Gathering is the first step in the Tech System item creation process, every R & D character possesses Research Slots which are earned each progression. Depending on what one chooses to fill their Research Slots with different things can be created, likewise Research Slots have levels which determine what rank of Item the R & D character can obtain. As a result multiple combinations of things can be created and the higher the level of the R & D character's research of a particular substance the higher rank items said character is capable of creating.
Gathering is done via an IC topic with the post one wishes to gather in having an additional word count depending on how many different substances are being gathered (1 = +100 Words, 10 = +1000 Words). In regards to different substances it's referring to different Substances granted by Research Slots not in regards to multiple of the same thing (I.e Character gathers Positive Reishi, Negative Reishi & stores it away. An additional 200 words must be added to the post). Note gathering in a topic takes the place of the character's Daily Training.
Research SlotsCurrent Progression - Number of Research SlotsStarter (Spiritually Sensitive Human/Plus) - 0
1st (Base Sub-Race e.g Fullbringer) - 1
2nd (1st Adv Base Sub-Race e.g Gillian) - 2
3rd (2nd Adv Base Sub-Race e.g Count) - 3
4th (Max Adv Base Sub-Race e.g Captain) - 4
5th (Base Transcendent e.g Erzengal) - 5
6th (1st Adv Transcendent e.g Shikai possessing Zanpakuto Spirit) - 6
7th (2nd Adv Transcendent e.g Segunda Etapa possessing Arrancar) - 7
8th (Leader of an Organization e.g Captain-Commander) - 8
One can trade Technique Slots for additional Research Slots causing them to no longer be able to learn that which they traded in exchange for getting additional Research Slots exceeding the original max. Those who do this are True R & D characters and become able to increase the level of their Research Slots beyond their progression.
Technique Rank - Equivalent in Research SlotsApprentice - 1
Adept - 2
Expert - 3
Master - 4
Transcendent - 5
Primordial - 6
Research TypesAny of the Following can be chosen as one of the types of substances capable of being added to a Research Slot. Note some of them may require more than one slot depending on how advanced they are. Likewise once added to a Research Slot it is permanent and unable to be changed later.
- 1 Slot Required:
Substance - Location Gathered (Source Gathered from)
Pure Neutral Kishi - Real World (Any non-living object in the real world like water, metal etc)
- 2 Slots Required:
Substance - Location Gathered (Source Gathered from)
Dead Positive Reishi - Soul Society (Any inanimate object within location)
Dead Neutral Reishi - Valley of Screams (Any inanimate object within location)
Dead Negative Reishi - Hueco Mundo (Any inanimate object within location)
- 3 Slots Required:
Substance - Location Gathered (Source Gathered from)
Living Positive Reishi - Real World/Soul Society (Quincy)
Living Neutral Reishi - Real World/Valley of Screams (Bount)
Living Negative Reishi - Real World/Hueco Mundo (Fullbringers)
- 4 Slots Required:
Substance - Location Gathered (Source Gathered from)
Pure Positive Reishi - Soul Society (Objects within Seireitei, Erzengal)
Pure Neutral Reishi - Valley of Screams (Objects within Kukol)
Pure Negative Reishi - Hueco Mundo (Objects within Las Noches Transbringer)
- 5 Slots Required:
Substance - Location Gathered (Source Gathered from)
Neutral Kishi - Hell ((Any inanimate object within location)
Positive Kishi - Hell (Kushanāda)
Negative Kishi - Hell (Togabito)
- 6 Slots Required:
Substance = Location Gathered (Source Gathered from)
White Sekkiseki = Dangai (Kōryū)
Black Sekkiseki = Dangai (Kōtotsu
Pure Positive Kishi = Hell (Kanshu)
Pure Negative Kishi = Hell (Kanshu)
Research LevelsResearch Levels are improved by preforming Daily Training, just like one has a limited amount of Research Slots Depending on the Level in question they have different Word Counts:
Level - Word Count ReqE - 0 (Obtained from Start)
D - 100
C - 200
B - 400
A - 600
S - 800
X - 1000
Y - 1500
Z - 2000
Research Levels are important in regards to Experiment as well as Create. Likewise only True R & D Characters are able to train their Research Levels beyond their Progression.
Progression - Max Level Trainable1st (Shinigami) - E
2nd (Seated Officer) - D
3rd (Lieutenant) - C
4th (Captain) - B
5th (Zero Division Training Regiment) - A
8th (Captain Commander) - Y