Toughness, one's ability to resist physical damage and effects.
Compares against strength.
+3] Dominant attacker delivers devastating blows with each hit. Entirely possible to cleave the defender in half or bust their skull open on a decent hit
+2] Superior attacker delivers punishing strikes. Any solid hit is likely to disable a body part, such as chopping a limb off, or turning muscles to mush.
+1] Advantaged attacker has an easier time cutting through his opponent's defenses than normal, good hits will release large gouts of blood, and will more quickly wear the victim away.
+0] When a target's roughly as durable as their attacker's strength, they still suffer injuries and wounds, but to a lesser degree than the higher ranked differences.
-1] When the defender has the advantage, the attacker can feel some 'resistance' to his blows. His blade seems to slow down while cutting through their flesh, there seems to be a 'cushion' before his hammer strikes home. Defeating an enemy through this stage is somewhat of a greater challenge, but not extremely daunting.
-2] Attacks against a Superior Defender tend to have little effect. Some bruising from a blunt strike, shallow cuts from blades. At this stage it takes a lot of work and some clever use of techniques to overcome.
-3] Attacks against a Dominant Defender are pretty much worthless. Little scratches scarcely more than a paper cut. Tactical technique application is essential for a chance at this level, and even then the odds are not good.
Resistance
(Defense+Spirit)/2
One's ability to withstand spirit-based effects and damage.
Compares against Spirit.
(Note the chart makes references to burns etc. It was just the easiest
reference to use, obviously not all energy burns.)
+3] Dominant attacker pretty much vaporizes the target on a solid hit.
+2] Superior attacker will deliver massively agonizing burns, and may tear chunks of flesh or limbs off the target on a solid hit.
+1] Advantaged attacker has an easier time inflicting heavy damage to his opponent, searing away flesh and leaving brutal burns across the body. (Basically realistic 4th degree burns)
+0] When a target's roughly as Resistant as their attacker's Spiritual force, they still suffer injuries and wounds, but to a lesser degree than the higher ranked differences. (Basically realistic 3rd degree burns)
-1] When the defender has the advantage, the attacker can feel some 'resistance' to his energy. His blasts seems to slow down while burning through their flesh, there seems to be a 'cushion' before things start to burn, and they burn a bit more slowly. (Think realistic harsh 2nd degree burns)
-2] Attacks against a Superior Defender tend to have little effect. Some pain and discomfort, like a more mild 2nd degree burn. At this stage it takes a lot of work and some clever use of techniques to overcome.
-3] Attacks against a Dominant Defender are pretty much worthless, little worse than sunburns. Tactical technique application is essential for a chance at this level, and even then the odds are not good.
Reflexes
(Defense+speed)/2
This stat is a combination of instinct, reactions, and speed, and
represents your ability to
not be where an incoming attack is. Compares against Assault
and Spirit Velocity.
Assault
(Strength+Speed)/2
The speed of one's meelee combat. Compare against Reflexes
or the opponent's Assault.
(This stat is also used for muscle-powered ranged attacks.)
Spirit Velocity
(Spirit+speed)/2
The speed of one's ranged energy abilities. Compares against Reflexes.
Stamina
(Strength+spirit)
This represents the limits
of the soul. Basic combat doesn't drain
stamina, but other
techniques that require the user to burn their internal reserves (such
as shunpo,cero, etc) deplete this resource.
Once out of stamina, a character can no longer use abilities that
require it, and their stat comparisons against others all drop by one
notch.