Using the force: for jedi masters only?

[scott2978]

I recently had a discussion with one of my RPG friends about how using the force works in D6. His argument was that only the masterful force users have any real chance of using the force to do anything significant. He sighted that most force powers have a difficulty that you can't make with one or two dice reliably, and the templates in the main rulebook only have one die in any force skill. Without a trainer (we're playing in the rebellion era) your force skills advance so slowly that it's just not feasible to even play a force using character unless you start out as a full-fledged jedi. I've never allowed jedi characters in my games before because I always thought they would be unbalancing, but maybe it's the other way around?

Any advice on the subject?

[Error]

A Jedi with a combined total of 15 or more dice in his force skills could probably school just about any other type of character.

If you feel your players advance too slowly, give them extra CP.
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The only words of explanation you need for any concept in the entire Star Wars universe are the words Science Fiction and Space Opera.

[Grimace]

This is what I always tell my players..."How many Jedi did you see running around during the time of the Empire?" In other words, don't take pity on your players if you're playing during the Rebellion Era. Force users are supposed to have a tough time of it during that time period. If they want to play Jedi, play either during the time of the Republic, or during the time of the New Republic when Luke's getting the Jedi back on their feet.

Also, don't give out extra CPs just to Force Users. That's unfair for the others that aren't playing Force Users. Given time, which is what they have to contend with, they will excel and be able to do things that regular character won't be able to. It's up to the player to keep the character alive long enough by being a good player so that when they finally have all of the super cool abilities, they're not cocky and think they can "do it all". Automatically giving players a full fledged Jedi, especially during the Rebellion era, is a sure fire way of getting a player that feels they can take on anything as long as they have a lightsaber. They get cocky, they feel like they're better than everyone, and they whine when things don't go their way. That kind of mentality might work during the Republic, leading up to the downfall of the Jedi, but not during the time when the very few remaining Jedi should be keeping a super low profile to avoid being hunted and killed.

The main thing is just to get the idea into your player's heads that Jedi during the Rebellion are extremely few and very far between. Those that are experienced are wise enough to not use the Force to avoid being sensed and hunted. Those that aren't have used the Force once too many times, gained the attention of the Empire, and have perished. Only those that have discovered the intricacies of the Force and are brand new at it would have any chance of using it, learning it, gaining in power, and dealing with the reprecussions of doing so during the time of the Empire.

[Error]

Personally, I feel that Jedi characters during (not after, mind you) the Rebellion should not be played whatsoever. Come up with whatever storyline you want, but as far as the movies were concerned, Yoda and Obi-wan were the only ones left.

"When gone I am, the last of the Jedi will you be."
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The only words of explanation you need for any concept in the entire Star Wars universe are the words Science Fiction and Space Opera.

[MA-3PO]

[Error]

[RedFox]

Actually considering Obi-Wan and Yoda flipped the retreat beacon at the Order's HQ, there may well be some jedi still wandering around.

I don't take everything Yoda says as gospel. He's been wrong before. About a lot of things. ;)
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[Error]

[RedFox]

Hmm, I like the idea of some jedi being around but not being central to the story. I think such makes a good excuse for Luke to easily find some Jedi students / teachers after he forms the new Order.

I'm of the opinion that Mace is bbq tho. :)
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[Tatum]

I think Jedi should be very restricted during the rebellion era. They can be worked in with a good story line (their "master" was one of the last jedi, on the run, and was eventually killed). But, they probably shouldnt be allowed to gain too much power, because at some point they would start to attract too much attention and would be seriously hunted by the empire.

Plus, Jedi are really hard for inexperienced GMs to control, they just end up rampaging every where. More experienced GMs will make it very hard for them to learn new force skills and will make it extremely hard for them to find any kind of teacher. Then, assuming they some how gain a decent level of skill, theyd have all kinds of bounty hunters and imperials on their tail.

[Hellcat]

[Volar the Healer]

[Lord Ben]

We're playing a rebellion era game. They found a holocron (actually contained inside a "training droid" for new students. Essentially I just said it contains all the powers that don't have rereq's (about 10?) and I've introduced a few "movie powers" since then too.

The Droid/Holocron has enough "lessons" to let he PC's advance up to 3D before it no longer counts as a trainer for increasing skills.

Sure, the Jedi are fairly powerful even with 3D+1 in their skills or whatever they have now. But we do a fair amount of starfighter combat so they usually take a backseat to the other members of the party with 6D starship gunnery, etc.

[Lord Aramus]

This is the way I have always done it.

With the exception of the first dice in your jedi attributes, all dice raises cost x3 their normal cost unless they have a trainer with at least 2 dice higher skill in their presense.

Also, to gain force powers, they must discover the knowledge of its existance somewhere first.
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[TheFamousTommyZ]