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  1. In Memory of LAJ_FETT: Please share your remembrances and condolences HERE

Lit Beyond the big two: lesser Force traditions in the GFFA

Discussion in 'Literature' started by Gamiel, Dec 12, 2013.

  1. Gamiel

    Gamiel Chosen One star 9

    Registered:
    Dec 16, 2012
    I think that the lesser Force traditions don’t get enough talked about so here is a thread were we can do that.

    Let’s begin with: Most of the traditions we see have been Force warriors or shamans, have we seen any traditions focused on using the Force, or rather their interpretation of it, for something like trading?
     
  2. Darth_Henning

    Darth_Henning Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Jun 1, 2007
    Well the Rakata used it to power all their technology, though that technology was used towards conquest, so that's KINDA unique, but not what you're getting at.

    Wookieepedia lists 68 different force using traditions (http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Force-based_organizations) but none of them spring to mind as anything other than mystical or warrior groups.

    The Ela b'Yentarr are the closest. The society of Bosph is hierarchial based on force ability. Nothing too specific though given they've only appeared in source books.
     
  3. gizkaspice

    gizkaspice Force Ghost star 4

    Registered:
    Nov 27, 2013
    Does Rakata using the Force to power hyperdrives/using it as a daily thing count as a lesser tradition? They could have also used it for trading.
     
  4. patchworkz7

    patchworkz7 Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Mar 26, 2004

    According to the Wook the Jal Shay could empower things with the Force, so in theory they could have been trading armour and weapons empowered by the force, but there's so little info on them it's hard to know if that's a thing they did.
     
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  5. GreatBeyonder

    GreatBeyonder Jedi Youngling star 1

    Registered:
    Dec 6, 2013
    The Ssi-Ruuk used Force sensitive captives to power their technology. I imagine the technology still exists.
     
  6. Tzizvvt78

    Tzizvvt78 Jedi Grand Master star 5

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    Jun 12, 2009
    Dark Side Adepts like Janus Greejatus and Sim Aloo use their skills primarily to manipulate other politicians.
     
  7. Force Smuggler

    Force Smuggler Force Ghost star 7

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    Sep 2, 2012
    Wish we could see more of the other Force groups.
     
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  8. spicer

    spicer Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Nov 14, 2012
    This. Personally I'd love to see more Grey Jedi. I know we get them occasionally, but imo it's not enough.
     
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  9. Force Smuggler

    Force Smuggler Force Ghost star 7

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    Sep 2, 2012
    Them too. Can we get the creation of the Imperial Knights?
     
  10. Revanfan1

    Revanfan1 Force Ghost star 6

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    Jun 3, 2013
    Not with Denning in charge. o_O
     
  11. Force Smuggler

    Force Smuggler Force Ghost star 7

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    Sep 2, 2012
    We should have have had them in FOTJ. Tahiri or Jaina.
     
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  12. DigitalMessiah

    DigitalMessiah Chosen One star 6

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    Feb 17, 2004
    What is the appeal of these other groups narratively speaking? What do they offer that the Jedi do not?
     
  13. Force Smuggler

    Force Smuggler Force Ghost star 7

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    Sep 2, 2012
    Something else other than Jedi or Sith?
     
  14. _Catherine_

    _Catherine_ Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Jun 16, 2007
    Teleportation.
     
  15. DigitalMessiah

    DigitalMessiah Chosen One star 6

    Registered:
    Feb 17, 2004
    And time travel!

    But I mean, what stories can be told with these new groups that can't be told with the Jedi? I don't want to just take Crosscurrent and change Jaden with an Imperial Knight. That doesnt improve anything. Though FOTJ might have made a lot more sense if they were IK and Luke was the Emperor.

    But if there's a character from a new Force group, but it is otherwise incidental to the plot, who cares? What new stories can be told that can't be told with Jedi? Judging from the Vergere reaction, some fans are pretty zealous about "Jedi canon" and won't react well to these groups that are not following it if they are protagonists.
     
  16. Gamiel

    Gamiel Chosen One star 9

    Registered:
    Dec 16, 2012
    I have read upp on the Jal Shey on the wook' and they sound like the worst kind of Force tradition. The one created to give items to the player[face_devil]

    I like the concept of the Jal Shey: a non-physical tradition who studied the Force from a purely intellectual perspective, forsaking the more spiritual paths taken. And then they have to make them less interesting by having them using lightsabres and creating armours.



    No they did not. They used captives life force to power their technology; something that made their droides more effective than normal droides. People with Force sensitive was just a higher grade of fuel to them



    Grey Jedi as in ...? To my understanding Grey Jedi are the Jedi equivalence of the cowboy cop
     
  17. DigitalMessiah

    DigitalMessiah Chosen One star 6

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    Feb 17, 2004
    Gray Jedi is just a term made up to describe Qui-Gon because he would tell the council to pound sand. Then we found out the Jedi council wasn't omniscient and Qui-Gon wasn't this morally ambiguous Jedi after all and the term died except for some isolated riffs on it.
     
  18. Mia Mesharad

    Mia Mesharad Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Sep 2, 2012
    Characters from these other sects offer the potential for alternative perspectives, different philosophies, rites, and rituals, as well as showcasing various other unique cultural aspects of their groups. Their Force-power repertoire could hold abilities nonstandard for the Jedi, and in action-adventure scenarios, they also hold the potential for different weapons, armor, or combat styles. So I'd say the appeal is diverse POVs and enhanced world building, getting away from the standard familiar Jedi to see something new.
     
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  19. DigitalMessiah

    DigitalMessiah Chosen One star 6

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    Feb 17, 2004
    Yeah, I was wondering if people had any ideas in mind for stories involving these sorts of characters which couldn't be done with the Jedi. I think the potential exists for further differentiation between the Fallanassi and the Jedi, for instance. The Fallanassi on their own are so static in their philosophy that they wouldn't make for an interesting character -- they're extreme light, out of balance light. Contrasting that with the Jedi would be interesting. Black Fleet does this with Luke and Akanah, but the EU was nascent then and the Jedi were not well developed themselves, so a follow up would have been interesting.

    In fact, it would have made an interesting story for Jacen after The Unifying Force, because the Fallanassi would behave very similar to how Jacen himself behaved early in the war. It would make for an interesting character study of Jacen. Alas..
     
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  20. Gamiel

    Gamiel Chosen One star 9

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    Dec 16, 2012
    There is also the groups that don't have all the powers that the jedi have and have specialised in the once they have. Like the Fallanassi ^ who are master illusionist but can't use telekinesis
     
  21. DigitalMessiah

    DigitalMessiah Chosen One star 6

    Registered:
    Feb 17, 2004
    As another example, I always thought the Aing-Tii were interesting in Hand of Thrawn. But when Omen was released it was immensely disappointing because absolutely no effort was made to actually create any sort of philosophy or worldview for them. They have a rainbow Force! And they hate slavers! But they can teleport and time travel (sorta)! They're alien so you wouldn't understand.

    That's boring. Yeah it's cool they're masters of time and space but absolutely nothing interesting is done with it. And now Luke can teleport but that never comes up again so whatever. Just a poor choice in planning that series and book.

    For the most part, these other groups seem to just be Jedi that heavily specialize in one Force talent and don't use lightsabers, with no real narrative function otherwise. I think the Fallanassi are somewhat unique in that their outlook was created specifically to contrast with Luke and the Jedi through their total non-action and their looking down upon Luke for committing actions that viewed detached of intent do seem morally questionable.
     
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  22. Tim Battershell

    Tim Battershell Jedi Master star 5

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    Sep 3, 2012
    Aing-Tii Monks?

    Edit: Bah! Ninja'd!!!!
     
  23. RC-1991

    RC-1991 Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Dec 2, 2009

    To add to this, exploring alternative philosophies on the Force can be fascinating, and a useful vehicle for exploring the variety of interpretation within real-world religions. It's a case where multiple religious groups are acknowledging essentially the same source of life and/or power, on some level acknowledging that it's the same "Force" that many other groups are following, yet interpreting it in wildly different manners. It also often serves to provide an interesting alternative lens on the history of the Jedi- many other Force-based orders began as reactions to, or schismatics from, the Jedi.

    Lastly, they're useful and fun in a roleplaying setting. I'm running a Rebellion-era campaign where two players are Force-sensitive, and I disallowed outright Jedi. One is "roleplaying" a Jensaarai (and pretty much running it as a Jedi, which I'm going to break him of because GM POWER TRIP), and the other is roleplaying a Matukai Adept. It's fun to allow a Force-user but have the player approach the Force from an unfamiliar perspective.
     
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  24. DigitalMessiah

    DigitalMessiah Chosen One star 6

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    Feb 17, 2004
     
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  25. GreatBeyonder

    GreatBeyonder Jedi Youngling star 1

    Registered:
    Dec 6, 2013

    It still remains a perfectly valid exploitation of Force sensitivity, regardless of alternative fuel sources.