Phoenix

Naruto Re-imagined

Okay, excellent ^^
Tatsua and I Skyped for a while last night and went through quite a bit, mostly about Chakra. We like the idea of "removing" Lightning as one of the base natures and making it a combination between two of the four classic elements, Earth, Fire, Water, and Air (Wind). However, much of the discussion was about the chemical legitimacy about how they combine. Here's what we came up with (None of this is concrete):
Fire
Earth
Air
Water

F/E=Lava
F/A=Lightning
F/W=Boil/Steam

E/A=Sand
E/W=Wood

A/W=Ice

F/E/A=Metal
E/A/W=Crystal
A/W/F=Storm
W/F/E=Scorch/Blaze

F/E/A/W=Plasma

We then decided that it's not the literal combination of the elements themselves (How do Air and Water create Ice? Isn't Ice just a different form of Water?) but, rather, the combination of the state in which the Chakras express themselves.
Fire=Heat Chakra
Earth=Solid Chakra
Air=Gas Chakra
Water=Liquid Chakra
However, with this, W/E would create Ice instead of A/W (since it wouldn't make sense for a Gas and Liquid to create a Solid).

What if some techniques are different manifestations of a release, say from Steam can come Boil/Acid? Which would we remove or transfer?
So then I thought of an interesting idea:
How about these elemental manifestations are purely Yin and Yang Chakra being expressed in a certain way.
Yin is Spiritual and Emotional while Yang is Physical and Mental.
Fire=Spiritual
Earth=Physical
Air=Mental
Water=Emotional

Lava=Spiritual/Physical
Lightning=Spiritual/Mental
Steam=Spiritual/Emotion

So, in a sense, it's a 4-sided coin.
We left it there and I wanted to continue thinking about how to structure the Chakra system. I like the idea of stemming everything from YinYang...but I want to hear everyone else's opinions.

We went a little into the world itself, but Chakra took most of our time.
We liked the idea of having the realm being ruled over by Shogun who command an army of Samurai and employ Ninja for the dirty work (referring back to the traditional idea of NInja). So it'd essentially be Shogun>Samurai>Ninja.
We also thought of the idea of having Chakra be seen as a "curse" and condemnable but used by the Shogun regardless. This creates a lot of intrigue in itself.
We also played with the idea that the Shogun invaded their land (when Chakra usage was more wide-spread) and wiped them out except a controllable number and now use them for services under the guise of protection and duty. The use of Chakra is considered dangerous.
Then there was the idea that each nation/Kingdom/realm/country/etc. (we didn't decide on what to call them) would house some kind of Chakra Beast (liking the idea of "Power incarnate" being demonized for the sake of those in power to remain in power). Should enough individuals "cursed" with Chakra, those seals would break and the beasts would be released, cementing the idea that Chakra usage is a very negative thing.
I think that's as far as we got with that.

What do you guys think?

Also, it's clear to me that people are either not reading or neglecting to go though posts and answering questions or contributing to ideas. Those who continue to do so will not be welcome to continue contributing to this world-building stage.

Naruto Re-imagined

I'm unsure as to what any of that means/references. Please read the OP in order to form full opinions of the topics introduced.
Thank you. :)

Naruto Re-imagined

I PMed you.

Naruto Re-imagined

Feel free to go through the whole post and make notes on everything. Also, the other posts are free for "evaluation" as well. ^^

Would it be easier if I were to make an OOC for this? It seems no one is following it (or is that just the fickle nature of us RPers?)

Naruto Re-imagined

I only offered it as an idea, not something I actually wanted to implement. The second "option" actually added Metal to the existing 5, making 6 in total.
But there could still be Lightning (those with both Wind and Fire Chakras). It just wouldn't be one of the "pure" Chakras.

Regardless, everything in the OP is not concrete. The idea is to collaborate to create a world we're familiar with but our own. I'm hoping this makes the players more attached and less likely to leave xP
I haven't heard from Phobos in a while, so I'm thinking they lost interest. If you'd like to throw up any of your own ideas or expound upon any I've hinted at (possibly denouncing them or even fleshing them out), I'd be happy to read your opinions and thoughts. :)

Naruto Re-imagined

Additional note:
What about the Eye powers? Should we choose a new body part that grants special abilities?
How about altering the characteristics of Chakra? Changing certain techniques and adding/subtracting from what they can do. Almost a top-down re-designing.

Naruto Re-imagined

I was also wondering if vessels should be had for the new Beasts (we'll keep the name "Chakra Beasts" for simplicity). Another idea is that they have a village seal that can only be unlocked by Elders (or whatever you want them to have, perhaps they have different hierarchies) when the need arises.

That was supposed to be read as a list of possibilities. We could:
A) Remove Lightning and keep the 4 "basic Elements" or
B) Add another Chakra (suggesting Metal, though it doesn't have to be)
Regardless of the route taken, the strength/weakness relations would have to be adjusted, which wouldn't be too difficult. We could alter it completely or even omit the fact that there are one's that overpower others, creating a level playing field and removing automatic disadvantages.

The reason I thought Metal as an additional Chakra type was only due to the Chinese idea of Elements, which are actually Metal, Fire, Water, Wood, and Earth and omits Air.

I find it cliche to have inherent negativity between nations. That's what the manga has already explored in great detail. I don't much care to follow suit. Of course, the actual plot of the RP could be vastly different with a similar canonical discrimination.

I think, for now, we should just have a literary map and allow our minds to create the image. However, at this stage, it'd probably be best to cement the fundamentals of the world. Or would you like to "create" the map first?

Yes, please do!

Also, any thoughts on that last section of the OP?

Naruto Re-imagined

Well the idea is for collaboration. So if you have any ideas or have had any ideas for a Naruto-based world, I'd be happy to hear them.
Is there anything in the OP that you're interested in expounding upon?
Was there anything you disagree/don't like?

Naruto Re-imagined

This is more of an exercise than an actual RP, at least to start out. So, for those who like to create worlds first before RPing in them, this is for you.
This is also for those who like the idea of changing nearly everything about a world they know until it's almost unrecognizable from the original. So if you don't like the idea or believe it to be sacrilegious, then this is, again, not for you. xP
It should be noted that I've never RPed a Naruto RP before and this will be a learning experience for me. Also, as of now, I have little desire to actually RP in this world. "Then why have it here?" Well, I would like other people to be able to use it. I might also grow attached enough that I really do want to RP in it. Otherwise, this is a world-creating stage of the process. The idea is to create the world before RPing. If that's something else you dislike (and would rather RP while creating the world), then, again, this is not for you.

The idea is to take from the manga and change it into something different, though based on the same idea. This could be as simple as merely changing the name of an already established concept (ANBU into Special Units (SU)) or as drastic as completely altering a concept (altering the layout of the Chakras or even changing the concept of Ninjas). We may also purposefully omit concepts that have been canonically established (Samurai or even entire Styles). I think we should create a completely new geography, however.

Going further into the drastic change provided above (reorganizing Chakra), here are 2 ways I've thought it could go:
We omit a Chakra (Lightning) and keep to Fire, Earth, Air, and Water. Perhaps it is replaced with Natural, Spiritual, and Physical energies and, thus, creating 7 Chakras. Though those three could be ignored as well, leaving only 4. This would, of course, need to be regulated as per the "strength/weakness" between each Chakra.
We add a Chakra (Metal) and create new interactions between them.
Another one I just thought of, perhaps we start off with Physical, Spiritual, Natural energies and this RP could explore the IC exploration of the elements.
Overall, any and all changes would need to be accepted by all parties. You might consider me a Moderator of everyone's contributions. Also, any and all contributions should be explained relatively scientifically (that means through research). If you have an idea that you wish to implement but have no reason for it other than "because," it will not be accepted. This does not mean others can't come in and provide said "science" for someone else's idea.

So, to start off, this is be a completely "new" alternate reality of the world of Naruto. Because of this, I believe it would need a new name.
Also, what are your thoughts on changing the Chakras? Too much?
Would anyone care to make a map online (I lack the talent and resources with which to make a map online) or should we just have it composed of words and imagination?

Some other ideas I had that can be discussed later or now:
A segregation of Ninja types. If you possess certain Chakra types, it's expected for one to be moved to the village "specializing" in that Chakra type (yes, that means the Kekkei Genkai would, effectively, have their own villages).
A segregation of races. We have Native/Hispanic, Asian, European, African, and Arab separated into their own nations. This does not infer racism, but that is a possibility which could occur. Perhaps, instead of the above, there are the elemental nations and they have areas for each elemental chakra composition to where children are sent to master the techniques associated with their talents. However, if in conjunction to the first, perhaps they return back to their home nation to mate and maintain their race, and mixing races is seen as unnecessary or even harmful (in spite of the groundless proof for these opinions).
The nations are neutral towards each other but keep relations minimal. Aggression towards any one nation would result in retaliation from all others (unless enough intrigue occurs that would affect that outcome).
The nations are all allied with each other and keep relations open. This could result in much easier intrigue to occur between nations.
Changing the idea of Tailed Beasts. Perhaps, instead, there are Chakra Beasts, created by the chakras of the village from which they originate (referring back to the first idea).

Character Creation or Role-Playing?

Ergo said ...but I suppose it bears a resemblance to how people delight in the idea of going to the gym but despise the activity itself.

I dislike this analogy because it insinuates that those who better enjoy writing CSs rather than playing with those characters are lazy or unproductive. I would liken the idea to an architect and a construction worker. Of course, this could be equally unfair, but I will explain why I believe this is.

Creating a character, one needs to know the balances of human nature and how events shape the human psyche. If they're not necessarily "human," then they have to reevaluate how that balance is reconfigured in this setting. They have to know the limitations both on the character and their attributes set by the plot and setting. So in creating, they make the blueprint based off the theme and setting as an architect must be conscientious of the safety and regulations their structures must have.
Playing a character requires the skill and mind to keep the personality consistent while leaving room for character development and how that character might develop physically, mentally, and emotionally. This is all done around the stipulations of the RP as well as the other players and the interactions with them. So in playing, they act based off this blueprint as accurately as possible given the circumstances as a construction worker must follow the plans of the contractor to safely implement whatever it is they are implementing.

Crimson Flame said I prefer RPing, then writing honestly. I prefer showing a character through actions and dialogue, then by writing a biography and a list of traits.

I actually like making the biography much like an IC story, but enough so it's interesting to read but not so long that it becomes a chore to read. And to be honest, I very much dislike how most people require personalities, likes, dislikes, belongings, and even appearance in a CS. I believe the character is the set of experiences they have gathered throughout their existence. That, itself, is going to describe everything past their name and the biography itself. But that's just my personal opinion.

Another question: going to the misnomer that is the title of this thread, how many people feel that the role-playing done here is more character creation or simply role-playing?

I feel it depends on the RP, but beyond that, I feel like it's more role-playing. I see everyone that "character development is key" but thinking over it, it just seems like this "character development" is the description of what that character is already like. They don't really change or develop into anything other than their initial personality. Is this because people don't naturally change so much and it would be unrealistic to play that out? I have seen people say that most/all RPers can't keep their character consistent ever, but I don't feel like people are very consistent in their personalities anyway (but that's a different discussion).