blasters ("Blappers" preferred)
Archery
Assault Rifle (restricted)
A Secondary of Devices would be a bonus, though Energy, Fire, Ice, or Electricity may also be acceptable.
Origin is not factored into membership in Urban Bushido. Where one comes from is not as important as where one is going. How one was empowered is not as important as what one has learned.
Advancement in rank
The five ranks in Urban Bushido are as follows:
Gokyu
This is the "white belt" rank. Anyone who fits the Archetype and Power Set standards can join Urban Bushido at this rank, as the Gokyu rank represents the pupils who have trained with Urban Bushido on the streets and have proven worthy of being welcomed into Urban Bushido's ranks. The preferred method of determining an applicant's worth is through accompanying a member of Shodan or Hachidan rank through a minimum of two missions; If the applicant's performance and personal conduct in those missions prove to be acceptable, then the applicant becomes a member of Gokyu rank.
Nikyu
The Nikyu is the "squad leader" or "elite minion" of the ranks.
1] To receive promotion, the aspiring Gokyu must have joined Bushi of Shodan rank or higher on no fewer than five missions; Alternately, the Gokyu who has brought at least three worthy recruits who Urban Bushido may be promoted if these recruits are accepted as Gokyu and retain membership for at least seven days. If the Gokyu's discipline and meritorious conduct have been acceptable during this time, he or she may be promoted to Nikyu.
Shodan
The Shodan is the sensei or war leader of the ranks.
1] The Nikyu must be Security Level 20 or higher.
2] The Nikyu must have an alternate costume which follows the Urban Bushido dress code (as seen below).
Godan
The Godan is the master or champion of the ranks.
1] A Shodan may be promoted to Godan purely at the discretion of two Godan or one Hachidan. Feats which can contribute to a Shodan's promotion include a significant number of recruits (seven or more), repeated duty as a referee during Urban Bushido tournaments or participation with ranking Bushi in three or more major mission events (read: Task Forces, Trials and certain Live Events which fit the definition of citywide crises, such as the Winter Lord invasion or the Council uprising).
2] The Shodan must be at least Security Level 25.
Hachidan
The Hachidan is the grandmaster, abbot, warlord or supreme leader of the ranks.
1] The Godan must have a combined total of ten powers between the Primary and Secondary sets.
2] The Godan must have a Security Level no lower than 30.
3] The Godan must have made a substantial contribution to the Urban Bushido mission, or he/she must have achieved a great accomplishment which will bring honor and prestige to Urban Bushido (Hachidan's discretion).
Supergroup colors
Black and green. Black should be applied to the majority of the costume, while green should be reserved for the details.
Dress code
Part of the standards for achieving Shodan rank is to encourage each Urban Bushido member to devote one of his/her costume slots to the Urban Bushido uniform: A gi--or warrior's garment--which is constructed as follows:
Chest:
Baggy -> Baggy 2 (the choice with the three seams running down the middle of the chest). This garment should be colored black, via your Supergroup settings.
Robe -> Any
Alternately, certain Heroes with certain styles or practices (including wrestling, boxing, muay thai or plain old bodybuilding) can go with the "skins" option, either Upper Body -> Tights -> Bare Skin (bare torsos, for men) or Upper Body -> Top with Skin -> Top 9 (sports brassieres, for women).
Belt:
Martial Arts. Be sure to designate the belt's color as green in your Supergroup settings.
Legs:
Tucked In -> Baggy 1 (the choice with no pockets). This garment should be colored black, via your Supergroup settings.
Various loose Pants or Shorts settings; Check with Sonic, Saber or Widdy first.
Hands
Smooth -> Wrapped
Smooth -> Bare
Tied
Small Gloves
Feet
Flat -> Wrapped
Flat -> Bare
Tied
Slip-On 1 (ideal for kung fu stylists)
The choices for hands and feet may be mixed but ideally should match (ie. wrapped gloves to wrapped boots, or bare hands to bare feet). The gi should look similar to this (with the "wrapped" options):
http://img234.exs.cx/img234/8060/BushidoGiWrap.jpg
...or to this (with the "bare" options):
http://img234.exs.cx/img234/6826/BushidoGiBare.jpg
Widdy's present uniform, modeled after kickboxing and Muay Thai styles:
http://coh.tritonius.com/XMasWidUB1.jpg
Supergroup meetings
If possible, Urban Bushido meetings will take place in public settings, under the scenario of an open martial arts training session; Be sure to familiarize yourself with your emotes, particularly "warm up", "jumping jacks", "kneel", "bow" and "yoga". All Shodan and Hachidan in attendance are expected to arrive in their Urban Bushido uniform for these sessions. Roleplaying is strongly encouraged at these times.
Decision policy
Suggestions intended to improve Urban Bushido and its experience are freely welcomed from all members, regardless of rank; A majority approval from the supergroup's standing Shodan and Hachidan membership will be sufficient grounds for implementation of that suggestion. Once implemented, only a majority disapproval among the Hachidan members will be sufficient cause to have the suggestion voided or removed.
Decisions which radically alter the direction or mission statement of Urban Bushido--or which drastically alter the supergroup as a whole--may only be implemented by unanimous agreement from the entirety of the Hachidan membership.
I will post additional guidelines, discussions or recommendations for Urban Bushido as needs demand. Feel free to post below, whether you are a member of Urban Bushido or not. All suggestions will be read, considered without prejudice and openly fielded for approval or dismissal.
Thank you.
--The Widowed
Urban Bushido is a superhero coalition of martial arts stylists who (at least in a roleplaying perspective) dedicate their lives to protecting the innocents who live in crime zones and similarly afflicted urban areas. True to the "teach a man to fish" philosophy, Urban Bushido teaches an amalgam of martial arts, commando training, street fighting, street smarts and crime prevention techniques to the residents of King's Row and other "inner city" regions of Paragon City, specializing in instilling confidence in children and teenagers by the Way of the Warrior--the better to keep the youths out of street gangs--as well as instructing women's self-defense courses. In this capacity, Urban Bushido not only teaches self-defense to civilians and superheroes but also attempts to guide these pupils towards a state of peace, honor and confidence which can only come through mastery of the Bushido way.
Eligibility
Urban Bushido presently exists as a supergroup whose membership is limited to certain types of Scrappers and Tankers in regards to their attack powers, as detailed below:
Scrappers
Martial Arts
Katana
Broadsword
Claws
Dark Melee (with Hachidan or Godan approval; If neither are unavailable, a Shodan may make the decision instead; The Shodan is expected to inform a Hachidan of his or her decision afterwards.)
Tankers
Super Strength
Battle Axe
War Mace
Blasters ("Blappers" preferred)
Archery
Assault Rifle (restricted)
A Secondary of Devices would be a bonus, though Energy, Fire, Ice, or Electricity may also be acceptable.
Origin is not factored into membership in Urban Bushido. Where one comes from is not as important as where one is going. How one was empowered is not as important as what one has learned.
Advancement in rank
The five ranks in Urban Bushido are as follows:
Gokyu
This is the "white belt" rank. Anyone who fits the Archetype and Power Set standards can join Urban Bushido at this rank, as the Gokyu rank represents the pupils who have trained with Urban Bushido on the streets and have proven worthy of being welcomed into Urban Bushido's ranks. The preferred method of determining an applicant's worth is through accompanying a member of Shodan or Hachidan rank through a minimum of two missions; If the applicant's performance and personal conduct in those missions prove to be acceptable, then the applicant becomes a member of Gokyu rank.
Nikyu
The Nikyu is the "squad leader" or "elite minion" of the ranks.
1] To receive promotion, the aspiring Gokyu must have joined Bushi of Shodan rank or higher on no fewer than five missions; Alternately, the Gokyu who has brought at least three worthy recruits who Urban Bushido may be promoted if these recruits are accepted as Gokyu and retain membership for at least seven days. If the Gokyu's discipline and meritorious conduct have been acceptable during this time, he or she may be promoted to Nikyu.
Shodan
The Shodan is the sensei or war leader of the ranks.
1] The Nikyu must be Security Level 20 or higher.
2] The Nikyu must have an alternate costume which follows the Urban Bushido dress code (as seen below).
Godan
The Godan is the master or champion of the ranks.
1] A Shodan may be promoted to Godan purely at the discretion of two Godan or one Hachidan. Feats which can contribute to a Shodan's promotion include a significant number of recruits (seven or more), repeated duty as a referee during Urban Bushido tournaments or participation with ranking Bushi in three or more major mission events (read: Task Forces, Trials and certain Live Events which fit the definition of citywide crises, such as the Winter Lord invasion or the Council uprising).
2] The Shodan must be at least Security Level 25.
Hachidan
The Hachidan is the grandmaster, abbot, warlord or supreme leader of the ranks.
1] The Godan must have a combined total of ten powers between the Primary and Secondary sets.
2] The Godan must have a Security Level no lower than 30.
3] The Godan must have made a substantial contribution to the Urban Bushido mission, or he/she must have achieved a great accomplishment which will bring honor and prestige to Urban Bushido (Hachidan's discretion).
Supergroup colors
Black and green. Black should be applied to the majority of the costume, while green should be reserved for the details.
Dress code
Part of the standards for achieving Shodan rank is to encourage each Urban Bushido member to devote one of his/her costume slots to the Urban Bushido uniform: A gi--or warrior's garment--which is constructed as follows:
Chest:
Baggy -> Baggy 2 (the choice with the three seams running down the middle of the chest). This garment should be colored black, via your Supergroup settings.
Robe -> Any
Alternately, certain Heroes with certain styles or practices (including wrestling, boxing, muay thai or plain old bodybuilding) can go with the "skins" option, either Upper Body -> Tights -> Bare Skin (bare torsos, for men) or Upper Body -> Top with Skin -> Top 9 (sports brassieres, for women).
Belt:
Martial Arts. Be sure to designate the belt's color as green in your Supergroup settings.
Legs:
Tucked In -> Baggy 1 (the choice with no pockets). This garment should be colored black, via your Supergroup settings.
Various loose Pants or Shorts settings; Check with Sonic, Saber or Widdy first.
Hands
Smooth -> Wrapped
Smooth -> Bare
Tied
Small Gloves
Feet
Flat -> Wrapped
Flat -> Bare
Tied
Slip-On 1 (ideal for kung fu stylists)
The choices for hands and feet may be mixed but ideally should match (ie. wrapped gloves to wrapped boots, or bare hands to bare feet). The gi should look similar to this (with the "wrapped" options):
http://img234.exs.cx/img234/8060/BushidoGiWrap.jpg
...or to this (with the "bare" options):
http://img234.exs.cx/img234/6826/BushidoGiBare.jpg
Widdy's present uniform, modeled after kickboxing and Muay Thai styles:
http://coh.tritonius.com/XMasWidUB1.jpg
Supergroup meetings
If possible, Urban Bushido meetings will take place in public settings, under the scenario of an open martial arts training session; Be sure to familiarize yourself with your emotes, particularly "warm up", "jumping jacks", "kneel", "bow" and "yoga". All Shodan and Hachidan in attendance are expected to arrive in their Urban Bushido uniform for these sessions. Roleplaying is strongly encouraged at these times.
Decision policy
Suggestions intended to improve Urban Bushido and its experience are freely welcomed from all members, regardless of rank; A majority approval from the supergroup's standing Shodan and Hachidan membership will be sufficient grounds for implementation of that suggestion. Once implemented, only a majority disapproval among the Hachidan members will be sufficient cause to have the suggestion voided or removed.
Decisions which radically alter the direction or mission statement of Urban Bushido--or which drastically alter the supergroup as a whole--may only be implemented by unanimous agreement from the entirety of the Hachidan membership.
I will post additional guidelines, discussions or recommendations for Urban Bushido as needs demand. Feel free to post below, whether you are a member of Urban Bushido or not. All suggestions will be read, considered without prejudice and openly fielded for approval or dismissal.
Thank you.
--The Widowed