Oh, the bit about shape manipulation is spectacular to hear.It does come from your body but you can shape it to whatever form you want. If you want it to be a flaming sword, then one you shall have. I mean, Rexii was able to make one, so it shouldn't be too hard, he's usually pretty tame but smart with his stuff. As for the extent, it's advanced shaping like you find in any Element, so it's pretty much only bound by general logic for fields like that, and other general principals we uphold, like the S-Rank allowing for larger shapes than the A-Rank application.
As for the A-Rank comparison, true. They would be dealing the same damage with Human Principal at a lower cost, but it's because it doesn't involve any advanced shaping. You'd be limited to simple streams and projectiles if you use Human Principal, so I assume that's why it's more cost-effective.
Now we move on to two of the nicest Master-level techniques, as they play so well with one another, and provide such a simple and easy method of giving yourself an on-demand meta-level boost in several areas, including a form of sensory.
(Kaen Kakkusei Iden: Kodai Dōsatsu) – Atavistic Flame: Ancient InsightType: SupplementaryRank: ARange: N/AChakra: N/ADamage: N/ADescription: Ancient Insight is the inner focusing of the user’s Atavistic Flame to empower their awareness. The technique is activated at the cost of a move but not occupying a slot in the timeframe. Grandmasters are able to activate Ancient Insight passively. Once activated Ancient Insight channels similar awareness bonuses as granted during Will to Survive. The user gains tracking, reflexes, and perception increased by x3 while Ancient Insight is active, lasting until deactivated. Each turn Ancient Insight is active the user suffers from 5 spiritual Health Points lost, though the user will regenerate 5 every other turn.(Kaen Kakkusei Iden: Jinsei no Suiryoku) – Atavistic Flame: Thrust of LifeType: SupplementaryRank: ARange: N/AChakra: N/ADamage: N/ADescription: Thrust of Life is an Atavistic technique used to enhance the user’s speed, considered the opposite of Ancient Insight. The technique is activated the cost of a move, visually appearing as flames bursting from the user’s body to increase their movement speed by x3. A Grandmaster's speed is increased by 4x. The technique lasts for a maximum of four turns and consumes 5 spiritual Health Points per turn it is active. The user regenerates 5 every other turn while active. It can be stacked with Ancient Insight and is usable three times per battle.
Now, these are amazing - I was very excited when I saw these in the technique lists, especially as, as a T3 bio with no Doujutsu or comparable boost, massive boosts like this help close the gap outside of WtS.
Ancient Insight takes a moveslot but not timeframe, so its "essentially" passive in that regard - and it is passive, if you hit GM. x3 Tracking at the (effective) cost of 5 health every other turn is spectacular. And as mentioned, its life-force tracking, which has definite benefits.
Thrust of Life is comparable, but for speed - and unlike Ancient Insight where the GM bonus is a passive activation, the GM variant gives a massive x4 speed.
The neat thing about both of these is that since they only give one boost each, they're not States. That obviously lets you use them simultaneously as detailed, but means they could reasonably be use alongside other states.
Further, they're small, constant drains to your health - useful for building up a pool of energy for Will to Survive in the background.