Ronin Beat - Levels

Early Leveling flow concept

NPC exp reward curve

1 - 1
2 - 8
3 - 24
4 - 72 - swordmaster
5 - 216
6 - 648
7 - 1944 - General
8 - 5832 - Big Bad
9 - 17496 - Lu Bu (An incredible soldier from the three kingdoms period of chinese history.)
10 - 52488 - Musashi (Most famous Japanese swordsman... EVER. A living legend in his day.)

78729 total if killed in row

PC exp requirement curve

1 - 0 - Has basic motor skills to lift a sword.
2 - 3 - New Apprentice
3 - 9 - Practiced Apprentice
4 - 81 - Swordmaster
5 - 243
6 - 729
7 - 2187
8 - 6561 - Master Kuron/Shin, Master Ken (Wanderer without title)
9 - 19683 - THE Master Ken (Most famous swordmaster on the planet)
10 - 59049 - Once a century talent, true living legend.

88545 total required to reach 10

9816 difference

PC level growth:
+20% damage output per level
+20% more damage required to wound per level

NPC level growth:
+10% damage output per level
+35% more damage required to wound per level

Some Notes:
I wanted the players to be constantly seeking someone the next level up or better, since that will drag them pretty much all the way up a level. The difference growth will, I'm hoping, mean that battles between the greatest masters will draw out a bit. Also, while a level 1 player can't one hit a level 5 no matter what, it isn't certain that a level 5 will one hit a level 1 player. It'll probably be most comfortable fighting those within a couple levels +/-, but losing isn't certain until you get closer to a 7 odd level separation.

As for the rarity of level 9 and 10s... Lu Bu was considered one of a kind in all of China, but there were probably a couple people that could have beat him... in theory. Musashi on the other hand... Musashi beat his most serious opponent, a man famous for his long sword (about 7" longer than a regular katana), with a long wooden sword he reportedly fashioned from the spare ore of the boat that was bringing him. He was cagey, for certain, but let's face it he was also completely awesome. (Or the historians of the time just suck and he really assassinated him with the help of his students... for our purposes, we'll stick with the popularized version of him.)