This is an idea that's been swimming in my head. It's a Gamer! OC Insert Reincarnation dealio with more Soulsborne mechanics rather than the traditional stats+perk point system. I probably won't really work on this until I make significant progress in Moonshine. If anyone wants to use or borrow stuff from this, shoot me a PM. Edit: Used an RNG to choose a starting gift and built a character around that lol.
Welcome to the Elemental Nations, a continent divided by massive effigies of disasters, both natural and man-made. You — yes, you! — have been chosen from an uncountable number of freshly deceased, murdered, or sacrificed souls to be gifted, or burdened by the prospect of living through another life in a world filled with amazing powers and horrifying monsters. You will be given the power known commonly in tropes as that of the "Gamer," allowing you to gain experience through the souls of those you murder, loot scattered throughout the world, and other miscellaneous achievements. Accruing enough experience will increase your level, which gives you points to allot into a set of stats, determined by your background. Would you like to know about your stats?
The words floated before me in a misty wall that juxtaposed the endless void around me. That's right. I died. Why am I being reincarnated? I lived a good life, with no regrets. This is bullshit. I tried to turn away from the mist, but my lack of corporeal form evidently made that impossible. If I could, I'd be glaring angrily at the "yes" and "no" boxes at the bottom of the wall. Better not give this game the satisfaction. I focused on the "no" box.
No? Well, that was probably a misclick, so let's jump right into the infodump.
Your first stat is Vitality, shortened to VIT, which determines your max HP.
The next stat is Endurance, shortened to END. It determines your stamina, burden load, and resistance to persistent bleed damage.
After that is Strength, shortened to STR. It determines your taijutsu damage scaling, critical rate, and the damage on weapons with STR-scaling.
The fourth stat is Dexterity, shortened to DEX. It determines the damage on weapons with DEX-scaling, stealth proficiency, and the casting speed of ninjutsu.
The fifth stat is Resistance, shortened to RES. It determines your natural defenses against physical, poison, and elemental damage.
The final stat is Intelligence, shortened to INT. It determines your chakra points, or CP, ninjutsu and fuinjutsu damage scaling and learning rate. It also determines the effectiveness of and resistance to ninjutsu.
I "groaned." This whole game was looking to be a lot like that one game series where the player died thousands of times.
Your base stats are determined by the background you choose for yourself. Would you like to learn about the different backgrounds? No, again? You should probably learn to click properly; that's pretty embarrassing.
Martial Artist:
VIT: 12
END: 14
STR: 14
DEX: 12
RES: 6
INT: 2
Ninjutsu Specialist:
VIT: 10
END: 12
STR: 5
DEX: 9
RES: 10
INT: 14
Weapons Maniac:
VIT: 10
END: 10
STR: 14
DEX: 13
RES: 7
INT: 6
War Orphan:
VIT: 13
END: 9
STR: 8
DEX: 7
RES: 14
INT: 9
Nomad:
VIT: 9
END: 12
STR: 9
DEX: 15
RES: 8
INT: 7
Street Rat:
VIT: 9
END: 14
STR: 9
DEX: 13
RES: 6
INT: 9
All Rounder:
VIT: 11
END: 10
STR: 10
DEX: 12
RES: 9
INT: 8
Worse than Trash:
VIT: 8
END: 10
STR: 10
DEX: 9
RES: 8
INT: 9
I tried to choose, but the wall shifted before I could even click on a background.
Before the next section, you have no choice but to learn about Natural Affinities, which can be chosen at "birth" or gained through training. They are as follows:
Water: You have a strong affinity to the water element, leading to a 10% increase to the damage and a 10% decrease in the chakra cost of all water-based ninjutsu.
Earth: You have a strong affinity to the earth element, leading to a 10% increase to the damage and a 10% decrease in the chakra cost of all earth-based ninjutsu.
Fire: You have a strong affinity to the fire element, leading to a 10% increase to the damage and a 10% decrease in the chakra cost of all fire-based ninjutsu.
Lightning: You have a strong affinity to the lightning element, leading to a 10% increase to the damage and a 10% decrease in the chakra cost of all lightning-based ninjutsu.
Wind: You have a strong affinity to the earth element, leading to a 10% increase to the damage and a 10% decrease in the chakra cost of all wind-based ninjutsu.
Now, will you be patient and let me explain everything before you halfhazardly make a choice?
I glared at the two "yes" boxes that taunted me at the bottom of the wall.
Moving on! The country in which you choose to be born may lead to different starting gifts and elemental affinities. It also determines which questlines are available to you at the start of the game. Would you like to learn about the different starting regions?
Once again, there were two "yes" boxes at the bottom of the mist. What kind of game was this?
Yes? Very good, you're actually learning.
Amegakure is a small, but industrious village that is known for both being trampled by the major villages around it as well as being birthplace to some of the most powerful shinobi in history, such as Hanzo of the Salamander and Uzumaki Nagato.
Natural Affinity choices: Water
Bonus Starting Gift: You automatically start with the following:
No Raining on this Parade: Growing up in perpetual rain has acclimated you to such environments. While under heavy rain, your vision is not obstructed and you gain a 50% stealth bonus. [+3 DEX]
Starting Gift choices:
Toxic Personality: Your relatives learned from Hanzo's legend and implanted the venom sac of a black salamander somewhere between your vital organs. You gain immunity to the poison debuff and damage, as well as the ability to imbue poison onto your weapons and certain jutsu. [+2 RES]
SlipperyAssassin: The Shinobi of Amegakure are highly sought-after for assassination missions. You gain a 10% boost to stealth scaling and a 50% boost to sneak attack damage. [+2 DEX]
Iwagakure is one of the five great shinobi countries. Surrounded by looming mountains, the village was built in a natural stronghold, allowing for the growth of a massive and complex system of carved buildings. The shinobi here are known for their rock-hard wills and defenses.
Natural Affinity choices: Earth, Fire
Starting gift choices:
Human Volcano: Iwagakure is rumored to be the birthplace of the Lava Release due to association with the Yonbi. You have access to Lava Release techniques, as well as both Fire and Earth Natural Affinities to start. You cannot gain more through training. [+2 INT]
Living Sculpture: Through generations of survival in the mountains, your skin's toughness now rivals that of the environment around you. You take 30% less damage from blunt weapon damage and taijutsu attacks. [+1 VIT, +1 END]
Dust Bunny: Due to interactions with the reigning Tsuchikage, you've been taught the infamous Dust Release. You have access to Dust Release techniques as well as Fire, Wind, and Earth Affinities to start. Mission failure leads to death and permanent loss of unspent souls on respawn. [+3 INT]
Explosive Temper: At a young age, you were conscripted into the Explosion Corps. You gain access to the Explosion Release as well as both Earth and Lightning Natural Affinities to start. You cannot gain more through training. You have a 25% chance of being born with mouths on your hands and chest. [+1 INT, +1 VIT]
Kirigakure is one of the five great shinobi countries. Rich with bloodlines and civil wars, Kirigakure hosts a wide range of Shinobi specializing in destructive ninjutsu and deadly sword techniques. The shinobi of Kirigakure are known for their outstanding bloodthirst.
Natural Affinity choices: Water, Fire
Starting Gift choices:
S'boiling for a Fight: Everyone is rightfully nervous about getting anywhere near you and any body of water. You have access to the Boil Release as well as both Water and Fire Natural Affinities to start. You cannot gain more through training. [+2 INT]
Waterborne: You are literally water. Congrats. You are of the Hozuki bloodline, granting an unnaturally strong Water Natural Affinity, leading to a 30% increase to the damage, a 30% decrease in the chakra cost of all water-based ninjutsu, and immunity to all water-based damage. You cannot gain any other affinities through training. [+3 INT]
Ice, Ice, Baby: You are a member of the illustrious clan of traps, the Yuki clan. Your overly feminine appearance is coupled nicely with your frosty disposition. You have access to Ice Release, as well as both Water and Wind Natural Affinities to start. You cannot gain more through training. [+1 DEX, +1 INT]
Have an Osteo-blast!: You're one of the savage Kaguya clansmen! Have fun literally having a bone to pick with your enemies. You gain the Dead Bone Pulse kekkei genkai. You forgo any Natural Affinities. [+2 STR, +1 RES]
Sharply styled: Like most of the Shinobi of Kirigakure, you aspire to be one of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist. You deal 30% extra damage with bladed weapons and 50% extra sneak attack damage. You gain easy access to [Legendary Swordsman] questlines. Your teeth are also abnormally sharp. [+2 STR, +2 DEX]
Konohagakure is one of the five great shinobi villages as well as the first hidden village. Surrounded by a thick semi-manmade forest, it was long considered the strongest and most peaceful of all the hidden villages. The shinobi of Konoha are known for their diverse bloodlines and their strong sense of teamwork.
Natural Affinity choices: Fire, Wind, Lightning, Earth
Starting Gift choices:
Beyond 20/20: The Hyuga clan fits the trope of the hyper-traditional noble clan very well. You have the Byakugan, which allows you to see chakra points as well as 359 degrees of vision. Your taijutsu attacks have increased range and chakra point reduction on hit. You have an 80% chance of being branded with a Caged Bird Seal [+1 STR, +1 INT]
Theft at First Sight: The Uchiha are offshoots of the progenitor of chakra, meaning that they have an innate, often unnecessary want to be a significant part of any story. You have the Sharingan, which grants you the ability to see chakra and its colors, read and predict the actions of others, and memorize and replicate anything you see, including ninjutsu and taijutsu. [+1 DEX, +1 INT]
Killer's Best Friend: Members of the Inuzuka clan is known for their synergy with their nin-ken, as well as strong ties to their base animal instincts. You gain a nin-ken partner for life, as well as access to Inuzuka techniques. [+3 STR]
Buzz-are Adventure: The Aburame clan is made up of people who use their bodies as nests for parasitic insects in a surprisingly synergetic manner. You receive 30% less damage from all poison-based attacks. You also gain access to Aburame clan techniques. [+2 RES, +1 INT]
Troublesome: The Nara clan is made up of the laziest geniuses ever. They are well known for their naming scheme and strong bonds with the Yamanaka and Akimichi clans. You gain access to Shadow Manipulation techniques. [+4 INT, -2 END]
Brainblast: The Yamanaka clan accounts for most, if not all of the village's florists and psychologists. They are well known for their naming scheme and strong bonds with the Nara and Akimichi clans. You gain access to Yamanaka techniques. [+1 INT, +1VIT]
Big-Boned: Full of well-mannered gluttons, the Akimichi's are rumored to control all of Konoha's culinary businesses. They are well known for their naming scheme and strong bonds with the Yamanaka and Nara clans. You gain access to Body Expansion techniques and an incredible appetite. [+1 VIT, +1 END]
Clanless: You're just an average shinobi in a village full of mutated freaks. You start out with 200% ryo and have unspecified advantages when dealing with merchants.
Kumogakure is one of the five great shinobi villages and is rumored to be the birthplace of the Sage of Six Paths and his less significant brother. It is both the most militant and technologically advanced village.
Natural Affinity choices: Lightning, Wind, Water
Starting Gift choices:
Swift Sparrow Infinity: You're fast, like naturally fast, without the need for any nature transformations or fuinjutsu. You have the Swift Release. [+3 DEX]
Thunderstruck: You have an abnormally strong attunement to Lightning, granting you a 30% increase to the damage and a 30% decrease in the chakra cost of all lightning-based ninjutsu. You cannot gain any other affinities through training. You also have access to the Lightning Armor technique (Req: 35 STR, 45 END, 40 VIT, 30 INT. Failure to meet the minimum stat requirements leads to permanent crippling.) [+1 STR +1 END, +1 VIT]
Laser Light Show: Flow like the ocean, strike like a thunderbolt! You gain access to the Storm Release, as well as both Water and Lightning Natural Affinities. You cannot gain more affinities through training. [+2 INT]
Natural Insulant: Years of constant storms and angry lightning users have lead to a unique mutation in the rare Lava Release that manifests in a rubber-like substance. You gain both Fire and Earth Nature Affinities, as well as immunity to lightning-based damage. You cannot gain more affinities through training. [+2 RES, +1 INT]
Sunagakure is one of the five great shinobi villages and often considered the weakest. It miraculously was established and "thrives" in the harsh desert environment. Its main exports are poison afflictions and mission contracts.
Natural Affinity choices: Wind, Earth
Starting Gift choices:
Polarizing Worldview: 3 out of 5 recorded leaders of this village had the innate skill in metal manipulation, so your coincidental ownership of the same ability must mean something. You have the Magnet Release and both Wind and Earth Nature Affinities. You cannot gain more affinities through training. [+1 VIT, +1 INT]
Cremative Imagination: In a place as a desert, you have the ability to make things worse for everyone around you by actually desiccating them. You have the Scorch Release and both Fire and Wind Nature Affinities. You cannot gain more affinities through training. [+1 DEX, +1 INT]
Eternal Art: Suna's puppeteer forces are very well known for their impeccable chakra control and intricate knowledge of herb-based poisons. You gain the Chakra String technique and the ability to design combat puppets. [+2 DEX]
Fan of Combat: The shinobi of Sunagakure are the only ones, save for Madara Uchiha, who figured out how to amplify the strength and scope of their ninjutsu using fans. When using war fans, you gain a 50% boost to all wind-based damage and have a 20% higher chance of inflicting bleed. [+1 INT, +1 STR]
Now you can choose your background and birth country. Thank you for being so patient.
The wall then expanded, surrounding "me" completely as all of the backgrounds, countries, and starting gifts were listed before me. Immediately, I crossed Konoha off the list. No way was I going anywhere near the madness of that place. Most peaceful vill.
age my ass. I'd rather go to a place where I know everyone is out to kill me.
With more deliberation, I waved away Suna and Kumo. Between bloodthirsty children and obnoxious man-children, there were just too many people in either village that, despite loving in written form, I would hate to actually meet in any capacity.
That just left Ame, Kiri, and Iwa. Looking back on things, there's literally no desirable place to live in the Elemental Nations. The talking mist wall didn't even tell me what time period I'd be born in. Can I still ask questions?
"Hey, um, Game Manual, what time period will I be born in?"
What felt like hours passed before another wall swirled up in front of the info walls.
Yes.
That's it? Really?
Stop being a little bitch and choose already. No one ever knows when they'll be born. You're not special.
With that, the small wall disappeared, leaving me alone to make the biggest decision of my life. Now, I could be super deliberate about my choice and bring back the countries I waved off and make intricate pros and cons list for each one. Or, I could leave things up to fate.
I immediately started flailing the cursor around randomly before stopping and clicking.
You have chosen [Sharply Styled]. Are you sure?
I clicked the yes button, and all of the other countries disappeared, leaving me with the backgrounds and Kiri. Now, the real choice, min-max or meme-max?
"Hey game, can I have a coin?"
A mist wall depicting a coin with a smiley face appeared in front of me. I clicked the flip button and watched as the coin shot upwards before falling back down, revealing a flat-toned face. No [Worse Than Trash] variant memes then. I clicked on [Weapons Maniac] background.
You will now be given a randomly generated avatar and fruit-based name based on your choice of background and country. Have fun.
Wait, fruit-based? I don't want any pun names you son of a-
Name: Kakioka Shunsui
Level: 10
EXP: 320/829
Affinity: Water
Age: 7
Sex: Male
Stats
HP: 403
CP: 73
VIT: 10
END: 10
STR: 16
DEX: 15
RES: 7
INT: 6
Gifts:
[Sharply Styled]: 30% extra damage with bladed weapons and 50% extra sneak attack damage.