[@Bluetommy]

Okay, so here's a question - how far into fanon are we allowed to go? Because there's some canon stuff that... really doesn't make sense, and some fanfiction stuff (principally [i]Embers[/i]-derived, I will admit) that really [i]does[/i].

[u]Principally, I'm thinking:[/u]
[list][*]Lavabending should be equally possible with fire [i]or[/i] earth, and should require the user to study the bending forms of the element they don't have, and possibly water as well (earth that's hot like fire and flows (somewhat) like (really thick, sometimes, depending on type) water.)
[*]Similarly, there should be other cross-element specialisations; a firebender might learn to bend heat by studying airbending, hot water (more specifically the 'fire' [i]in[/i] hot water, but effectively) by studying waterbending, or steam by studying [i]both[/i], just as a waterbender might learn mudbending from studying earth or an airbender stormbending (as in genuine rain-thunder-and-lightning storms, not just huge winds) from water and fire.
[*]Active chi use should be for more than just bending and mystical extrasensory perception; high-level warriors like Piandao, for example, defeating a hundred men or fighting blindfolded, should be active chi users. Likewise, strong benders should be capable of enhancing their physical power with chi, or even creating a surge in the power of their bending, at the cost of stamina.[/list]

[u]Which ties into my (firebender) character sheet thusly:[/u]
Skill classification (as in difficulty/advanced-ness) goes universal/novice/apprentice/journeyman/expert/master
Skill level (as in how good you are) goes untrained/novice/apprentice/journeyman/expert/master

There are seven Universal skills: Inner Fire (how powerful your flame is, and some incidental bonuses like not freezing), Surging Breath (firebender chi use), Mountain Style (firebending technique one, aggressive), Dragon Style (firebending technique two, defensive), and then Study of Earth, Study of Water, and Study of Air; so, for example, if my firebender progressed to Expert Inner Fire, Expert Study of Water and Expert Mountain Style (or Master Dragon Style), he could learn Lightningbending and Lightning Redirection, or Controlled Lightningbending at Mastery.

A Waterbender, alternatively, might have Inner Flow, Surging Tide, Ocean Style and Moon Style, and then Study of Earth, Fire and Air.

Obviously this is fairly complicated, but I like to have a bit of a structure to work with. Is this all okay, or do I need to adhere to canon rules?

EDIT: Also, this would, double obviously, be a [i]lot[/i] of work, it's not the sort of thing anyone can just breeze through. I'm thinking long-term here, mostly.