Isekai (New Modifier)

[Manah]

NEW MODIFIERS

ISEKAI
Cost = Varies (See below)

DESCRIPTION

This modifier reflects a person who was born in a given world, only to end up in another one entirely via one of many different possible scenarios. It could be a flash of light bringing them in another world, going to sleep only to wake up elsewhere, even dying and returning to life in the new world, and so on. Note that there are many different versions of this modifier, some being advantageous to the person, and others being detrimental; which is why several 'types' exist, with various Options to reflect various possibilities. Types include the following:

• Transmigration (The most basic form of Isekai; the person enters another world as they are, body, mind and age unchanged. Base Cost = 0w.)
• Rejuvenation (The person enters another world either as a healthy, young version of themselves, or is reborn anew as a newborn, but is relatively speaking the same person, typically retaining their mind and memories. Base Cost = 3w.))
• Reincarnation (The person is completely altered upon entering the new world, likely at the very least in body, often in age, and sometimes in mind as well. Gender and/or sex could be different, as could be race/species. As is the case with Rejuvenation, the person could either transform upon entering the world, or be downright reborn. Typically, mind and memories are unaltered, though this may or may not be the case. Base Cost = 5w.))
• Body Swap (The person's mind is essentially implanted in the body of an existing person, being or entity in the new universe, literally replacing that person in that world as far as everyone else is concerned. Typically, the original entity is not 'suppressed', possessed, trapped in their own body or anything like that; the person simply becomes the new world's character without anyone else being affected as though they had always been that entity. The Isekai character typically retains their former memories and mind, but gain any skills and powers of their new self. They might gain the new form's memories and feelings as well, though this isn't always the case; sometimes the character must learn who they have become, and how to act 'properly' to appear as they 'should be'. Base Cost = 5w.))

In general, Isekai characters are uniquely 'blessed' as far as inhabitants of the new world go; if only a small percentage of the world's population has the potential to use magic, for example, Isekai characters have that potential, and/or are even better than most people at using it. In most cases, an Isekai character has the potential to learn almost any skill in the new world, and to better themselves and master said skills over time regardless of how complex they may be, though that is not always the case; see Options. As for methods of being 'Isekai'd', typical causes may include, but not be limited to:

-A flash of light whisking the character away
-Going down a 'rabbit hole'
-Falling asleep under certain circumstances only to wake up in a new world (after making a wish to a shooting star, praying for a new life, etc)
-Dying in the person's original world, or falling in a coma
-Stepping through a portal/opening between realities, which then closes or becomes otherwise inaccessible for some reason
-Being summoned to the new world via a ritual or a given being's power
-'Falling' into a book, through the TV/computer or something along those lines
-Somehow time traveling, in which case the 'other world' is more akin to a very different time period (or it could be both a different time period and another world)
-An entire portion of the original world is transported to the other world and everyone in it is brought along (an entire school, a military base, a country, a city block, etc)
-And many, many others, no doubt.

Typically, to qualify as an Isekai character, returning to one's own original world should be extremely difficult, impossible, or limited only to the most powerful beings in the new world, or restricted in some way. If it's as simple as turning back and going home, it's more a case of dimensional travel than an actual Isekai. If returning is, indeed, eventually possible, the person will likely nonetheless remain heavily changed by their experience in another world when they do return.

OPTIONS

• Protagonist (+3w or +5w - 3 if there are more than a single protagonist, 5 if they are the only one. The character is either one of, or 'the' protagonist of the new world. Whether they realize it or not, the new world sort of revolves around them and things will typically 'go smooth' for them, with events falling in place to make their dreams come true and their goals come to fruition. GMs should keep that modifier in mind while crafting stories for the character, and often grant +1 to +3 sitmods to such characters when they work towards achieving their dreams or goals. NOTE: The GM has final say on whether or not this option is available at all; whether there are protagonists at all in the new world is up to them.)
• World Familiarity (+1w; the new world is one the Isekai character knows of, and understands the general functions of. Maybe the new world existed in their original world in the form of fiction - say, it was in a movie, anime or videogame - and they know much about it and how it works, putting them at a significant advantage over someone lacking that prior knowledge. Alternately, this option may also be taken for 'parallel universes', namely worlds very similar to the real world - or some past time period version of the real world - but with some changes; for example, a character may qualify for this if they Isekai in a early 20th century Europe 'world', in which the only difference is that magic and the occasional supernatural monsters exist.)
• World Guide (+2w; even better than simple knowledge is having a highly knowledgeable being who is more than willing to grant the Isekai person whatever information they require; be it some sort of deity, an advanced A.I, the being who brought them into the world, and/or some fellow inhabitant of the new world, the world guide knows of the character's fate and is familiar with the world, on top of being willing and eager to help.)
• User's Choice (+2w; the user has some significant measure of control over the end results in the case of a Reincarnation/Body Swap type Isekai. Maybe they can decide the big lines of the change, or have access to a 'character creation' sort of process, or can downright pick the person they wish to body swap with.)
• Gifted (+3w; the Isekai user is uniquely gifted or talented compared to most people in their new world; they can learn and master new skills or powers far more easily than most, and tend to have the potential to gain said skills or powers regardless of how rare that potential is; for example, automatically having the potential for Magic in the Fairy Tail verse despite only 10% of people usually having access to magic.)
• "Cheat" Skills/Powers (Varies; as per 'Power in Flux' modifier, so for each stone spent, 3w may be used for the resulting powers. In many instances, an Isekai character discovers upon getting more familiar with their new world that they have obtained some sort of special ability, power, or skill which could be described as 'broken', 'cheat-like', often considered overpowered even from the new world's inhabitants' perspective. Examples including but certainly not limited to; the ability to copy other beings' skills, to devour other beings and steal their powers, RPG protagonist powers in a world where nobody else has them, Gamemaster-like abilities or even the ability to invent and imbue new skills/powers upon themselves or others permanently. This option functions essentially as 'Power in Flux'; the GM has the final word on what it is, and may either stat it up themselves, or give the general rules of the ability and let the player stat it up themselves. NOTE: Would also be used to 'pay' for the powers of a 'body swap' character to pay for the powers the original person would have had prior to the Isekai event. Alternately, may also be used to pay for a character with high wealth and resources in the new world, when body swapping with such a person, say a member of a royal family or the like.)
• Promised One (+1 to +3w; the Isekai character is considered a person of great importance, a rare or unique being worthy of respect and admiration. Maybe otherworlders are renowned as legendary heroes in the new world, or they're said to be the one(s) who will bring an end to the evil plaguing the land. Whatever the cause, the Isekai person is typically treated well in general at +1w, up to being seen as a messiah at +3.)
• Respawning/Multiple Lives/Multiple Reincarnations (Cost varies; see Reconstitute Self modifier. Either due to a common feature in the new world, or a unique ability of the Isekai person, they can 'respawn' when killed, have multiple lives and/or ways to return to life, have access to multiple reincarnations when killed, or other forms of returning to life upon death. Alternately, may be able to come back as various types of undead, depending on the world; in that case, the costs may vary based on the new form.)
• Divine Power (N/A; Typically Unavailable. This rare version of Isekai variant has the person manifest in the new world essentially as a deity/cosmic entity/eldritch entity of virtually immeasurable power. Note that this isn't intended for 'standard' OP protagonists with strong powers - that is covered under the '"Cheat" Skills/Powers' option; but is rather for downright near omnipotent Isekai characters who usually may not be challenged by other inhabitants of the world, perhaps with the exception of other characters with the same option. If an 'official' cost could be applied to this option, it would likely include a high Tier modifier, and a Power in Flux-like modifier of hundreds of stones in worth at the very least.)
• Trapped in New Body (-2w; the user fundamentally dislikes or is otherwise unhappy with the body they end up with in a Reincarnation/Body Swap type Isekai. Whatever the reason, they wish the change had not happened and will likely work at either turning back to how they were, transforming again and/or alter themselves to fit their ideal view of themselves better.)
• Harem Potential (-1 to -3w; in many instances, Isekai characters tend to have very high potential to end up eventually with a harem of positively gorgeous women, handsome men, both, and sometimes including more 'exotic' additions. The actual effect of this option typically includes a Love Magnet challenge of -1 to -3, though it could be the cause of other challenges as well. Naturally, it isn't always seen as a 'drawback' per se, but that depends on the character.)
• Stranger in a Strange Land (-1w; the opposite of World Familiarity, the Isekai character has NO idea whatsoever where they are, how the new world works and what's going on in it. If they went through a Body Swap scenario, they did not receive any memories from their new form/self, either. Everything they need to know, they'll have to learn the hard way. NOTE: It could still exist as fiction in their original world, but the user did not ever come across it in their former life.)
• Destiny/Duty/Obligation (-1 to -5w; maybe the Isekai person was brought to the world in order to perform specific duties; maybe they are 'the Chosen One', maybe the only way back home is to defeat the Demon Lord or save the world or something else; or maybe the only way to avoid attracting unwanted attention is to 'play their role' right. Either way, the character is somehow obligated to work towards certain goals, fulfill certain obligations or obey certain authorities, or else. The value of this option depends on how restrictive such obligations are, and how severe the consequences for not doing so would be.)
• No Way Home (-2w; there is simply no way to return to one's original world, at all, regardless of how potent one may grow or what knowledge one may hold.)
• Unwelcome Isekai (-1 to -3w; regardless of how the person ended up in the new world, they aren't wanted nor welcome there. Maybe otherworlders are feared due to their power, or just due to being from another world. Maybe the Isekai character wasn't actually the one they wanted to bring over to their world. Whatever the reason, the value of this option depends on how badly unwelcome they are, whereas -1 is generally seen as a nuisance, -3 is downright treated with hostility and possibly even hunted down, and -2 is somewhere in-between. Alternately, also fitting for an Isekai who body swaps with a major villain, such as the Dark Lord of the new world or some such.)
• Dark Isekai (-1 to -5w; the actual value depends on how 'dark' the new world actually is, at GM's discretion. This option reflects a new world which is especially dark, dangerous, deadly or otherwise difficult or terrifying to live in. Being transported into a fun, epic fantasy world is typically great, but manifesting in a world filled with death, torture, rape and overwhelming psychological horror on a daily basis is a different matter entirely.)

COMMENTS

A catch-all modifiers for countless genres of Isekai stories, which can be tailor-made depending on the necessities and rules of pretty much any story. A lot of it depends on the GM, which shouldn't come as a surprise, but a solid cooperation between them and the player can lead to fascinating results, and accordingly great stories.

Rule for Modifier Box

• (Describe the general nature of the Isekai)
• (Note Isekai Type)
• (Note method of entering the new world)
• (Note a general description of the changes experienced)
• (List Options)

EXAMPLE

Satoru Mikami was an ordinary yet hardworking salaryman who gave his life saving his junior coworker from an attacker armed with a knife. However, instead of dying, he was reincarnated into a fantasy/medieval universe as "Rimuru Tempest", a blue slime, gifted with unusual powers. Looking at the modifier's options, his player picks Reincarnation as the base type, along with the Protagonist, World Guide, Gifted, "Cheat" Skills/Powers, Harem Potential and No Way Home options.

The world he found himself in will essentially revolve around him, and achieving his objectives will be easier; he has access to the 'Voice of the World' and a skill called 'Great Sage', which together act as his guide to the world. He is uniquely talented at learning new skills and powers, and mastering them; and is granted 'Predation' and some other excellent techniques to set him up on his path to power. With little actual effort on his part, he will find himself coming across multiple gorgeous women who will literally fight for his affections, but he can never return to his homeworld, as he literally died there to make it to his new world.