Limiting Powers

Without proper ground basics, our characters can get pretty out of whack with what crazy (and unrealistic) powers our guys have. So today I compiled some information about basic subjects in Star Wars to keep balance, in my own characters at least.

For example, Force Lightning is a very advanced skill. It would take years to be able to make Lightning strong enough to kill, otherwise it might just char your palms and only create a few sparks. And so, I've realized – Kian, a 16 year old, shouldn't be casting electricity like its child's play.

No one has ever completely mastered the force. Not even Yoda.

And I'm not writing this post to call anyone out on – in fact, this might be more for myself than anyone else. But here it goes anyway.

Lightsaber Forms: Force Sensitives usually master only one lightsaber form – in their life time. It goes without saying that they at least have some rudimentary knowledge in a few other forms, but when they focus on one form and become a master at that one form alone, although there are plenty of examples of Jedi and Sith using two or even three. Combining forms to make a slightly customized form for some users was more or less common, but actually creating new (though unofficial) forms was extremely rare (just because of the immense time and strength to do so) – but was done in the notable case of our dear friend Darth Vader to compensate for his immobile life support and robotic appendages. Also, lightsaber forms are a different thing than lightsaber principles (see “Sokan,” “Form Zero,” and “Dun Moch). And as a final note, what lightsaber forms a user knew could be the difference between life and death – between taking a strategic (and wise) withdrawal, or having an immense advantage. “Fast Style” is a good form for taking out a squad of blaster wielding troopers, because it utilizes force speed and quick, successive jabs and slashes – but in its strength for defeating enemy shooters, it suffers heavily when fighting melee opponents. Just something to keep in mind – even the best are balanced by strengths and weaknesses.

Force Lightning/Electric Judgment: Force Lightning was a very advanced technique – no padawan should be able to use either type (*glances at Kian*). And, as Darth Plagueiuaias (less commonly spelled Plagueis) said, Electric Judgment is only a facsimile of true Sith lightning. And, what's more, to quote Darth Bane - “Some possess raw elemental power; they can unleash storms of lightning from their fingertips . . .” (Emphasis mine) Some. Not all. And even those who can use force lightning, it takes an immense amount of energy and concentration to use it, and will exhaust most after moments of a continued burst. And while the most powerful bursts could kill on contact, lightning was “at it's core, simply electricity generated by the dark side, it could be grounded with any material that was resistant to electrical currents . . . Force lightning could ground itself on a lightsaber, with no apparent ill effect on the lightsaber's operation.” Some of the more powerful lightning could blast a saber away from the user's hand – but in general, this means that simply holding up a lightsaber in front of you could protect you from a lot of the lightning strike. (See superconducting loop for this section).

Dark Side Abilities (In General): Force Choke was using the force to constrict a victim's throat. The same principle as Force Kill and Force Wound, only on different parts of the body. Force Choke was probably a pretty simple thing to learn, though it could be blocked by the force. Although you'd have to be pretty evil to use it.

Force Destruction was another overpowered dark side power, but it took intense concentration and strength to use it, and could only be used a few times at a time. It would vaporize most anything around it in a large radius.

Force Rage: Some of the more unstable Jedi and Sith could fall into a rage empowered by the dark side. This would enhance their speed, strength, and overall destructiveness. However, only one Jedi ever was able to channel the Force Rage to obey his own will.

Light Side Abilities (In General): Force Stealth wasn't an easy skill to master. It would have to be learned painstakingly even after a padawan or acolyte is officially knighted or becomes a sith. Force Stealth is much different than a Mind Trick because instead of tricking people around you, you are “dissolving into your surroundings.”

Mind Tricks: Mind tricks were pretty simple things, but Jedi were often warned not to use it to much – especially not for their own gain. Other force-adepts were not susceptible to tricks because they were taught at an early age to have mind force shields to block such things.

Force Healing: On it's lowest levels wasn't good for more than cuts and burns. But even highly trained force users could only expedite the healing process, not actually regenerate lost matter. Learning to be a skilled healer would presumably take years. Darksiders had a variant of force healing, but it was only a mimic of lightsider healing and was all temporary.

Force Push: Force pushes can be stopped by another force push (see when Anakin and Obi-Wan push against each other), and a bubble of pushiness would be created between the pushes, and once the bubble reached a point it would explode and send both combatants back powerfully. But otherwise, pushes can be pretty devastating. According to Wookieepedia, a push can slam a person against a wall hard enough to make them have a blackout or probably a concussion, but at least disorientation. Some variants of the force push (the force punch) could kill because of the blast alone instead of hitting against a wall or some other object, which could also happen, but both techniques took skill and precision. (See Force Repulsion, Force Throw, Force Blow, Force Wave – Force Kill and Force Wound is presumably related, but I think we can all agree it's too easy to powerplay with this, and although there are ways to resist this, be it through a Force Repulsion or Force Wave, I have no idea what these are and it's probably best to leave them out.)

Lightsaber Forms: Kian knows Ataru moderately well, and learned a few basic concepts of Soresu. But he knows a martial art, which he incorporates into whatever form he uses. Other forms he knows virtually nothing about.

Force Lightning/Electric Judgment: Although he's used it before, he can't control when he uses. The best he can do is absorb lightning into his saber, and can sometimes create a weak superconducting loop.

Dark Side Abilities (In General): Kian has been known to fall into a Force Rage easily and therefore often have an advantage over his opponent, but it only brings him deeper into the dark side. He, as of yet, cannot channel the rage, and especially cannot use the rage without feeling the creeping of the dark side wrap around him stronger. Unfortunately, Force Rage makes Kian exhausted, and therefore if he's tempted into a rage and not broke from it quickly he'll totally exhaust himself.

Light Side Abilities (In General):

Mind tricks: Kian can perform basic mind tricks, triggered by voice commands, but can only do it on one victim at a time. He, like every other Jedi as well, was taught to repel mind tricks from other force-adepts.

Force Healing: Kian never has the focus to even learn very basic healing such as to heal scrapes.

Force Push: He is much stronger in Force Pushing than most other force attacks. With a well timed and well aimed force push, he could kill a man through head damage by bashing him against the wall. He can use the Force Punch (and Kick) in melee well, in combination with a Jedi Tae Kwon Do martial art. :P

Force Strength: Kian is moderately strong in the Force for a young knight, especially at his age. He could juggle anything the size of a car, but not more than that without exhausting himself quickly. However, he is not very strong in the Force, especially the mind aspect, because he relies on raw emotions like that of the Sith, while still trying to be on the light side.

I'll try to keep to these basics throughout the rest of the battle. If, or when, I do step outside these boundaries I laid out for myself, it will be because Kian learns a knew technique or something – but only with a lot of training to go with it.  And feel free to call me out if Kian does anything realistic according to his powers, by the way.

I encourage everyone else to do this with their characters as well.

- Warrior