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. Ignore the bonuses to your perks you get from Power Level 1 in Character Creation. All of that is factored into the Martial Levels. All of the Talents you gain from Talent Additions (except through a Character Perk) must be from different Talent Categories (see — Talents), with the exception of the Miscellaneous Talent Category (you may select any number of Miscellaneous Talents) and the Skill Talent Category (you may select any number of Skill Talents, except those that require another Skill Talent as a Prerequisite).
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 Skill Rank in a Skill of your choice, 1 Attribute Point |
| 3 | 1d6 | 20 TP to spend on one Signature Technique, 2 Attribute Points |
| 4 | 1d8 | Talent Addition, 1 Skill Rank in a Skill of your choice, 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.
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. 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.
- Stress Limit. If your Martial Level is below 3, reduce your Stress Bonus by 1.
- Attribute Modifier Bonus Limit. Reduce the Attribute Modifier Bonus of all of your Awakenings by 1 for each Attribute (this cannot make them negative values).
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 (ignoring the Martial Level change to Character Creation for their Perks), 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.
- It’s encouraged that Players do not possess Minions until they are at least Martial Level 3+.
- If a character has a Martial Level of 2 or below, reduce the Combat Rolls and Soak Value of their Minions by 1.
Extra Notes
If you really want to capture the experience of Dragon Ball, it’s suggested to apply these additional Optional Rules:
- 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 