User blog comment:Leo Kazisaski/Bankai levels/@comment-3001427-20121008223759/@comment-3001427-20121009173434

All Shikai and Bankai have a differing number of abilities, some stronger than others, some weaker but in the end its the skill of the writer that determines how best they are described and their usefulness. But than thats basically a given in a series with such a myriad of different abilities. However, the pretense of Bankai levels removes that; I have Bankai Stage 2, which means it should by all rights be stronger than your Bankai. Achieving Bankai Stage 2 requires immense mastery and skill, therefore it must be recognized as such, ergo my Bankai Stage 2 trumps your "normal" and "inferior" Bankai. It has nothing to do with any given power, or the ability of the author, merely the context that Bankai Stage 2 is a superior force requiring more skill than the other character possesses in regards to their own Bankai.

Shikai vs Bankai. An age old story within either fanon, since it is possible to defeat a Bankai with Shikai. It just depends on skill. Of course you could say that Bankai Stage 2 could be beaten by Shikai, but wouldnt that defeat the purpose of it existing in the first place? I mean in the first sentence you assert that by achieving Bankai they attain a "transcendent-like power". If we both agree that Bankai Mastery as you've written it exists, then by definition there is no way a Shikai should be able to win against it. And then Bankai Stage 2, takes that a step further. If we also assume this to be true, then to entertain the idea that a Shikai could defeat a Bankai Stage 2 is just preposterous.

In your writing you assign values, and absolutes that assert that both Bankai Mastery and Bankai Stage 2 are "levels", accomplishments, achievements that set them apart and elevating that power above the rest. Its like comparing the might of a flickering candle to a burning inferno. A candle cannot outshine an inferno, its just not possible. That is what happens you assign "levels" in this sense. If instead you attempt to just strengthen your Bankai, then the concepts of "power" are still and ultimately reliant on your ability as an author and roleplayer.

To wrap this up, I am against the idea of Bankai "levels" because of the aforementioned reasons. It creates the context of a difference in power that did not exist before. Instead it is dependent not on the skill of the character, but rather an abstract idea of levels that naturally mean that a higher level is thus superior to a lower ranked one. That is the root of this debate Sei. I'm not arguing on you expanding Bankai, just your approach and system of assigning it "levels", which I think is contrary to what your original intent in creating them; not power boosts, but an extension, an expansion of a broad idea/power.