Operational Rules for Shinobi Gameplay
Valley of the End: Founders’ Legacy
This page defines:
• how missions are generated
• how mission difficulty scales
• how mission payment functions
• how rank progression works
• how promotion occurs
• how failure impacts status
This prevents:
• random quest drift
• dungeon-crawl structure
• unranked chaos
• power without recognition
Hidden Villages operate as contract military organizations.
Shinobi complete missions for clients, generating revenue that sustains the village, pays operatives, and funds military infrastructure.
All missions must be assigned a rank.
Standard mission tiers:
D-Rank — Internal work, low danger
C-Rank — External escort or travel missions
B-Rank — Combat expected
A-Rank — Elite shinobi engagement
S-Rank — Strategic threats affecting nations or villages
Mission rank determines:
• expected threat level
• political sensitivity
• preparation requirements
• reporting chain
• payment scale
No mission may be generated without a rank.
Every mission must define:
Objective
The clear goal of the operation.
Examples:
• escort diplomat
• retrieve stolen scroll
• eliminate rogue shinobi
• sabotage supply route
Location
Examples:
• border forests
• trade roads
• hostile territory
• abandoned strongholds
Opposition Type
Examples:
• bandits
• rogue shinobi
• rival village agents
• dangerous wildlife
• experimental threats
Political Sensitivity
Examples:
• routine
• confidential
• diplomatic risk
• classified
Success Criteria
Examples:
• target delivered safely
• enemy neutralized
• intelligence secured
Failure Consequences
Examples:
• diplomatic tension
• border conflict
• civilian casualties
• resource loss
Shinobi missions are precise operations, not random exploration.
Missions are paid contracts.
Clients may include:
• daimyō governments
• merchants
• noble families
• villages
• allied states
Payment is delivered to the village administration, which distributes compensation to the shinobi team.
Mission payment reflects:
• danger level
• political importance
• complexity
• number of shinobi deployed
Higher risk missions generate exponentially greater pay.
D-Rank
Payment: 20 – 100 ryo
Examples: village chores, courier duty, simple patrols
C-Rank
Payment: 150 – 800 ryo
Examples: escort missions, bandit suppression, border scouting
B-Rank
Payment: 1,000 – 5,000 ryo
Examples: combat against trained enemies, dangerous escorts, rogue shinobi encounters
A-Rank
Payment: 8,000 – 40,000 ryo
Examples: elite shinobi conflict, sabotage operations, high-value protection
S-Rank
Payment: 75,000 – 250,000+ ryo
Examples: village-level threats, war-level missions, strategic assassinations
Payment is typically split among the squad, though elite shinobi may receive larger shares.
Exceptional success may also grant:
• bonuses
• equipment reimbursement
• political rewards
These mission rewards are calibrated against common shinobi equipment costs.
Examples:
• Senbon — 1 ryo
• Shuriken — 2 ryo
• Explosive Tag — 40 ryo
• Tantō — 120 ryo
• Standard Shinobi Flak Armor — 400–700 ryo
• Elite Shinobi Battle Armor (Tobirama-style) — ~1500 ryo
This means:
• a C-rank mission can rearm a squad
• a B-rank mission can fund major equipment upgrades
• A-rank missions represent major financial contracts
Shinobi missions are not small jobs — they are military operations with economic impact.
Mission failure must have consequences.
Possible results include:
• reputation damage
• political strain
• financial penalties
• civilian casualties
• border escalation
• disciplinary review
Failure changes the world state, not just the narrative.
Mission success may result in:
• reputation gain
• eligibility for promotion
• new mission offers
• rival faction retaliation
• escalation of geopolitical tension
Shinobi actions shape the political landscape.
Promotion requires:
• demonstrated competence
• tactical judgment
• leadership ability
• political approval
Advancement guidelines:
Genin → Chūnin
Requires leadership and team coordination.
Chūnin → Jōnin
Requires ability to operate independently.
Jōnin → Elite / Special Operations
Requires exceptional battlefield impact.
Rank progression is reviewed by village leadership, not determined by experience alone.
Combat power does not automatically equal rank.
A powerful but reckless shinobi may remain low rank due to:
• poor discipline
• unreliable behavior
• lack of leadership
Rank represents trust and responsibility, not just strength.
During wartime:
• promotions may accelerate
• casualties may create vacancies
• young shinobi may advance faster
However, promotions must still be justified.
War pressures the system but does not erase structure.
If a shinobi abandons their village:
• their official rank becomes void
• their status becomes Missing-Nin
• their reputation becomes a bounty rating
Former rank may still reflect their known capabilities.
Rogue shinobi remain dangerous assets or threats.
Before approving a mission:
✔ Is the mission ranked?
✔ Is the objective clear?
✔ Is opposition appropriate for the rank?
✔ Are consequences defined?
✔ Is payment proportional to risk?
✔ Does the mission impact the world state?
✔ Does it reinforce shinobi military structure?
If any condition fails:
Regenerate the mission.