How exactly does the Force Lightning Power work

[MattMartin23]

Hi All,

Quick question: I was considering making an NPC bad guy that is an Imperial Luetenent that has access to Force Powers as a Dark Jedi. I already gave him Force Choke. I was wonder though, how does the Force Lightning power work? Does a character have to be very powerful in the Force and Dark Side in order to gain understanding of the power?

Any help would be appreciated.

Peace,

Matt

[Bren]

Since the Dark Jedi needs to match his Alter vs. the target's Control or Perception he needs an Alter that will allow him to roll higher. In addition, the damage done is 1D/2D of Alter*. So a 5D Alter only does 2D of damage.

So while a low powered Dark Jedi could know and use Force Lightning, without a good Alter it won't do any more damage then scuffing your feet on the carpet before touching someone.



* And yes I know that there is a write up somewhere that gives damage as 1D per D of Alter. It doesn't change the overall point, just the threshold for Force Lightning actually being harmful. FYI - I used the writeup in the site PDF of all Force powers which lists it as 1D/2D.

[TyCaine]

[Bren]

[garhkal]

When planning baddies with FL (or other Cont/alter powers that cause damage) i look at PCs as averaging 3d soak, so 11.5 ave for soaking damage and wanting to put them into the wound category (to keep things challenging).. so i see what d value i need to place the dark sider at to maintain that WITH 2d in MAPS (one defense and 2d off for activating this power)..

So figuring 2d off, and needing to hit 7 over soak to wound, that gives 2d above the soak D total for a grand total of needing a min of 7d to be effective in any way. Less than that and the MAPS are eating enough dice up that the most you are going to do is break even with targets soak.
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[MattMartin23]

Thanks guys, I appreciate all of the quality input. I figure he will need to have at least an 8D Alter in order to do any real damage. I figured that the NPC would use the Force Choke on the PCs and that it would make them stumble and I will give them a method to slip away from the Dark Jedi if they play it out right. If they fail tremendously I'll roleplay their capture and escape.

[garhkal]

First off does he have a reason to even capture them? if not, why is he capturing them?
Secondly, you would also need a reason for him to have such a high force power level.
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Confucious sayeth, don't wash cat while drunk!

[MattMartin23]

[garhkal]

OK, so that gives him a reason for having that high a stat, and capturing force users.. but not anyone else.
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Confucious sayeth, don't wash cat while drunk!

[MattMartin23]

[garhkal]

Ohhhh go along or watch friend die... always a good one!
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Confucious sayeth, don't wash cat while drunk!

[CRMcNeill]

Slightly off topic, but how would a Jedi counter Force Choke / TK Kill if it is being used on someone other than the Jedi? Would the Jedi have to know the TK Kill power in order to be able to counter it?
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"No set of rules can cover every situation. It's expected that you will make up new rules to suit the needs of your game." - The Star Wars Roleplaying Game, 2R&E, pg. 69, WEG, 1996.

The CRMcNeill Stat/Rule Index

[Raven Redstar]

I would think using a Force Push or doing something to break the person's concentration would be enough. Honestly a force user should not be able to Force Choke someone and fight with their lightsaber. You never see it in the movies. In the movies, it always looks like it takes at least steady concentration to choke someone. (Assuming of course you don't think that Luke used Force Choke in ROTJ, I don't.)
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RR
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[garhkal]

[CRMcNeill]