Dragon Ball Rework Ideas
To preface: This is mainly a bunch of mental notes and what I recall from conversations I've had with people concerning an AU project I may work on... I consider myself a fan of DB, but over the years I have drifted away from the modern stuff. I may catch the newest movie but that's about it. Despite this, I just let loose on the topic of a rework, sending walls of text to people randomly when I get an idea. To supplement myself I have started to read DB from the beginning, refreshing myself on details and whatnot, and keeping track of stuff like characters, locations, items, techniques, etc just for personal reference. With that out of the way I should probably get to the actual ideas...
I'll start off with ki and related systems: Taking inspiration from stuff like chakra points and mind field theories. Basically, all living things have ki points throughout their body; lying on/within vital organs and the primary joints. Connected via ki channels, and assisted in regulation by the "Threads of Preservation", which are mapped onto the lymph system. The ki points spread throughout the body generate an aura that can indicate one's physical health, but can also be utilized to enhance one's presence and the impact of melee attacks. Situated on the brain, is a ki point that generates the mind aura that can indicate mental health/state and is the center of psychic abilities; being more "malleable" than the bodily aura, it can be cast out like fishing rod or net to grab things and link one's mind to another. When these auras are used in tandem, one is able to fly. It can be pictured as the bodily aura being used to suspend yourself, manipulating the air around you, while the mind aura pulls/pushes you away from things. To use ki directly, your own life energy, it is imperative to have a moderate ability to visualize things; as using ki relies on moving it through your system. In the case of a beam attack, it is energy from ki points, through the interconnecting channels, to the ends of your extremities and out at a frequency/intensity that is destructive. Healing is done by a similar process but at a much more game output, with the intent of transferring it to another person's system. Stuff like ki balls and discs are released from the body, and then guided by the mental aura; unless released and just let fly on its own. To strengthen one's abilities with ki, mental exercises can help, plus general physical training to build mind-muscle connections/control and flexibility. Strenuous physical activity also widens the channels between ki points, allowing for easier flow. Ki points can be expanded, but some people are unfortunately born with smaller ki points, limiting their potential storage and output. These people often fall back on different methods of combat, or if they retain a sizable brain ki point, focus on psychic abilities and training. The art of shapeshifting, demonstrated by characters like Oolong and Puar, is a rare affinity. Wherein a person can manipulate the structure of their ki system, altering their appearance as their body conforms to the new configuration. This process is not permanent, lest the shapeshifter has great force of will, since the structure of one's ki system will always want to return to its natural/stable state. As forcing the channels to lengthen or shorten, does not come without strain.
I think that's all I really have regarding ki, so I'm gonna move on to some world details...
World: I'm not quite a fan of planet busters and universe shakers, at a certain point it gets boring and tedious. To majorly pull back the scale, the world I envision is a singular vast plane of ocean, with great continents and islands scattered about them (the whole world shaking would only really occur if multiple Supreme Kais and Gods of Destruction were fighting at once). Split into quadrants, monitored by the kais who help council "Kami", the medium between Heaven and the Earthly realm, as well as the appointed authority of said realm. Probably selected/voted on by the kais, who judge for a mortal's moral character, wisdom, and connection to the realm; the operating Kami can take on disciples who will be strongly considered as a candidate for the next Kami. Below Kami then are the angels, heaven-born beings who are born when positive energy rises up from the Earthly realm and clumps together. Solidifying into humanoid forms that have an innate sense of justice, and will unflinchingly carry out actions in the name of that justice. Perfect to be linked to Gods of Destructions, who are mortals, the strongest of their respective regions, that are appointed to keep the "destructive balance" in check; possessing an aura that can influence the occurrence of natural disasters and the like. As well tasked with cutting down threats to their region as a whole. The one who is in charge of coordinating and pairing Gods of Destructions with Angels is the Grand Minister. Making sure each of them have personalities that go well together. The Angels and Gods of Destruction are not weak by any measure, but simply appointed to a role with different qualifications, that put them below other beings in this universal hierarchy. With that said, Gods of Destructions take on disciples too, which will be candidates for their master's positions. Ultimately relying on the choice of Kami and the decision of the Kais. Above Kami, is another medium of Heaven and Earth, King Yemma who is of the Oni. A race created by the Kais and Supreme Kais to keep souls in check and operate the systems of heaven. King Yemma himself is both the strongest of the Oni, as well as the most wise, assuring him the role of "Judge of Souls" and "the guardian of the gate". Above Yemma are the Kais, led by Grand Kai who is the mediator between the lesser and Supreme Kais, the tiebreaker for decisions involving Earth, and the host of heavenly events/contests. Above him are the Supreme Kais who rule over the quadrants of Heaven, and answer to the absolute authority of this world— Grand Supreme Kai... I'm not personally a fan of Zeno, so I opted to omit him. I can see his appeal but he just doesn't feel right to me as the top of the ladder.
Bringing things down— way way down, below the Earthly Realm is the realm of Demons. Formerly a dark abyss before the demon Kais, born from the rotten fruit of the Kaiju trees that birth the core people, the first people that devised the Earth and the Heavens, were cast down there; because of their malicious tendencies. With their vast power they gave the abyss form and like their counterparts, created life, utilizing the negative energy which sinks down into their realm. They wait until their demonic legions are great enough to wage war on Earth and Heaven. Until then, they counsel the "Emperor" of the realm, the strongest of all demons who has a majority of the clans under his dominion. All beings except angels can convert into demons, via a ritual of renouncing the good within them to take on a more monstrous form. This action has great effects even on one's progeny (like the majority of Demon King/Chief Piccolo's offspring)...
I think that's all the major stuff regarding the world and its Hierarchy. Guess I'll clarify some things here, such as I previously mentioned the Earthly Realm is a singular plane. Meaning such things as Planet Namek and Planet Vegeta, are now islands/archipelagos far out from their mainlands (but still greatly far from other major land masses). To the point that their existence has become legend, such as talk of the mighty warrior race that bear resemblance to humans but with the tails of monkeys~ that sort of thing.
Other tangents: Speaking of the Saiyans, I want them of course to be strong though, but more in the sense that they recover quickly and have heightened instincts in regards to battle, learning new techniques relatively quickly. I actually want them to be somewhat stunted in the art of ki, primarily relying on their raw strength. As well as following very harsh and strict practices of training and diet. To the point, in this universe, if you put an alternate Goku and Vegeta next to each other, due to Goku's more relaxed and carefree approach he'd appear more filled out though still with a solid physique of course. Vegeta on the other hand would be cut/shredded to an extreme point, but as the story would go... As Vegeta gets accustomed to life on the mainland and starts to question his culture, initially sickened by Goku's indulgence, eventually gains an appreciation for the food provided by Bulma. Allowing Vegeta to fill out his frame a bit more and gain an appreciation for mainland cuisine.
To touch on Oozaru and Super Saiyan, the transformations associated with the Saiyans— I'd like them to have different utilizations. Oozaru being a symbol of the old culture, raw power and killer instinct being greatly valued. While Super Saiyan would be the symbol of a new way, one with a better balance between the body and mind. The Oozaru outclasses Super Saiyan in pure strength, but being less mobile (making it very difficult to fly and move without destroying things), limiting ki usage, and affecting the mind of the Saiyan. While the Super Saiyan promotes developing one's mind alongside their body. Its origin lies in ancient Saiyan mystic practices, relating to the harnessing of one's power. One group created the fake moon technique that would allow them to turn Oozaru at any time and help them train to control it. While the other, less prominent group were able to achieve the state of Super Saiyan. Due to the extensive work that would be required to inspire ki use among the Saiyans, it never caught on, remaining as a legend for years to come. The moon technique winning out while Super Saiyan faded, kept alive in some circles because of the mystique but unaware of what one would need to acquire that kind of form. Which leads into the irony of doing the exact opposite of what the traditional Saiyans do. Focusing just on their bodies and fighting, instead of the simple pleasures of life and growing one's connection to the world. Encapsulated in Goku, a Saiyan raised by a human and trained by others to seek strength but also enjoy the life he is living. A side note related to that - I'm picturing a semi-funny sequence where Vegeta is trying to ask around, talking with Goku's friends and family about what his life was like. Trying to figure out the key to Super Saiyan but just getting more frustrated. On the form itself, I've devised a branching scheme to it. With the base super Saiyan being a balanced refinement of the body. While the graded forms would be strength specialization with the working names “Buffed" and "Maxed". Super Saiyan 2 being the speed specialization, with the working named Charged. Super Saiyan 3 being the ki specialization, with the working name "Flow" (get it, because ki flow and his flowing hair). All of them would have different uses instead of being a linear progression of power, and with all their own drawbacks. The obvious being the graded forms losing mobility, but making them very dangerous once they get their hands on you. Vegeta would be drawn to these forms, falling back on his own Saiyan sensibilities; Trunks supporting his dad as he would be open to the possibility, unaware of the limits of Super Saiyan. While Goku and Gohan would be focused on speed specialization. I think it would be cool if these specializations could work together instead of one outright outclassing the other. For example one person could lead Cell with speed into an ambush, where he can be overpowered physically. Moving into Flow, going with the fact it's easier to use when dead, that's because the dead don't have a physical body to keep running with ki. In the afterlife, that is all you are, a battery of ki, but with a body, some ki is required to maintain the body and its functions. The form majorly improves output, opening one's channels to their limit, but if one is not careful they can easily expend too much ki... The sorta odd one out in this case is Super Saiyan 4, which relies on the Oozaru form of course. Diverting the transformation so that they remain in a more compact form. However, this form kinda acts like a cross between strength and speed specialization, with the drawback that it messes with the mind. Making it easy for a Saiyan to forget exactly what they are doing, lashing out any chance they get (even at allies), and forgetting about mercy. Goku and Vegeta see potential in this form, but are wary. Best case scenario they are facing an opponent one on one, away from a crowd, that they have no qualms with killing.
To touch on Super Saiyan God, I have to touch on Beerus, who instead of coming to Earth somewhat randomly from what I recall. He is instead visiting the Saiyans and other Z Fighters, with the intention of recruiting disciples. Pretending to go rogue, in order to make it feel like they are in a dire situation and will fight with all they have. After evaluating all their strengths, he relents and invites those he seems with great potential/likelihood of succeeding him to his temple to perform a ritual of transferring divine ki... As I'm not a fan of the original Super Saiyan God ritual and its legend. Just feels weird to have two coinciding legends, but one has more obvious relevance. So instead, Beerus would remark that he has heard of Saiyans being candidates in the past but is curious what these "new age Saiyans" are capable of. Training them to achieve their godly state (red), that can act as an alternate to their base form, which they would eventually be able to incorporate with Super Saiyan. Thus becoming Super Saiyan Gods (blue) in that sense.
The recruitment narrative would also reframe the tournament between Beerus and Champa, as teachers testing their disciples against one another.
I'm not quite sure what I'm gonna do with Ultra Instinct & Ego + Beast yet, and I'm not caught up on Super as I indicated at the beginning. But I do have some closing additions...
On time Travel, there are a couple instances such as in the early series, later in the Android + Cell Saga, and that one weird Bardock special. But to tie them together I have devised the presence of general time distorting items. Which in the case of the early series and Bardock, those would be handled with the items as they naturally occur. You touch them and they bring you to a certain time, usually related to the location it is found (though in the case of Bardock, it wouldn't be him sent back, and the village would be destroyed regardless the item would just give someone the chance to make a timeline in which it was saved), but your actions would just create a new timeline. While you would be returned to your own as if nothing happened, even if you "die" while in contact with the item, it's more akin to a simulation where you would wake up afterward near the item. Bulma however would acquire one of these items and make it the core of the time machine used by Trunks, directing its effect to specific times.
On Frieza and his golden form, I imagined if he attained it while in the afterlife instead of after his revival. The reason he runs into the stamina issue is because he only used it without a physical body, similar to how there is less of an issue of ki in the afterlife, there is no stamina/ki going toward the maintenance of your body. I'm also sort of scratching out his black form because I find it boring— replacing it with the idea that his golden form is a cocoon for a subsequent form. Which he would realize is a way to conduct the demon conversion ritual. Going through with it, he would emerge in a new demonic form. Not fully confident in that idea but it's there. But I am a bit more confident in restructuring Frieza's forms, making his impish form his original form. To remove the redundancy of making so many forms to restrict himself and just have his race be naturally very adaptive. His second form would then be strength focused, his third would be speed, his fourth would be balanced, while his full power form would act in a similar way to the grade 2.
Broly, he's a Saiyan mutant. Which causes him behavioral issues and enhanced power progression. Paragus would put the device on him to make him more passive and restrict him. The device developed by Paragus and a technologically advanced race (Cheelai's in my verse, which would lead to her and Broly meeting), would help Paragus establish his own regime, attracting wayward Saiyans to conquer in his name now that Island Vegeta was destroyed and the prince is nowhere to be found. His super Saiyan form, due to his mutation, is triggered by desperation (to not displease his father) and anger instead of a greater aspiration/need. The years of being controlled by his father, essentially splitting his personality. All of his passive traits remained in his base form, while all the violent and sadistic tendencies welled up in his super Saiyan form.
Fusion, I don't think that needs to be altered much. Off the top of my head it would probably require two people matching their auras instead of power levels for the dance; synchronizing them long enough so their bodies and minds can merge temporarily.
Feel free to ask questions, I didn't cover absolutely everything ofc, so any questions, thoughts, and questions would be appreciated.

I was commenting on a post and i thought that, early Vegeta base (the one that goes Ssj and ssj grade 2), doesn't appear in much fights in base form. Now as someome who rly liked Vegeta in Namek, wouldn't it be better if they made early Vegeta the Vegeta that fights in Namek?
I say this for various reasons:

1. Becouse of what i said earlier, Vegeta early in his base doesn't have much moves that are shown
   
2. Vegeta in Namek shouldn't be able to transform into a great ape cuz he doesn't have a tail.
   
3. Si that Scouter Vegeta will have more sayian saga moves, i remember while playing bt3 that Vegeta Scouter has dirty fireworks from namek saga and his impact move that is from namek as well *i think from where he killed zarbon), while his first super is his galick gun. While for me they could give Vegeta more moves that he uses during the sayian saga (an impact move where he does a combo on you and finishes you off like he did with Nappa and a super explosion like Majin Vegeta or something else)
   

Yes im biased becouse i love the armor he has agaist frieza and want to see that armor with ssj, but even without me being biased i think it would make more sense.
Either way, what do you guys think?

Does anyone else feels like the punches, kicks and the normal hits in general lack the impact they once used to have?
I noticed this 2 times:
1) Rivals trailer, in the section where goku ssj god clahes with vegeta in the corresponding form and in the end vegeta wins, in his final hit he sends goku flying away (as he should) just by stretching his leg.
2) Power vs Speed trailer, where jeice and burter gang up on Toppo. The flashiness and speed combination for that move is like none other before, but the combo punches they deliver feel "weak".
Don't get me wrong, the fighting overall seems superb but sometimes where I want to send my opponent flying i want to feel like my next hit will deliver and for the time being from what we have I don't get that feeling like in the previous games.
To be fair we have some months ahead of us before development finishes so I'm hopeful this will not be overlooked.
What do you guys think? Will they fix it on release, we will get it on a future update after the game is launched or will it stay as it is? Also if it stays as is will you be satisfied?

Update with what was shown in the last VJump of New Generations. Now we have 71 confirmed characters. Also, I updated it with the stages.

CONFIRMED CHARACTERS

1- Goku (DBZ - Early)
2- Goku (DBZ - Mid)
3- Goku (DBZ - Mid) (SSJ)
4- Goku (DBZ - End)
5- Goku (DBZ - End) (SSJ)
6- Goku (DBZ - End) (SSJ2)
7- Goku (DBZ - End) (SSJ3)
8- Goku (DBS)
9- Goku (DBS) (SSJ)
10- Goku (DBS) (SSJ God)
11- Goku (DBS) (SSJ Blue)
12- Vegeta (DBZ - Scouter)
13- Great Ape Vegeta
14- Vegeta (DBZ - Early)
15- Vegeta (DBZ - Early) (SSJ)
16- Super Vegeta
17- Vegeta (DBZ - End)
18- Vegeta (DBZ - End) (SSJ)
19- Vegeta (DBZ - End) (SSJ2)
20- Majin Vegeta
21- Vegeta (DBS)
22- Vegeta (DBS) (SSJ)
23- Vegeta (DBS) (SSJ God)
24- Vegeta (DBS) (SSJ Blue)
25- Gohan (Kid)
26- Gohan (Adult)
27- Future Gohan
28- Future Gohan (SSJ)
29- Trunks (Sword)
30- Trunks (Sword) (SSJ)
31- Trunks (Armor) (SSJ)
32- Super Trunks
33- Future Trunks (SSJ)
34- Kid Trunks
35- Kid Trunks (SSJ)
36- Goten
37- Goten (SSJ)
38- Gotenks (SSJ)
39- Piccolo
40- Yamcha
41- Tien
42- Krillin
43- Master Roshi
44- Master Roshi (Full Power)
45- Hercule
46- Videl
47- Nappa
48- Jeice
49- Burter
50- Frieza (DBS)
51- A17 (DBS)
52- A18
53- Cell (Perfect Form)
54- Majin Bu
55- Beerus
56- Whis
57- Broly (DBS)
58- Broly (DBS) (SSJ)
59- Broly (DBS) (SSJ Full Power)
60- Hit
61- Caulifa
62- Caulifa (SSJ2)
63- Kale
64- Kale (SSJ Berserker)
65- Kale (SSJ2)
66- Kefla (SSJ2)
67- Bergamo
68- Kakunsa
69- Dyspo
70- Toppo
71- Jiren

ASSUMED CHARACTERS

Characters NOT confirmed but that will surely be there either because they are transformations of already confirmed characters, different versions or closely related to the confirmed ones and whose absence is impossible

• Goku UI Sign and Goku UI
• Vegeta Blue Evolution
• Vegetto, Vegetto SSJ and Vegetto SSJ Blue (It is possible that there are two base Vegettos, one from DBZ that transforms to SSJ and one from DBS that transforms to SSJ Blue, but it is not something we can determine 100% at the moment).
• Gogeta, Gogeta SSJ and Gogeta SSJ Blue (From DBS, but maybe Super Gogeta from DBZ too)
• Teen Gohan, Teen Gohan SSJ and Teen Gohan SSJ2
• Adult Gohan SSJ, Adult Gohan SSJ2, Ultimate Gohan (Special note: Those are a lock. Great Saiyaman probably too but I think it is not 100% sure so I will not put it. Same for Gohan DBS and Beast. And the same for Piccolo from DBS with his transformations)
• Trunks (Armor)
• Future Trunks, Future Trunks SSJ2, Future Trunks SSJ Rage (Personally I think SSJ Rage can be a power up like Goku's Kaioken, but I mention it here anyway.)
• Gotenks and Gotenks (SSJ3)
• Ginyu, Recoome and Guldo (It is impossible for Burter and Jeice not to have their partners.)
• Frieza (DBS) (Golden Form)
• Frieza (DBZ) (1st Form) (2nd Form) (3rd Form) (Final Form) (100% Power)
• A17 (DBZ) (Practically confirmed in the trailer of Masters. Also in the Twitter account)
• Cell (1st Form), (2nd form) (Super Perfect Form)
• Caulifa (SSJ)
• Kefla and Kefla (SSJ)
• Ribrianne and Rozie (It is impossible for Kakunsa to be in the game without its leader Ribrianne. And it is impossible for both of them to be in the game without Rozie.) (Special note: I don't think Ribrianne has a 100% giant form, so I don't include her.)
• Giant Bergamo (The giants are back and Bergamo is one of the most important giant characters in anime along with Vegeta, Anilaza and Cell MAX, it seems pretty obvious to me.) (Special Note: Contrary to Kakunsa, who seems to confirm his two companions, I think Bergamo does not necessarily mean that his two brothers will also be characters, since Bergamo is the leader of the group and of U9. If Ribbriane had been confirmed instead of Kakunsa, I don't think many people would be predicting Rozie or Kakunsa. That's why, although I personally think they will be there, I don't put Basil or Lavender as a 100% in)
• Toppo God of Destruction
• Jiren Full Power
• Broly (DBZ) (SPECIAL NOTE: The Broly (Super) could indicate the existence of Broly (DBZ), however, I think it is relevant to point out that in the Japanese website is called Broly, without DBS. The DBS is only in the English website. Even so, I have included it)

"LEAKED" CHARACTERS

Voice actor Sonny Strait commented in a video on his social networks that he had recorded voices for 3 video game characters. Sonny only voices 4 characters in Dragon Ball and another anime that has not announced any video game. Also, insider DBS Hype confirmed that he was referring to Sparking Zero, so 3 of these 4 characters should be in the game:

• Krilin (Confirmed)
• Bardock
• General Blue
• Giru (Or, failing that, a character that has Giru in his moveset, such as Pan (GT) or maybe Trunks (GT).)

SPECIAL NOTE: Since Giru does not really speak, it is possible that he has not recorded this character and Namco/Spike reuse the audios of previous games, so it could be the first 3 + those of GT without problems.
SPECIAL NOTE 2: DBS Hype said that the game will have characters from all the sagas, from OG to Daima and including GT.

TEASED CHARACTERS

These are characters that, while some may seem logical, have not been announced and cannot be confirmed in relation to others already confirmed. However, they have been mentioned or shown in the marketing of the game, so it is quite logical that they are in.

• Goku (DBZ - Mid), Trunks (Sword) (SSJ), Piccolo, Majin Vegeta and Majin Bu were showed in the BT3 gameplay that was used to announce the game. All these characters have already been confirmed in Sparking Zero.
• Frieza (DBZ) (Final Form), Mecha Frieza, Cell (Super Perfect Form), Ultimate Gohan, Super Bu, Vegito, Vegito (SSJ), Super Bu (Gohan Absorbed), Kid Bu and Goku (GT) (SSJ4) were showed in the same trailer.
• Some DB GT enemy is receiving Goku SSJ4's attack in the same trailer, but I'm unable to see who it is.
• Cui was mentioned in the Scans Rivals to talk about a Vegeta Scouter attack (They could have talked about any of Vegeta's versions, any of his attacks and omitted Cui's name perfectly, but they mentioned him.)

CONFIRMED STAGES

There are 8 confirmed stages:
1- Desert of Goku VS Vegeta
2- Namek
3- Namek (or earth) destroyed
4- Meadow of Piccolo VS Gohan
5- Islands
6- City
7- Future City
8- World Tournament

ASSUMED STAGES

• Kami Lookout
• Hyperbolic Time Chamber
• Cell Games
• Kaioshin Planet
• Space
• Tournament of Champa Arena
• Tournament of Power Arena
• Glacier

Today my 15th anniversary Vegeta came in. While it's a pretty good figure, I do have one issue with my copy. His left leg is bent slightly inwards and it bugs me.
Seeing as I bought him from the french tamashi store, am I better off trying to return him, or do I try to gently guide it into position using warm water?
I wanted to add a picture, but reddit doesn't like me today.

We've seen how much they've changed the story from the Broly movie, so I'd honestly be a bit surprised if they suddenly played it straight with the Fusion dance (especially since we've already seen Shallet).
And if part 1 is fusing Goku and Vegeta into Vegito, Shallot and Giblet using Potara fusion to finish the fight against Broly (into Giblot or whatever they call it) to coincide with this would make even more sense.
SPOILERS for recent story: I doubt the fight with Broly is ACTUALLY over, since we haven't seen SSJ / SSJ Full Power Broly yet.

I feel like making it a ssj 2 vegeta and goku support where when vegeta dies he revives until a timer runs out like buu bros and the lf would be vegeta falling and goku throwing the spirit bomb

I don't have the new Goku/Buu/Ultimate Gohan (major shaft this celebration), but have almost everything else so any team suggestions that don't use them (or LR PHY Future Trunks DBS) is probably doable. I tried running TEQ SSJ Vegeta's tram with LR STR Future Gohan, LR Birdku, LR INT Vegeta & Trunks, AGL SS2 Gohan, & PHY Godku but it was a massacre because not everybody could stack and the locking mechanic renders INT V&T worthless.

-cell second form -mira final form -demigra
-half corrupted zamasu -ssj rage trunks -villanious vegeta -villanious gohan -villanious gotenks -villanious trunks -villanious freeza -villanious cell -villanious majin boo -villanious trunks -villanious broly
-goku kid -demon king piccolo -general tao -general blue -tamborine
-garlic jr -hachyak -super bojack -super android 13 -freeza third form -freeza second form -mecha freeza -king could -king vegeta -supreme kai
-sorrel -bergamo -bemold -liquir -goku(in zamasu body) -toppo(base form)
-goku xeno -vegeta xeno -sealas -hearts -cumber -saiyan crimnson mask(base) -saiyan crimnson mask ssj rose -saiyan crimnson mask ssj rose 2 -saiyan crimnson mask ssj rose 3 -saiyan crimson mask ssj rose 3 full power -vegeta ssj blue berserk-android 21(MAJIN) -android 21(majin eviil) -android 21 (majin good) -android 21(lab coat)
-tarble

I feel like the rage trigger from seeing Trunks die should have been the breaking point that leads to SSJ 2 being unlocked

There are many moments where Toriyama gives us to understand that there is a reset in the power scales of the protagonists from the beginning of the Androids arc, even since the arrival of Future Trunks.
Some references are as follows:

• To train before the appearance of the androids, Vegeta asks Dr. Brief for a gravity training room x300, only 3 times more than the one used by Goku in his training on the trip to Namek with which he achieved a power of 90,000, when Vegeta at that moment already exceeded 2 million. Even in the Bu saga we see him training with Trunks at a gravity of only 150. We can include the weights with which Goku trained in base state in the other world (equivalent to a gravity of approximately 120).
• Tien thinks of training to face the androids, despite knowing that they are much stronger than Freezer and the SSJ.
• Dr. Gero thinks that Goku couldn't be that strong and assumes that he has a power not much greater than the one he had when he faced Vegeta, and the protagonists are relieved because Gero doesn't know that Goku is capable of transforming, when the most logical thing would have been to think that Goku wouldn't have any problem fighting even in base state, since now his fighting level was perhaps 500 or 1,000 times higher. In fact, even the humans exceeded the power that Dr. Gero thought Goku would have at that moment.
• Tien says there is too much difference between them and Goku in SSJ when he transforms in front of A-19. Wasn't there already a big difference in his base state?
• Dr. Gero thinks that absorbing the energy of humans would reach sufficient power to defeat Vegeta in SSJ. (This fact is the one that makes the less sense to me)
• Goku comparing his stay in the spirit room as a child and as an adult: he admits that as a child he could only endure for a month, and now with several million base power he thinks it will still be tough.
• Tien, Yamcha, and Krilin train to fight against the androids, and then participate in the Cell Games when they shouldn't contribute anything, but Chaoz doesn't participate because Tien says he's not strong enough. Is it that they were strong enough??
• The exaggerated situation of Tien's Shin Kikoho against Semi-Perfect Cell.

(If someone comes up with more references like these, let them say please)
It's as if when writing the story, in Toriyama's mind the characters return to the same situation or similar to the one they were in, for example, when Raditz or Nappa appear.
I think he made a clean slate because he was aware that the difference between the Saiyans and the humans had become too high, especially since the start of the fight against Freezer and his unnecessary 530,000 units in his first form. The curious thing is that despite this, the humans didn't contribute much in the rest of the manga.
Finally, in an interview Toriyama says that at that time, while drawing the SSJ, this multiplied x10 the base state for him, since x50 seemed exaggerated to him.