Raiden's Sabre Style is based around the move of parrying and deflection.
This sabre style works off something called Deflect Chains.
Deflect Chains are gained by building momentum through parrying and deflecting an opponent's attack. Each successful execution gains a single Deflect Chain (though this changes at higher levels), adding to a total of six. This can be earned via:
a perfect parry (a unique and sufficiently detailed counter action is written within 15 seconds of the opponent's action) or,
an imperfect parry (a unique and sufficiently detailed counter action is written after more than 15 seconds after the opponent's action)
Deflect Chains can be consumed for the following benefits:
Contact (1 Deflect Chains)
Consuming a single deflect chain will allow the user to parry an opponent's blade move, no matter what. This does not guarantee a successful counter action, merely a guaranteed successful deflection. This deflection does not gain another Deflect Chain
Surge (2 Deflect Chains)
Consuming two deflect chains allows the user to strike at their opponent at a speed +1 levels above the speed they are fighting with
Pressure (3 Deflect Chains)
Consuming three deflect chains allows the user to force their opponent to make a movement action of the user's choice. This could be placing them right on the edge of the cliff, into a nearby line of fire, etc
Overflow (4 Deflect Chains)
Consuming four deflect chains allows the user to strike at their opponent at a speed +2 levels above the speed they are fighting with
Terminal (5 Deflect Chains)
Consuming five deflect chains allows the user to land a guaranteed strike in a non-vital area (though this does not mean no damage).
Blade Mode (6 Deflect Chains)
Enter Blade Mode. The user will have +1 tier to speed for five actions, as well as being able to use the benefits of Contact, Pressure, and Terminal once during that time.
However, there are caveats:
For every action an opponent takes that is not an attack directed at the user, the user loses one Deflect Chain. However, if the user maintains offensive pressure on that opponent during this time, their chains are preserved but will not grow.
Deflect Chains can only be built from deflecting attacks from a single opponent. Switching targets resets the chains (though, one can choose to consume Deflect Chains against another target)
Feints and deceptive techniques are a direct counter to this style. A committed deflect against a feint wastes the motion, breaks the chain's rhythm, and leaves the user exposed to the real attack.
Every deflection has a physical stamina cost, though this becomes a non-issue at Extreme Mastery.
Deflect Chain gain values:
Proficient to Highly Proficient
The user gains 1 deflect chain for an imperfect parry, and 2 deflect chains for a perfect parry
Mastery to Extreme Mastery
The user gains 2 deflect chains for an imperfect parry, and 3 deflect chains for a perfect parry
The Mastery
The user gains 3 deflect chains for an imperfect parry, and 4 deflect chains for a perfect parry
The Master
The user gains 4 deflect chains for an imperfect parry, and 6 deflect chains for a perfect parry
Begun Training to Skilled
During a spar with your teacher, learn the difference between blocking and parrying.
2 Day Cooldown
Observe a duel between two swordsmen. Bring as many details to your teacher regarding the tells in both of their stances, grips, weight shifts, and blade angles. Pass or fail this exercise. Repeat in the case of the latter.
2 Day Cooldown
Speak to someone with Mastery or higher in Pattern Recognition. Gain as many insights as you can from them in a practical, real-stakes mission.
2 Day Cooldown
Endlessly parry attacks from your teacher until your pass out from exhaustion. Do this on four more separate occasions.
2 Day Cooldown
Imperfect Parry an attack for the first time in a legitimate combat encounter.
2 Day Cooldown
Feat
Skilled to Proficient
Pass out in a legitimate combat encounter from endlessly parrying without doing anything with the opening after each one.
5 Day Cooldown
Perform up to 6 imperfect parries in a single legitimate combat encounter.
5 Day Cooldown
Get waffled by a Deceptive fighter (must be higher than user's mental shielding) when attempting to parry their attacks in a legitimate combat encounter.
5 Day Cooldown
Successfully perform a perfect parry for the first time in a spar against an equal-tiered opponent.
5 Day Cooldown
Consume a Deflect Chain for the first time in a legitimate combat encounter. This task must be done last with no exceptions.
5 Day Cooldown
Feat
Proficient to Highly Proficient
Successfully use Surge to land the final blow against an opponent in a legitimate combat encounter.
1 Week Cooldown
Get ganged up on in a legitimate combat encounter by 2 or more equal tiered opponents. Lose that combat encounter.
1 Week Cooldown
Using Pressure, defeat an opponent by redirecting them into an attack at the hand of your ally in a legitimate combat encounter.
1 Week Cooldown
Lose to a defensive fighter in a legitimate combat encounter, learning what happens when someone exploits preventative measures to stop you from gaining momentum.
1 Week Cooldown
Using Overflow, land a strike against a player opponent at least one sub-tier above you on the tier list in a legitimate combat encounter.
1 Week Cooldown
Feat
Highly Proficient to Mastery
Perform a perfect parry in a legitimate combat encounter against another player.
5 Week Cooldown
Using Terminal, strike an opponent and then let them bleed out in a legitimate combat encounter.
5 Week Cooldown
Defeat an opponent in a legitimate combat encounter using every level of Deflect Chain consumption in a legitimate combat encounter.
5 Week Cooldown
Defeat 3 competent opponents with at least one comparable combat skill in a single legitimate combat encounter, only using this Custom Sabre Combat style.
5 Week Cooldown
Enter Blade Mode in a legitimate combat encounter against an opponent higher than you on the tier list. Use it to defeat this opponent.
5 Week Cooldown
Feat
Mastery to Extreme Mastery
Defeat an equal-tiered opponent who has a Deception level higher than that of your Mental Shielding in a Legitimate Combat Encounter.
7 Week Cooldown
Using a blade that can withstand lightsabers, defeat an equally skilled user of Soresu in a legitimate combat encounter using this Custom Sabre Style, without using any physical advantages.
7 Week Cooldown
Defeat an equal-tiered opponent in a legitimate combat encounter without having your Deflect Chains reset once.
7 Week Cooldown
Defeat an equal-tiered opponent using this combat style without consuming a single Deflect Chain in a legitimate combat encounter.
7 Week Cooldown
Perform a Perfect Parry in a legitimate combat encounter against a Tier 0 opponent.
7 Week Cooldown
Feat
Extreme Mastery to The Mastery
Select three non-basic Sabre Styles. Seek out those with, at minimum, Extreme Mastery in said styles; and defeat each in three separate legitimate duels. This can include lightsaber styles, as long as your sword can withstand that kind of blade.
10 Week Cooldown
Defeat General Grievous in a legitimate combat encounter using this Custom Sabre Style.
10 Week Cooldown
Defeat an equal-tired opponent in a legitimate combat encounter using Surge, Overflow, and Blade Mode; all the while never using an Imperfect Parry.
10 Week Cooldown
Seek out someone who has the ability to cast you into your own mental scape. Defeat yourself in a legitimate combat encounter using only your Custom Sabre Style, while they do the same.
10 Week Cooldown
Engage in a legitimate duel against your character's ultimate opponent, whoever that may be. The ultimate duel that will spawn a cavalcade of legends and tales. In this duel, redefine your most important principles regarding who you are and what you fight for. With that, proceed to win or lose the duel.
10 Week Cooldown