Kyle Katarn: Lightside or Darkside?

According to the Star Wars wikipedia's article on the Force, Kyle Katarn holds the Potentium-ish view that the Force has no Light or Dark side, but that rather, intent is what matters.

Now, I'm curious, why is it that Luke lets him teach this to the Jedi under his tutelage? Was he made to modify his views after Jedi Academy, or is this part of Luke's "the Jedi have many voices, but speak as one"?

 

I'd put more stock in the Official Databank over the Wookiepedia.

Given his various adventures, Kyle would recongize the Dark more than anyone given that he gave in to it for a time. His story is a good parallel to Luke so he would probably have similar views.

 

Well, I think that sentiment comes from a quote from Jedi Academy, in which he tells Jaden Korr that the intent matters, not the power.

As we know, Kyle has had definate experiences with the darkside. He fought it against Jerec and fell to it on Dromund Kaas.

He used darkside powers in Jedi Outcast, but that was primarily another near falling because he thought Jan was dead.

So...why did his outlook change in Jedi Academy? This was after Kyp had destroyed Caridia and whatnot with the Suncrusher, right? He might have been trying to rationalize this, due to believing that destroying large numbers of Imperials was the right thing to do, having fought them for so long. Just a thought.

 

Well, he really didnt change his outlook much. In the game Jedi Academy he continues to preach he philosophy that its not the powers, its the intent behind them.

 

Luke permitted the Potentium to be taught because Jacen convinced him that the force should be viewed differently (this is backed up in Unseen Queen). That's why Kyle was able to teach this view.

 

^^^Doesn't Jedi Academy take place BEFORE the NJO?

 

From a real world point of view of course it's just there to let us use Darkside powers without going to the effort of producing a DF2 mission path choice structure.

I don't think it should be read as teaching the potentium, as the theory wasn't known by the Jedi at this point - and Kyle definitely referenced the Darkside in it's classical sense throughout the game (warning you that you are straying to close if you develop an your Darkside powers too far and so on.)

 

^^Following this through to -- a somewhat contrived -- conclusion, can we say, then, that the non-canon nature of gameplay mechanics makes this view also non-canon?

 

That's kinda what I was hinting at, yeah. But hopefully it could be rationalised without stretching incredulity too far. I really like that whole speach he's giving when training Jaden.

 

Never used Jedi Outcast lightning much. And the KOTORs make a harsh hurshing sound. It depredated the bar in a second. And there was something about Force-pulling a roomful of troopers over your head that was cooler.

Do you have any idea how much lightning Desann can fountain on you without end? I've been flooded with thick streams of blue a few times, quite funny as the screen goes into slow motion as you drown in it. It's unfair.

He's got horse teeth, at least.

 

True...I dunno, Kyle's always been troubled. It seems like a justificaiton thing, kind of like the whole reason the Potentium was an attractive option during the NJO: they were fighting a difficult enemy. Using the Force for attack, using aggressive Force Powers, seems like a good idea when you're getting your butt kicked left and right.

 

As cool as Kyle Katarn is, I'm not so sure we should take his personal point of view as anything less than a grain of salt.

If the game is any indication, he's obviously been warped by his experiences at the very least. Watching him as he laughs maniacally as he slaughters droves of Stormtroopers and sprays Dark Side Lightning around the room is all the proof I needed.

 

^^Well said. Even if a Jedi ends up being good, using Dark Side powers corrupts.

 

And yet Luke trusts him to handle the combat training of the apprentices at the Academy. Interesting...

 

Vaapaad?

 

Nah, only the cutscenes and certain dialogue sections should be taken as canon. Just the basics of the plot.

 

Yeah, I don't take his use of lighting on the Vjun missions as canon. Just a gameplay mechanic, maybe even a mistake -- the developers absentmindedly gave him all powers at full, not realizing the dude would spew lightning constantly. I don't know about that, but I know Kyle wasn't actually launching lighting all over the place.

 

So Luke has no problem with Kyle teaching an embryonic version (which I support, more or less) of Vergere's philosophy regarding Force-use, and this as early as 15 BBY?

 

I think Kyle wasn't saying "Go out and blast Imps with Force lightning" so much as he was saying "Don't think Force-pushing people into walls is OK because you're not using lightning." Intentions matter more than whether you're using Force lighting or Jedi mind trick. So he wan't encouraging "light side" use of "dark side" powers, but instead discouraging dark side use of "light side" powers (And there's a reason that the second use of dark side isn't in quotes, folks). He was trying to get the students over the whole "wow-gee-wiz-isn't-the-Force-cool-let's-go-kick-Imp-butt" glamor-Jedi perception of the new recruits and into thinking seriously about their intentions and the moral underpinnings of their actions. At least, that's how I prefer to interpret it.

 

Nicely said. That makes a good deal of sense.

 

I never thought of it that way, but...wow. Well said. That element isn't often considered.

 

Christ just complimented my writing!

Seriously, that avatar is really throwing me off.

 

Except that your character can in fact use force lightning. So, the question is that part of the game's story or simply a game mechanic to allow lightside characters to use darkside power.

 

Furthermore, the fact that your character can use dark side powers would seem to be more than simply a game mechanic. Though, that element was included because the game came out about the same time that we were introduced to the Potentium, so it was "up to date" but at the same time anachronistic.

 

I know what you mean. I'm beginning to feel that anything less than perfect charity to my fellow members would be vaguely sacriligious.