How to Define Power Ranking

[Rennat]

Currently, we have a system in place that ranks characters 1 through 6. There's a very vague explanation of power ranks (and an equally vague for each) in Creating a Character.

But I'd like to get peoples' opinions on how to define each rank. Give me your ideas. Should I provide example characters blurbs? Should I put a limit on the number of abilities a character can have, corresponding to their power rank? Should I give each race a rank range (like Humans can be 1-6, a more powerful race might be 4-6)? What should I do? I NEED IDEAS! Currently it's just this number you randomly dole out. Like "Oh, I'm feeling a 3 for this one."

Give me ideas!

[Corr]

Hey. I'm going to just throw out my ideas.

So, it might dissuade people from making certain races if you give any cap on magic, but I really like the racial ranges you came up with. Affinity to magic should definitely vary between races! For example, Hexes or Lolitas might be quick to catch on to magic, but Humans and Kurja will have a much harder time. I think power level can also depend a lot on the kind of magic, so some things could be way harder to master than others (say, fire easier than lightning, illusion magic easier than time magic, w/e). Anyways,

When I made Lutie, I imagined power rankings as this:

1- Having very minimal magic, or passive magic. Having a natural resistance to a certain kind of magic. Having magically enhanced eyesight or hearing. These spells probably have no distance, can't really be projected. Going on the example of fire magic, this would be like using your fingers as little matches. You will have very little magical stamina at level 1. The easiest level of magic to gain control over.
2- Everything of 1, except stronger spells and a range! I would think this would be more castable abilities, something you can fire off over a short range, and maybe that candle is more of a little fireball poof. Still not very much in magical stamina, but a little more than one.
3- Everything of 1 + 2. At level 3, you could just have more mastery over those spells? More will? I'd think here is where you become a more creative magic wielder, where the magic that you use can bend and shape a bit. Say, if you were to having a fire whip as opposed to just flame in its natural state. I'd say the range doesn't change, though, but your stamina does.
4- Everything of 1 + 2 + 3, but far more dangerous spells. Not only does the output of your magic increase, but so does your stamina (I can cast all night, babes) and your range. I'd say these kinds of spells could probably lay over an entire block or something to that effect? Only thing is, this is where it becomes really difficult to control those spells. I would think that fire mage from level 3 would be covered in burn scars by the time they become level 4, and will still manage to burn the shit out of themselves and everything around them accidentally as they play into that huge level 4 power range. If you have some sort of beneficial magic like healing? It might like... overwork cells and cause tumors/cancer or heal a bone so well that it fuses with a joint and you lose mobility of your leg kind of deal. Difference between poison + medicine is in the dose kind of mentality.
5- Everything of 1+2+3+4. I would say this is the highest that any non-diety can reach. At this level, you're probably much older (unless you're some sort of prodigy or magically-inclined creature), and you could have only reached this level by practicing... a lot. I'd say at this level, the magic probably starts to take a toll on you physically and mentally? As a draw back? I wouldn't think you could be very physically strong at this point unless your magic was directly tied in with some sort of... magical space sword or iron-man-competition-esque magical strength. At this level, also, I don't think that range should increase by much, but you might level everything in your path if you put your mind to it. Someone at this level could probably cast some really intricate and complex spells. Say, the fire mage could probably smelt ores and bring water to a full boil or even steam in seconds. I'd say that at level 5, too, it is the most difficult to have mastery over your spells. I'd think it would be very easy, unless you were very practiced, to kill yourself here.
6- 1+2+3+4+5 and more! This would be deity level, I think. I imagine this as practically being a being of your magic, completely in tune to it to the point that it comes as easily to you as breathing. If you're a level 6 I'd think you were born that way, in some sort of magical lake with angels descending to wonder upon you or something. You are stuff of legends, and the things you can do are things that level 5s and below can only dream about. Super saiyan status. I'd say that fire mage at this point can make your blood boil inside of your body, or immediately incinerate everyone in a 5 foot radius of them if they wanted to. I'd say with this much magic flowing through your system, you're probably taking on aspects of the magic physically - you might glow, flowers might bloom beneath your feet, you just levitate everywhere and can't help yourself like some godly badass. There should be something here to give away a level 6, but yeah. These guys are just like... fuck. You can't. I think that there would be a huuuge power gap between a level 5 and a level 6.

That's it!