Unlike the other aptitudes, Kugutsu is not a category of jutsu. Instead, is a ninjutsu-based fighting style that involves the use of puppets to fight rather than the user fighting themselves. Those that utilize Kugutsu are thus known as puppeteers.

Kugutsu uses chakra threads (ninjutsu) to control puppets from a distance - these chakra threads can be used to move the puppets as well as activate traps or hidden weapons on the puppets. The number of threads (and thus, the number of puppets a user can control) increases with skill. In addition, the higher the skill of the user, the less strings needed to control a puppet. Some highly skilled users are capable of controlling an entire puppet using a single chakra thread.

So rather than discuss techniques, this guide will discuss the puppets themselves.

Puppet Basics

All standard puppets are constructed with a wooden base, and require the constant use of chakra strings to use. They are considered long-ranged weapons, but have a very flexible range of movement within which to operate.

While puppets are most commonly given humanoid forms, this is purely up to the puppet’s creator and it’s not strange to see animal or monster-shaped puppets. And while they are all made with a wooden base, sturdier puppets can be created with the addition of metal plating in certain parts.

A standard puppet’s weak point is its joints, as these are the most fragile part of a puppet and destroying them will make the puppet much harder to operate, or may completely disable it if enough joints are destroyed.

Though their base wooden, puppets can be created with room inside and can be wrapped to allow for surprise tactics. Most puppets can contain room to trap a human being inside, or if bigger, including the space needed for ammunitions.

For all intents and purposes, puppets DO have lag, but it is not noticeable unless the enemy combatant is creating a situation to expose and exploit the lag. IE, a taijutsu fighter will always be attempting to flank and get in close range of a puppet user - this does not always mean he is specifically exploiting the lag that a puppet has, rather it will be extremely difficult for a puppet user to deal with said attacks depending on the situation at hand.

Remember, there are no absolute rules when it comes to lag in the puppetry system, because it is a very subjective thing to balance. Common sense tells us that puppetry users are aware of their own weakness and will take steps to cover it (see Sasori’s shell puppet). This does not mean they are infallible and will always react. If you are a puppet user and you are flanked well enough, you will be hit. Puppets do not move “as fast as” someone with X Rank in speed, but rather their control will be dependent on the amount of strings. Do not assume that you can move your puppet from a range of 20+ meters to close range to avoid an attack because you are A Rank. However, if you have 1 puppet and dedicate all strings to moving 1 puppet and you are within a reasonable range, it is possible that you may defend against some attacks. That said, the higher your dexterity, the more deftly you're able to control your puppets, making it easier for you to react to things. If you maintain a high dexterity and high agility, you'll be much safer than if you focus exclusively on your puppets.

Puppet Difficulty

In lieu of policing puppet ranks and power by sizes, on Fighting Dreamers your puppets are given a "difficulty" rating that is dependent on their function and the amount of weapon slots that they require. This means that the more complex your puppet is, the more difficult it will be to control it - meaning that if you have a low puppetry tier, you will have a hard time effectively using a high difficulty puppet, and will likely not be able to move well while using it. On the flip size, if you're using a low difficulty puppet and you're a master puppeteer, you'll have little problems reading and moving away from your opponent's attacks (this all depends on your attributes, of course). The difficulty scale for puppets is as follows:

Minimal: These puppets usually only have one designated function, and one or two equipment items that help them perform this function.

Simple: Although they're not overly difficult to use, they're a little bit more complex than the previous difficulty level. They have a bit more function and thus require more detailed controls. An example of a simple puppet would be a puppet that has blades in its arms and a barrel stomach, like Kuroari (but none of the other abilities listed for this puppet).

Average: These are the most common puppets for established ninja. They're the bread and butter of any puppeteer's arsenal, because they aren't overly difficult to control, but can be used in a variety of situations compared to minimal or simple puppets that typically only have one designated function. An example of an average puppet would be Sanshōuo: it has high defensive power, but that's the only function it serves and it has a clear weakness in the joints.

Difficult: These puppets are either bulked up beyond the average for a single function, or are extremely varied, thus making them a little bit more difficult to control effectively. These puppets are usually fitted with a variety of relatively effective weaponry that present a decent enough threat to even an experienced shinobi.

Extensive: Only able to be used to their full potential by the most practiced puppeteers, these puppets are usually enough on their own, and a puppeteer doesn't need to use more than one at a time. That being said, an inexperienced puppeteer often can barely move the puppet and use one or two of its functions without trouble. An example of an extensive puppet would  be Hiruko.

Since the difficulty rating of a puppet is determined by a combination of their function, materials, and weapons, there is no set-in-stone scale for each criteria. As a basis of comparison, we've linked some canon puppets that fit the difficulty rating. For the rest, you could imagine things that fit between the examples. The more functions or weapons a puppet is fitted with, the more difficult it becomes to control it. If it performs one function extremely well, it's more likely to be given a lower difficulty. If you're unsure, feel free to ask an admin or systems staff member.

Puppet Creation

When you're ready to create your puppet(s), please use the following template:

Name: Name of your puppet.
Size: Size of your puppet. This is purely for referencing the puppet's size compared to player characters and doesn't necessarily affect its difficulty.
Difficulty: The puppet's difficulty rating.
Description: Describe your puppet. What does it look like? How does it move? What features does it have?
Arsenal: List the items, weapons, and other equipment your puppet is fitted with. Make sure to list each item/ability in its full template, and keep your slot amount in mind.

Code:

[b]Name:[/b] Name of your puppet.
[b]Size:[/b] Size of your puppet. This is purely for referencing the puppet's size compared to player characters and doesn't necessarily affect its difficulty.
[b]Difficulty:[/b] The puppet's difficulty rating.
[b]Description:[/b] Describe your puppet. What does it look like? How does it move? What features does it have?
[b]Arsenal:[/b] List the items, weapons, and other equipment your puppet is fitted with. Make sure to list each item/ability in its full template, and keep your slot amount in mind.

Purchase Costs

Purchase costs for puppets are determined by the puppet's difficulty rating and are as follows:

• Minimal: 15 Funds
  
• Simple: 30 Funds
  
• Average: 45 Funds
  
• Difficult: 70 Funds
  
• Extensive: 90 Funds
  

Human Puppets

In addition to the standard puppets, there have been cases where ninja have used the corpses of other shinobi to create a puppet with much higher potential.

These human puppets retain some of the abilities that the deceased ninja had in life, allowing the puppeteer to gain access to abilities they might not have otherwise been able to use, and are often much sturdier than standard puppets. However, once a human puppet is damaged to the point where it becomes unusable, it cannot be repaired.

The ability to control human puppets is extremely rare, and must be earned as an event reward. That said, Human puppets are significantly weaker than when the person was alive, but they can be built to use special techniques or elemental releases that were unique to the deceased ninja. If a Jinchuuriki is killed and turned into a puppet, they may still be able to use any applicable releases and techniques, but they are no longer able to use any residual Bijuu chakra.

Human Puppets are fitted with the ability to use the deceased ninja's signature techniques. Human puppets are always considered to be of Extensive difficulty. When creating a human puppet, you can select one signature technique from the deceased character's arsenal that the puppet can perform. It must be a technique that can reasonably be executed by a puppet (i.e. iron sand being stored in a puppet, or a puppet being able to spew lava). Defensive techniques are fine. However, human puppets cannot use genjutsu or Iryō ninjutsu, nor can you access the deceased's summoning contract. A human puppet can only use its signature technique 3 times before it must recharge (it recharges between threads).