Quincy Update and CIU

[Zeich Yajuu]

Alright folks! The staff has been working hard over the last few weeks (actually, it's been almost exactly a month!) to look over and discuss the Quincy race. We had a few issues that have come up with them in the past regarding the amount of Reiatsu available via the Cross/Fragment as well as the fact that Quincies were hard to level, especially mid-game, and that their Release could at times be restrictive because of how set each tier was. So we've put our heads together and after much deliberation from multiple sides we have come up with a large-scale rehaul that we feel will be a major improvement for Quincies while still maintaining a sense of fair balance for the community. Section 2: Race and Release Information has already been updated, so here I will simply list the changes made, and allow you to read for yourself the fine print of it.

• Class 4 Quincy Cross - Quincy (Both Vandenreich and Free) will now get their Quincy Cross a class earlier! This is a basic Cross without too much potential, only drawing in 150 Reiatsu every other post, but it still provides a bit of regenerative support to help in the mid-game.
• New Bow Release – The Bow Release has been completely rehauled from top to bottom. No longer do we have Bow Release Level 1-3 with set properties per stage; now, we have a system of unlocked properties at each Class starting at 6, with one gained at each Class up until 1. Which properties are available is determined by your Class; at each Class, you will “unlock” a new property, but you aren’t forced to use it; instead, at each Class you will be selecting a property from the ones you’ve selected, including the one you just unlocked at that Class, allowing for a very versatile spread of Bow properties customized to each user. Each property can be toggled on and off at will by paying a one-time cost per activation, replacing the per-post cost of the original Release, and saving Quincies a bit of Reiatsu. Depending on the level of the property, it will cost a varying amount of Reiatsu to turn on a property, but nothing to turn it off. This on and off function matters, however, because you have a limit to the number of properties that can be active at one time, depending on your Class. See Section 2: Race and Release Information for more information on the specifics of the new Bow Release.
• New Cross/Arrow Rulings – While the ability to have one-time activation costs and flexible properties is as big boon to Quincies, it does come with some catches. For one, any arrows fired must possess at least the Class of the active property that it intends to use. For example, if the Class 5, 4, and 2 properties are active, then the Quincy must use a Class 2 arrow to benefit from all of them. If the Quincy uses a Class 4 arrow, then the Class 2 property will not trigger despite being active, allowing for Quincies to control how much power and Reiatsu they put into an attack. The Quincy Cross and Fragment have a diminished return based on the number of properties used, however, as they draw away from concentration. Each property active reduces the draw-in of each by 25% of the maximum, meaning that at three properties active, the Cross and Fragment will only draw in one-fourth of their original amount. Quincies must choose between a high regeneration and low-power, low-cost attacks, or lowered regeneration for more oomph to their attacks.
• New Class 0 Bonus – In addition to Free Quincy getting Blut and Vandenreich Quincy getting Bow Finale, an additional bonus is given to Quincy at this Class. They gain a final property to their Bow Release, much like the others, called the Zero Property. This property has one of two effects that are chosen upon hitting Class 0: first, the Zero Property can allow for a fourth property slot while providing new property of its own, allowing for an even more flexible Bow Release with four different properties active, but in exchange, Reiatsu regeneration is zeroed out. The other possible effect is the ability to zero out the Cross/Fragment depletion for a single property, improving Reiatsu regeneration to 100/75/50% of its normal with 1/2/3 properties active instead of 75/50/25%. In exchange, however, they do not get access to using a fourth property at once, so Quincy must choose between improved regeneration or improved versatility.

These are the major changes being made to the Quincy race. As stated, further information and improved detail on the changes to Bow Release can be found in Section 2: Race and Release information.

In addition to these changes, all current Quincy are eligible to freely CIU into this new system. While this does not allow them to change the theme of their powers, they may update their actual powers to be in accordance to the system. Additionally, they are allowed to change their properties, as long as they maintain the theme, as the property system is now different and allows for a variety of properties instead of a set progression of them, so a current Quincy may go from the original system of one Mass/Firing/Form/Power and two free properties to six properties of their choosing, as long as they fit the progression listed in Section 2. If there are any questions, please feel free to ask a mod, and we will be happy to clarify how the new systems work.