Age

In the Dragon Universe, age plays a prominent factor in many stories. Older characters grow stronger by regaining their youth, Characters in their peak are made younger to weaken them, and the growth of children into adults… This set of Optional Rules allows you to mechanically represent such concepts in your games.

Age Categories

There are many different species in the Dragon Universe, all of which grow and mature at different rates. As such, it’s up to you and your ARC to decide your Character’s age and which Age Category feels appropriate for them in your game (though it’s worth noting, as a general rule, that Characters of the same Race and similar age should be in the same Age Category).

Physical and Mental Age. Each Age Category is separated into Physical and Mental. The Physical Age represents the state of their body and how much more they need to grow or how much their body has weakened in age, while their Mental Age represents their maturity and level of experience.

Below are the various Age Categories and the effects of their Physical and Mental Age (if a Character is younger than any of the Age Categories present, they should not be treated as a Character mechanically and any involvement regarding them should be handled purely by the ARC – potentially allowing for the occasional Maneuver or interference):

Age Category	Physical Category Effects	Mental Category Effects
Young Child	-2(bT) to Combat Rolls, -2(bT) to Corporeal and Impulsive Saving Throws.	-1(bT) to Combat Rolls, -1(bT) to Initiative, -2(bT) to Cognitive and Morale Saving Throws.
Child	-1(bT) to Corporeal and Impulsive Saving Throws. At the start of each Combat Round, regain 2(bT) Ki Points.	-1(bT) to Combat Rolls, -1(bT) to Cognitive and Morale Saving Throws.
Adolescent	+1 to Stress Bonus. At the start of each Combat Round, regain 2(bT) Ki Points.	N/A
Peak	+1(T) to Combat Rolls and +1 to Stress Bonus.	+1 Technique Point per Power Level.
Matured	N/A	+2 Technique Points per Power Level. Increase your Skill Bonus for all of your Skills by 1.
Elderly	-1(bT) to Combat Rolls and Soak Value. Increase the Ki Point Cost of all Attacking Maneuvers of the Physical or Energy Foundation by 1(T).	Gain the effects of the Matured Mental Age Category and increase your Awareness by 1(bT).
Decrepit	-3(bT) to Combat Rolls and Soak Value. Increase the Ki Point Cost of all Attacking Maneuvers of the Physical or Energy Foundation by 2(T).	Gain the effects of the Elderly Mental Age Category and increase your Cognitive and Morale Saving Throws by 1(bT).

Age and Size. While some Races may not follow the basic logic, most follow the idea that an individual is born small and grows larger. As such, there are some limits to your Character’s base Size Category based on their Physical Age Category:

• Young Child/Child: Your Size Category cannot be larger than Small – except through effects.
• Adolescent: Your Size Category cannot be larger than Medium – except through effects.

If a Character has had their Physical Age Category reduced to fall in line with these limitations but their Size Category would be too large, reduce it to the maximum potential Size Category. For example, Son Goku is in the Peak Age Category. When King Gomah of the Demon Realm wishes for him and his friends to become children, his Physical Age Category is reduced to Child. As such, due to being of a Medium Size Category, his Size Category is reduced to Small.

Technique Points and Age. Any Technique Points gained through Age are retroactive. If you would increase a Character’s Mental Age Category, they reduce the amount of Technique Points gained through their Age Category by the amount of their previous Age Category. For instance, a Power Level 10 Character of the Peak Age Category becomes Matured – instead of gaining a further 20 Technique Points, they only gain an additional 10 Technique Points because they had gained 10 Technique Points from when they were in the Peak Mental Age Category… But for each Power Level further, they will gain 2 Technique Points.

Unnatural Peak. If a Character is Unnatural, their Physical Age Category is always treated as Peak for its effects. For example, Majin Buu has their Physical Age Category reduced to Child. While their Size Category is reduced to Small through the effects of Age and Size, they still gain the bonus to Combat Rolls and their Stress Bonus from the Peak Physical Age Category.

Transforming Momentum. If you use the Transformation Maneuver to enter a Transformation, you may ignore any penalties brought on by your Age Category until the start of your next turn.

Changing Age. Your Physical Age Category can be changed through various means, though most commonly seen through a Character simply growing up or through the use of the Dragon Balls. Depending on the change, apply the following:

• Natural Aging. If your Physical Age Category increases through natural aging, increase your Mental Age Category to match.
• Rapid Aging. If your Physical Age Category increases through unnatural aging, do not increase your Mental Age Category to match.
• Forced Youth. If your Physical Age Category is reduced to an Age Category below Peak, gain a stack of Mini (detailed below) for each Age Category below Peak or your former Age Category (whichever was originally lower) your new Physical Age Category is.
• Reclaimed Youth. If your Age Category was Elderly or older and your Physical Age Category becomes Peak, gain the Peak Condition Manifested Power while your Physical Age Category is Peak.

Mini. While you possess a stack of Mini, each time you make an Attacking Maneuver or Unique Ability, roll a 1d10. If your Natural Result on this 1d10 is 1+X or lower, where X is equal to your number of Mini stacks, that Attacking Maneuver automatically misses the Opponent or that Unique Ability fails to activate.

While you possess any stacks of Mini, reduce your Combat Rolls by 1(bT).

You can reduce your number of Mini stacks by training in your new body. Your ARC will declare when you have grown accustomed to it, reducing your number of Mini stacks by an amount they deem fitting.

Additional Trait: Super Saiyan 4

Primal Peak: Due to the raw, primal energy coursing through your body, your body transforms into its peak condition.
-[Triggered/Transform]: Your Physical Age Category becomes Peak until you leave this Transformation.

Additional Talents: Elderly Sage and Mature Youth

Elderly Sage: Despite your advanced age, you are more than capable of holding your own in combat against the younger, more fit fighters.
–Prerequisites: Physical Age Category of Matured or older.
-[Passive]: Treat your Physical Age Category as if you were 1 Age Category younger.
-[Passive]: Reduce the Ki Point Cost of your Signature Techniques by 2(bT).
-[Triggered, 1/Round]: When you are targeted by or target another Character with an Attacking Maneuver, you may set your Physical Age Category to Peak for the duration of that Attacking Maneuver.
-[Automatic]: If your Physical Age Category becomes Peak or younger, except through the 3rd effect of Elderly Sage, lose this Talent and gain another Character Perk to be spent immediately.

Mature Youth: Due to your upbringing and your intellect, you are far more mature than most others your age.
–Prerequisites: Physical Age Category of Adolescent or younger.
-[Passive]: Treat your Mental Age Category as if you were 1 Age Category older.
-[Passive]: Increase your Steadfast Checks by 1.
-[Triggered/Power, 1/Round]: Increase your Wound Rolls by x(T) until the end of your next turn, where x is equal to your number of Power stacks.
-[Automatic]: If your Physical Age Category becomes Peak or older, lose this Talent and gain another Character Perk to be spent immediately.

Adjustment of Existing Mechanics

Longevity Supplement: An aid to health, this item extends your expected lifespan.
–Craft DC: Expert
–Effects: You can spend 1 Action to consume this item. If you do, stop suffering from the Fatigued or Stress Exhaustion Combat Conditions. You can only use this Basic Item once per Combat Encounter.

If your Physical Age Category is Elderly or Decrepit, upon using this Basic Item, stop suffering from the penalties for 5 Combat Rounds.