Mechanics Are Scary, What Do I Do? [PSA]

Ignore them.
 
No, seriously. Ignore them. Completely. It's totally fine.
 
We'd kind of like it if you use GP and buy stats and skills, but as far as powers and techniques go? As far as actually engaging in mechanical combat goes? We don't care.
 
The thing about roleplaying on Bleach Gotei is that, as long as everyone in the thread agrees? You can do whatever you want. Ignore our rules. Pretend to be a Royal. Grow floppy cat ears for absolutely no reason whatsoever. The sky's the limit. Mechanics only have to be used when players disagree with eachother--not characters, players. Some of our best fights have happened when the players involved have had a good enough relationship with eachother to wing it and agree on what's realistic, who wins and who loses, without drama.
 
Mechanics are for when that can't happen.
 
When you just can't agree on some specific thing that happens, and need something objective to decide it.
When a player's standing in the way of something you want, and wants it just as bad as you do.
When someone's trying to kill your character and you don't want them to die.
 
These things don't happen very often.
 
And, hey, sometimes people just like these kinds of systems and use them because it's fun.
 
Most of the time, all your mechanics do is give you a vague idea of what your character can do compared to others, and let other people know what kind of abilities your character has in return. Is your Shinigami better at Zanjutsu than some other guy? If so, you've got a pretty solid basis to write a sword-only battle where they eventually lose, without needing to use actions or numbers.
 
I think that's a pretty good thing to have.
 
That said, we do kind of want you to have working mechanics if you're a Captain or in some other position of power. That way, if someone wants to challenge you for it and doesn't want to play nice, you're ready to go and don't have to delay the fight for weeks or months to get your techs in order. If you're just joining our site or looking at it for the first time, though, that's a very long way off.

If you still want to learn, even if the rules read like Greek to you? That's what I'm here for, as well as the rest of my department. I'll be making a thread and dropping a link here in a second, but anyone, anyone, should feel able to approach me if they want or need a one-on-one session on how things work.

I'll be honest, I have a life. I can get pretty dismissive and testy when I'm being pulled a million ways, and I don't always have the time I need to be as patient, available, and above all polite as you guys deserve. We all have lives, and they're all hard sometimes. Give me another chance, though? If I can't give you the time and attention you need right away, I'll try to carve out some time later, or at the very least direct you to someone who can. My staff is pretty good people, and we're all here for you.

Happy writing!