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Okay, so you're looking at this game, and the first thing that brings you concern is that your character is, above all, not a Naruto character. So what do you do? Is your character too overpowered? Is your character too underpowered? Do you have no clue about the world, and thus feel like you would be lost forever and ever with no hope of coming out the other side? This list of questions, answers, country cliffnotes, and a step by step way of how one might go about deciding things for their characters before apping in, no Naruto knowledge needed.
Step 1: Deciding if you want a shinobi (re: ninja) or a civilian.
Alright my friends, this is the first, most vital step. Do you want to be a civilian, or do you want your character stuck in a military hierarchy? Both have their own perks.
For instance, a shinobi player gets to move through chakra related travel, take missions (which can kill them, yay?) and communicate using the scroll network.
A civilian, on the other hand, is beholden to no one except the civilian government, and thus can travel without accounting to anyone for anything, can have technical devices far more advanced than any shinobi can (yes, a civilian can have a cell phone or portable music player and shinobi can't because chakra is rude), and are free to hire and harrass shinobi at their leisure... and their own risk if they poke too far. They can still use normal letters even if the scroll network is out.
I choose Civilian! or I choose Shinobi!
Step 2: The civilian, a life, a voyage
Okay, I'm a civilian, now what?
First up is figuring out what kind of status your character has! Are they nobility? A merchant? Do they live in a hidden village? Do they have abilities? Keep reading for how to decide.
But I have no idea what the villages are like, how can I decide which one to use?
We have a complete list here that goes into every country and every village, but here are the cliff notes for the important villages in the game and how they treat civilians:
Konoha treats their civilians fairly well. They don't treat them badly or as lesser, and they have a thriving trade with the civilian villages and cities in other parts of the country. Bloodline clans do have civilians and they're not treated badly.
To Kiri, civilians are a vital part of the village, but just as the shinobi vie so hard against each other, the weakness of civilians in the village is frowned upon and only those who have reached the pinnacle of their skills get anything remotely like respect from the shinobi that live around them. Often mistreated, the civilians in Kiri are hard, harsh people, and woe on anyone who tries to compare. Those from bloodline clans rarely venture out into the village unless leaving altogether for their business, sticking to their families.
In Kumo, civilians are handled with the same regard as the shinobi when it comes to respect, as everyone knows that the village would not function properly without them. The common belief is that though not meant to be shinobi, the civilians were put in Kumo for some purpose as well, and should be respected for that. Clans being what they are in Kumo, there's no bloodline divides.
In Iwa, civilians are something that exist, but are not truly seen by Iwa nin. They are there to serve the shinobi, true, but they are not to be abused in any way, as that's not how things are done. Those with bloodlines sometimes get more leeway about not being shinobi due to the 'inherent handicap' of having one, as that village views it.
In Suna, civilians are important parts of the country. They feed the shinobi and keep them clothed, and this is far more important than in other nations. Without their civilian farmers, the population of shinobi would starve. However, the nobility of their nation do not get the same sort of warm reception that their local civilians get, largely due to their Daimyo causing them significant difficulties financially. Civilians with bloodlines that benefit the village are often treated incredibly well.
In Ame, even the civilians work hard, and you'll be very hard pressed to find a shinobi who would allow them to be treated poorly for not having combat skills. Bloodlines have no bearing on how one is treated at all.
In Uzushio, since more than half the population were raised as civilians, the overall theme in the village is that a civilian is about as good as they can make themselves. Thus, there is a faction who believes more civilians need to become shinobi to revive their village, just as there is a faction who sees their import as they are. Those with bloodlines are often nudged toward combat status.
Oto is one of those villages that doesn't actually have many real civilians inside it. Outside, yes, and they keep a very good standing with them, treating them well because of their reliance, but inside the village itself almost anyone is either from shinobi stock, is a retired shinobi for whatever reason, or grew up in a hidden village.
For the Land of Iron, civilians are those that the Samurai are to serve. That is their purpose, as the protectors and warriors, so that the innocent do not have to get blood on their hands.
You have an entire world of options, of course, this is just the rundown of the major shinobi villages in the game, to make it easier to sort through.
Okay I know where they're from, what are the benefits to being the different kinds of civilian?
Merchants are the ones that can travel freely, which means that they can pop in just about anywhere and have an excuse.
Shopkeepers can establish solid ties in their village of choice, interacting with the locals and in general putting themselves in the middle of things to their hearts' content.
Nobility have the distinction of having the money to use the scroll network, even if the know how as to making it in any way private ever is well beyond them. They can also hire shinobi at whim and are nearly impossible to ignore as shinobi ignoring nobility has the possibility of starting a war or losing clientele.
Other? Well, if you have another idea but aren't sure how it would go, just ask a mod and we'll help you work out the details. We have a handmaiden after all, so anything works in the end.
My character has these abilities, do I have to get rid of them if they're a civilian?
No! No, it's perfectly okay for a character with abilities to still have said abilities, even godmodes to their canon! Just be sure to see how your chosen home feels about bloodline abilities before making your final choice. You can find them in the village profiles linked above in more depth than was touched on here
Step 2: The shinobi, a destiny, a truth
Yay I'm a ninja! Er, shinobi. Yeah, that! Now what do I do?
Okay, there are a few more choices to make here so bear with us yeah? You need to pick a village, a rank, and if your character has any bloodlines or not.
So bloodlines, why are those important? Is that like godmode abilities?
First up, godmode abilities can be a bloodline. Just know that it might already exist since there are a lot running around and if you're not sure, feel free to ask.
In fact, we have a listing of bloodlines we've clarified for the game here. These can be added to, or worked around, if you have other ideas.
Any element usage a character might have is covered under universally accessible techniques and you don't need to delegate it to a bloodline unless it's something that combines them instead of just using more than one on its own. We even made a quick FAQ on what the heck jutsu even is over here.
Oh! And guys? There's no such thing as a character too godmode for Naruto. There just isn't. You don't have to nuke character skills.
Every country with shinobi has a different way of handling people with bloodlines, and every country has a different kind of bloodlines. So that'll be what gets covered here. Also what the primary elements users are for that country.
Konoha is very fond of their bloodlines! Anyone with a bloodline that is new to Konoha seeking asylum will be given consideration (even a home sometimes), and visitors from other villages will be treated with cautious respect so long as they do no harm. This means that the bloodlines range everywhere from all seeing eyes (Byakugan) to body modification, to mind control, and back up the other side to being a human bug colony. The only thing that Konoha doesn't have in plentiful supply are element based bloodlines, as only Mokuton (control of plant life) is really a claim to fame. Konoha is very heavy on Fire users.
In Kiri, while not actively persecuted, those with bloodlines are subject to a fair amount of de facto prejudice, ranging from fear and avoidance to outright abuse and manipulation. They are frequently held to a double standard, their possessors demanded to be both powerful and not too threatening. They are treated as superior weapons and fearsome warriors that are nonetheless unquestionably obedient and subservient to their betters, soldiers that fight only for their superiors, and only when they're asked to. Caught between a rock and a hard place, those with bloodlines are at once hated, feared, admired, envied, shunned, lusted after, and jealously guarded. Kiri has two branches of bloodlines it seems: those who use elements, and those who change their bodies. Those who change their bodies include a clan who can turn to water, one who uses their own bones as weapons, and (in this game) a clan that can use their blood to form weapons. They also have the most elemental bloodlines of any village, having lava users, acid mist users, and people who can create metal from practically nothing. The common element people use in this village is Water.
In Kumo bloodlines aren't exactly regarded as anything terribly special due to it not really having any native ones, and being a rather strong village even without them. This doesn't mean they don't want them, as wars have nearly been started over just that, but not having them isn't going to change how the people live their lives. Basically, this is the village with no bloodlines. They do, however, use swords awesomely, and lightening is a common element to use.
In Iwa, bloodline users tend to get more respect. While also having an exceptional ability, having a bloodline is often seen as a liability. These people have to take time from their other studies and aptitudes to work on something outside their control, so if they can keep their other skills up as well, then they're praised. If they cannot, they're pitied, which is the worst thing for any Iwa nin. The bloodlines of this village cover things like making bombs inside your body, keeping bugs inside yourself, and things that deal with elemental affinities. Control of stone is most common here, but some shinobi have enough control over multiple elements that they can fly.
In Suna, bloodlines are well and good, something to be wary of, but they do not inherently make someone special. Suna is a land where people are only worth what they can do, and some bloodlines would be flat out useless in their home climate. Essentially, it's a desert and we see no indications of bloodlines that don't involve sand or metal. The common element to use is Wind here.
In Ame, well, given that the 'god of Ame' has a bloodline, they're often treated well in the village, if sometimes a bit cautiously at first. The types roam all over the spectrum so pinning any specific bloodlines is hard here, but keep in mind that this place rains. Constantly. There is no one set element here, but it's a safe bet to assume water is common as a simple self defense measure against the weather.
In Uzushio, because of their close relation to Konoha, most of the villagers have a positive or neutral view toward those with bloodlines. Some returning from other villages, however, are still prone to poor reactions. Bloodlines that involve healing through touch, being bitten, and having obscene stamina are centralized here. Elements, on the other hand, seem to be all over the map.
In Oto bloodlines are absolutely revered. If you have one, that's a fast track to Orochimaru's favor and everyone knows it... though they also know that if you have a bloodline, even then being trained by him personally isn't exactly good for a person's health. Suffice to say that actually having a bloodline at times inspires mixed feelings. Because of the nature of the village, bloodlines of every and any country can be found here, and every element too.
Land of Iron? While rare, bloodlines do sometimes come up in Samurai families, and these people are always well treated. They're also expected to go far, and to not shame the skills that they've been given. This is the Land of Samurai, and the blade is more common than any element.
Want to know more? This post will take you to more detail about the inner workings of the villages.
Okay, so you picked your bloodline/talents out, and probably your village around them, right?
Need a rank? A made a whole FAQ about that right over here. Don't worry, it has details on what would become of you should you choose to be a missing-nin as well.
Still unsure?
Just poke a mod and we'll help you talk it out. We're good for it.
Step 3: Apply to the game!
That was it! If you need help working out further history, just flag down a mod or player, and they'll help. Promise.
Step 1: Deciding if you want a shinobi (re: ninja) or a civilian.
Alright my friends, this is the first, most vital step. Do you want to be a civilian, or do you want your character stuck in a military hierarchy? Both have their own perks.
For instance, a shinobi player gets to move through chakra related travel, take missions (which can kill them, yay?) and communicate using the scroll network.
A civilian, on the other hand, is beholden to no one except the civilian government, and thus can travel without accounting to anyone for anything, can have technical devices far more advanced than any shinobi can (yes, a civilian can have a cell phone or portable music player and shinobi can't because chakra is rude), and are free to hire and harrass shinobi at their leisure... and their own risk if they poke too far. They can still use normal letters even if the scroll network is out.
I choose Civilian! or I choose Shinobi!
Step 2: The civilian, a life, a voyage
Okay, I'm a civilian, now what?
First up is figuring out what kind of status your character has! Are they nobility? A merchant? Do they live in a hidden village? Do they have abilities? Keep reading for how to decide.
But I have no idea what the villages are like, how can I decide which one to use?
We have a complete list here that goes into every country and every village, but here are the cliff notes for the important villages in the game and how they treat civilians:
Konoha treats their civilians fairly well. They don't treat them badly or as lesser, and they have a thriving trade with the civilian villages and cities in other parts of the country. Bloodline clans do have civilians and they're not treated badly.
To Kiri, civilians are a vital part of the village, but just as the shinobi vie so hard against each other, the weakness of civilians in the village is frowned upon and only those who have reached the pinnacle of their skills get anything remotely like respect from the shinobi that live around them. Often mistreated, the civilians in Kiri are hard, harsh people, and woe on anyone who tries to compare. Those from bloodline clans rarely venture out into the village unless leaving altogether for their business, sticking to their families.
In Kumo, civilians are handled with the same regard as the shinobi when it comes to respect, as everyone knows that the village would not function properly without them. The common belief is that though not meant to be shinobi, the civilians were put in Kumo for some purpose as well, and should be respected for that. Clans being what they are in Kumo, there's no bloodline divides.
In Iwa, civilians are something that exist, but are not truly seen by Iwa nin. They are there to serve the shinobi, true, but they are not to be abused in any way, as that's not how things are done. Those with bloodlines sometimes get more leeway about not being shinobi due to the 'inherent handicap' of having one, as that village views it.
In Suna, civilians are important parts of the country. They feed the shinobi and keep them clothed, and this is far more important than in other nations. Without their civilian farmers, the population of shinobi would starve. However, the nobility of their nation do not get the same sort of warm reception that their local civilians get, largely due to their Daimyo causing them significant difficulties financially. Civilians with bloodlines that benefit the village are often treated incredibly well.
In Ame, even the civilians work hard, and you'll be very hard pressed to find a shinobi who would allow them to be treated poorly for not having combat skills. Bloodlines have no bearing on how one is treated at all.
In Uzushio, since more than half the population were raised as civilians, the overall theme in the village is that a civilian is about as good as they can make themselves. Thus, there is a faction who believes more civilians need to become shinobi to revive their village, just as there is a faction who sees their import as they are. Those with bloodlines are often nudged toward combat status.
Oto is one of those villages that doesn't actually have many real civilians inside it. Outside, yes, and they keep a very good standing with them, treating them well because of their reliance, but inside the village itself almost anyone is either from shinobi stock, is a retired shinobi for whatever reason, or grew up in a hidden village.
For the Land of Iron, civilians are those that the Samurai are to serve. That is their purpose, as the protectors and warriors, so that the innocent do not have to get blood on their hands.
You have an entire world of options, of course, this is just the rundown of the major shinobi villages in the game, to make it easier to sort through.
Okay I know where they're from, what are the benefits to being the different kinds of civilian?
Merchants are the ones that can travel freely, which means that they can pop in just about anywhere and have an excuse.
Shopkeepers can establish solid ties in their village of choice, interacting with the locals and in general putting themselves in the middle of things to their hearts' content.
Nobility have the distinction of having the money to use the scroll network, even if the know how as to making it in any way private ever is well beyond them. They can also hire shinobi at whim and are nearly impossible to ignore as shinobi ignoring nobility has the possibility of starting a war or losing clientele.
Other? Well, if you have another idea but aren't sure how it would go, just ask a mod and we'll help you work out the details. We have a handmaiden after all, so anything works in the end.
My character has these abilities, do I have to get rid of them if they're a civilian?
No! No, it's perfectly okay for a character with abilities to still have said abilities, even godmodes to their canon! Just be sure to see how your chosen home feels about bloodline abilities before making your final choice. You can find them in the village profiles linked above in more depth than was touched on here
Step 2: The shinobi, a destiny, a truth
Yay I'm a ninja! Er, shinobi. Yeah, that! Now what do I do?
Okay, there are a few more choices to make here so bear with us yeah? You need to pick a village, a rank, and if your character has any bloodlines or not.
So bloodlines, why are those important? Is that like godmode abilities?
First up, godmode abilities can be a bloodline. Just know that it might already exist since there are a lot running around and if you're not sure, feel free to ask.
In fact, we have a listing of bloodlines we've clarified for the game here. These can be added to, or worked around, if you have other ideas.
Any element usage a character might have is covered under universally accessible techniques and you don't need to delegate it to a bloodline unless it's something that combines them instead of just using more than one on its own. We even made a quick FAQ on what the heck jutsu even is over here.
Oh! And guys? There's no such thing as a character too godmode for Naruto. There just isn't. You don't have to nuke character skills.
Every country with shinobi has a different way of handling people with bloodlines, and every country has a different kind of bloodlines. So that'll be what gets covered here. Also what the primary elements users are for that country.
Konoha is very fond of their bloodlines! Anyone with a bloodline that is new to Konoha seeking asylum will be given consideration (even a home sometimes), and visitors from other villages will be treated with cautious respect so long as they do no harm. This means that the bloodlines range everywhere from all seeing eyes (Byakugan) to body modification, to mind control, and back up the other side to being a human bug colony. The only thing that Konoha doesn't have in plentiful supply are element based bloodlines, as only Mokuton (control of plant life) is really a claim to fame. Konoha is very heavy on Fire users.
In Kiri, while not actively persecuted, those with bloodlines are subject to a fair amount of de facto prejudice, ranging from fear and avoidance to outright abuse and manipulation. They are frequently held to a double standard, their possessors demanded to be both powerful and not too threatening. They are treated as superior weapons and fearsome warriors that are nonetheless unquestionably obedient and subservient to their betters, soldiers that fight only for their superiors, and only when they're asked to. Caught between a rock and a hard place, those with bloodlines are at once hated, feared, admired, envied, shunned, lusted after, and jealously guarded. Kiri has two branches of bloodlines it seems: those who use elements, and those who change their bodies. Those who change their bodies include a clan who can turn to water, one who uses their own bones as weapons, and (in this game) a clan that can use their blood to form weapons. They also have the most elemental bloodlines of any village, having lava users, acid mist users, and people who can create metal from practically nothing. The common element people use in this village is Water.
In Kumo bloodlines aren't exactly regarded as anything terribly special due to it not really having any native ones, and being a rather strong village even without them. This doesn't mean they don't want them, as wars have nearly been started over just that, but not having them isn't going to change how the people live their lives. Basically, this is the village with no bloodlines. They do, however, use swords awesomely, and lightening is a common element to use.
In Iwa, bloodline users tend to get more respect. While also having an exceptional ability, having a bloodline is often seen as a liability. These people have to take time from their other studies and aptitudes to work on something outside their control, so if they can keep their other skills up as well, then they're praised. If they cannot, they're pitied, which is the worst thing for any Iwa nin. The bloodlines of this village cover things like making bombs inside your body, keeping bugs inside yourself, and things that deal with elemental affinities. Control of stone is most common here, but some shinobi have enough control over multiple elements that they can fly.
In Suna, bloodlines are well and good, something to be wary of, but they do not inherently make someone special. Suna is a land where people are only worth what they can do, and some bloodlines would be flat out useless in their home climate. Essentially, it's a desert and we see no indications of bloodlines that don't involve sand or metal. The common element to use is Wind here.
In Ame, well, given that the 'god of Ame' has a bloodline, they're often treated well in the village, if sometimes a bit cautiously at first. The types roam all over the spectrum so pinning any specific bloodlines is hard here, but keep in mind that this place rains. Constantly. There is no one set element here, but it's a safe bet to assume water is common as a simple self defense measure against the weather.
In Uzushio, because of their close relation to Konoha, most of the villagers have a positive or neutral view toward those with bloodlines. Some returning from other villages, however, are still prone to poor reactions. Bloodlines that involve healing through touch, being bitten, and having obscene stamina are centralized here. Elements, on the other hand, seem to be all over the map.
In Oto bloodlines are absolutely revered. If you have one, that's a fast track to Orochimaru's favor and everyone knows it... though they also know that if you have a bloodline, even then being trained by him personally isn't exactly good for a person's health. Suffice to say that actually having a bloodline at times inspires mixed feelings. Because of the nature of the village, bloodlines of every and any country can be found here, and every element too.
Land of Iron? While rare, bloodlines do sometimes come up in Samurai families, and these people are always well treated. They're also expected to go far, and to not shame the skills that they've been given. This is the Land of Samurai, and the blade is more common than any element.
Want to know more? This post will take you to more detail about the inner workings of the villages.
Okay, so you picked your bloodline/talents out, and probably your village around them, right?
Need a rank? A made a whole FAQ about that right over here. Don't worry, it has details on what would become of you should you choose to be a missing-nin as well.
Still unsure?
Just poke a mod and we'll help you talk it out. We're good for it.
Step 3: Apply to the game!
That was it! If you need help working out further history, just flag down a mod or player, and they'll help. Promise.
