The Force Tradition, Yes, I'm a bit whacko... Options Track this topic Email this topic Print this topic Download this topic Subscribe to this forum Display Modes Switch to: Outline Standard Switch to: Linear+

[The Jopp]

The Force
Concept: The force is an energy field generated by all living things. Practitioners learn to attune themselves to it through the guidance of a master and self-reflection. Ultimately one strives to become one with the force.

Magic Quality: Always Mystic Adept
Negative Quality: Aspected Magician (Sorcerer Aspect)
Geas: Gesture Geas
Fitting Sith Mentor Spirit Archetypes: Dark Goddess / Raven / Trickster
Fitting Jedi Mentor Spirit Archetypes: Bear / Dog / Wise Warrior
Combat: Beast (Sith) / Guardian (Jedi)
Detection: Guidance
Health: Plant
Illusion: Man
Manipulation: Task
Drain: Willpower + Intuition

The Tradition
The Jedi tradition emerged from within the pop culture at the end of the 20th century from a flat screen production called Star Wars. At the beginning of the 21th century it had become a small (miniscule) but legitimate fringe religion. With the awakening the movement became stronger and individuals emerged who could control what they called “The Force�. Although clearly magicians they insist that magic is just a reflection of the force and not the other way around. It was not long before malcontents within the order split from the Jedi and called themselves the Sith (something that was rather inevitable)…

Many force users are approached from an early age by both sides and trained in their respective traditions but some refuses and strike out on their own to learn the hard way and sometimes creates their own path to the force.

Mentor spirits usually shows up as ancestor spirits or a guiding voice and in dreams and takes the form of a metahuman of some kind and not the usual animal mentors.

Although spirits aren’t an inherent trait within the tradition several force users have acknowledged that they can, with difficulty summon force entities that appear as ghostlike glowing entities or dark whispering shadows.

The Paths of the Force
Depending on the force users training and focus their abilities might differ somewhat but all of them have some knowledge in their opposing fields of Spiritual vs Physical. Although the below is the norm of trained force users there are always oddities.

Most Jedi and Sith follows a very strict training regime and the path to understand the force is a long one, only after several years can an experienced force user move items with his mind and influence peoples minds.

Although they are all mystic adept not all of them have chosen to advance themselves in the force as much as they have improved their combat prowess – but they are expected by their masters to initiate themselves into the true power of the force.

A few force users finds the art of the lightsaber and even physical combat crude and ineffective, relaying solely on their force powers and other mundane means.

The Holocrons
A Holocron is small compact Holoprojector and teaching device that is activated by voice command by a force user and can be of varying size compiled by Jedi and Sith masters of old. Usually a holocron is the size of a grown mans fist but unlike the traditional knowledge about the holocrons force users in 2070 have shrunk them down to more manageable size so that the smallest of them are the size of golfballs and usually worn as a necklace or even attached as a integrated part of the lightsaber handle.

Larger holocrons are usually found in magical groups as teaching tools usually connected to a network and projects simulated teachers. Depending on Jedi or Sith traditions the holocrons might take different shapes, Jedi usually have cube shaped ones and Sith’s are pyramid shaped.

Holocron Technical Data
Holocrons can be used as any kind of foci and are often used as a combination of Foci and Fetish or stacked foci. All types of Holocrons require a Holo Projector as an integral part of it’s design (See equipment section of SR4.) The holo projector is a basic appliance with matrix attributes of 3 but usually it’s Wi/Fi turned off so that is only responds to touch and voice commands. They also contains a wide focus camera and a microphone so that the user can communicate with the Holocron persona through audio and video. They are also fitted with a biometric safety with voice print so that only those registred as Jedi or Sith may use it (although new force users would have to be added in order to use it).

The Holocron usually has a Virtual Person software emulating the Master who has recorded the data on the holocron - They can also include simulated personas of famous and infamous characters like Yoda, Darth Sidious, Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker among others and also includes Datasoft of the following knowledge skills: The Force, The Jedi, The Sith of varying levels.

Holocrons as teaching tools and not foci contains one or more Tutorsoft. These Holocrons usually have improved Response and System attributes to handle such programs.

Holocron Hardware Components
Biometric Safety (Voice Print)
Holo Projector
Sensor Tag (Camera)
Sensor Tag (Microphone)

The Lightsaber
Mystic Adepts of the force tradition shape their abilities very differently from other more mainstream traditions and will appear rather differently from them, the most notorious is the lightsaber. The lightsaber is no technological weapon or spell at all but a blatant display of magic due to a mix of adept abilities channelled through a Talisman that is the lightsaber handle. Lightsabers vary in size and design but a normal lightsaber have a concealability modifier of 0. The double bladed version has a concealability modifier of +2.

The following minimum adept powers constitute a regular lightsaber
Killing hands
Critical Strike (Minimum Lvl 3)
Elemental Strike (Light)
Improved Ability : Lightsaber (Rating 2 to simulate Reach)
Smashing Blow
Counterstrike (Minimum Lvl 1)

These powers have Talisman (Lightsaber) Geas and requires the exotic weapon skill “Lightsaber.�

Since they require a GEAS they only cost 75% of listed cost. A beginning force user that has learned to use a lightsaber will have at least a magic rating of 3 and 3 points of adept powers invested in his lightsaber abilities.

Lightsaber Talisman Designs
Each force user creates his own Lightsaber talisman and usually have rudimentary knowledge in Enchanting and a possible specialization in Artificing. The Lightsaber Talisman consists of three elements.

The Handle: Usually an embossed metal tube with one or more buttons approx 10� long.
The Crystal: The crystal sets the colour for the blade.
The Powersource: usually a mere battery from a commlink

Exotic Weapon skill and Specialization.
Depending on traditional style or training the force user can choose what kind of lightsaber style he will use.

Single Blade (Most traditional amongst both Jedi/Sith)
Dual Wield (Split Dicepool for multiple attacks)
Double Edged (Heavy Pistol Concealability, mostly used by Sith)
Block/Parry (Most used amongst jedi)

The single blade style is the most usual and what most Jedi would use, the dual wield requires a split of dicepool but gives the opportunity of two attacks. The double edged style AKA darth maul blade would be concealability drawback as the blade handle would be around half a metre long or perhaps two handles stuck together for a possible choice of dual wielding. Block/Parry is rather self explanatory and would include all styles but of a defensive nature.

[Dashifen]

I like that you specified that it's a mystic adept path; adds a certain flavor to it. What spirits are connected to the spell categories?

[Buster]

I love this tradition. It takes the crossover nature of Shadowrun to a new level.

I would clarify that the mentor spirit appears as a past Jedi master rather than literally an animal. In which case, all mentor spirits are available based on the Jedi's orientation towards Light or Dark side.

I would say that Jedi are aspected mystic adepts (EDIT:meant to say mystic adepts instead of magician) that can not use Conjuring. If they were allowed to summon spirits, I would say they are a possession tradition and can summon spirits of Guidance, Man, Guardian, and Task. I'm not sure about the 5th spirit, maybe Fire spirits in the form of beings of pure light.

[Dashifen]

I could swing with an aspected sorcery tradition.

[The Jopp]

Well, it seemed more apt to have them as mystic adepts since they are both combat and/or spell focused.

At first glance the Lightsaber might look a bit overpowered but since it is highly visible, close combat only and mostly at F3-F4 it’s no worse than other weapons. Not to mention that there are no blaster bolts to deflect in Shadowrun…

I’m actually not entirely sure about the spirits, I would probably play with an aspected mystic adept that cannot use spirits since they aren’t really part of the tradition. Ancestor spirits might possible but doesn’t feel right.

[The Jopp]

[The Jopp]

Edit: Lightsaber is now an exotic weapon much like monowhip.

[Buster]

I would also add that Lightsaber has to be learned as a fetish spell (focus is the grip). It is almost always sustained within an Anchored focus in order to sidestep the high drain of the spell.

Also, Jedi apprentices don't necessarily have to learn the Lightsaber spell right away. Traditionally, Jedi masters are expected to give their apprentices an Anchored Lightsaber focus upon entrance to the Order. Jedi masters are expected to learn the Lightsaber spell and Anchoring metamagic and create anchored Lightsaber spells for themselves and their apprentices. The apprentice is expected to learn the Lightsaber spell and Anchoring metamagic in order to graduate to master.

[Buster]

[The Jopp]

[Buster]

[The Jopp]

One could also use a Stacked Foci (but the cost or difficulti in making it can be staggering...)

[TBRMInsanity]

[Moon-Hawk]

Another possible approach to the lightsaber spell is to say that the -2 penalty (or -1 with Focused Concentration) for sustaining a spell does not apply to melee combat rolls (attack and parry) made with the lightsaber. Leave the sustaining penalty in there for everything else, and if they stick it in a sustaining focus they don't get a bonus, either. All in all it's a pretty minor effect, but might make things more managable.
Just an idea.

[Arz]

I am currently playing a Jedi similar to these lines. I posted the tradition a while back in another thread. Instead of using a lightsaber spell I instead have a modified monosword that I attached glow strips and a noise-maker. He also runs around with a VR overlay _at all times_ which gives him a warped view of all metahumans he meets. He usually tells most trolls he meets that he doesn't understand Wookie.

Re:

The Force Tradition

Concept: The force is an energy field generated by all living things. Practitioners learn to attune themselves to it through the guidance of a master and self-reflection. Ultimately one strives to become one with the wishes of the force.
Combat: Beast
Detection: Guidance
Health: Plant
Illusion: Man
Manipulation: Task
Drain: Willpower + Intuition
Two sects of adherents follow the force tradition. They believe the force to be a natural universal energy that certain people are more sensitive towards. These sensitives are marked by higher than average medichloreans that allow them to manipulate the force around themselves and others. Peace, serenity, and knowledge form the light side in which the Jedi believe themselves to be the purified form. The Sith oppositely represent the truest of the dark side that consists of aggression, anger, and fear. The universe is a place of balance and so both sides are part of the natural order.
Although there are many sensitives only certain are chosen by force masters to learn its refined techniques. These techniques are passed on until one has internalized them sufficiently to undertake personal exploration. Practitioners learn to focus upon their side of the force to manipulate the force around them. Certain beings, objects, and places are pools for the force that allow greater manipulations. Force users strive to move beyond focusing techniques to natural willpower. Sorcerous techniques start with enhancements of physical ability to pure external application. Conjuring is rare as these beings are seen as representatives of the force often manifested as past masters that have become one with the force.
The tradition of the force originated with a series of pre-crash movies that garnered a sustained cult of fans. Although scoffed at by older traditions force users believe other paradigms are valid if somewhat less pure in their technique. Force users can often be found searching for lost source material from a galaxy far away and long ago, including the mythical digital movies and prequel trilogy. The tradition has spread throughout the world via the matrix. Although there are many temples and academies few hold practitioners with real talent. The most recognized of these are Master Morpheus and Darth Agent who hide in the shadows of the galactic corporations.

[sunnyside]

First I would have a lightsabre do the "laser" damage type not fire.

Also I'm not sure how to bring things more in line. Maybe with a custom mentor spirit.

The disadvantage would be limiting spells to known cannon abilities. For example magic fingers and influence, maybe a weaker form of levitate(Jedi can't really fly just jump and fall really well). Probably some boosting health spells for the jedi.

However as a bonus it would provide enough bonus die that a Jedi could cast those spells with only a point or two in magic. Leaving most of magic to go to adept skills.

I'm thinking something like

magic for spells 2

magic for power points 4

combat sense 4 (2 PP)
gymnastics 4 (1 PP)
lightsabre combat 2 (1PP)

[Solomon Greene]

This is good stuff.

As I was reading it, a new NPC I'm going to force my PC's to deal with (heh heh, puns!) sprang to mind:

A horrific nerd who's had reconstructive surgery to look and sound like Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn. During the run, his vocal reconstruction will become damaged and he'll go from one of the best voices in Hollywood to a horrible version of Jerry Lewis at his prime with Deano.

Oh, this will be fun.

[sunnyside]

Actually I rather like the potential of this. The reason being that SR jedi should play well. They don't have access to the really munchy stuff. and can do more of the flipping around and whatnot that is fun. From a GM point of view I forsee fewer problems with Jedi than with many regular adepts and pretty much every mage.

[The Jopp]

[Arz]

Further notes on rounding out the tradition.

Detection spells are used equally by Sith/jedi with the most common being Mindlink, Detect Life, Dream, Clairvoyance, and Combat Sense. Personally, GM's should disallow players taking Combat Sense spell and adept power and any other overlap abilities. That's just the way of the power gamer, not the jedi.

Combat/Illusion spells are the specialties of the Sith. There fondest spells are Slay, Mask, and electrical effects. Sorry, not playing one so no help here.

Healing/Manipulation are the specialties of the Jedi. They have a fondness for TK spells, deflection, heal, hibernate, influence, and limited mental manipulation.

On the adept powers list combat sense, counterattack, attribute boost, and quick draw are pretty important to jedi who are mainly defensive in combat.

Spirits and mentors are incredibly rare to the tradition and GM's should strongly discourage them. Luke only saw Obi-wan on a handful of occasions. The Sith really hate spirits since they are usually former masters trying to kill you.

[darthmord]

Read some of the material sometime. Sith don't care one way or another about Spirits. If they have a need for specific knowledge and a spirit has it, they'll beg, borrow, steal, plead, etc to get what they want.

Dark Side Spirits aren't exactly uncommon. Granted, they don't appear on every doorstep and street corner either.

But yeah, Sith would most certainly consult with a DSS. There are many examples of such happening when people wanted to take up the mantle of the Sith, that they would search out a Dark Side Spirit for instruction.

[Moon-Hawk]

Another option for the lightsaber is killing hands, critical strike, and elemental strike, all with a talisman geas and some fluff for appearance. If only there was a power to give your elemental strikes a Reach of 1, it would be perfect.

[Arz]

Or you can use a hologram, PAN to PAN sharing, or VR overlay to make any weapon you swing look like a lightsaber. I think yinz are getting too attached to exact replication. It's best to give it a little SR twist.

Other thing I forgot to mention. Jedi in general dislike foci as a crutch since they believe only in the power of living objects. Talismen of all types are just crutches to a true jedi.

[Marwynn]

This is really cool. I'd been working on one such tradition myself, playing a Star Wars nerd who apart from the rest of the herd actually has some talent. You know, to break the Fourth Wall in a way.

I was going to incorporate the Jedi Character Classes from Knights of the Old Republic and the prestige classes for KotoR2 into the "magical" types.

For example:
Jedi Guardian - Focuses on combat training and masterful use of the lightsaber.
Jedi Consular - Focuses on Force powers.
Jedi Sentinel - A balance of the two.

Adept
Jedi Guardian

Mystical Adept
Jedi Guardian
Jedi Sentinel

Magician
Jedi Consular

These would be the paths they'd likely follow. An Adept wouldn't have much, if anything, of "Magic" but there are a few Adept powers that are a decent approximation.

Similarly, a Consular would only know the preliminaries of Lightsabers.

The summoning part of the tradition would be based on Possession. These would mimic the various Lightsaber and Force forms.

Also, a few modifications of classic favourites like Levitate for Force Push/Tornado/etc. and Influence with "These are not the drones you are looking for" situations.

Adepts wouldn't be left out, with Commanding Voice they could mimic the hand-waving Jedi powers. And if Lightsabers were spells with sustained foci + fetishes you could allow an Adept to use Elemental Strike to light up a sword.

A Monowhip would probably work best.

[Ravor]

Well personally I like the idea of a "lightsaber" as being a combined Sustaining Focus and Fetish (Provided of course that the "Jedi" still has to learn Enchanting to make it themselves.).

Hmm, in fact I think I'll have to introduce a mage who uses a similair idea, even though I think I'll nix the idea of "Jedi" themselves.