Ancient Jedi scholars wondered why it was that some
beings had a greater affinity for the force than did others. Many young
students of these Ancient Jedi had varying aptitudes in the force that
could not be explained by only their varying dedications to the discipline.
Since Force ability was often passed down through the generations from
parents to children it was long understood that one's aptitude in the force
was genetic. Additionally, it was also observed that some students progressed
much faster in the force due to this innate affinity attaining levels of
skill even a dedicated student could not achieve given extended training.
This innate affinity, over time, was discovered to be due to the Jedi's
unity with the force. From this it was hypothesized that innate strength
in the Force, much like a body builder increases her own strength, could
be increased through strict training. Initially the Jedi masters were clueless
as how to go about increasing such unity, or oneness, with the force. None
of the other skills seemed to affect ones unity with the force. Although,
prowess in the other skills illustrated ones harmony with the Force, all
failed to truly make the Force and the Jedi one and the same. As long as
this partition existed the Ancient Masters knew that their powers would
be limited. To better explain this, the following passage from the Tome
of Nomann, written by the great Jedi Bendu (believed to be the first
Jedi Knights), is used:
...as we become entwined in the Force our abilities and powers become
elevated. This is because, we become harmonious with the Force, like a
tuning fork to its resonating frequency. That is the source of a Jedi's
strength, her synchronicity with the Force. ... this grants the Jedi ...
the ability to manipulate and be manipulated by the Force. As masters we
strive to be united with the Force, but harmony and unity are separate
identities. Although our endeavors to become harmonic with the force make
us more sensitive to its rythms and to its manipulation it fails
to make us one with the Force. The Force forever remains as an external
entity the Jedi attempt to internalize. But this path leads not to oneness
but sensitivity, not wholeness but poignancy. Unity with the Force requires
the donation of ones Psyche to it. To this end the Jedi and the Force become
one and the same. Inseparable. In parallel there is no life or death there
is only the Force.
The Bendu Masters, furthermore, were aware that many
masters, upon death, became "bonded" to the force and could reappear
in a ghostly form. This unity is what the ancient jedi wished to achieved,
not upon death, but during life.
The Bendu Masters, after extended experimentation and
dedication, discovered that through specialized meditation techniques one
could better unite herself with the Force. Through these meditations the
Masters learned to "focus" and become "one" with the
force. The meditations were difficult and time consuming, often involving
deep trance-like hibernation states from which some never awakened. Once
the Jedi Bendu mastered these techniques they would not be revealed to
their students until they had attained Knighthood, due to the difficulty
of the meditations.
With this new skill the Jedi had opened new doors to
a better understanding of the Force,
"If you strike me down, I shall become more
powerful than you can possibly imagine."
- Obi Wan Kenobi
These Jedi Masters honed this skill to develop new powers
and increase the effectiveness of others. These Jedi became powerful beyond
imagination. Through this skill they were able to live beyond death and
tamper with the very fabric of the universe.
"The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant
in comparison to the power of the force."
- Darth Vader
As other tomes are uncovered more powers will be unveiled elevating the
Jedi to their previous glory.
This new skill is often referred to as "focus"
in this ancient tome. It seems to come from the Bendu Masters likening
the ability to "...focusing ones Psyche into the Force to become
one with it." However, the exact methodology is much more complex
than this and a full description is not covered in the tome. However, what
is known is that it required intense concentration and meditation; meditations
so deep that some have not returned from them. A Jedi with this skill can
unite with the Force such that he can focus her psyche to become
united with the force and use that oneness to accomplish incredible tasks.
In game terms the Focus skill is considered to
be an Advanced skill with the following prerequisites: Control 7D, Sense
7D, and Alter 6D. Because it is an Advanced skill it takes three times
as long to learn and costs double the normal character points to increase.
Since it is an advanced skill, Jedi cannot learn it without a teacher (or
spend at least 10 times the training time in intensive study and research
upon the subject and its methodology and pay 4 times the character point
cost) However, since it is an Advanced skill a Jedi adds her dice of Focus
to her Control, Sense, and Alter skills. This represents
the fact that the unity a Jedi establishes with the Force with this skill
not only increases the Jedi's Focus skill but also the Jedi's ability
to Control, Sense, and Alter the force.
New Powers
From the Tome of Nomann, the following new powers have
been gleaned. Speculations on some have been made on my part as they were
only mentioned in passing or only vague descriptions were given. All of
these powers require knowledge of the Focus skill and cannot be
attempted without that knowledge.
Imbue With Sensitivity
Control Difficulty: Heroic
Sense Difficulty: Heroic. Modified by proximity
Alter Difficulty: Heroic
Focus Difficulty: Very Difficult
Required Powers: Emptiness/Rage, place another
in hibernation trance, transfer force
Time To Use: 1 Day
Effect: The purpose of this power is to bestow
force-sensitivity upon another character. The process is long and demanding,
yet when successfully completed the subject awakens from a trance-like
state sensitive to the force.
Imbue with sensitivity requires calm and peaceful
conditions where the Jedi can concentrate only on the power. First the
Jedi must place the subject in a hibernation trance. Following this the
Jedi enters a trance-like state herself. The Jedi then bonds to the character
while in the trance and aides in opening the subjects awareness and sensitivity.
Over the course of a day the Jedi must be successful on all four difficulty
rolls. A failed result on any of the rolls translates into the Jedi being
unable to bestow sensitivity upon the subject. The Jedi cannot repeat the
power again on the same subject until one of her Force skills is increased.
However, if successful the subject is now force-sensitive and gains an
additional force point which comes from the Jedi's pool of force points.
Force Travel
Control Difficulty: Depends on method of movement
(See Below)
Focus Difficulty: Moderate for the lesser version
of this power (leaving the physical body behind) or Heroic for the greater
version of this power (absorbing the body along with the psyche).
Required Powers: Emptiness/Rage, Force of
Will, Hibernation Trance
This power can be kept up
Effect: This power allows a Jedi to absorb themselves
into the force allowing them to travel in a ghost-like form. When successful
the Jedi can literally step out of her body and travel in a non-corporeal
form, allowing for travel through physical objects. The physical body is
left in a hibernation trance while the Jedi's "Psyche" travels
about. While in this form the Jedi cannot effect the physical environment
around her nor can she be affected by it. The method of travel can either
be accomplished through walking or flying depending on the difficulty level
the Jedi wishes to accept (see the table below). Additionally, the Jedi
can only be seen by those she allows to see her, however, other Jedi who
make a successful roll vs. the Force traveling Jedi's Focus skill can "see"
the ghost-like image of the Jedi. Although, resistant to physical damage
and effects the Force traveling Jedi can be harmed by non-physical Jedi
powers such as Control Mind, however, the Jedi is protected as if
she were under the protection of the Force of Will power. The Jedi
herself cannot use any Jedi powers while in this state.
Nevertheless, a Jedi invoking this power leaves her
physical form vulnerable to harm, as it is left behind in a trance-like
state. Most often a Jedi uses this power in desperate and dire situations,
such as when held captive or when under the protective supervision within
friendly environments. If the Jedi's body is destroyed (achieves sufficient
damage to effectively kill the Jedi) than the Jedi is permanently trapped
in her ghost-like state.
However, some Ancient Bendu Masters successfully absorbed
not only their psyche, but also their physical bodies into the Force when
invoking this power. This allowed them to effectively remove the threat
of leaving their physical bodies vulnerable to harm. Furthermore, invoking
this mightier version of the power allows the Jedi to "reform"
her body elsewhere when she chooses to cease this power. Furthermore, completely
absorbing oneself into the force in such a manner is truly just a greater
extension of the actual focus skill. While invoking this greater
form of the power the Jedi can appear anywhere she wishes in the galaxy,
or the universe for that matter (granted she makes a successful difficulty
role). Just as in the lesser version of this power, while Force traveling
the Jedi is protected as if from a Force of Will power and cannot
be harmed by physical means. Unlike the lesser version of this power a
Jedi who successfully absorbs her body into the Force can move physical
objects with her ghost form by concentration. A Jedi wishing to do this
must successfully make a Very Difficult Alter difficulty roll, success
allows the Jedi to move objects physically as if she was in corporeal form.
Additionally, she can invoke any Force powers that she wishes while in
her ghost form.
Method of Movement
|
Control Difficulty
|
Walking
|
Moderate
|
Flying (10m/rnd)
|
Moderate +5
|
Flying (20m/rnd)
|
Moderate +10
|
In addition to these methods of conveyance, the Jedi
who invokes the greater version of this power, as the Force is in touch
with everything in the Universe, can instantaneously transport themselves
anywhere in the galaxy or the universe . Use the following table to determine
the difficulty of the Focus roll.
Distance of Travel
|
Focus Difficulty
|
10 km
|
Very Easy
|
1,000 km
|
Easy
|
Same planet
|
Moderate
|
Different planet same star system
|
Difficult
|
Different star system same galaxy
|
Very Difficult
|
Different galaxy
|
Heroic
|
This is an incredibly potent power, especially the greater
version of it. Again the power exists more as a plot device than it does
as something player characters can actually hope to learn. The powerful
Bendu Master Nomann was known to invoke this power often. Many believed
he did not die of old age; instead they believe he permanently absorbed
himslef into the force and still walks the Universe in search of greater
knowledge as this was his primary motivation.
Invulnerability
Control
Difficulty: Heroic
Focus Difficulty: Heroic
Effect: With this power
a Jedi attempts to solidify her bond with the Force in such a way as to
penetrate and bind the Jedi's constituent molecules together with greater
force and resilience to external influences yet maintain the body's flexibility.
this essentially makes the Jedi more durable and resistant to harm. With
a successful difficulty roll the Jedi's Focus attribute is substituted
for the Jedi's Body attribute, however, the substituted Body
dice are now considered starfighter scale for purposes of resisting physical
damage (this power has no effect on poisons and other such chemical methods
of harm, but it does protect against radiation). This effectively makes
the Jedi invulnerable to all but the most powerful attacks. The duration
which the Jedi can keep this power "up" is determined by how
successful the Jedi is in making her Focus difficulty.
Focus Roll > Difficulty by:
|
Time Power can be kept "up"
|
0-3
|
1 round
|
4-8
|
5 rounds
|
9-12
|
10 rounds
|
13-15
|
20 rounds
|
16+
|
Indefinitely
|
Example: Bendu Master Nomann
(Control 20D+1, Focus 14D) invokes this power in response to the assault
of a group of 25 stormtroopers. Nomann prepares for the assault and
invokes the power a round before they attack. Since erecting this power
requires 2 difficulty rolls Nomann is conducting 2 actions this round and
thus recieves a -1D to all skill thereby rducing his effective Control
and Focus skills to 19D+1 and 13D respectively. Nomann rolls the control
difficulty using his 19D+1 of Control + 13D of Focus, remember it is an
advanced skill with Control as one of its prerequisites, for a total of
32D+1 (It is believed Nomann was the most powerful Jedi who ever lived).
He easily makes the Heroic skill roll which the GM set the difficulty at
36. He then rolls the Focus difficulty which the GM also determines to
be 36. He rolls his 13D of Focus and recieves a result of 45. Success!
Since Nomann beat the difficulty by 9 he may keep the power "up"
for 10 rounds before requiring another skill roll. Now Nomann substitutes
his full Focus Dice (14D) for his Body attribute. His new Body is considered
to be starfighter scale for purposes of resisting physical damage. So next
round, Nomann wins initiative and decides to warn the Stormtroopers of
their imminent mistake. The Stormtroopers successfully combine to fire
their blasters (Damage 5D, Blaster skill 3D) thus adding +6D to Damage
and To-Hit, thus the Stormtroopers fire at 9D Blaster skill and, if they
hit, inflict 11D character scale damage. Nomann, makes no attempt to dodge,
and the Stormtroopers are at medium range and thus require a Moderate difficulty
roll which the GM sets at 14. The GM rolls for the stormtroopers, rolling
9D and recieves a result of 27, successfully hitting Nomann. Now they roll
11D for damage. Nomann defends with 14D Body, but due to the Invulnerability
power this is in starfighter scale, thus the Stormtroopers damage is die-capped
at 2. The GM rolls for damage for the Stormtroopers and getting a 3,4,2,5,1,6,6,2,3,1,
and a 5 for the wild die. Every roll over 2 is considered a 2 because of
the die-cap so the Stormtroopers effectively roll 20 for damage. Nomann
rolls 13D to defend and gets 50, easily resisting any damage.
Force Mask
Control Difficulty: Very Difficult
Sense Difficulty: Very Difficult
Focus Difficulty: Moderate
Required Powers: Emptiness/Rage, Life detection,
Life sense, Sense force
This power may be kept "up"
Effect: This power allows the Jedi to
mask his force "presence" so as to conceal herself from detection
by other force-sensitives. This is accomplished through focusing oneselfs
psyche into the force thereby fascilitating manipulation of the force rythms
which surround and penetrate that Jedi. If the Jedi is successful she has
completely masked herself from any detection powers used by others to sense
her presence. This provide ultimate protection from detection by all known
detection powers, however, it is possible the Ancients found others ways
to "detect" a Jedi's presence while under the influence of this
power.
Neutralize Force Ability
Control Difficulty: Heroic. Modified by proximity
and relationship
Sense Difficulty: Heroic. Modified by proximity
and relationship
Alter Difficulty: Heroic. Modified by proximity
Focus Difficulty: Heroic.
Required Powers: Concentration, Emptiness/Rage,
Enhance attribute, Froce harmony, Force of will, Hibernation trance, Life
detection, Life sense, Place another in hibernation trance, Sense force,
Sense force potential, Transfer force
This power may be kept "up"
Effect: This is argueably the most potent
power known. It effectively allows a Jedi to neutralize anothers force
ability. The exact method through which this is accomplished is largely
unknown, but it is suspected that the power is actually an extension of
the Jedi's own ability to become one with the force. It is believed that
the Jedi, in a reverse method to becoming one with the force, distances
the victim from the force and completely desensitizes that character to
the rythms of the force. As long as the power is kept up all the victim's
force skills are reduced by the Jedi's focus skill.
Under most circumstances use of this power would immediately
constitute the Jedi recieving a Dark Side point, however, if used in defence
and against a Dark Jedi such drawbacks should not be applied; GM is to
arbitrate special circumstances.
Nomann - Jedi Bendu Master (as of his
disappearance over 17 millenia ago)
Type: Bendu Master
DEXTERITY 3D
Dodge: 7D+2, lightsaber 5D
KNOWLEDGE 9D
Alien Species 12D, bureaucracy 12D cultures 15D, languages
11D, planetary systems 14D, survival 9D+2, willpower 11D scholar: Jedi
lore 21D, Dark Jedi lore 19D, scholar: metaphysics 17D
MECHANICAL 2D
Astrogation 4D+1
PERCEPTION 5D
Command 10D, hide 7D+2, investigation 10D, search 7D+2, sneak
6D
STRENGTH 2D
Stamina 5D
TECHNICAL 2D
Computer programming/repair 7D, first aid 6D
Special Abilities:
Force Skills: Control 20D+1, Sense 21D, Alter 19D+2, Focus
14D
It can be assumed that Nomann knows all known Jedi powers
and many that remain unknown.
This character is Force-sensitive
Force Points: 60
Character Points: 90
Dark Side Points: 0
Move: 9
Equipment: Robes, and an incredibly advanced datapad
Quote: "The Jedi's own arogance will be there
downfall." - 2:15 The Jedi and Beyond
Capsule: Nomann's origins predate the Clone Wars by
over seventeen millenia. His exact origins remain a mystery and the following
has been constructed from rumors and old tales. Nomann was an apprentice
to an unknown ancient Bendu master. The Bendu themselves are believed to
be the first Jedi, however, there has been no conclusive conformation of
this. At any rate Nomann studied under his master for nearly a decade,
honing his skills to near perfection. Nomann was powerful with the Force
and accelerated through his training at incredible rates. However, even
upon attaining Knighthood Nomann continued to study under his Master and
together they grew mighty in the Force. Soon Nomann's power surpassed even
that of his master's. Since childhood Nomann had an unsatiable desire for
knowledge, and the Force was his path to unveil all that the Universe hid.
He and his former master continued to research the ways of the Force and
the universe around them studying all areas of knowledge, including anthropology,
astronomy, astrophysics, metaphysics, social behavior, psychology, and
numerous other topics. However, being Jedi they concentrated much more
on uncovering the secrets of the Force in hopes that this would lead to
an increased understanding of the Universe. So Nomann and his master conducted
research into the Jedi and their relationship to the Force and soon uncovered
a method to increase a Jedi's power through intense medatative techniques
that made the Jedi One with the Force. Through this power Nomann was able
to seek the greater knowledge he desired.
During this period Nomann took on several
students which he trained when not conducting research. However, he refrained
from teaching them the new skill he had learned, as he and his former master
thought it best to wait until Knighthood was achieved before introducing
them to the new skill as it required intensive and potentially hazardous
medatation. However, as Nomann became more involved in his research he
began neglecting his "duties" as a Jedi. He partook in fewer
and fewer protective campaigns, only involving himself in dire emergencies.
One such emergency occured when a nihilistic warlord from an outlying sector
set out to destroy neighboring sectors and their Jedi proctorates.
Nomann quickly intervened and put a halt to his campaign essentially before
it even began by demobilizing his entire navy. Not much history of Nomann
can be found following this time and many assumed he had died of old age.
However, some tales talk of Nomann Mastering the force to the extent that
he was able to cheat death and travel to other galaxies in an effort to
quench his thirst for knowledge. If this is true somewhere out in the Universe
Nomann continues to walk, probably as the most powerful Jedi ever to exist.
Copyright © 1997 Assem Masri
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