"Legend of Raifudo", anyone?
On a serious note, this is an example of my stat system:
Stat-point System
Brief Summary:
The stat system is based on a “hard work pays off” process. To guarantee players will have an advantage from dedicated work, they will gain perks for beginning at a lower stage than the highest allowed rank. To do so, there is an established list that allots a certain amount of stat-points (SP) per rank located [here]; each rank, on the basis of which is higher, increases in SP available for use.
Going by the system, once a character ranks up, they will be given the base points of 10 plus 2 more for their work (the +2 accumulates with prior awarded rank-ups).
Example:
Academy Student – 10 SP
Jounin – 40 SP
The above is the SP-base system for Academy Students and Jounin, meaning beginning at that rank will allot you that many points. Now, assuming one begins at Jounin (Player B), they are given 40 SP to spend as they wish. Now if one were to begin at Academy Student (Player A), they’d be given 10. As they progressed to genin, they would acquire 12 SP (10 for rank-up and 2 for role-play bonus); once they reach Jounin, A would have 46 SP (10 from the beginning, 30 from rank-up, and 6 from accumulated role-play bonus). Although it may seem miniscule, those 6 points can greatly make a difference in combat between B and A.
Extended Summary:
Stat Descriptions
When a player chooses their [rank], they will be given a set amount of points to distribute along their stats as they see fit.
Ninjutsu: Ninja techniques; placing points into this stat increases the power of your ninja art techniques and increases the ranking of jutsu you can use.
Taijutsu: Body techniques; placing points into this stat increases the strength of your physical offensive and defensive abilities.
Genjutsu: Illusionary techniques; placing points into this stat increases the capabilities of your jutsu and how well they can fool your opponents – likewise, increase the difficulty of breaking out of them.
Intelligence: One’s mental capabilities; placing points into this stat increases the adaptability and perception of a player; it also advocates the ability to learn at a faster pace.
Stamina: Endurance; stamina points exist to extend your chakra pool. It is the key source to durability and execution.
Hand Seals: Molding and precision; hand seals are the foundation for chakra formation and manipulation. Usage of the hand seals stat increases manipulation of chakra as well as the ability to form it into techniques. Likewise, this attribute allows the player to weave through hand seals faster and, eventually, use only one hand for techniques.
Speed: dexterity; the speed in which a player can maneuver. Reflexes and perception of physical motion is also augmented by this stat.
Fuuinjutsu: Sealing; sealing techniques, which includes summoning, is used to augment the type of sealing you can do, which can range from basic weapon scrolls to chakra capacity.
Base SP and Stat Caps
Each attribute above can have a maximum of ten points placed into it; however, ranking also plays an important role within them. A cap (listed below) is set in order to prevent a player from matching abilities with someone of a much higher rank (I.E. An Academy Student placing ten points into speed and matching that of a Kage).
In order to avoid everyone choosing the higher rank right off the bat, a system has been made that awards more for the effort of ranking up than simply choosing the higher title. To go about this, after a player has chosen their ranking, one will progress through means of [missions] and [role-play bonuses] that help advance a player to reach the needed [Experience Points] in order to rank up. Here is the list of base SP and their stat caps.
Academy Student – 10; Cap is 4/10
Genin – 20; Cap is 5/10
Chuunin – 30; Cap is 6/10
Jounin – 40; Cap is 7/10
Anbu – 50; Cap is 8/10
Kage: 65; – Cap is 10/10
After a rank up, a player receives 10 Stat points [SP] as a minimal number to properly advance to the abilities of the higher; because they successfully ranked up via role-play, they will be awarded 2 SP more (which [accumulates] with ranking) which tally’s up to 12 per rank-up via role-play. Although two may seem insignificant, it’s the combined effort of the rank-ups that make it worthwhile. Simply said, no matter what, ranking up by means of role-play will make you stronger than your higher, default-ranked, peers.
Jutsu Clashes
Conclusion
One can begin at any rank, except for prestigious ranks such as Anbu or Kage, and excel through means of role-play. As stated above, a significant number of times, beginning at a lower tier allows you more possibilities in your character’s prowess.
By the way, @Eric: I already have a "time frame" kind of story. Two, actually. One that proceeds with the canon story after the sage of the six and everything is just clans right now in certain regions of the world, and the second where it's a sort of spin-off from Naruto where the tailed beasts are actually legendary weapons and the sage is known as the Constellation's Blacksmith; essentially a man who was known to even be the ones who molded the stars themselves and so on -- pure legend.
