Force Lightning is useless at higher levels! And it doesn't conform to the movies!

In the movies, Force Lightning is an awesome, frightening skill. Count Dooku uses it to incapacitate Anakin Skywalker in Ep. II. Palpatine uses Force Lightning to fry Yoda in Ep. III. He also uses it to DEEP-FRY Luke in Ep. VI. All very cool, and a powerful ability.

However. Why should a high-level character (ca. lev. 10+) EVER use Force Lightning? Ever?

Force Lightning is absolute crap when compared to a lightsaber. Let's compare them, shall we?

1. Force Lightning does only 3d8 damage, while a high-level character's lightsaber does at least that, probably more (Palpatine has 6d8+1).

2. Force Lightning costs vitality points to use, 8 to be exact. Using a Lightsaber does not cost vitality points.

3. A character with a base attack bonus of at least +6 gets to make more than one attack per round when using a full round action. A character such as Palpatine (the one who uses Force Lightning the most) has four attacks every round if he uses a full round attack with his lightsaber. What would you choose, 4 attacks, each delivering 6d8+1 damage (an average of 24.5 points of damage PER attack) OR one attack dealing 3d8 damage (an average of 12 points) which also costs 8 vitality points?

4. Using Force Lightning gives you a dark side point by default. Using a Lightsaber does not give you a dark side point.

As it stands, Force Lightning can only be useful to kill a 0 level commoner (diplomat, expert or thug), and even then it is better to use the Lightsaber, more damage, more attacks, and no vitality cost.

Taking all this into consideration should any Sith/Dark Sider use this Force Skill EVER, unless he has no lightsaber or just wants the coolness factor?

Isn't Force Lightning terribly underrated? Using the RPG rules, why should Palpatine zap Yoda with Force Lightning rather than attack him only with his Lightsaber?

 

There was an optional ForcE Lightning rule to make it more deadly posted on the WOTC site in a Jedi Counseling article.

And it will always give you a DSP because you're a) intentionally corrupting the Force and b) using the Force to directly attack.

 

Of course it should give you a dark side point. But that is definitely a drawback for this ability.

Also, I know about the Jedi counseling House Rule for Force Lightning. That rule makes you have to do a ranged attack roll (instead of automatically hitting always, which is silly) and makes it possible to achieve at maximum 3d10 damage. Still a far cry from a good lightsaber, and still costing vitality points, still only one attack and less damage.

As it stands, it's just stupid do use this skill if you can make more than one attack with a lightsaber. I DM and my players only occasionally use it for show, because it is the coolest Force Skill. But if they're in a life-or-death situation they would NEVER use this, because it's just a waste of perfectly good vitality points, only to do less damage!

Helgi B.

 

3d10 == 16.5 damage on average. At range.

That's roughly akin to a Jedi doing 4d8 damage (18 damage on average) and, since Force Lightning is a move action, can be used two times per round (three with Force Mastery) at range, whereas you need to close to range and be able to attack once with a lightsaber.

Sith Lords have more flexibility there...

 

Force Lightning is an attack action.

 

Hurm... I thought it was a move action.

So, even better: you get much, MUCH better damage than any ranged weapon AND you can full-attack and use Force Mastery to gain an extra attack per round.

Wow.

 

Force Lightning only costs 6 VP, and it also allows you to saturate an area with your attack, 6m wide by 10m long... you can hit ALOT of enemies if they are clustered with one attack.

Seems pretty good to me...

 

Well sure, it has an area effect, and that's nifty, I'll grant you that.

But I still say that unless your lightsaber has been kicked out of the window you're never going to use Force Lightning in a fight.

 

Sure ya will.

Say, a Jedi Knight (Jedi Guardian Level 7) and his new Padawan (Jedi Guardian Level 1) attack a Sith (Soldier 1/Dark Side Marauder 5/Sith Acolyte 1). The Sith wins Initiative, and whips out the Force Lighting, and does 16 points of damage to both the Jedi and Padawan. Well, since the Padawan only had 12 Vitality, he takes 4 Wound points. The kid's getting jacked up before he even draws his 'saber.

Now, the person playing the Jedi Knight has to make a role-playing decision: Which is more important, the life of his Padawan, or the death of the Sith?

Well, while he's making that decision, the Sith lets off another stream of lightning. Only 10 damage this time, but the Padawan takes another 10 points of damage. He's at -2 (from having had 14 Wound and 12 Vitality, a total of 24, and taking 26 points of damage) and falls unconscious. The Jedi has also taken 26 points of damage, roughly a third of his Vitality pool.

The situation's getting tricky here, ain't it?

Well, then the Sith uses Quick Draw to pull out his lightsaber (he gained Proficiency with his 6th level Bonus Feat) and asks the Jedi Knight if he feels lucky.

There. Effective use of Force Lightning. Badda-boom, badda-bing.

Nyar.

 

D6 rules for Force Lightning:
Automatic DSP just for TRYING to use the ability.
damage = Alter skill. (minimum 1d, +1d for every DSP)
resist is Strength. (max 4d for human)
Recipient is AUTOMATICALLY UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING for the NEXT ROUND.

Thus, Luke was knocked to the ground, and wracked with pain, unable to do anything but talk, and scream in pain.

Much more in keeping with the movies.

Average Darksider: 3d alter, 4DS => 7d damage.
Jedi Template: 3d+1 str

Result: ave Dam=23, ave str=12
Jedi is incapacitated, probablly unconscious.

 

and IIRC, that Force Lightning wasn't blockable by a lightsaber blade

 

Exactly, Jedi_Matt.

In the SW d20 RPG Force Lightning is more like a nuisance rather than the awesome power we know and love.

If someone feels that Force Lightning in the RPG is an accurate description of the skill in the movies, then answer this: why should darksiders who have lightsabers ever use this skill? Why should Palpatine use it on Yoda? For the coolness factor, even though it's tactically stupid?

 

Ummmmm, I'm sorry, but since the movies are absolute canon then lightsabers CAN block Force Lightning.

Also, please do not forget about the DC 20 Fort save to not be dazed.
Also, please do not forget that lightsabers are a close-combat weapon and Force Lightning can be used at range.

If a Jedi is within 10m, isn't it better to Force Mastery Force Lightning as a free action, ready a lightsaber strike when the Jedi closes range and then gaining extra damage or moving the 10m, attacking once and giving a Jedi a full-attack action with HIS lightsaber.

It's a wonder any of you survive your battles...

 

One thing's for sure, it's nasty in the Minis game...

E_S

 

lol i know, but it was nice before the prequels when as far as we knew it couldnt be blocked with a lightsaber

I think force lightning is great actually...

as for why use a lightsaber?

master defence springs to mind...

 

How is the Sith using Force Lightning twice in one round? Is he using Force Mastery? That costs him 18 vitality points, meaning he has damaged himself almost as much as he's damaged his enemies.

How is this a good tactic?

 

Force lightning actually costs 6VP, so doubling that by using Force Mastery only costs 12VP. Not a bad hit for doing 32pts damage.

 

What do you mean? To use Force Lightning twice in one round by using Force Mastery you have to spend 18 vitality points. 6 for the initial attack and then 12 for the second one. And I don't think it's good to inflict 32 points of damage on your opponents if you have to inflict 18 on yourself in the process.

32-18=14

Meaning that actually you're just reducing your opponents' vitality by 14 if you look at it proportionally. That's crap.

 

Look at the first paragraph. Using only one blast of FL costs (between two characters) 32 points of damage.

That time it costs 6...

Now you're right that the second time it causes 12VP on top of that, but

Now in total 52 points of damage were dealt to both characters...

52-18... seems like a fair trade-off to me.

 

I understand now what you meant.

I agree that FL can be useful against multiple opponents, but against one, no way.

 

Yeah Force Lightning seems much more powerful in D6, but from the defenders it doesn't seem TOO bad in D20.

Course D6 is much more flexible than D20...

 

Well, the big issue with FL now is the fact that it can be deflected and/or redirected back at the attacker. This is true even if the target is unarmed, assuming they spend a Force Point to do it.

It makes it (IMHO) much less intimidating...

 

You have to be a relatively high-level Jedi to be able to block it though, don't you? I'm too busy to look up the errata on that right now.

If that's the case then it's only sensible that an unarmed high-level Jedi would be on even ground with an unarmed high-level Sith.

 

From the Errata (Jedi Counseling):

Force Lightning Skill

This skill now reads:

Force Lightning (Int)
Dark Side Force Skill; requires the Force-Sensitive and Alter feats.
You can call upon the Force to blast a target with bolts of energy.
Check: Make a skill check to determine the amount of damage inflicted by Force Lightning.

Result:
14 or less = No damage
15-19 = 2d6
20-29 = 2d8
30+ = 2d10

Then make a ranged attack. If your attack hits, the target suffers the listed damage and must attempt a Fortitude save (DC 20). On a failed save, the target is dazed for 1 round. If the save fails by 10 or more, the target is instead dazed for 1d4+1 rounds. A dazed target falls prone as well.
Special: Force Lighting has a range of 10 m.
You can take 10 on this skill but not take 20.
Because Force Lightning utilizes an attack roll, the attack has a threat range (a roll of 20 on a d20) and can be deflected as per the Jedi class ability.
Time: Force Lighting is an Attack Action.
Vitality Point Cost: 6.

So, sure, it takes a high level Jedi to deflect(attack) but not necessarily to block or deflect it.

 

Result:
14 or less = No damage
15-19 = 2d6
20-29 = 2d8
30+ = 2d10

The damage should be:

15-19 = 3d6
20-29 = 3d8
30+ = 3d10