Force Scholars Balancing - Force System

Hello everyone,

I want to address the Force Scholars current situations within our force system. As of right now, Force Scholars have a perk in which gives them prep reduction for rank 3, 4, and 5 force powers that are considered offensive or defensive. This means that at rank 3 where force powers require two posts to channel, a Force Scholar can bypass this and cast their power in a single post. The current system does not have any restrictions in place to prevent this for rank 3 Scholars and given the fact that they have the most power slots out of any specialization, I am concerned that they might be too strong.

Now this has not posed an actual problem in RP just yet since RP is fresh and we are focusing more on events than actual duels or player verse player fight RPs, but it does not mean that this isn't an issue. Thus, I want to propose an alternative idea that will still keep the specialization appealing while not crippling or making the other specializations feel like a handicap.

This idea is called Force Power Customization. While Force Scholars retain the prep reduction for rank 4 and 5, they will now be given the opportunity to design their own Force Power similar to how Lightsaber Specialists can customize their own lightsabers. While this opens up more options of Force Powers, this requires more dedication and work in regards to Roleplay.

First and foremost, there will be an application process to designing force powers where the player would post the description, prep requirements, limitations and weaknesses as well as the progression of the power as well. All powers would need to be approved by admins or moderators before they can be introduced IC. Secondly, after the application is approved, there will need to be several extensive roleplays devoted to the development and expansion of this power. These can be roleplayed with someone else or the player can post character logs on the forum of the character's development solo. The progression of the power will also be monitored, but will grow in strength depending on dedication to the power as well as the rank progression of the character. Lastly, as I mentioned the power will be a progress and as such, we'd ask for members to post tiers related to the power (i.e. force wound -> force choke -> force crush).

If we move with this idea, we will have a thread devoted to the application process to better guide members in creating their own power.

A third option was suggested by Stark where instead of the perk being associated with preps, it's the opposite. This is called exhaustion and the way that it works is that the Scholar would be able to cast the power on the first post, but then suffers from exhaustion for (x) number of posts following, which depends solely on the strength of the power. I feel that this idea would need more development before it goes live as we want to prevent people from casting powerful abilities like Force Storm right out of the blue. This also makes casting a power more strategic since you can't cast another power in your following post.

Below I will list a poll where I want you guys to put your vote. If you have other suggestions or opinions on the subject, please feel free to reply to this thread. I will not move forward with any changes unless the majority of you feel that a change needs to be made. I ask that you all respect whatever decision is made moving forward.

I have a few ideas.  1, have the reduced preps not as a perk, but as a skill in itself for Scholars.  Perhaps one you can take multiple times.  Put one point in it and it reduces tier 3 by one.  Another point reduces tier 4 by one, exc.  It would represent their studies going towards the force itself and calling what they know rather than the versatile finger in every force-power-pie.  This is just an idea and example, do with it as you will.

I don't know if it would work, but I got an idea for an edit on the force exhaustion.  The preps are solid.  The number you need dedicated is mandatory.  Force Exhaustion could be used as a sort of early trigger.  Say you have 3 posts needed and you prepped it once.  An emergency happens, you NEED to use your spell NOW.  Force Exhaustion lets you yank the rest of what you need forcefully (har har) and trigger the skill.  But doing so will leave yourself exhausted for the remaining 2 preps ether plus one for the cost of immediate usage, or doubled because of the amount of energy you are forcing through your control all at once before you are ready for it. And by exhausted, force or physical defense is ether extremely limited or not allowed. Which makes the use of it dangerous, but could tip the tides of a battle in your favor if you are properly defended. Again, this is an idea, do with it as you will.

I like the exhaustion idea, also. Say it allows you to use a 3 prep attack first prep, but then you've got to wait out the balance of the prep before you can use that again, at least. That's the only small tweak I would make to that idea.

Just that power? Needs better wording. Cause especially with a scholar, technically with that wording, they can use exhaustion on the next ability, and the one after that, exc. THey have so many force powers that by the time they run out of options of what they used, their first ones are ready to be used again.

The exhaustion would work the same as a prep, in effect immobilizing you for that round and preventing any sort of activity. No attacking at all, no dodging, nothing. At any rate, I still remain in favor of leaving the system as it is for reasons I've already stated. Apart from the ability to pick a few extra superfluous force powers, the rank 3 prep reduction remains the only advantage scholars actually have. I also don't see much merit in creating your own force power given the sheer volume of force powers already available. You'd be hard pressed to create something new and original, and even if you did you still then run the risk of your idea being shot down. Just my two cents.

I think the best way to go about it is have it an optional thing. The force power creation thing. Its not required, but still offers that flexibility of individualization if you so deem it. Of course it would cost points, which would weaken you in other areas. Not everyone is going to come up with ideas. But they still might want to play the scholar. Why play that when their offered buff is not something you are going to use?

I honestly think all Jedi have the potential to 'create' their own powers, just by using current powers in a different way. Example, in one RP long ago Beldok was able to use two force pulls to 'slingshot' himself over a very large gap. So, I feel like the creation aspect may be more open to interpretation to the DM/Admin. Prep reduction is really nice, I think exhaustion could get too complicated in some RPs.