Having poked about on the forums again, it seems to be the general consensus that new players will enter classes in order to learn the core components of this shinobi world and how they can go about surviving within it. However, it also seems that a lot of people are assuming there'll be more NPCs than I think Vreg&Friends are willing to add in; If I'm wrong about this, I wouldn't mind a correction and the sources stating otherwise, as it'll only add to the conversation. Moving on from that, however...
...Well, we already know that new, shinobi-in-training will be further mentored by Squad-Leaders...but why not *start* from that point, at least for those that are looking for a team early on. Instead of a 'school', per se, why not distance this world a bit further from its inspirations in that shinobi are trained right alongside Squad-Leaders from the beginning, learning the knowledge they need from Scrolls stored in the Library (properly filed and sealed from access according to Rank, obviously) before practicing those respective skills in the Training Field, or alternatively, any other place the Mentor so desires. Perhaps this game occurs in a time before proper Schools for shinobi, when things were still hearkening back to the "Every man learns from the next" system they devised during their imprisonment (I believe the majority wanted that for the backstory, anyway). Then, when the Mentor believes their Students ready, they could enter them into the monthly Genin/Chunin/Jonin Exams to advance into the next Rank.
This could then further develop the tensions/relations within any given Squad, as some students might enter without the consent of their Mentors, or others might feel pressured by not having advanced as quickly as their comrades, and thus not being capable of going on certain missions with them (provided they aren't booted due to lack of activity, or a new Mentor isn't needed due to death/inactivity). Additionally, this also fixes the dilemma of those that want to go Solo, as they pretty much could with a system this free....though, that's of course provided you'll even be allowed to train without a Mentor (I'm guessing it'd depend on the Kage).
So, in short, why not axe the whole notion of a School and the NPCs/uncontrollable classrooms riding on its coat-tails? Each player can start off RPing or Training right out of the gate, little to no wasted time required. What do the Devs --and further, the Community-- think about this subject?
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