New Washington is not altogether a safe environment. In a city where the Legends of Old walk the streets, an average citizen's right to bear arms is perhaps more meaningful than it is in our society today. In fact, even very boring or 'safe' jobs will regard a potential employee's Martial Certification when considering hiring them. A well-armed citizen can protect not only himself, but also his company.
What weapon a citizen bears openly on the streets of New Washington is much like fashion of today: you wish to declare who you are and what you are capable of. Bearing weapons is an important form of nonverbal communication to New Washingtonians. Please see the Weapons Talk article for some examples of the messages weapons send.
Certification determines what weapons you can bear on the streets and in your office as well as which ones you can buy. While different companies offer individual certification, they network: earning C-Rank certification with Dai-Sho, Inc. ensures that you will have an equivalent certification with other arms manufacturers, as Dai-Sho is an industry standard.
The methods of classification are slightly different depending on the type of weapon.
Pistols, Rifles and Heavy Weapons all rank separately and by letter. The ranks are typically C, B, A and S, with corresponding testing to each one. Most NW citizens earn a C-Rank pistol certification, as it mostly covers gun safety and basic marksmanship. B-Rank Cert minimum is required to become a police officer, and A-Rank certification is generally demanded of most REACT Agents as well as SWAT or SMAT team members.
Swords and Melee Weapons used to have a much more scattered certification and honors system, but Martial Certification Consolidation Act of 2208 helped bring the various rating systems together. Now Edge, Inc., the industry standard for High Density Plastic swords and knives, performs over half of the certification testing in the city.
The certification, in order of prestige, is Fighter, Duelist, Dancer and Master.
Using a sword is generally reserved for more skilled citizens, as well as somewhat more wealthy-- a swordsman must generally wear an electric bulletshield as well as body armor. That said, carrying a sword is still a popular, fashionable and effective option for a New Washingtonian.
Martial Arts are still varied and diverse, especially in New Washington-- the city hosts a horde of both pure and bastardized forms of martial arts for citizens, each with its own form of ranking. The closest thing to an industry standard comes from a corporation called Mei Kara Do, founded by a Pol's Cat named And The Sky Blessed Him Meyerson. Mei Kara Do features lessons in a martial art by the same name, but also tests practitioners of other arts and certifies them accordingly. MKD also sells equipment designed to empower users of martial arts, including shields, shock gloves and various other gear.
MKD's certification system is in belts following the color spectrum: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet and ending in Black.
If you are doing a Step by Step character creation, you can move on to Financial and Social Standing or go back to Job or Role.
Otherwise, you can go back to the Character Creation Index.