Just gonna keep it simple here, minus the new system down below. Gates boosts make no sense when the drawbacks and requirements are taken into account. One needs high Constitution to use the gates effectively since each tier of constitution one has grants two posts of use. However, Gates also boost Constitution and this boost DOES NOT count towards this post limit. That means that, if one were to invest somewhat heavily into higher constitution to use the gates for a decent period of time (B tier is what I consider to be an "investment" in any stat), say A tier, then their boost to Constitution that is gotten from the gates is rendered mostly null after a certain point and boosts are lost. When one has higher Constitution from that, say from a kekkei genkai giving a couple pluses or having natural S tier constitution, that boost is all but thrown away. If it counted towards the gate limit this would help a little bit. But when it doesn't count towards it and one is faced with the choice of having lower base Constitution to receive maximum benefits from their restricted or going for longer use but effectively losing up to 1/4 of the power of the restricted in doing so, it seems a little messed up really.
This boost should go to Coordination rather than Constitution at least in part, as the gates have been shown to increase the speed of punches quite drastically. Might Guy lit the air on fire with the speed of his punches, and the speed of an attack on our site is determined by Coordination rather than Speed when it's something like a punch, kick, sword slash, etc. I have changed this with the proposed version, essentially moving most of the Constitution buff to Coordination and providing a special place for the Constitution buff that I feel makes the most sense. The amount of boosts given by the first Seven Gates with the new version is reduced by two pluses total, with the Eighth Gate making the total number boosts provided one plus higher than before. The result is still death. Don't worry, I didn't try and change that.
The other thing that doesn't make much sense to me is the way drawbacks are implemented for the gates. As they currently function, somebody opening any gate for one post receives the same penalties as someone who used them for every single post they could. This is not how the gates functioned in canon in any way, shape, or form. The gates were shown to temporarily fatigue someone who used them in short bursts, at least among the lower gates, as Rock Lee demonstrated against Gaara. He used the first gate, shut it off and was slow for a bit but then was back to normal once his body had time to readjust. The permanent damage started after an extended use of the gates. Might Guy has on numerous occasions utilized the Sixth gate with seemingly very little ill effect on his health if he utilized it for a short burst. This is even true of the seventh gate, as his fight with Kisame was completed with the seventh gate and he was still not only able to stand, but go fight in the Fourth Shinobi World War where he used the gates even more, though not the Seventh Gate in particular until Madara I believe.
My point with that is the gates drawbacks we have don't actually do that. It's "you use them for all of four seconds and you're instantly crippled when you shut them off". That doesn't seem right when there's already a hard cap to how many posts one can even use the gates which is also a flat amount across all levels of gates. That doesn't make much sense either, but it is warranted for balance reasons and I agree with that.
I have made a different version of the Hachimon that I believe is truer to canon but is also still a balanced restricted technique. Before you say it, no this is not because I have Itaken now. I've disliked how gates have functioned since the site opened and was going to do this anyways. I noticed the low blow regarding Constitution once Itaken was created, but the drawbacks are what bug me the most and is what has received the most attention. Do note that I have proposed additional restrictions on who can actually use gates to set a bit of a minimum if one wants to use their full power. Most of the drawbacks are not highlighted because it is essentially a complete rework of the drawback system, though it is harsher is many areas when compared to the previous drawbacks.
Aw jeez, I did it again. I said simple and then made a couple detailed paragraphs. Sorry guys, I'll probably do that every time anyways lol. But, I do truly feel like this version of gates represents the canon better and has a better balance to it than the black and white of the previous version.
This boost should go to Coordination rather than Constitution at least in part, as the gates have been shown to increase the speed of punches quite drastically. Might Guy lit the air on fire with the speed of his punches, and the speed of an attack on our site is determined by Coordination rather than Speed when it's something like a punch, kick, sword slash, etc. I have changed this with the proposed version, essentially moving most of the Constitution buff to Coordination and providing a special place for the Constitution buff that I feel makes the most sense. The amount of boosts given by the first Seven Gates with the new version is reduced by two pluses total, with the Eighth Gate making the total number boosts provided one plus higher than before. The result is still death. Don't worry, I didn't try and change that.
The other thing that doesn't make much sense to me is the way drawbacks are implemented for the gates. As they currently function, somebody opening any gate for one post receives the same penalties as someone who used them for every single post they could. This is not how the gates functioned in canon in any way, shape, or form. The gates were shown to temporarily fatigue someone who used them in short bursts, at least among the lower gates, as Rock Lee demonstrated against Gaara. He used the first gate, shut it off and was slow for a bit but then was back to normal once his body had time to readjust. The permanent damage started after an extended use of the gates. Might Guy has on numerous occasions utilized the Sixth gate with seemingly very little ill effect on his health if he utilized it for a short burst. This is even true of the seventh gate, as his fight with Kisame was completed with the seventh gate and he was still not only able to stand, but go fight in the Fourth Shinobi World War where he used the gates even more, though not the Seventh Gate in particular until Madara I believe.
My point with that is the gates drawbacks we have don't actually do that. It's "you use them for all of four seconds and you're instantly crippled when you shut them off". That doesn't seem right when there's already a hard cap to how many posts one can even use the gates which is also a flat amount across all levels of gates. That doesn't make much sense either, but it is warranted for balance reasons and I agree with that.
I have made a different version of the Hachimon that I believe is truer to canon but is also still a balanced restricted technique. Before you say it, no this is not because I have Itaken now. I've disliked how gates have functioned since the site opened and was going to do this anyways. I noticed the low blow regarding Constitution once Itaken was created, but the drawbacks are what bug me the most and is what has received the most attention. Do note that I have proposed additional restrictions on who can actually use gates to set a bit of a minimum if one wants to use their full power. Most of the drawbacks are not highlighted because it is essentially a complete rework of the drawback system, though it is harsher is many areas when compared to the previous drawbacks.
Aw jeez, I did it again. I said simple and then made a couple detailed paragraphs. Sorry guys, I'll probably do that every time anyways lol. But, I do truly feel like this version of gates represents the canon better and has a better balance to it than the black and white of the previous version.
- Spoiler:
The Eight Gates are eight specific tenketsu on a person's Chakra Pathway System. They limit the overall flow of chakra within a person's body. The basis for the idea of the chakra gates comes from the body's limits on the functions that transpire within it. This makes the body much weaker, but it keeps the body from expiring too soon by constantly going at full tilt. By undergoing intense training, one can learn how to open these gates allowing the user to surpass their own physical limits at the cost of extreme damage to their own body.
The power these gates gifts to the user include increases to strength, speed, constitution, coordination, and overall available stamina. These gates tax the body heavily, though with each tier of constitution, that damage becomes somewhat mitigated. Each of these gates requires the user to invest a certain amount of experience to learn.
Boosts granted by later gates stack with the boosts from the gates beneath, granting a cumulative effect. Increases to total stamina also increase available stamina, separate from any stamina refreshes. All boosts given count as Unique Boosts.
Kaimon
The First Gate is the Gate of Opening. It is located in the brain and unlocks the full natural potential of the user's muscles by force. This is a prerequisite technique for the Primary Lotus, a technique derived from the Hachimon. The first gate gives the user a boost of ++ to Strength and Speed. Requires 100 experience to learn and gives access to the Primary Lotus technique.
Kyūmon
The Second Gate is the Gate of Healing, also located in the brain. It gives the user a boost to their maximum stamina pool of 20 points as well as a boost to Strength, Coordination, and Speed of +. This gate requires 200 experience to learn, but does not grant access to any additional techniques. (Str: 1 Tier, Spd: 1 Tier, CoO: +, Sta: +20)
Seimon
The Third Gate is the Gate of Life. The third gate is located on the spine and increases the user's heart rate and thus increases the blood flow in their body to its natural limit. This turns the skin red and releases a small burst of chakra around the user upon initially opening. The user's hair is raised as a result of opening this gate, as the air pressure constantly exerted around the user pushes it away from their head. Their eyes also turn white, with the pupils disappearing which gives the user a somewhat surreal appearance. With this gate, the pain experienced by the user is tremendous for an average human to try handling. This gate grants a boost of + to the user's Strength, Coordination, and Speed. The increased blood flow in the body begins to multiply the pace at which clotting happens, meaning even the most severe injuries will cease to bleed after a post or two depending on the severity of the damage. While small size wounds will heal within a post, particularly severe damage, such as direct trauma to an internal organ or a severed limb, will take two posts. This ability is continuous throughout the usage of the gates. This Gate gives the user the ability to learn and use the Hidden Lotus technique. Costs 300 experience to unlock. (Str: 1 Tier+, Spd: 1 Tier+, CoO: ++, Sta: +20)
Shōmon
The Fourth Gate is the Gate of Pain. It is also located on the spine. This gate is meant to keep the body's muscles from tearing themselves to pieces, and when it is forcibly unlocked the user is able to force their body into supernatural feats of strength. Increases the user's Strength, Coordination, and Speed by a boost of +. It also increases stamina by an additional 20 points. Costs 500 experience to unlock. (Str: 1 Tier++, Spd: 1 Tier++, CoO: 1 Tier, Sta: +40)
Tomon
The Fifth Gate is the Gate of Limit. It is located in the abdomen and provides another burst of power to the user. The Fifth Gate provides much the same function as the Fourth Gate, though to a higher degree. When forcefully opened it provides a boost to Strength, Coordination, and Speed of + and grants an additional 20 maximum stamina. Costs 600 experience to unlock. (Str: 2 Tiers, Spd: 2 Tiers, CoO: 1 Tier+, Sta: +60)
Keimon
The Sixth Gate is the Gate of Joy. It is located in the stomach, providing another burst of power to the user. At this stage an aura erupts around the user with activation as sweat is evaporated from the surface of the user's skin from the huge increase to the temperature of the body, giving it a green tinge. This gate provides the user with a boost to Strength, Coordination, and Speed of +. Requires 750 experience to learn. Grants the user the ability to learn and utilize the Morning Peacock technique. (Str: 2 Tiers+, Spd: 2 Tiers+, CoO: 1 Tier+, Sta: +60)
Kyōmon
The Seventh Gate is the Gate of Wonder. It is located below the stomach, the most powerful gate that can be unlocked without risk of death. Its power is said to match an ordinary man to that of the kage. The body is on the verge of tearing itself to pieces with this gate and the raw amount of chakra flowing through the user's body creates a blue aura on their skin by the increased rate of evaporation of their sweat. The Seventh Gate increases the user's Strength, Coordination, and Speed by +. This gate also increases stamina by an additional 20 points. Requires 1000 experience to unlock. Grants the user the ability to learn and utilize the Daytime Tiger. (Str: 2 Tiers++, Spd: 2 Tiers++, CoO: 2 Tiers, Sta: +80)
Shimon
The Eighth Gate is the Gate of Death and is also known as the Eight Gates Release Formation. This gate is located over the heart and requires the user to penetrate their heart with chakra to force the gate open. Once this gate is opened, there is no turning back. The only outcome can be death for the user, making it a very potent technique. The amount of power granted is far greater than that provided by the Seventh Gate, increasing the user's base Strength and Speed by one tier before applying the rest of the boosts from the other Seven Gates. The user's stamina is increased by an additional 20 points and is fully refreshed. The maximum boost becomes X++, attainable only if the user's base in the boosted stat(s) is(are) S rank. Their blue aura turns red as their blood begins to boil out of their skin from the chakra. This gives them the appearance of a demon, as this red aura curls around their body like fire and gives them a more evil visage. The sheer amount of power flooding through the user's body at this point makes it more difficult to inflict damage that is not self inflicted upon them unless extreme measures are taken. Boosts Constitution by One Tier in addition to the other boosts. This tier boost DOES NOT count towards the post limit inherent in gates.(Str: 3 Tiers ++, Spd: 3 Tiers++, CoO: 2 Tiers, Con: 1 Tier, Sta: +100)
The eighth gate provides access to the Evening Elephant and Night Guy techniques. Any damage already done to the user is erased and the counter begins again upon activating the Eighth Gate. Those who utilize the Gate of Death are capable of fighting on the level of Bijuu, according to legend. This gate is gained with the Seventh Gate, as one can only open the Eighth Gate once making it impossible to learn in the traditional way.
Drawbacks
If you have E tier Constitution, you can't use the gates at all, ever. Period. Nope. You will die as soon as the first one opens from internal trauma. If you have D tier Constitution, you can't progress past the Fourth Gate without killing yourself. Do note that this means you CAN utilize the gates past this level, the result will be death as if you have used the Eighth Gate. Putting your body through that kind of trauma without the appropriate training is very rarely survivable, though a Destiny Point may avoid this fate. C tier Constitution can withstand all the way up to the Sixth Gate and may open the Seventh for ONE POST before it kills them. This gives them E-- in all boosted stats regardless of the base stat's normal tier that must be recovered like normal. Once a practitioner has honed their bodies to withstand things most mortal men could not, they may utilize the gates as they were meant to be used. B tier Constitution gives full access to the hachimon.
The Gates are a very taxing technique to utilize, with most who utilize them only practicing the art in small bursts to avoid the devastating side effects it has on the body. There will always be a negative effect to opening the gates, though it takes extended use for them to cause severe damage to the body. Each practitioner of the gates begins with 1 Durability point. Each tier of Constitution above C tier grants an additional 3 points for a maximum of 10. Each Gate, when in use, subtracts points from that pool. Once the points run out, the practitioner will begin to take permanent damage to their bodies that will require them to stop doing physical activity and heal up for a certain amount of time.
Temporary Damage is done if the practitioner closes the hachimon before their point limit is exceeded. This penalty is a debuff equal to the amount of points spent that lasts for one post to every boosted stat. The second post the penalty is halved, and the third it is gone. POINT TOTALS CAN NOT REFRESH IN A TOPIC. EVER. Once the point total is exceeded, the practitioner has a set time before they MUST deactivate the gates. Beginning at D tier, this is two posts per tier of Constitution that caps at 10 posts with S tier Constitution. Permanent damage comes in the form of sets of minuses per post that stack with each other and distribute evenly across the affected stats. For example, if three stats are boosted and the practitioner receives one minus per post, each stat would receive one minus every single post until the debuff limit is reached or the post count for the gates is reached. The debuff limit is eight minuses per stat, or Two tiers --, per stat.
Point Usage for Gates:
First and Second Gate: 2 points per post (1 minus to stats per post once the limit is exceeded)
Third Gate: 3 points per post (2 minuses per post)
Fourth Gate: 4 points per post (2 minuses per post)
Fifth Gate: 5 points per post (3 minuses per post)
Sixth Gate: 6 points per post (3 minuses per post)
Seventh Gate: 7 points per post (4 minuses per post)
Once the damage takes effect, it will impair the user's stats until recovery takes place. Recovery happens over the course of real time days, that is, days passing in the real world and not in the game world. For every 4 days that pass, a single - is removed from all affected stats. That means it takes 4 days to heal from overexertion in the lower levels of the hachimon for only a very brief period of time while using the Seventh Gate for anything other than a brief burst can earn a practitioner a 32 day vacation. This time can be halved for as long as the character is receiving medical attention; this means first being treated by a Player Character with the Ijutsu Skill and then avoiding combat -entering combat will end the bonus and the character will need to be treated again to resume it. Additionally, any natural regenerative abilities a user possesses (Senju Healing, Kaguya healing, etc) counts as constant medical attention from a Player Character when this rule is taken into account.
Please note that base stats are stats at the natural level, without taking any boosts or debuffs into account.
