Minimum Point Requirements
Now, with that all laid out, with both the reasons why, and the necessities for LBs to be, and act the way they do, we can finally continue, and make use of it to define the ranges for every single level! Woo Hoo!!!!! And since we can subdivide a character's characteristics, we only need to write down the points, then later use this as a guide: Lvl x Mage, Lvl y Frontliner, etc… And since this is based on averages…
It will look a bit wonky at first given the grey areas in between levels should be considered as Pseudo of the next level. And I will give them all the benefit of the doubt, for levels 1-5 the average maximum in stats is 750… This is a nerf btw, as the real average for all people, would dramatically reduce the number, thus raising the level the same number of points would achieve.
Then the maximum goes up to 999 given that it usually takes a long enough time to level up at these levels to provide this result, where as prior to this, even characters the like of Ais, who is canonically already able to fight above her level to some degree, barely cracked 900 in one stat before leveling up. Furthermore, Riveria didn't even manage 999 in magic- her uh, whole thing- at level 6, so this is a huge benefit of the doubt.
Level 01 : [0-750]
Level 02 : [Level 1 Maximum + 300 - 1800] : [1050 - 1800]
Level 03 : [Level 2 Maximum + 300 - 2850] : [2100 - 2850]
Level 04 : [Level 3 Maximum + 300 - 3900] : [3150 - 3900]
Level 05 : [Level 4 Maximum + 300 - 4950] : [4200 - 4950]
Max average goes to 999
Level 06 : [Level 5 Maximum + 300 - 6249] : [5250 - 6249]
Level 07 : [Level 6 Maximum + 300 - 7548] : [6549 - 7548]
Level 08 : [Level 7 Maximum + 300 - 8847] : [7848 - 8847]
Level 09 : [Level 8 Maximum + 300 - 10146] : [9147 - 10146]
Level 10 : [Level 9 Maximum + 300 - 11445] : [10446 - 11445]
Level 11 : [Level 10 Maximum + 300 - 12744] : [11745 - 12744]
Level 12 : [Level 11 Maximum + 300 - 14043] : [13044 - 14043]
Level 13 : [Level 12 Maximum + 300 - 15342] : [14343 - 15342]
Level 14 : [Level 13 Maximum + 300 - 16641] : [15642 - 16641]
Level 15 : [Level 14 Maximum + 300 - 17940] : [16941 - 17940]
I could go further, but those are examples, here are the formulas:
Lvls 1-5 : ((Level - 1) * 300 ) + (750 * Level-1) = Minimum
: Minimum + 750 = Maximum
Lvls 6+ : ((Level - 1) * 300 ) + (750 * 5) + (999 * Level - 6) = Minimum
: Minimum + 999 = Maximum
With these, we can solve in reverse for the level of an individual's stats. For each individual stat.
Development Abilities!!!!!!!!!!
This section… Many will hate this, but we have to hold everything here to be true…
So let us begin with the immediate implications of this subset of the status. Development implies growth, improvement, or progression. This means something that gets better over time. We see this to be the case with every single development ability.
Let's take Abnormal Resistance for example. Upon acquisition, the bearer becomes relatively immune to a number of ailments, and status effects. However, only those from considerably weak ones at that. Yet, as one's rank with it increases, it grows strong enough to resist some effects that would otherwise cause immediate death, like heavy toxins. And eventually one can even become immune to any, and all toxins, and other status effects like paralysis, poison, sleep, perhaps even burns.
Why do I mention all of this? Because despite the obvious nature of these particular abilities, some seem to believe that they provide a static increase, that doesn't have any significant increase. This couldn't be further from the truth, as such a situation would make them indistinguishable from Skills, and thus renders the difference between them moot. And flies in the face of what we just discussed with an obvious example that refutes it.
All development abilities must have enough of an improvement that they bring out significant enough change between each rank, else there is zero benefit investing any time towards increasing them in the first place, as any effort spent towards them, would take away from things that would actually generate a noticeable difference. And even in the series, we see Welf really pushing for Blacksmith, to have less of a chance at hurting Hephaestus' good name. Note that it wasn't a guarantee, indicating that simply acquiring it wouldn't allow him to reach the maximum benefits of the development ability….
Yes, because, like the name suggests, one must develop the ability to pull out more and more benefits from it… Naturally this should apply to the entire range of Development Abilities. So…
[Mage] exists, and is a rather potent ability, there are likely other abilities with a similar capacity for other professions, just would have gone un shared by those who would have had them, or, were simply not mentioned. Though some examples of ones that would have a similar effect given by their name, are [Swordsman] & [Spearman], so basically anything that would be seen as a combat occupation. Zeus & Hera familias are definitely going to have access to this knowledge, they legit are the one group that gave the guild basically every single bit of knowledge they currently have in the series, as seen by them giving out nuggets of info to the Loki familia that made them gasp with enough shock that conceptualizing their actual strength wasn't an easy task. So basically, if their familias didn't have this information, legit not a damn soul would even know where to start, let alone have the complete set… 1000 years of documentation on the falna and how it works over a vast array of different people with varying talents…
So why is [Mage] so important? Well, we know for a fact, through the character Lefiya, that at Rank H, it is powerful enough to grant a full level's worth of Magic power. This is incredibly important!
This means with the 2nd weakest rank, the development ability is able to generate enough of an effect, that all magic cast, would be as if it came from a version of the individual that's 1 level higher & doesn't have the ability. This also happens, at lower levels, so to account for the differences in relation to levels 1-5 having a different average maximum to 6+ I'll say that the higher ranks give enough of a boost by comparison that it evens out… This will account for the sheer difficulty of achieving each subsequent rank.
Ranks go: I : H : G : F : E : D : C : B : A : S
: 1 : 2 : 3 : 4 : 5 : 6 : 7 : 8 : 9 : 10
I : +0.5 Levels | H : +1.0 Level | G : +1.5 Levels | F : +2.0 Levels | E : +2.5 Levels
D : +3.0 Levels | C : +3.5 Levels | B : +4.0 Levels | A : +4.5 Levels | S : +5.0 Levels
Just for reference, this would make Riveria's rank E, would be 2.5 levels higher, and considering the things her magic can do, this does fit rather well. Whereas, Alfia's at Rank C, is 3.5 Levels higher. This feels way more fair considering just how overwhelming Alfia's magic truly was when compared against legit anyone else. And, this holds consistent with Lefyia's boost.
Keep in mind this would work out for all development abilities of various combat specializations. And even healing abilities as well.
However, for a fully nerfed view of everything we can possibly do here, simply possessing the Dev Ability at H or higher will cause a Level higher worth of magic power. Even though that makes ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE. This is one of the many overly uncomfortable nerfs, as if this were the case, yet again I ask… What the hell is the point in developing the ability in the first place? There would be zero benefit in doing so, in fact it would be severely detrimental to an individual as they would have spent more time to focus on that particular ability, which would take time away from further developing their base stats, or techniques… Utterly ludicrous.
Now… Technique
Afterglow is a perfect reflection of how mastering a technique, something that isn't a skill, nor a development ability, or even something made by the falna, is purely a method of using one's abilities to the fullest. And we can confirm that perfect mastery of it grants the user a full level boost on their attack, and it is confirmed to be usable in rapid succession, by those who have actually mastered it like; Maxim, Empress, and other members of Zeus & Hera familias.
Another example of a powerful & exceptional technique at work is, and while it's kind of rough to use it here, since it's a god using it… The principle remains the same. It's when Takemikazuchi is giving lessons to Mikoto. He specifically mentioned that even with just his technique and observation abilities he was able to completely overwhelm Mikoto, a level 2.
Since this was a feat of 2 levels, it is possible to jump that much. However, I will err on the side of caution here, and say that exceptional technique is enough to grant an individual a single level higher worth of combat proficiency within their field. Meaning that this will grant a full level, provided they have it in the first place.
Notable exceptions to this rule:
Ottar used something like Afterglow, however, he has to use magic to even get it to work, heavily relying on his base strength, and even then he can only use it one at a time, indicating even he is not in any way, a master of this ability. Which means, at most he would get a half a level, or boost him into the pseudo tier, as an overall rating, due to the fact he can not completely use it in quick succession, keeping it up for the duration of combat… Which is the minimum requirement for a full level higher in this regard.
Leon is also an exception to this one level rule as well. Because he too can not keep it up throughout the duration of combat, again indicating that he is not a master of this technique, despite having far more practice with it than Ottar. So he would also get half a level out of it for his overall combat rating.
On the other hand, Zald, is a known master of this technique, and it is a known fact that all members of the Zeus & Hera familia could do it, or something comparable to it. Let alone Maxim, who would have been the one to have taught the people who taught everyone else in those familias… It would be fair to give him more than a level boost from it purely due to his immense experience with it. But I will do that as an amendment to his level, so as not to muddy the waters of his actual level, and to avoid counting it twice... When I get around to it… xD
SKILLS!!!
Do I really have to mention these? If a skill greatly increases one's ability to fight against a specific type of monster, I consider that to be at least a full level up as well. This would include things like [Ox Slayer] that Bell has, and [Avenger] that Ais has.
This could include skills we never got to see like [Dragon Slayer], or [Dragon's Bane], both of which are more than possible to exist within the Zeus & Hera familia, given that they explicitly were training to kill 3 Dragon type monsters of untold might… It sounds like something they would definitely pursue, and fits within the lore of those characters' stories, thus their adventures, and thus their excelia, and falna.
In short, it is completely unreasonable to assume that Zeus & Hera familias did not have anyone with things like this. This is another completely uncomfortable thing to deal with, as it is just impossible to have a power system that's based on one's lived experience & ideals, and not have them actually generate these types of things. Even if skills are rare.
Why is Avenger only a single level boost? Because even when used in the Astraea Records, it wasn't the only thing that worked to boost her abilities up, there were other factors involved. So at most this could be considered 2 levels, but that would reduce the power of her magic, as she only reaches a high 6, from high 3, during that battle. I tend to lean toward Magic being at least a full level boost especially her magic since it's like breathing for her. And there is a known phenomenon of synergy, so basically when two or more things work together they can grant a slight amplification of each other. So two single level boosts could cause them both to increase by another half or so.
Now, the rarity of skills shouldn't even need to be discussed… Seriously, why? The rarity of skills is directly related to the rarity of exceptional individuals. Thus exceptional individuals will be the ones who ultimately generate these Skills. So… look at all the people who have skills, and the majority of them have a skill for every 2 levels. This honestly sounds pretty damn fair to me. Level 8s would have 4 skills. Which sounds pretty fair.
This doesn't mean all those skills will be uber powerful. It just means they'll have some means to amp up in specific scenarios or have a minor boost. Though, for the case of Zeus & Hera familias, I refuse to not give them a skill that would boost their statuses by a whole level when in active combat against dragon type creatures. There are simply far too many of that type in the dungeon, and no reason why they wouldn't actively pursue them, knowing they were preparing their major offensive against the Behemoth, Leviathan, and OEBD. For this reason they will all be receiving a skill that does this.