[quote=@Rilla]
I'm back and forth on it. I actually wanna use a tournament where the characters fall into a format.

Element + Related Secondary Element + Weapon + Weapon Manipulation:

In other words, the theme I used for a good bit of the original resistance characters:

Trent: Earth/Metal/Staff: Can manipulate earth and metal, as well as the size and weight of the different staves he uses.

Jet: Wind/Smoke/Nunchaku: See Above

Levius: Water/Ice/Trident: See Above

Worren: Fire/Heat/Ninja Weapons: See Above

Derik: Electricity/Magnetism/Chains: See Above

There were others as well, I forget his name, but he manipulated plants and animals, and bladed tonfa.

For rookies, it'd be a good way to get involved and have a bit of practice, without shit getting all complicated with manipulating all kinds of other shit. 
[/quote]


Simpler yes, but rather limiting. Not to mention there's only so many elements you can use before you start to repeat. A base line and good CS tamplate, that can be modified if needed, might much easier for newbies as most I see are just learning the ropes. Like myself.  Not to mention, having closely formatted CSes might allow it be to be easier to compared stats and create a positive habit while still allowing creative freedom. Also, maybe a list of powers examples considered too powerful for the tourney level might also help newbies scale their creativity to the proper levels. At least know what might be considered a bad idea or request ideas of how to limit it down. Creativity is just as much as part of the arena as actual writing and balance, at least last I knew.