SWC What makes a Jedi "powerful"?

Hey guys, what would you say makes a Jedi "powerful"? For example, while Qui-Gon Jin isn't the best fighter, I'd still say he's powerful in The Force because he was able to become a force ghost to the surprise of even Yoda and Obi-Wan.

I ask because I made an excel spreadsheet a few days ago for fun trying to determine which Jedi Council Members (only the ones shown in movies) were the most "powerful". There were 3 categories I looked at: Wisdom, skill with a lightsaber, and force abilities. I then assigned 1-9 points for each of the 3 categories. Yoda was given a 9 in all 3 categories so he had 27 points totals. Someone like Anakin however, though good with the force and the lightsaber, lacked wisdom so he was low on the list which made me feel the list was flawed.

So what "categories" do you think defines a "powerful jedi"? Would you reword the 3 categories I used, just add more, or a mix of both? I want to try to make a really fair list. I also don't want like 10 categories because there is a lot of interpretation of how good a Jedi would be at something and the more categories there are, the less accurate the list is.

 

Well, if Jedi value knowledge, I would consider a powerful Jedi to be one that is wise. They know when to use a lightsaber and when it's simply better to try to talk things out.

 

A Powerful Jedi is essentially one who is not:

- Selfish - consider - Anakin for all his vices he did correctly for the matter state how Jedi use their Powers for good - not just selfishness and unlike Sith who one way or another are always greedy and selfish and don't 'give a Force' about anyone or anything other than themselves and gaining MORE POWER ...
- Not impulsive ... look at Anakin ...
- Compassionate - well Anakin he did care about those he loved and such ... and it was just his insecurities, confusion and Palpatine's manipulation that really took him over the edge ... afterall he did redeem himself to protect Luke and fulfill the Prophecy ...and how Qui-Gon Jinn for all the fact he was a 'maverick' Jedi he explained how Sith are selfish and greedy and violent and angry hence they cannot attain true Immortality ... let alone Compassion ... and the fact how Palpatine didn't 'give a Force' about anyone or anything ... not even his own loyal vassals at times ...
- Not so 100% Dogmatic ... unfortunately which the old Jedi Order and even Master Yoda then had some problems coming to grips to realizing how Palpatine being a new generation of Sith Lords unlike violent, animalistic thugs on Korriban whom tricked everyone for decades before laying out the Sith Grand Scheme and Order 66/Protocol 66 ... so being able to adapt and be alittle more flexible ... if not somewhat SIGH ... LIBERAL ...
- Sometimes it is not necessary for even a Jedi to even need Lightsabers eh? Given apparently if one can use wise words and perhaps use Force Powers and augment a personal item with the Force ... one needs not a Lightsaber eh? Look at Form 0

 

Self-Control and self-awareness are more things that Anakin, Jedi flunk outs, and thoroughly moronic characters lack. Though you might put that under 'wisdom'.

 

I prefer "great" to "powerful" for people who embody everything that is best in Jedi.

Yoda speaks of Anakin to Luke as powerful - "Powerful Jedi was he - mmmm, powerful Jedi" - but he wasn't really a great Jedi.

 

A Powerful Jedi is essentially one who is not: compassionate
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*blink*

sometimes I wonder if people actually get what ROTJ is about

 

Jedi have an inborn connection to the force, which varies in strength (not fair, but what is?). I like the distinction above differing "great" and "powerful."

Mace I would put maybe more in the "powerful" category (Anakin: "as powerful as Master Windu"), while Obi-Wan (who still seemed to have great strength in the force) could be considered more of a "great" Jedi.

 

Book of Sith provides concrete evidence of something I had suspected for a long time: that midichlorian counts are fluid. Indeed, that midichlorian counts might be symptomatic of a mystical connection to the Force, rather than a causal factor, thus minimising their importance. If midichlorian counts sharply declined as the Exile lost her connection at Malachor V, and then resurged as she employed subconscious Force drain to achieve heights she had not before, what does that say about what makes a Jedi powerful?

I'd say it mostly comes down to knowledge, to constantly 'flexing' and honing one's powers as one might a muscle, with one's initial potential - as signified by a midichlorian count prior to any training, such as in Anakin's case - being significant as well. I tend to think mastering recondite lore makes the biggest difference, which is why Darth Sion or Darth Nihilus or Exar Kun exist as such outliers, for instance.

 

I think compassion is definitely one of the things that makes a Jedi powerful, it's their heart that makes them different from the Sith. Also their wisdom like knowing how to listen to the force, I think makes them powerful too.

 

I feel that their control over their emotions and feelings focuses their power. Compassion is what separates them from the Sith like Abbiegalie said. But, I think that the power you speak of, resides in all living things, an energy. The Jedi simply focus and meditate on that power.

 

The force makes Jedi powerful

 

I just think it is nerd-awesome that you made an Excel spreadsheet over it.

 

Faith. mercy, trust, and talent.

 

Training, lots and lots of training.

 

Midichlorians.

 

Yeah, I couldn't agree with you more! Jedi do exhibit a lot of control over their emotions; Sith, you know, they let their rage and anger take control of them and lash out at people with it to make them more powerful and use it as a weapon, but they really don't have control over this rage and anger that they feel. The Jedi have more emotional stability and they know, for example, not to let their anger cloud their judgement.

I think as well that the energy that is the Force, does reside in everyone, because the Force makes up everything, all life,it bind together everything in the galaxy. The Force has lots of power available and the Jedi know how to focus and meditate, like you said, on that power, they know how to "become one" with the Force and let it flow through them.

 

Exactly, well put. The foundation of the Sith is greed, power, and selfishness. Quite sad in fact, because something as pure and sacred as the force should not be taken advantage of for personal gain. The Jedi appreciate that power but unlike the Sith their purpose goal is not to gain power, but to understand and acknowledge the power that was bestowed upon them.

 

Drinking Milk and eating all his greens