Dragon Ball Universe in general is designed around emulating Dragon Ball Z, so use these Optional Rules to help emulate more of that Dragon Ball experience!
Path to Power: Power Level
Martial Level. When you apply these rules, Power Level 1 is split into 5 distinct tiers, known as Martial Levels. Martial Levels are not Power Levels and all Martial Levels are Power Level 1 and, thus, Tier of Power 1. Gaining Martial Levels does not translate to gaining Power Levels for effects. As with Power Levels, you gain Martial Levels through your ARC’s decision. Usually, to represent a training arc or some other means that has improved your skills and potential.
Perks. You do not gain any perks from Power Level 1, but as Martial Level is Power Level 1, the perks apply the usual rules for perks at Power Level 1.
Life Points. Life Points are calculated slightly differently when applying these Optional Rules, as Martial Levels are all contained within Power Level 1. Instead of 60 Life Points, you gain 40 Life Points at Martial Level 1. For every Martial Level reached after the first, increase your Life Points by 5.
Ki Points. Ki Points are calculated slightly differently when applying these Optional Rules, as Martial Levels are all contained within Power Level 1. Instead of 50 Ki Points, you gain 30 Ki Points at Martial Level 1. For every Martial Level reached after the first, increase your Ki Points by 5.
| Martial Level | Martial Die | Features |
| 1 | N/A | 3x Attribute Addition, 2x Talent Addition, Skill Improvement |
| 2 | 1d4 | Talent Addition, 1 Attribute Point |
| 3 | 1d6 | 20 TP to spend on one Signature Technique, 2 Attribute Points |
| 4 | 1d8 | Talent Addition, 1 Attribute Point |
| 5 | 1d10 | Character Perk |
Path to Power: Additional Rules
Martial Dice. While you are Martial Level 2, you apply a 1d4 Extra Dice to your Combat Rolls known as the Martial Dice. Increase your Martial Die by 1 Dice Category for every Martial Level reached after the second. While using the Path to Power rules, Characters with a Power Level above 1 have their Martial Level treated as 5 for the effects of Martial Dice – but their Martial Dice has its Dice Category increased by 1(bT).
Limited Power. While your Martial Level is 4 or lower:
- Energy Charges. No Attacking Maneuver can possess more than 3 Energy Charges.
- Simplified Techniques. You cannot spend more than 15 Technique Points on a Signature Technique or an Aura. The 20 TP Signature Technique you gain at Martial Level 3 is instead limited to 20.
- Limited Signatures. All Signature Techniques are Super Signatures, but you can only use each Signature Technique once per Combat Encounter. For any Traits that refer to Ultimate Signatures, you may treat Super Signatures as Ultimate Signatures for their effects.
- Unable to Multiply. You do not benefit from the rules of Ki Multiplier or Burst Recovery.
Minions. No one will forget just how impactful Tambourine and other Minions were in the days of Dragon Ball; as such, create Minions as usual but:
- They gain Martial Dice as if their Martial Level was 1 less than their Master.
- They use the Martial Level of their Master to calculate their Life and Ki Points.
- They gain 1 less Talent at Character Creation. Once their Master reaches Martial Level 5, they may gain a Talent.
- No Character can gain the Ascended Minion Talent.
- It’s encouraged that Players do not possess Minions until they are at least Martial Level 3+.
Battle Jackets. Battle Jackets originally come from the original Dragon Ball series, so naturally they have a few rules to help accommodate them:
- Reduce the starting Attribute Scores of Battle Jackets by 1. Once their owner reaches Martial Level 5, increase all of a Battle Jacket’s Attribute Scores by 1.
- Reduce the Life Points and Ki Points of Battle Jackets by 10. Once their owner reaches Martial Level 5, increase a Battle Jackets Life and Ki Points by 10.
Extra Notes
If you really want to capture the experience of Dragon Ball, it’s suggested to apply these additional Optional Rules:
- Flight
- Fighting Styles
- Profile Buyout
Leaving Path to Power. Once your Characters, after reaching Martial Level 5, continue to progress and therefore leave Power Level 1 to enter Power Level 2, it’s encouraged to choose a path:
- Traditional DBU. Ignore all rules of Path to Power, including Martial Dice, and continue using the usual rules of DBU.
- Martial Remnant. Ignore most rules of Path to Power, but you may retain your Martial Dice. This is mostly to not jar players by having them lose the Extra Dice they got used to rolling, but as numbers can already inflate in dramatic ways (as per DBZ custom) in DBU, it’s somewhat encouraged to follow Traditional DBU rules.
Dragon Ball Universe 