Ashigaru - Foot Soldiers

Posts : 730

Clan Name: Ashigaru
Clan Location: Any(Shinobi are distributed throughout the nations that will accept them.)
Clan Traits:Members of this clan specialize in armed combat. No Ashigaru clan member my every choose Genjutsu, Fuuninjutsu, Puppetry, or Ninjutsu as a specialty. All members of this clan are required to take Weaponry as their primary specialization. Due to this family's focus on weaponry, Members of this clan are able to use weapons one rank higher than they should. This does not apply to S ranked weapons, and only applies to weapons issued by the Ashigaru Standard Issue Equipment.

Members of this clan know few jutsu, but the clan has mastered some of it's own unique abilities. This family is highly resistant to all fear effects. Any fear effect of rank equal or lower to the shinobi automaticaly fails. And jutsu of higher rank than the shinobi has it's durration reduced to 1 post. Further more, while effected by a fear effect, the Ashigaru will stand their ground and remain on the defensive. They will protect themselves untill the effect ends, at which time they will seek vengance. In a furious attempt to restore any lost honor, an Ashigaru recieves a 25% increase to their speed and strength for 1 post after confronted with a fear effect. This begins when they resist an effect, or when the effect wears off.

Any ninja from this clan that attends the ninja academy my choose only three jutsu. These three jutsu must be chosen from the list of jutsu commonly taught at the ninja academy. When the ashigaru reaches B rank, they may choose one more jutsu to add to their list. If an ashigaru reaches S rank, or Kage equivilant, they will then recieve 1 more jutsu, again chosen from the basic list available to academy students. While this clan lacks diversity among it's jutsu, it's increased physical skill greatly makes up for it. All Ashigaru shinobi are able to use their family's secret physical jutsu, even if they do not have taijutsu as a specialty.

Kekkei Genkai: None

Secret Clan Jutsu:

Spoiler:

History:
Long before the formation of the great Shinobi Nations there were a multitude of clans that sought out to become masters of the world around them. Some harnassed the latent power of particular bloodlines, while others mastered their own secret arts and honed special powers. Durring these times there was great chaos through out the lands all around the nations. Between all the warring clans around them, there came to be a lower class of warriors, who never masterd the great skills of the ninja. Those who found themselves at such an advantage found another way to survive. They began to stick together. 150 years before the formation of the great Ninja Nations, four oppressed familes came together for mutual protection.

The four familes of Harutomi, Yazigatsu, Kazemitsu, and Saru all were one time at war with each other. The four familes lived on opposing shores of a large round lake, and battled each other for the resources around them. They battled for thick tree lands as often as they fought for open prarrie. They fought over the use of the lake, and warred over ownership of the wandering wildlife in the forest. Like the rest of the small cities at the time, they were suspicious of outsiders, and unwelcoming to all strangers. Such was the way of this dangerous time, and though they had plenty of practice in fighting, they were rules of nothing. All around them, other clans were developing jutsu. Their fighting prowess soon found huge improvment from their mystical techniques, and the lesser clans languished as inferior. Vast sections of land began to be consumed by the fledling ninja clans.

The wise elders of all four families saw that their downfall would come from the more powerful cities, if they did not find a way to increase their own power. The decades of warring against eachother had helped instil the talents they needed, but they had also worked well to thin their numbers. All four elders arrived at the same conclusion, and a grand peace was finaly annouced. The four nations warred, but had always been a good hostility. All four families had a mind for war, and too many of them saw it as a grand game of strategy. Lifespans were counted in a handful of decades for all but the most special of warriors, but none of these people would complain about their lives. These families were warriors through and through, and when their peace was established they chose a new name for their clan. They took the name of Ashigaru, meaning soldier, and have always lived up to the name.

With the great peace, warriors from all the families put down their weapons for one full year. They took up axes and hoes, spades and wagons and put their hands to work on the land. They fell trees to expand on a vast field, and burnt many of them in a massive pyre of celebration. The first pyre was lit on April 27th, and lasted for three days before the last smoldering coals were reduced to just ashes. The three days were full of drunken revery of all undescribable sort, and helped solidify the bond of the Ashigaru clan. Once the festival was over, a grand training grounds was established on the site of their first celebration, and they still maintain the sight as a fort today. While the clan may have fallen apart after the initial celebrations had faded, such was not the case. Unified by the plight of all the other nations, they found solidaridy in a familiar past time.

The people of the Ashigaru clan are still a warrior people to this day. They keep with their old traditions, use their old tools, and maintain their old ancenstral haunt. Their keep is a bastion for them these days, but kept them safe from the other familie for all the years previous to the formation of Konoha, and the rest of the nations. Even the Uchiha clan had difficulty in conqouring the Ashigaru clan, and in time found need not to bother trying. War is something trained into an Ashigaru from their birth. New born children are dressed in warpaint before they are even given to their own mother, and laid on a small shrine to weaponry. Sitting among the ancestral weapons of the tribe, the new born is given their name, and told their purpose in life. Only once the child has stopped crying is it finally allowed to see it's parents.

Ashigaru children do not last long with their parents. They clan lives a very clustered life, and all those they are raised around are considered family. Parents do not teach skills to children, instead a dedicated few act as comunal mothers of a sort, and see to the younger childrens well being. Children are raised in this group society to help them recieve a pack mentality from even a young age. Untill five years of age an ashigaru child is permitted to play and learn, but the family has certain expectations. After five years old children are then dedicated to the warrior trade, both boys and girls. Among the entire clan, there's not a single one that can not lift a weapon. As many invaders once learned, even the women and children are a lethal threat when underestimated. Some outsiders think this treatment is harsh to their children, but amongst the fine soldiers of the clan there's not a one that doesn't look back on their training with great fondness.

As the clan was begining to age, and other nations were growing weary of assaulting this unbreakable clan, they began to make a new name for themselves. With attacks on the decline and children being born quickly, the clan soon found itself overstocked with fine soldiers. Other nations began to contact them, and when they needed bulk troops, the Ashigaru became the default choice. No other militia was considered to have greater skill. Once they began to act as mercenaries, the family's coffers began to fill to abundance. More construction began, stone work was improved upon and what exists now was built. Their fortress is a solid stone wonder with 30 foot walls. Though many have breached it's defenses, not a single force has every held thier home for more than a night. The entire family would have to be destroyed before the clan ever stopped fighting for their home.

Among their notable traits, the Ashigaru clan is stoic. They are unbreakable, and immovable. Nothing inspires fear in an ashigaru, except the thought of running from a battle. Among their society, nothing is considered worse than giving in to cowardice. They are known for their great martial skill, and ability to work in formation. While a single ashigaru is rarely a huge threat, when twenty of them are standing in a double line, with their longspears presented before them, approaching them is all but impossible. Their skill with their spear is only slightly more notable than their skill with the katana. Their swordplay is deadly and fast, often used to create openings for a single soldier's parteners to get a good strike in on their opponent. The common Ashigaru soldier is also trained with well balanced and razor sharp throwing axes as a standard issue weapon, and acts as a way to harrass groups of resting armies, or opponents with a higher ground advantage. The Ashigaru also have a large battalion of soldiers that have trained extensivly with use of the common longbow, and act as snipers and a great defense to their homeland.

After the formation of the great shinobi nations, the Ashigaru clan continued to supply other clans with soldiers. The new tradition of training ninjas in the use of jutsu became the norm, and more and more of the special techniques were quickly picked up on. Most of the Ashigaru clan has no experience in ninjutsu, but some are able. Qualifying as a ninja from this clan requires a great deal of antural aptitude. Only the clans finest ninja are ever send to the ninja academy, and if they do not get sent by nine years of age, they never get sent at all. At age seven the first great tournement is held for the children. Rank and organization is decided by how a student does, so they all try their hardest. They fight with padded or wooden weapons, and only those who win have any chance at becoming shinobi. A child must become the champion to be concidered, but any who are able to reach the semi-finals without being hit are sent as well. As such, the Ashigaru clan has only four or five potential ninjas each year. These ninjas are sent away from their clan to which ever village will pay the 1,000 gold bounty offered for having them in their care.

From that day on the Ashigaru ninja is no longer a soldier. They have no desire or tradition of returning home, and tend to become loyal shinobi to whoever they begin to serve. Like their non-ninja family, they are known for their talent with weaponry, and make for astonishing warriors if an enemy is placed close to them. Most do not master anything but the most basic of ninjutsu, and genjutsu is unheard of amongst this family.

Ashigaru Weaponry
The Ashigaru family has a vast armory filled with weapons from their glory days. Having been involved in war with each other long before they formed an alliance, this clan has amassed a great fortune in ancient and finely crafted weapons. Members of the Ashigaru family that specialize in metal working take more time in restoring relics from the past than they do in crafting new weapons for their family.

Each weapon that this family maintains is of the utmost quality and there are few finer blades found in the lands. While very few possess any special qualities, every weapon has been tested for decades, if not centuries, to ensure that it is flawless and functions perfectly. This dedication to quality ensures that no Ashigaru solider ever be caught in the field without a weapon as reliable as they are.

Not all Ashigaru weaponry is held up to such perfecting standards, as not all ashigaru weaponry is ancient. Only the clan's Katanas and Yari can be considered of this masterful quality, and these are the two traditional weapons that ever Ashigaru family remembers using for centuries back. This collection of fine spears and swords is cherished among the clan, and valued over the lives of the soldiers themselves. As these blades are considered priceless to the family, they are monitored carefully. A record is kept of each weapon and which soldier it was issued too, and the family is always sure to collect their blades from unworthy, dishonorable, or disgraced ashigaru.

Because the ashigaru weapons are works of such perfect craftsmanship, the typical soldier finds themselves far better equipped than their average peer. As such, any ashigaru is able to use a weapon that is one rank higher than they are. This does not apply to anything besides the Spear or Sword the clan has trained with, and does not apply to S ranked weapons. Weapons of S ranked are reserved only for the remaining leaders of the family, and will never be issued to a clan member that has joined a shinobi village.

As an Ashigaru advances in rank, they can turn in their old weaponry, for a new one. This is sure to keep the Ashigaru equipped with the best weapons they can get their hands on. A ranked blades are handed out to those who reach chuunin, however nothing further than this. As was previously mentioned, the great rarity of S ranked swords leaves them as little more than ceremony pieces, held by the greatest leaders of the Ashigaru. A ranked swords of the Ashigaru clan are fine weapons, but none possess any sort of openly magical effect. They can not create elements, and often times can not channel chakra. A ranked blades are, however, harder to beak still. The blades can be trod upon by hordes of elephants, and bent in a press, but the metal will never break. Such swords are treasures from the greatest warriors of the ashigaru and are sure to take many, many lives.

Ashigaru Standard Issue

Spoiler:

Ashigaru Holdings:

Spoiler:

Clan Details: Open. Send PM to clan maker so a record can be kept of who is in this clan.

Age : 30 Posts : 1701

I don't like that soldier's endurance can heal you.. It doesn't really flow with the whole shield idea

other than that, your jutsu look fair, a fitting and well rounded clan holding secret techniques, I like it.

you'll need to post all of those weapons in the appropriate template

Posts : 730

Mkay, I must agree. It did seem a little unbalanced to me as healing as it did, so I changed it some. IT does still provide a small amount of regeneration, to those with S rank, however all other ranks just resist pain, provide energy, and give them the edge they'd need to be the best mundane army in the lands. Keeping in mind they have little to no jutsu, I think this is quite fair. I didn't quite want it to seem like the Jutsu is a shield, so much as the army itself is a shield. I am still working on the weapon templates. I'll have them in here soon.

Let me know what you think!

Posts : 2032

Generally it is well done, congratz.

But there are some spacing and layout issues which make it confusing in your clan traits section. Split up the different ideals into sections within the clan traits area to make it easier to understand the requirements. See other custom clans that are approved for further ideas in that regard.

Also your clan jutsu don't require a RP sample, that is only applicable for jutsu learnt after a character has been approved, so they can be removed. ^^

Posts : 730

edited. I hope that helps. ^-^

Posts : 730

Ok, I further edited it just a little, and added a section about the Ashigaru family stronghold, and the few advantages it offers. Let me know what you think. I hope everything is acceptable now. I'm looking forward to playing this clan.

Age : 34 Posts : 1492

For soldiers Endurance, you basically can erase fatigue. There should be some downside to using this technique, either after battle or some post length away. Say for d-Rank it lasts 3 posts, and then the effects come back doubled. Get what I mean?

Posts : 730

While I do see how that can be perceived as an advantage, you must take the whole clan into perspective while looking at it. It is something of their unseen trump card, the one thing they have that gives them an edge over others. While it does help them excel at marching, running, fighting, and all other manner of phycialy activity, that is all this clan can do.

They can never master jutsu that let them do any other manner of amazing techniques most other shinobi are renowned for. They are exclusively melee combatants. Erasing fatigue allows them to last in combat longer than other nin, because they have trained their entire lives to be soldiers. They march every day, they train every night. They eat, sleep, and breath weapons training. They don't get days off, they don't take vacation time. They don't get summers or holidays off. Most clan members wouldn't even know what to do with their free time, if they were not allowed to keep training.

The ability does have a draw back, just not at the extreme lower ranks. Once this technique progresses to where it is nullifying pain, it runs the risk of getting the user killed. It doesn't heal wounds, it just lets you ignore them. Ignoring a bad wound comes with it's own obvious draw backs. I suppose I can better clarify that ifyou get stabbed in the neck, and just ignore it, you're probly gonna die. However, I do not see this ability as a temporary thing. Being able to march for another 3 posts, is like being able to march for 1 additional city block. Not even worth mentioning as a jutsu.

While I will admit this ability is very useful, and very powerful, I don't see it as unbalanced. It's still going to be very hard for Ashigaru members to compete against people with ninjutsu. Or, god forbid, genjutsu. This clan is weak at everything, except stabbing people with weapons. I say, this is an edge that they need, to keep them worthy of even being concidered for ninja training.

Age : 34 Posts : 1492

Well, now that I understand all that, it does make sense. The whole ignoring pain thing kinda confused me for a minute.

All in all, a very interesting clan. Approved.

Posts : 1044

Unapproved for edits at the clan owner's request.

Posts : 730

I have edited my clan. Now that I also know that a genin can not hold a B ranked weapon, I have added more to this clan. I gave them the ability to use a weapon 1 rank higher than the soldier. Details are explained right above the list of ashigaru standard issue. Which I did not edit at all.

Age : 34 Posts : 1492

Only applies to the original weaponry you obtain from the clan thats currently on your application? Not any custom things you may make in the future, correct?

Posts : 730

Correct. I specified that under the notes at the top of the description to be more clear on.

Posts : 730

Ok, I edited the weapons some now. To explain better what they're higher quality is, I added this sentence into both the katana and the yari: This weapon is a fine example of it's kind, and is razor sharp and much harder to break than a regular one.

This also helps make sure that no super magical jutsu like powers are taken to get around the ashigaru weakness of not having ninjutsu or genjutsu. The ashigaru are only given a spear and a katana that is higher rank than they are. Only their constant practice and training allows them to be able to use these old, light, and finely crafted weapons properly, at their age.

Age : 34 Posts : 1492

Edits noted, I see nothing wrong with the standard issue only being able to be used if its a rank higher, considering the character is basically limited to weaponry only on the application in the first place. Reapproved.

Age : 29 Posts : 1256

Moved for edited to new weaponry rules.

Posts : 730

Alrighty. Due to the weaponry rules, I made a few changes. I changed the weapons to D rank to fit in with being one level below the genin rank. I also made a note about the quality of the katana, and left it's rank at B. I also added a note about accessing A ranked weaponry at rank B. It will still remain as only just 1 A ranked weapon, and it is still the katana. I put in a note that they are just unbreakable, and never have elemental type stuff associated with them. Those who do not want a plain sword to fight with, can use a magical sword of their same rank.

I think that's all the changes I made, but please look the whole thing over again. I hope this is the last time I need to edit. >.<

thanks in advance!

Age : 29 Posts : 1256

Wind wrote:: Alrighty. Due to the weaponry rules, I made a few changes. I changed the weapons to D rank to fit in with being one level below the genin rank. I also made a note about the quality of the katana, and left it's rank at B. I also added a note about accessing A ranked weaponry at rank B. It will still remain as only just 1 A ranked weapon, and it is still the katana. I put in a note that they are just unbreakable, and never have elemental type stuff associated with them. Those who do not want a plain sword to fight with, can use a magical sword of their same rank.

I think that's all the changes I made, but please look the whole thing over again. I hope this is the last time I need to edit. >.<

thanks in advance!

Nothing is unbreakable.

Posts : 730

I know. =P But a B ranked sword is pretty decent none the less. I was exagerating, as this reply is not part of my application. The sword itself says is Almost unbreakable. Which it is.

Age : 29 Posts : 1256

Either way, a sword is only as strong as the material that its made of, also, it says A-rank swords are completely unbreakable.

Posts : 730

How right you were. Not sure what I was thinking, I plead insanity. Changed.

Age : 29 Posts : 1256

Just one more thing, it says they are harder to beak still? Is this some sort of code word?! Ashigaru - Foot Soldiers 287405

lol

Posts : 730

No, as I do not know the rules for breaking a weapon. I assume being A rank is harder to break than B rank. That line isn't supposed to focus on invulnerability, so much as the part saying don't use super elemental jutsu with your swords, because that's not what this clan is about.

Age : 30 Posts : 8965

Reapproved.