OOC:
I want to thank
@SolarFlare for helping contribute Tai's/T's lines to this, she was invaluable in helping me get back on the horse. SolarFlare is that Psyker found in RP, and is dating the person writing the Astartes reviews, so she's a pretty big deal. Thanks for your help writing this. Had a great time making this update nice and meaty.
IC:
Well, hello, everyone! Welcome to Warhammer Book Club, so named after the tabletop game
Warhammer 40,000! Today, we'll be covering The Force, as discussed in the West End
Star Wars core rulebook and the Fantasy Flight Games books such as
Force and Destiny and
Age of Rebellion. Now, as established previously,
Star Wars is a popular setting for a series of films, tabletop roleplaying games, miniatures wargames, novels, and other such things. Also arcade games, including that fantastic 8-bit cabinet beat 'em up
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.
(Felicity Vandire: Glad to be here.)
(Vior Or'es: I am very tired.)
(Felicity Vandire: You should not be wearing that.)
(Vior Or'es: It is perfectly suitable wear for when one is training in twirling around a pole.)
(Felicity Vandire: ...What? Is...Is this your attempt at a joke?)
(Vior Or'es: No, no! Twirling around a pole is an excellent form of exercise and creative expression, one that allows me to display my body in a manner that promotes personal pride after a long day of engineeringl work.)
(Antimony: ...I know we work a bit blue around here, but that seems...And you? You really don't seem the type. It seems...well, again, blue.)
(Vior Or'es: I thought we talk about such things frequently! Why, I for one am well-aware of the many times that Ashlee's twelve-inch armored phallus has entered into our discussions!)
(Felicity Vandire: It never has! I didn't even know that she...Ugh!)
(Vior Or'es: I may be misremembering. I am also surprised to see you acting particularly prudish, Antimony. Less surprised about Felicity, truthfully, though I hope to respect her boundaries and yours.)
(Antimony: Well, it's just that you come off so...erm....innocent.)
(Vior Or'es: Oh, do you expect me to be some bland, appealing-to-the-neurotypical sexless stereotype of an autistic sophont, being innocently goofy and intelligent in the manner of a particularly insightful child? That is not a very accurate or respectful way to view someone, though I do understand it can be easy to stereotype when one is only exposed to condescending media.)
(Antimony: Well, no, no, of course not!)
(Vior Or'es: Are you all uncomfortable with my chosen topics of conversation? I can apologize if needed.)
(Felicity Vandire: No, that's fine. It's more that...well...I sort of faintly knew you were like that, like most other sophonts, but..It's just that I expected it to be nerdier.)
(Vior Or'es: There's nothing nerdier than theatre.)
(Felicity Vandire: Stripping is theatre?)
(Vior Or'es: No shit, homeslice.)
Well! Let us begin! Oh, and, Tai, were you watching all that?
(Tai Cirra: Yeah, just wasn't really sure when I should speak up. And if we're all just typing on terminals, does it really matter what anyone's wearing as long as they're comfortable?)
(Vior Or'es: The Magician told Antimony to tell Kozba to tell me to send a picture.)
(Tai Cirra: Well now
I'm curious.)
"The Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together.— Obi-Wan Kenobi
Ana Tathis, one of the few who have taken up the way of the Force. My studies of the Jedi make me a criminal in the eyes the Empire. It is not an easy path, but it's one well worth travelling. I will try to explain to you as best I can, but to understand you must let go of your conscious thoughts and sense the life around you. Only then can you feel the flow of the Force...
The mysterious energy known as the Force permeates the galaxy. It is created by life, found everywhere, a part of everything. It lies beyond that which can normally be perceived, yet a few beings— such as the Jedi Knights — know how to feel its ebb and flow. With practice and study, Jedi learn to manipulate that energy, gaining control over life, thought and matter. The Force is the foundation of the beliefs of the Jedi. As their kind were all but eliminated by the evil Emperor Palpatine, those who knew of and believed in the Force became silent and were few in number. At the height of the Empire's power, the Force was considered little more than an arcane religion, and the Jedi nothing but a group of misguided fools. However, despite the darkness brought to the galaxy by the Emperor and his minions, it was the power of a young Jedi named Luke Skywalker who returned light and freedom to the galaxy by destroying the Emperor. Belief in the Force has once again returned to the galaxy.
- West End
The evil Emperor, you say?
(Felicity Vandire: Really?)
(Tai Cirra: And we have something like psykers too. But The Force seems less hazardous than the warp usually is if you aren't careful.)
An arcane religion, you say?
(Felicity Vandire: Someone please tell her to stop.)
(Tai Cirra: Why would I do that, she's
right.)
(Felicity Vandire: It's a fictional setting. So an imaginary character happens to also be an Emperor. There's more than one Empire.)
(Tai Cirra: An Emperor who made it law that all psy- Sorry,
Jedi, must be hunted down and killed or controlled? Surely, that can't have happened too- Oh wait. It
did.)
(Felicity Vandire: ...So we've exchanged bad Imperial propaganda for bad Tau propaganda?)
(Tai Cirra: Bite me.)
(Felicity Vandire: Let's not get petty.)
The Force is an essential part of nature— like energy or matter — but it has yet to be quantified and analyzed. The Force is not to be understood in the same manner as the physical qualities of the universe. The laws of physics are observable; technology is predictable and readily-controlled. The Force is neither controlled nor controlling — it is a part of life itself; asking if it controls or can be controlled is like asking if a person controls his component cells, or the cells control him. It is not known whether the Force has always been, came about as life evolved into intelligence, or if it coerced the evolution of intelligence. To the Jedi, it does not matter. It's enough to know that the Force is.
(Felicity Vandire: What kind of faux-spiritualist mumbo-jumbo is this?)
(Tai Cirra: I mean, that's basically how the Warp works if you know what you're doing. …It's kind of like that gravity metaphor where you have the stretchy sheet and the weights? The more life and thought in an area, the larger the signature and the more potential you have to work with. …There's probably a lot of fancy terms for things but I never got the fancy training.)
(Vior Or'es: Wait, does this make Tai Cirra a
Jedi?)
Well, erm, anyway, this is all, erm, fascinating, yes. Oneness of the universe, and all that. Very...profound.
(Ashlee Viola: I think I'd get a mite pissed if I learned my entire life was dictated by some sentient cosmic force.)
(Tai Cirra: …I don't know if I'm a Jedi? The intro made it sound kind of like it's specific philosophies and stuff.)
(Vior Or'es: Yes, very much so!)
For most of my life, I was ignorant of the ways of the Force, yet I'd always felt that I was somehow "special". I knew my life had a purpose and it was up to me to discover what l was destined for. If l wanted some thing to happen in my life...truly wanted it deep in my heart...it managed to come true. And when I faced a challenge...something that was important to me... I was often able to succeed, despite great odds. Somehow, I was able to bring about that which I wanted most. That's when I came to the attention of "Lady Caryn." All of the village's children knew her as the storyteller. On hot summer evenings, we'd gather under the takka trees to hear her tell tales of grand adventures and brave heroes.
One day — / think I had seen sixteen or seventeen summers by then— she pulled me aside in the marketplace. She said she had "sensed" me, that I was "strong in the old ways." This was my start on a perilous, challenging journey. She opened my eyes to the path that I'd somehow overlooked even though it was always right in front of me...the way of the Force.
(Tai Cirra: …Sounds kind of stronger than the Warp. Manipulating destiny isn't something that I've heard of a lot. Most I've ever done was be lucky when it comes to shooting and not getting hit. …Lots of wishes didn't come true.)
(Felicity Vandire: Do you want to talk about it?)
(Tai Cirra: …Not happy stories really. Don't want to distract too much from what we're here to do.)
(Felicity Vandire: Well, if you ever need to talk, I'm happy to listen.)
(Ashlee Viola: This almost, sorta sounds a bit like the Hive Mind. It's far from perfect, but I kinda get the one using the other.)
Now, let us put our brainy specs on and consider what the T'au Gue'vesa author must have intended by putting "The Force" into this world. Surely, we must consider the cultural context!
(Antimony: I believe "The Force" is a metaphor for the Greater Good.)
(Vior Or'es: ...No?)
(Antimony: Much like how the Empire is a metaphor for the Greater Bad.)
(Vior Or'es: What?)
(Antimony: What binds all T'au together? The Greater Good, of course!)
(Vior Or'es: You are a bad anthropologist.)
(Ashlee Viola: You can't just make up things about other cultures. You have to study them, use surveys an' that kinda thing. I didn't get my doctorate in anthropology to watch you colonialism this.)
(Antimony: How dare you call me a colonialist! I'm an art thief, not a monster!)
(Tai Cirra: Ashlee's right. Making up a bunch of stuff is how we ended up with those codex books.)
(Antimony: I thought the problem was that the things they made up were bigoted.)
(Vior Or'es: The things you made up were also questionable, and frankly science relies on consistent and factual data.)
...We do want to avoid doing a Games Workshop. Good point, Tai.
(Tai Cirra: Thanks! ^_^)
"But how am I to know the good side from the bad?"
"You will know. When you are calm, at peace. Passive. A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense, never for attack. '
— Luke Skywalker and Yoda, the Jedi Master
The Force is like any element of nature — it has both positive and negative aspects: the light side and the dark side. The light teaches peace and harmony. It is the constructive side of the Force from which all love, understanding, and knowledge originate — it is the essence of life. Those who are at peace with themselves can learn to harness the amazing powers of the Force.
The dark side is the counterweight to the light. Many young students falsely believe that the dark side is stronger than the light — in truth, it is only easier. The dark side springs from the negative and destructive impulses of all living beings — anger, fear and hatred are its symptoms. Death and war are the byproducts of the dark side. It is dangerously seductive to those who lack the ability to control their emotions and passions. Those who give in to the dark side find their abilities greatly enhanced at first, but as time passes, the dark side does not respond so readily. The dark side demands more and more of those in its power.
Those who are sensitive to the Force soon learn that there is no middle ground between the dark and the light. For most beings — unaware of the power of the Force — the struggle between good and evil is not as powerful, not as compelling. For those attuned to the Force, the struggle of good versus evil, life versus death, is of utmost importance.
Those who learn the ways of the Force must be careful to remember their own inner peace or they will surrender themselves to the dark side, as Anakin Skywalker did many, many years ago. They must be careful not to start down the path of the dark side, for its self-destructive ways are difficult to leave once embraced.
The Force's Many Guises
"There's no mystical energy field that controls my destiny. "
— Han Solo
Even those who don't believe in the Force can unconsciously manipulate it and be manipulated by it. They may not be truly "sensitive" to its flow, but they still call upon the Force without even realizing. These people seem to have an almost unnatural ability to accomplish their objectives, whether their intent is good, evil, or somewhere in between. The skeptical call it luck. The unbelievers may call it destiny or fate. It is the Force.
(Felicity Vandire: This "The Force" stuff is getting culty-sounding.)
Oh, please, babe. Anyway, my theory is that "light" and "dark" are vast oversimplifications to cover a range of methods and motivations, and that this roleplaying game manual is using a technique known as the "unreliable narrator" to disorient the reader.
(Vior Or'es: We know what the "unreliable narrator" is. :] )
(Tai Cirra: At least for me, the warp is like a kind of spectrum. Some things are easier in certain mindsets. Biosculpting needs a clear mind, but shooting lightning or fireballs is more… angry?)
Well, I for one am very interested in this work of post-modernesque magical realist fantasy.
(Vior Or'es: I do not think this is magical realism.)
Well, with all due respect, I'd rather not be criticized for my taste in literature!
(Vior Or'es: Is everything alright?)
[Vior Or'es has sent a picture.]
I am just distracted by two great, perky globes covered in thin spandex.
(Vior Or'es: Yes, my watermelons in tights are growing well, thank you. I intend to give them lots of sunlight to approximate a Terran environment, along with enriched soil. They grow better when encased.)
...Where did you read that?
(Vior Or'es: The Magician told me.)
And you didn't suspect she was toying with you?
(Vior Or'es: Well, yes, I know, but I intend to successfully grow large and tasty watermelons so as to turn her prank into a productive project. I also hope to test the hypothesis that her "prank" actually could work. Oh, and Tai, I would be interested to run some tests with you to test your hypothesis sometime. After all, the fun part of science is that you can mess around so long as you take notes!)
(Tai Cirra: As long as you're providing the testing materials. I upset my girlfriend because I was really angry when I was trying to make pyrokinesis work and the candles kept exploding because I couldn't manage the fine control. …And what's a watermelon?)
(Vior Or'es: A watermelon is the fruit of a trailing vine-like plant of the Cucurbitaceae family. It is domesticated, quite large, round, extremely juicy, and eaten by many Imperials of different social classes, from the fairly affluent to the opulent. They are, in fact, judged by their size, and a large watermelon displays the puissant skill of the grower.)
"Only certain individuals could recognize the Force for what it was. They were mercilessly labeled: charlatans, fakers, mystics— and worse. Even fewer could make use of it. As it was usually beyond their primitive controls, it frequently was too powerful for them. They were misunderstood by their fellows — and worse. " —Obi-Wan Kenobi
Among those who learn to manipulate the Force, the most common path is that of the Jedi. Each Jedi relates to the Force in a different way, drawing upon a wide variety of powers — different manifestations of how the Jedi can manipulate her internal Force and the Force of the universe around her. Students of the Force can learn to slow or stop their own life functions, accomplish physical tasks that others would consider impossible, and even move physical objects by the power of the mind alone.
"Kid, I've flown from one side of this galaxy to the other. I've seen a lot of strange things ..."
— Han Solo
Others beside the Jedi Knights know how to manipulate the Force. They often attribute their powers to different sources—magic, shamanism, religion, meditation, ancestor worship, or any of a million other forms of insight — but through whatever means, they are using this mystic energy to change the world around them.
This "Han Solo" person seems oddly preoccupied with not believing in the Force.
(Vior Or'es: Is it not scientifically verifiable?)
(Tai Cirra: Machines can't really measure the Warp either. If they could, they wouldn't need all those inquisitors who are secretly psykers.)
(Antimony: Anyway, this "Obi-Wan Kenobi" seems to be looking down upon many people. Besides, "Han Solo" does
not sound like a typical machine name. Solo Kid, or Han Kid, or Metal Kid, or Heat Kid, or Bomb Kid, or even Elec Kid sound way more appropriate. He could be Galaxy Kid. He does travel the galaxy, allegedly.)
(Tai Cirra: Maybe Han just doesn't believe in something he can't prove at all. I mean, I was just 'lucky' for
years.)
(Antimony: Yes, but why would a robot not believe in wizardry? All of my robots have seen psykers in person due to our travels. Doesn't everyone interact with at least two psykers a day?)
...Are...Are you high?
(Antimony: No, merely a fat-pursed dancing fool, I say!)
...Are you okay?
(Tai Cirra: …Do you need a hug?)
(Antimony: I think I can see a floating horse.)
Stop taking horse tranquilizers!
(Antimony: It's the fashionable thing to do this season.)
(Tai Cirra: Hey Kozba, give xyr a hug.)
(Antimony: It seems kind of on-the nose-for me to see a
horse while on
horse tranquilizers.)
(Kozba: I don't think I'm there with xyr, mate. Xe seems right crackin', tho.)
(Tai Cirra: Well you're the closest one and the one most likely to
be with xyr soon. I don't have the spire sized psy amp I'd need to beam a hug that far.)
(Kozba: ...I'll finds a tellyporta.)
Of the galaxy's countless inhabitants, only a few beings are "Force-sensitive." They have the ability to concentrate and sometimes bring about their will by subconsciously tapping into the Force. They have the potential to learn Force skills and powers, although only a fraction ever will. During the reign of the Empire (before the Battle of Endor), the Emperor and Darth Vader expended a great deal of time and effort exterminating Force-users. Young Jedi had to hide their presence from the Empire lest they be hunted down by the Emperor's servants and assassins. The only surviving Force-users generally fit into one of the following categories:
• Those who somehow hid from the Empire. This would include Jedi such as Yoda and Vima-Da-Boda (from. Dark Empire).
• Those from isolated planets and cultures. These beings may study the Jedi way, or they may know some other means of using the Force, such as the "spells" used by the witches of Dathomir or the mystic way of the Tyia.
• Those who were too weak or unstable to be a threat to the Empire. This would include the quixotic Jedi character template, Halla (from Splinter of the Mind's Eye) and Joruus C'baoth, the mad Jedi who guarded the Emperor's store house at Mount Tantiss.
• Force-users completely in thrall to the Emperor. This includes beings such as Darth Vader, Mara Jade, the Emperor's Dark Side Adepts (from Dark Empire) and High Inquisitor Tremayne (from Galaxy Guide 9: Fragments from the Rim).
• Force-users held captive by the Empire. While some eventually escape, most face a horrid existence. The Empire's motives in holding such beings varies: some are used for experiments in the Force, while in other cases the Emperor siphons off their life energies to support himself. Still others may have some Jedi knowledge that the Emperor wishes to pry from their minds. Vima-Da-Boda and the Jedi Corwin Shelvay (from Galaxy Guide 9) were once held by the Empire but managed to escape its clutches.
Most Force-users will be of a relatively low level of ability. Any characters above those skill levels have been exceptionally careful in avoiding the attentions of the Empire ... or they may be servants of Palpatine.
(Tai Cirra: Hmmmm, the Emperor siphoning the life of people to fuel his own existence, huh? INQUISITORS, Huh!?)
(Felicity Vandire: ...This isn't really subtle, is it?)
(Tai Cirra: The Imperium rarely is.)
(Felicity Vandire: ...You know what I meant.)
(Tai Cirra:
)
I wonder if these powerful Force-using "servants of Palpatine" have library cards. Ha.
In the era of the New Republic, Force-users are more numerous, but they still tend to be of a low level of ability since there are so few teachers. Some train under Luke Skywalker, while others learn what can be passed down from aging instructors and what is recorded in the few remaining texts and datatapes. However, despite the New Republic's acceptance of Force-users, the remnants of the Empire (and many other groups) have a keen interest in using Force-users to accomplish their own ends.
(Tai Cirra: …Hey Vior, what
is the Tau's policy on psykers?)
(Vior Or'es: There is not much codified, owing to our insensitivity to the Immaterium, but one is expected to use any psychic abilities one might have in service of the Greater Good, as with any other skill.)
I notice that this Empire
falls?
(Felicity Vandire: Is...Is this what you all were dealing with with the Codexes?)
(Tai Cirra:
All the time. Except this is actually fairly objective.)
(Kozba: It was an 'ell of a lot worse. Bleedin' foamin' at da mouth, it was.)
...Speaking for all of the "arrogant and depraved" Dark Eldar, I have to agree.
(Felicity Vandire: Huh.)
"For over a thousand generations the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic. Before the dark times, before the Empire. "
— Obi-Wan Kenobi
Long ago, those who studied and practiced manipulating the Force gathered together to establish the Jedi Knights, an order dedicated to protecting the galaxy from evil. The Jedi helped bring order and strength to a galaxy plagued far too long by conflict and fear.
Their deeds became famous. Aided by the Force and armed with their unique lightsabers, they came to be respected and honored throughout the galaxy. They were known as scholars, warriors, and philosophers. They were all those things — and much more. The Jedi spread across the galaxy, protecting the Republic and watching over its many systems.
However, within their knowledge lay the seeds of their destruction. Early on, the Jedi realized the differences between the light side and the dark side; they emphasized the importance of following the path of light. For some, the warnings were not enough and the temptation was too great: inevitably, some Jedi embraced the dark side and used their powers to bring great evil upon the galaxy.
Such tragic events endured in Jedi lore. One of these infamous incidents occurred four millennia prior to the rise of the Empire: the fall of the Jedi Exar Kun and Ulic Qel-Droma helped bring about the Great Sith War.
In recent times, great evil rose again. The darkness engulfed the Republic, replacing it with the corrupt and evil Galactic Empire. The Emperor's New Order seized control. Palpatine and his servant, Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith, virtually exterminated the Jedi. The august order that had protected the galaxy for 25,000 years — that had seemed invincible — was struck down in a heartbeat.
However, the destruction of the Jedi wasn't complete. One who escaped the purge was Obi-Wan Kenobi, Vader's teacher when the Dark Jedi was known as Anakin Skywalker. Anakin's twin children — both strong in the Force — were hidden from their father. While the girl was raised as Leia Organa, princess of the Royal House of Alderaan, Kenobi kept a close watch on Anakin's son, the young boy known as Luke Skywalker.
Luke learned the ways of the Jedi from Kenobi and Yoda, the Jedi Master. Luke's belief and strength in the Force helped return Darth Vader to the light, and Vader turned on the Emperor, ending the reign of evil that had dominated the galaxy.
In the years following, Luke has set out to rebuild the order of the Jedi Knights. After establishing his Academy on the fourth moon of Yavin, Luke now concentrates on preparing a new generation of Jedi to protect the galaxy and the Republic. The Jedi have returned...
(Vior Or'es: Exar Kun? Ulic Qel-Droma? The Great Sith War? I may need to check my references for this!)
Oh, these must be conflicting sources! I see that we will have to piece out the truth!
(Vior Or'es: That does sound fun!)
(Felicity Vandire: ...So, we're trying to create a consistent canon? I can work with that. Vior, what do those three things you mentioned mean?)
(Tai Cirra: Lemme go grab a snack if we're doing a deep dive.)
(Felicity Vandire: Sounds good.)
(Vior Or'es: My sources tell me that Exar Kun was a human Jedi Knight who became Dark Lord of the Sith and began the Great Sith War. The Great Sith War—also known as the Great Shadow Crusade by the Mandalorians who we will hopefully get into—was a galaxy-wide conflict which took place early in the timeline over the rise of the Sith due to a secret society influenced by the Sith's cult causing an uprising on the planet Teta. The Sith Lords were evil Force-users, often associated with the Emperor during the time of the Galactic Empire.)
(Ashlee Viola: This ain't gonna be entirely binary morality, is it?)
(Tai Cirra: They might get into that later. This is still pretty early in the book.)
A "Great Shadow Crusade", you say? Much like, say, a Crusade of the black variety? A Night Crusade? A blackened conquest of a religious kind? A dark-shaded holy war called by religious authorities of great size and vile taint? An obsidian-drenched blessed conflagration summoned through spiritualist leadership bearing highly notable immoral contagion?
(The Magician: Well, gotta say that a thesaurus is like a bottle of good vodka: great in a cocktail but don't drink the damn thing straight.)
(Tai Cirra: Since when do we do
anything straight? …Well, besides shoot. I can't make a las shot go around corners.)
So, Tai, could one say that this was an "overcast sublimely hallowed and revered hostility subpoenaed utilizing pontifical and theological superintendency animated by surpassingly illustrious indecent stigma"?
(Tai Cirra: …Yes?)
Thank you! This is why I own a thesaurus!
(Vior Or'es: ...Tai, did you understand that? I did not.)
(Tai Cirra: …No. I just wanted to seem cool. >.>)
You are cool. Or should I say "air-conditioned"? That was a joke, I was using amusingly self-depreciating humor.
(Felicity Vandire: Dork.)
I am a queen.
(Felicity Vandire: You are, but you're also a dork.)
The Jedi Code
One of the first things that a Jedi must learn is the Jedi code; this philosophy lays the groundwork for the mastery of the use of the Force.
There is no emotion; there is peace. There is no ignorance; there is knowledge. There is no passion; there is serenity. There is no death; there is the Force.
The Jedi must carefully observe the rules of the light side of the Force to maintain harmony with herself and the universe around her.
The light side is created and sustained by life. The Jedi acts to preserve life. To kill is wrong.
Sometimes it is necessary to kill. The Jedi may kill in self defense or in defense of others, especially the weak and the good. The Jedi may kill, if by her action she preserves the existence of life. However, the Jedi must never forget that killing is inherently wrong. The death is a stain upon the Jedi's spirit.
The Jedi seeks knowledge and enlightenment, peace and harmony. The Jedi wishes to defeat those who would wipe out such qualities — those who would inflict death, tyranny or ignorance upon others—yet the Jedi should never act out of fear or hatred. A Jedi must act when calm and at peace with the Force. To act with anger filling one's spirit is to risk temptation to the dark side.
Jedi should seek nonviolent solutions to problems — but this isn't always possible. Sometimes, killing or fighting is the only answer available. Sometimes it is even the best answer. But that doesn't mean the Jedi shouldn't try to find an alternative.
(Felicity Vandire: Oh, seems kinda T'au.)
(Tai Cirra: …I feel like suppressing emotions is a bad idea. Since eventually that stuff's going to explode and when you can make the universe dance with your brain that tends to go badly. Controlling your emotions so they don't overwhelm you, yes. Fear makes you sharp, if you can harness it.)
(Tai Cirra: …Also some people really just need killing sometimes. I don't really think it stains me though.)
(Vior Or'es: ...One must be able to come to terms with one's emotions rather than allowing them to dominate. I believe that is what the passage is discussing. I also do think the act of killing is final and unjustifiable, though it can potentially be the only choice available.)
(Tai Cirra: I mean, you can't really politely ask corrupt Arbites or PDF to go away.)
(Vior Or'es: Yes, precisely, but one not having a choice in ending a life does not make that choice any less weighty. Nonetheless, I know Fire Warriors who have not been given that choice, and I do not judge them for that great burden.)
The Responsible Use of Power. A Jedi acts from wisdom, using persuasion and counsel over violence and Force powers. Force powers are to be used to serve the interests of the light. Using the Force for personal aggrandizement, for personal power or wealth, for convenience when other means would be more prudent — all of these traits are of the dark side.
A Call to Action. A Jedi cannot allow evil to occur by inaction — a Jedi who voluntarily stands by and allows evil to be committed is encouraging the forces of darkness. Jedi are also bound by the actions of those around them. It is not acceptable for a Jedi to associate with those who willfully choose to commit evil. When a Jedi is confronted by a situation where evil is being committed, the Jedi must act to prevent that evil. There are a variety of means at the Jedi's disposal — persuasion, creating a distraction, armed action or simple mind tricks — but intervention is necessary.
Tremors in the Force. The Jedi lives in harmony with the Force, sensing its flow, drawing upon its energies ... and sometimes perceiving "disturbances" and "presences" in that flow.
"I felt a great disturbance in the Force ..."
—Obi-Wan Kenobi
"I sense something ... a presenc I haven't felt since ..."
— Darth Vader
The actions of others can cause disturbances in the Force. A lone individual's impression might be like a candle flickering in the wind, while a great tragedy or act of great good may be like a sudden burst of lightning. Those who manipulate the Force often and with great power shine like the light of a sun.
Each time a Jedi draws upon the Force, there is a slight tremor as the Force is subtly altered. If the Force is used sparingly and with harmony in the natural order of things, such tremors are slight and barely detectable even at close ranges.
Those who frequently use the Force cause many, many tremors. When the Force is relied upon— used constantly to bend the universe to fit the will of the user — such tremors may be great enough that Jedi on distant planets may detect the user. Those who use the Force as a crude instrument of power are very likely to come to the attention of others.
New Jedi students are particularly likely to be detected. In their desire to master their powers, they often manipulate the Force ... yet their dabblings, if too frequent, draw the attention of other nearby Force-users. The purge of the Jedi was facilitated by servants of the Emperor who detected, tracked and exterminated novice Jedi.
Premonitions and Visions. Some Jedi experience premonitions, dreams and visions. Sometimes these events seem to be little more than random, impressionistic images, but at other times they are crystal clear glimpses of past, present or possible future events. There is much debate as to the cause of these phenomena — perhaps it's the Jedi's subconscious at work, or perhaps it's simply a different way of sensing tremors in the Force — but these occurrences have been known to warn Jedi of impending danger or to summon them to "crisis areas" where their unique abilities are needed.
Can Psykers see the future? That seems...very consequential.
(Tai Cirra: Yeah. I used to make a few extra thrones off other Guard members doing tarot readings. Came true more often than not. Obviously ditched those now, but I can still catch glimpses or general feelings. You can also get a feeling for the past depending on how strong someone's psy signature is and how recently they were there.)
...Can the future change between the reading and the actual event foreseen? Also, I wonder what sort of time-travel-style paradoxes these Jedi may run into. On the subject of the moral code, this all seems...Dutiful. Perhaps even a little suffocating.
(Tai Cirra: Definitely. If it didn't I wouldn't have been able to get through minefields. …That was more kind of "I really do not want to step here" than seeing myself explode if I did.)
I was asking if your future-sight could be wrong, or that events between might cause your initial vision to be obsolete. I'm also curious as to see how those rules work in-universe. Fair enough, though, of course! I am very lucky you're here, and not, well, not.)
(Tai Cirra: …That also depends on how far you're looking I think. I never got any specifics looking farther than a few hours. I'm also not really a specialist in divination though. …And I'm lucky to get to talk to you too.)
Well, there's just some odd implications about fate, aren't there? In this fiction and in reality.
(Ashlee Viola: ...Yeah, the whole thing creeps me out. Makes ya wonder if the future's just determined, like it already happened.)
(Tai Cirra: Nah. I can have a vision, and choose whether to interfere or not. So I'd say it's not determined.)
(Ashlee Viola: So, uh, to clarify, it shows ya the most likely vision of the future, but then anythin' happenin' in between or you choosin' not to act uh...randomizes it some more?)
(Tai Cirra: Yeah. Things are always changing. It's like… Imagine I have one of those wheels with the numbers on it that you spin for betting and stuff. Me using my powers is like taking a pict of it. I can see where it is right
then, but not really how it got there or where it's going next.)
(Ashlee Viola: Yeah, makes sense. So, uh, would things be a li'l more railroady in
Star Wars, what with the Force bein' able to influence fate an' luck? Maybe yer seein' what the Force picked out to happen. Which is, uh, creepy.)
(Vior Or'es: Ashlee, are you aware of someone named Kreia?)
(Tai Cirra: I mean warp stuff's also really complicated so it's probably simpler for the game.)
(Ashlee Viola: Yeah, but I'm talkin' about in the settin'. If there was some cosmic force tellin' me what to do, I'd kill the shit outta it.)
(Tai Cirra: I thought you liked The Magician telling you what to do.)
(Ashlee Viola: ...I'm a stone domme, Tai.)
I believe she calls you her "little wriggler."
(Ashlee Viola: ...What? No, 'course not.)
Her "pet ripper".
(Ashlee Viola: That was one time!)
You said it was the best night of all of last year.
(Ashlee Viola: Shush.)
(Tai Cirra: Make us.
)
Finding A Teacher. A character who wishes to learn one of the three Force skills (control, sense or alter) must have a teacher; characters who already have Force skills find them easier to master with a teacher to instruct them. A character who begins the game with Jedi skills must have had a teacher before the game began. Whether or not the student can still contact the teacher is left to the discretion of the gamemaster. Perhaps the character mastered all the powers the teacher knew and moved on. Maybe the teacher was killed; maybe the student and teacher had a falling out; or perhaps it was just time to "move on." The teacher may have even turned to the dark side and watches the student from a distance, hoping to eventually lure the former pupil down the path of darkness.
In a universe where the Jedi have nearly been eradicated, finding a teacher is a most difficult task. A Character's search for a suitable Jedi teacher should be the focus of an epic quest, probably spanning several game adventures. The character must prove the commitment to becoming a Jedi even in the process of finding a teacher.
Once found, the teacher may not be quite what is expected. Obi-Wan, Yoda and Luke are exceptions since almost all Jedi were hunted down by Darth Vader and the Emperor. A prospective teacher is likely to have never fully completed her Force training— someone who knows enough to begin instructing the character, but lacks a full understanding of the Jedi way.
The prospective Jedi character may have to turn to one of the other "ways of knowing the Force," such as the Tyia (discussed later). Individuals who know these ways will often be isolated on a primitive world or hiding from the forces of the Empire. No matter the circumstance, the quest for a Jedi teacher should not be an easy one. It should be filled with danger, designed to test the mettle of those who seek this powerful knowledge.
When you gamemaster, you are expected to exercise firm control when it comes to Jedi characters. You can add whatever limitations you feel are necessary to maintain "game balance." You're not even obligated to allow Jedi characters — you don't have to provide a teacher simply because a character wants to become a Jedi.
While teachers are the pre ferred means of mastering the Force, potential Jedi have other routes open to them. They may be able to find a Holocron, an extremely rare device used by Jedi to record lore and lessons. (Holocrons are detailed in the Dark Empire Sourcebook and Tales of the Jedi Sourcebook.)
Jedi also used datatapes, old-fashioned paper books and many other means of recording their knowledge of the Force. While most of these items were destroyed during the reign of the Empire, a few objects were hidden away in secret retreats and on distant worlds, waiting to be accessed by new generations of Jedi. Luke Skywalker searched many worlds for documents containing lost Jedi lore; many of his lessons at the Jedi praxeum on Yavin IV were based on the information he gathered in his journeys.
(For your game, you are free to decide whether the use of a Holocron or text counts as "having a teacher." In some cases, the texts will be so detailed that they are fine substitutes for a living instructor; in other cases, the Jedi may need to seek out a living instructor to master the skills and powers the texts describe.)
Taking on Pupils. Jedi characters can instruct others in the ways of the Force. A character must have a Force skill of at least 3D to teach it and the Jedi can only teach Force powers that she knows.
By tradition, a character studying with a master may not take on a pupil. A Jedi character will seldom take on more than one pupil at a time, but some instructors — such as Luke Skywalker — will accept several students at once.
A character should be wary of teaching anyone with Dark Side Points Jedi abilities — any time a character teaches such a person a Force skill or power, the teacher receives a Dark Side Point.
Jedi characters are also responsible for the actions of those they teach. If a Jedi's pupil turns to the dark side, the Jedi is morally obligated to resolve the situation if at all possible.
I must say, this game's morality really is simplistic, and I get the sense that the Jedi Code is intended to be a mysticized version of the Greater Good in many ways, albeit one with a far more individual focus and one focused on self-knowledge more than collective action. I also think having a mechanic for "Dark Side Points" inhibits roleplaying and ultimately would turn playing your character into simply trying to optimize not getting too many. I do, however, appreciate the large amount of options given to the gamemaster.
(Tai Cirra: I don't really like the idea of inherently evil abilities. I mean, biosculpting lets me regrow someone's lost leg just as easily as I could turn them inside out. Same thing goes for a gun.)
I think, to some degree, this reflects a T'au cultural preoccupation with good and evil as objective cosmic forces, one that is more secular and less traditionally theistic than the Imperium's conception of them but nonetheless is restrictive in its own way.
(Vior Or'es: ...On the other hand, maybe it is just a game intended to recreate the feel of the movies and novels and such, and the individual players are expected to alter it as needed for their table.)
Well, yes, but much of this is codified in the mechanics and the lore. I also agree that in most cases it is actions rather than abilities which define morality.
Many cultures have different understandings of the workings of the Force; the "witches" of Dathomir, the students of the Tyia and the Force-users of Ossus are but three such groups. Some ways of knowing the Force are different but no less noble or "good" than the Jedi way, while others are clearly more neutral or even evil in intent. Because of the unique ways in which these viewpoints manipulate the Force, their skills and powers can vary dramatically. If you want to create and use one of these other ways, you must define it in game terms. Here are a few points to consider:
• That way's rules, skills and powers. Because of different perspectives, each "way of knowing the Force" may have different Force skills and powers. The Tyia is an example of a way which is only slightly different from the traditional Jedi powers. Some methods use radically different skills and powers — you must define all these rules.
• How does the student gain skills and powers? Is there a set ritual or training regimen to educate students? Some ways may use academies, while others may emphasize a close student and master relationship. Still other ways of the Force may be known only through meditation, myths, hidden writings, or ancient rituals.
• What standards are the student expected to adhere to? Some methods of knowing the Force require students and practitioners to adhere to a strict code of conduct. Other methods may offer the student a great deal of personal freedom. What are the method's rules? What are the punishments for disobeying the rules—will the student be cast out, not be taught new skills and powers ... or will the student face involuntary servitude, imprisonment or worse?
• The definitions of "good" and "evil" vary from culture to culture ... although the rules of the Force do not. Some ways of knowing the Force may be rooted in the dark side, requiring a student to commit evil to progress in her studies. The student, due to her culture, may accept these teachings as "perfectly natural,"yet they will still drive the student to the brink of the dark side. When confronted with this moral challenge, those who are strong in the light side may be forced to leave the discipline and seek out another method of mastering the Force.
The Tyia
The Tyia is an example of an alternate way of knowing the Force. The Revwien Tyia adept character template follows this method. Tyia teaches that individual introspection is the way to learn the true way of the universe — students are taught to control their own personal Force (called "Tyia") through meditation and ceremony. Because of the unique way in which the Tyia studies the Force, there are some special rules regarding its use:
• A Tyia student learning control at 1D automatically learns hibernation trance and emptiness (which is Easy difficulty for Tyia). The character learns an additional three control powers.
•All alter powers have their difficulty increased by one level. All powers have a minimum time to use of one minute.
Gamemastering Jedi Characters
Jedi and Force-using characters are exceptionally powerful; while they can be a great challenge for an experienced player, a Jedi in the hands of an inexperienced or immature player can lead to problems. The most typical problem is a player who insists on using the Force for everything ... to the extent of completely overshadowing the other player characters. As a gamemaster, you have the right to limit Jedi in your game: more than one such character is generally excessive (except in the Tales of the Jedi-era) and you can even rule that no Force-users will be allowed. You should also spend some time talking with the player to make sure that the responsibilities of playing a Jedi are understood.
Force-Users. It's well established that Force-users are very rare in the galaxy. (At least in the era of the Empire.) Therefore, any Jedi character should be more than just a collection of game statistics. The player should invest some time in developing a truly interesting background which justifies the character's knowledge of Force powers. Typically, such characters have only limited knowledge of the Force (since there are not many Jedi instructors remaining). Most Jedi are also haunted by the knowledge that the Empire places a top priority on their capture and possible execution.
There is also a fascinating adventure hook in this background. Rumors of Jedi in hiding or lost Jedi writings, artifacts or lightsabers are certainly powerful motivators in the game. Jedi player characters may also be drawn by the presence of other Force-users: will the Jedi want to intercede to save a young Force-sensitive from the clutches of the Empire? What happens if a Jedi encounters another novice Jedi character: will they become friends, comrades, rivals... or even mortal enemies?
...So this setting has objective morality that just happens to mostly reflect T'au objective morality?
(Felicity Vandire: Welcome to my world.)
I think I would not use most of this passage if I were to play this game. The rules of the Force should vary or be vague enough that most cultures can agree. I can at least deal with the idea that temperance and self-control are inherent goods in this world, but the truth is that a Drukhari character here would almost certainly be a Dark Sider, which is effectively as judgmental but not as hateful as the Codex's take on us.
(Tai Cirra: I don't really know how Light and Dark map onto Chaos either.)
It seems as though the Dark Side focuses on excess and selfishness, along with cruel misuse of power, and that's defined by one lacking self-control and indulging in the pleasures of the world. It seems as though a Jedi must be in control of herself and dedicated utterly to furthering the cause of Good, such as it is. I would imagine that at least Slaanesh would map to the Dark Side, though I doubt the author of the book meant it that way. Anger is mentioned as a path to to the Dark Side, which makes Khorne questionable by the book's standards.
(Vior Or'es: As the book mentions earlier, the path to the Dark Side is found in a lack of inner peace, not in simple openness to pleasure. Still, it does mention that "Using the Force for personal aggrandizement, for personal power or wealth, for convenience when other means would be more prudent — all of these traits are of the dark side." So, it seems as though laziness and selfishness are also problems, things that are only somewhat relevant to the Drukhari and Chaos.)
(Tai Cirra: There can be good reasons to be angry too. Like injustices.)
(Vior Or'es: Injustice is best defeated with forethought and an objective perspective, rather than anger. As for Joy, it can only come from the love of both oneself and others.)
(Felicity Vandire: Anger's what you need to fight injustice. You won't get anything real done if you just keep your head calm and listen to what people tell you to do. The Jedi Code is willful ignorance.)
That seems a bit much.
(Felicity Vandire: It just bugs me.)
(Tai Cirra: My fire and lightning are stronger when I'm feeling really strong emotion too.)
(Felicity Vandire: This feels like a morality system/magic system created by people in a society privileged enough to be happy and safe.)
(Vior Or'es: ...One could say that, yes.)
Using the Force for personal aggrandizement, for personal power or wealth, for convenience when other means would be more prudent — all of these traits are of the dark side...The final determination of whether or not the Jedi deserves a Dark Side Point is up to the gamemaster. These rules are intended to encourage taking the role of a Jedi seriously — playing a Jedi is not a frivolous decision. On the other hand, the rules aren't intended to cause philosophical arguments in the middle of a game session. As a rule of thumb, if the players have to spend a lot of time justifying why their actions aren't evil, chances are the actions are indeed evil. If the players don't like your decision — well, you're the gamemaster.
(Felicity Vandire: Oh, I used to play RPGs in the barracks, and this sounds like a game where the gamemaster can fuck you over like an unentrenched position under a Deathstrike missile.)
(Tai Cirra: …So you can't use the Force to make your girlfriend happy? That's boring.)
(Vior Or'es: No, no, doing that is selfless, benevolent, caring, and productive! Of course you can do that!)
(Tai Cirra: …But making her happy also makes me really happy.)
(Vior Or'es: The right thing should make you happy. The Force does not ask for unhappiness, only for self-control, self-knowledge, compassion, duty, and conscious action to ensure yourself and others uphold them. No sophont can be a pinnacle of all of those things at once!)
It is strongly suggested that player characters seduced by the dark side become gamemaster characters, to be used as a continuing villain. (The player must create a new character.)
However, if there is one thing that Star Wars teaches us, it's tha tgood triumphs over evil. If you and the player agree, she may be allowed to continue playing a character consumed by the dark side with the understanding that she will attempt to bring the character back to the light side of the Force. This kind of character is very difficult to play properly. The player has an evil character — even if she's trying to be good.
On the other hand, allowing a player to portray the fall and redemption of her character has the makings of a truly epic story. True redemption often requires the character to commit a heroic sacrifice, and may involve the character's death. If You feel the character is not being played properly, you can take her as a gamemaster character (to be used as a continuing villain) and the player must design a new character.
Most characters consumed by the dark side began the game with other characters dedicated to the cause of the Rebel Alliance and the light. Such a character may try to hide her new path (perhaps betraying the rest of the characters at a critical point) or may simply leave the group. Playing a dark side character can be a lonely, challenging undertaking.
Some groups use Imperial characters. A dark side character would naturally be much more appropriate to this type of group. However, such characters shouldn't have it easy: they get what they deserve. Not only will a dark side charac ter face dangerous foes who embrace the light, but other, more powerful dark side characters (such as Dark Jedi) may try to control or kill the player character. A dark side character who is being played in an immature manner is going to have a very short life span.
(Ashlee Viola: This game sure loves moralizin', huh? If I were gonna play this game, I wouldn't have the patience to play a Light Side character. Gimme the cool powers an' short life span. I'm all...community-friendly, now, but when I play games at least I don't wanna be some gaddamned cuckold asking Daddy Force whether I can have fun over an' over.)
(Tai Cirra: But you like asking The Magician if you can have fun!)
(Ashlee Viola: Once!)
Well, erm, I think we got past the West End version of the Force segments. Next time, we'll cover Fantasy Flight games, which should hopefully be a bit more...open-ended in how it describes the Force.
