The Power Ranking

The Power Ranking is an unofficial ranking system that may work for all characters.

Overview[]

The Power Ranking is aimed to clarify where individuals stand in relation to each other in a variety of categories. Aster, Alice, Louise and Adrian planned it out (in a meta sense) to be a resource to others.

The scale covers the following categories:

Intelligence
Wisdom
Strength
Defense
Combat Skill
Magic
Ability
Charisma

Using this scale is far from being a requirement, but if one is stuck on comparing one character to another, it can be used to assist in that. The rankings are not set in stone; it is perfectly feasible for one's abilities to improve or decrease as their story unfolds. Many individuals have what they consider to be their rankings on their pages.

Usage[]

Some categories like Magic or Intelligence are much harder to quantify because they are so subjective. The best advice is to use one's best judgement on them.

One's offense may be construed to cover two categories: Combat Skill and Magic. The former counts mundane, normal or otherwise non-magic based items and martial arts. An A+ normal weapon would be of the finest craftsmanship, whereas a D- would not even a toy version, just something that’ll fall apart if you breathe on it. An A+ magical weapon would be able to rearrange the landscape regularly or be close to indestructible.

Also, for some characters who possess ‘forms’ or powers that change them from their normal state, the category in queston can be used twice: once to determine your rank for your base state and then for what it would be in your altered state. For example, if Michael had a general Strength ranking of C+ in his normal state, when he had the Darkness activated, it would look like this:

Strength: C+ (B+)

Again, remember this is not official in any way.

Example Profile[]

Adrian

Intelligence: A
Wisdom: A
Strength: A-
Defense: A+
Combat Skill: A
Magic: S
Agility: A-
Charisma: B

Intelligence[]

How much one knows; how educated one is, how many topics are known and to what extent. Applying this knowledge is covered in Wisdom.

D-: You don’t really care about anything but your own little world. You have no desire to explore the world or learn anything beyond the necessities.
D: You have a very basic knowledge of the world around you. You have left the level of infant exploration and have now begun to learn academically. Your questions about everything are beginning to be structured and sensible.
D+: You have a passable grasp of general knowledge, but you are easily misled by misinformation.
C-: A good level of general knowledge. You know a little about a lot.
C: Your education has increased; your general knowledge has expanded and you are beginning to focus on specialist areas that interest you.
C+: Your specialist focus/foci are well-researched, but you still have a way to go before you are an expert. Unrelated fields are sorely lacking, however.
B-: You are comfortable with your specialist fields, and are expanding this level of focus to related fields. Your general knowledge is a little wayward; you may still be easily led by urban legends, for example.
B: You could write academically for your specialist fields and their related areas. Your interests are expanding, taking you to new disciplines and enhancing your knowledge base, but you don’t trust yourself with providing information about them yet.
B+: You have several specialist fields that you know much about. You are also knowledgeable enough to think analytically about most problems and come up with a sensible reply. Very few topics are now unknown to you, but there are still holes in subjects you are uninterested in.
A-: Your deep knowledge of a somewhat wide selection of topics puts together a considerable source of general high intelligence, but there are still some areas where your facts are lacking.
A: You have a wide portfolio of specialisms, and you trust your knowledge in all of them. You can easily educate others in these fields to university level.
A+: You are an expert in every specialism you have. Academics turn to you for advice and the furthering of research into said specialisms. Your general knowledge is also expansive.
S: You could put Stephen Hawking to shame. You have the calculation power of a savant without the autism; you are doctorate level and above in practically any subject known to the entire universe.

Wisdom[]

Common sense; the application of the knowledge one has from Intelligence.

We will set a scenario here: on a long hike, you have to cross a large wade-able river in the middle of a plain.

D-: You had no idea the river would be here. You jump fully-clothed with all your gear into the river, but you jumped straight into the deep swell. You get swept away.
D: You jump fully-clothed with all your gear into the river. You emerge on the other bank cold, wet, muddy and tired, and with much of your pack soaked. There is half a chance that you will still be swept away.
D+: You still jump in, only this time you heft your pack onto your head to keep it above water. This will ultimately ruin your balance and you will still be miserable when you reach the bank, but if you’re not swept away your pack will at least be dry.
C-: You had an inkling they may be a river around. You know getting wet will probably be bad. So you dither up and down the riverside in search of some protruding river rocks to use as a bridge. However if you do find them, they are extremely slippery and dangerous, and there’s a high chance you will fall in.
C: For one thing, you’re not hiking alone. And several important items in your pack are waterproofed. You try and make your own rock bridge by finding rocks or other large objects to use to cross. It’s hard work but in a team you can get it done, though you feel there has to be a better way than this and you are inevitably damp and exhausted on the other side.
C+: You think jumping in is ultimately a bad idea and you try and make a raft from the materials you have available or can find. However it takes you all day and you cross at night; it can barely hold your weight and you sink halfway, causing a panicked and probably injurious dash for the bank.
B-: You knew there was a river somewhere on your hike to cross, so someone brought an inflatable dinghy. After spending an hour blowing it up, you launch – only to find the current is very strong and you only make it to the bank a mile downriver, dry and safe but far from your intended path.
B: You study the river for a long while, and decide to cross roped loosely together by the waist. Your packs aren’t fully waterproofed and weigh you down, but you manage to cross safely.
B+: You study the river, quickly identifying a place which is not so bad. You cross as a team, linking arms and standing parallel to the current. Your packs are waterproofed better so they act as buoyancy aids, and you have stout sticks to rely on.
A-: You were able to figure out exactly where the river would be on your hike. You know a theory about a method to cross using ropes, and try it out. Your rope is more a washing line, so you try to reinforce it as well as using a few branches found on the ground as anchors. Ultimately several people get very wet and you are left on the other bank with no working line at all, but you are safe.
A: Your instructions on crossing with ropes are contradictory in places as you have only tried it once, but you manage to get everyone to the bank safely.
A+: You’ve done this before. You find the shallowest and safest stretch of river first, and your instructions are clear. You are all across within half an hour.
S: You knew there would be a river, how large it is, and exactly where it would be from but a simple mention. You already know what to do, how the situation can change, and prepared the ropes before you left. You are able to shepherd any number of people, who automatically trust your sense implicitly, safely across within ten minutes and all the packs are fully waterproofed.

Strength[]

One's physical strength; also emcompassing toughness, pain resistance, stamina and endurance.

D-: You’re as weak and helpless as a newborn.
D: You’re the strength of an average, healthy ten-year-old.
D+: The strength of an average healthy teenager who does not exercise on a regular basis.
C-: The strength of an average, healthy adult.
C: Someone who routinely exercises three-four times a week and can run a mile without really overexerting themselves.
C+: Someone in excellent shape, such as a weight-lifter or sports player or someone who fights for a living.
B-: Professional body builder, or someone who faces tough endurance for a hobby.
B: Mr. Olympia.
B+: Supernatural strength – you may not look like you have any muscle, but you can go head on with people twice your size and mass.
A-: You can pick up an average American car. It may take some effort and holding it up above your head is a bit of a strain, but you can do it.
A: That car you just picked up? Yeah, you just picked up like other people pick up things like apples and you can chuck it quite a few lengths and at full strength, your blows would probably turn an ordinary person to mush.
A+: Superman level strength. A car? Ha - you can pick up a fully-loaded semi and throw it after that freight train you just chucked out of your way. If your author was really generous, on the upper-end of this level, you’d and a few others like you would be able to push a planet out of orbit.
S: God-level strength.

Defense[]

This is how well one takes damage – how much is taken and how well one defends oneself from it.

D-, D, D+: At the lower end, a feather light blow would knock you out and you aren’t going be able to avoid it, even if you see it coming. At the higher end, you’re an average person and can take a few punches and are quick enough to avoid a few of them.
C-, C, C+: At the lower end, you’ve taken a few lessons and know how to throw a punch and a kick and know the blocks well enough. At the higher end, you’re a competent novice and can hold your own against others like you for a good while and last maybe a few seconds or so against higher ranks.
B-, B, B+: At the lower end, you’re a competent fighter and you can take quite a few hits and keep going but something like a broken limb will take you out of the fight. At the higher end, you can be wailed on and take a broken limb and come back for more, though you’re probably pushing it when you do.
A-, A, A+: At the lower end, the damage you take won’t really slow you down and they’re going to have a hard time landing a hit, anyway At the higher end, you’re a Determinator – it doesn’t matter how much damage you take, you will keep getting up and even if you weren’t, landing a blow and getting through your guard would take someone rather powerful
S: You can’t be hurt-not by any conventional means and anything that can hurt you will probably require massive amounts of it. Or, on the flip side, you have impossible regenerating powers and can just shrug everything off.

Combat Skill[]

How well one can fight without magic, using weapons or martial arts.

This can be left as one ranking, or you could divide it into Firearms, Blades and Unarmed Combat.

D-: A total klutz – if this person tried to use a weapon, they’re more likely to kill themselves with it than the enemy.
D: They can pick it up and not get hurt, but are still really clumsy with it – they’re better off running in a fight.
D+: A normal everyday person picking up a weapon – they probably won’t hurt themselves with and can swing it around, but odds are low they’re get anywhere with it.
C-: A novice – they know how to properly hold it and perhaps a few basic swings. If it’s a gun, they can be trusted to not shoot themselves in the foot and know how to reload it, etc.
C: A novice with experience – they know the basics and can actually inflict some damage with, though it’s not consistent.
C+: Someone ready to move up in skill level – the basics are in their grasp and know their weapon or art like it’s the back of their hand.
B-: An adept who is nearly mastered all the basics and is slowly learning the more advanced stuff. Their attacks are accurate and consistent, but lack finesse that comes with experience.
B: An Adept. They know the basics, the more advanced stuff is more or less known to them and their attacks are strong and consistent and accurate, being more graceful now that they’ve gained experience.
B+: A newly-minted Master. The basics are equivalent to breathing for them, the advanced skills are second-nature and any rough edges in accuracy and finesse are smoothed now.
A-: A Master who has been so long enough that they can teach what they have learned to others well and all the ins and outs of their skills are known to them. To them, being without their weapon feels like something is missing to them.
A: A True Master. Their weapon is an extension of their body and their technique is utterly flawless. If they know a style, they’ve mastered everything about it. If it’s a ranged weapon, they know exactly what their weapon can and can’t do and are insanely accurate with it.
A+: Grand Master. Their weapon is a part of their body and they know everything there is to know about their weapon, the accompanying skills and strengths and weaknesses. They are in complete harmony with themselves and the weapon.
S: Their skills are nigh approaching godliness. No one short of an equal rank would stand a chance against them in a fight.

Magic[]

How well one can use this indefinable force. How proficient one is at a particular branch of magic, or in learning new ones.

Even if a character does not typically use magic, it may be worth thinking about putting a ranking for this category anyway, as latent resistance or channelling has been used multiple times in fiction even without any conscious control, and you may want to know if the character has any active defense against it.

D-, D, D+: At the lower end, despite being aware of magic, you can’t use it all, no matter how many spellbooks you read or how many rituals you perform down to the letter. At the higher end, you can maybe generate a tiny flickering of light on the tip of your finger with a lot of concentration.
C-, C, C+: At the lower end, you know the basics of your unique magic and can perform simple tasks with it and at least what you do looks like it should. At the higher end, you are far more competent and while you can easily perform the basics and some more advanced magic, the higher stuff is out of your reach still.
B-, B, B+: At the lower end, your quite competent in your brand of magic, considered an adept by any kind of master or superior as well as younger practitioners. At the higher end, you are nearly a master of your magical skills and nearly everything about your magic is under your grasp.
A-, A, A+: At the lower end, you are officially a master at your magic - you know everything about it and can even improvise and invent new methods for it. At the higher end, you are a true master of magic - it is as natural to you as breathing and everything about it is under your command and you can even cast one or two spells at once. The occasional use of an Epic Spell isn’t unsurprising.
S: Your skill with magic is ungodly - you can perform incredible feats with it, can cast multiple spells at once and your proficiency extends not only to your specific area, but over multiple ones - you’ve mastered them all. Epic Spells are yours to command at will.

A couple of individuals have no magic ability at all - anything from what amounts to a practical F, not able to 'get' the idea at all and repeatedly blows things up (like Stephen), to a U for Unranked; an unlucky U may well be like a Pariah from Warhammer 40k, actively and negatively affecting other magic attempts around them.

Agility[]

This is how fast one is, and how good one's reflexes are.

D-, D, D+: At the lower end, you’re about as agile as boulder. At the higher end, you can move, but you’re not going anywhere fast.
C-, C, C+: At the lower end, you can move about quick as the average teenager. At the higher end, you’re someone who plays sports or exercises regularly and can move quickly on a moment’s notice.
B-, B, B+: At the lower end, you’re a professional runner and your reflexes are quite high. At the higher end, you’re someone like Batman and are at the peak of human agility and quickness.
A-, A, A+: At the lower end, you’re like Ichigo and use flash-step, though it’s mainly a way to move really quickly in short distances. At the higher end, you’re so fast with it that you can leave afterimages all over the area and no one really sees the real you move.
S: You and Flash have races with each other and they’re usually ties.

Charisma[]

How effectively one can get others to listen, to pay attention or like; how well one projects their self-image.

D-: There is an actual and immediate hatred for you from anyone who lays eyes on you.
D: People tend to avoid you like the plague.
D+: People are tolerant of your existence.
C-: You have no real friends, or only a few, but not through anything that seems inherently wrong. You may be crippled by overwhelming shyness. Nobody seems to know you well, but you aren’t exactly disliked.
C: You are able to hold onto a few close friends. Most people like you and will offer you a hand or a piece of cake. If you do ever get anyone to listen to you, you might suffer from ‘Foot in mouth syndrome’ or stutter a lot.
C+: You have some good friends. You are one of the crowd. You are pleasant enough but rough around the edges.
B-: You can deliver a prepared speech well. You make and keep friends easily and your wide circle of acquaintances all like you. You could possibly take a leadership role if given the chance, but you probably won’t be much good at it – best to stay as advisor.
B: You can take a leadership role with ease, and in many situations. Strangers often leave your presence thinking ‘what a nice person’. However you can still rub people up the wrong way and make enemies.
B+: You are a trained public speaker, able to hold a debate well. If you were on television you would be mildly popular. People love being part of your inner circle and would be very upset if you cast them out.
A-: You are at the level of a good politician. People want to know you, to meet you. You know how to act well in several different situations.
A: If you’re on TV, tickets to see you live sell out in minutes. With merely a sentence you can whip a crowd of thousands to a frenzy of cheering. Attention is always upon you. People long to just be in your presence.
A+: People worship the ground you walk on. You are Evita-esque in the level of devotion people thousands of miles away give you. People are often very envious of those who are close to you.
S: You are able to get anyone, even the biggest cynic, to follow you, and to believe whatever you say. People you meet feel like they have known you all their life and you are able to blend into all situations without problem.