Post by Cain on Sept 16, 2011 15:26:42 GMT -5
"Gray" Jedi
First and foremost; what is a Gray Jedi? On BHOD, a Gray Jedi is any Force user with an alignment over -30 and are currently unaffiliated with either the Jedi Order or the Sith Covenant. Gray Jedi covers a wide swathe of professions and ranks, as such, there really is no set system for what a Gray Jedi's character rank should be.
That being said, Gray Jedi usually have some history with other factions such as the Jedi or the Sith. In this way they can be given ranks (Gray Jedi Padawan, Gray Jedi Shadow, Gray Jedi Sentinel, etc). If you are going to have your Gray Jedi trained by either the Jedi or the Sith it is important that you check the Jedi Character Guide and the Sith Character Guide for information about how their rankings work.
However, not all Gray Jedi are trained in a faction setting. But there are things that all Force users need to learn, and elements of their growth they all share in common. This guide will cover these for you.
Early Life (Ages 0 - 12) - The beginnings of a Force user's life is usually not any more or less remarkable then those of a Non Force user. It is important to note that children ARE NOT born knowing how to manipulate the Force. One of the most common mistakes in bios that I've seen are people writing about how their toddler characters are able to levitate things with their minds, or read other peoples thoughts. Telekinesis and Telepathy are powers one has to be trained to use, they're not abilities one has naturally so early in life. The only signs of Force sensitivity pre-adolescence would be quicker than normal reflexes or maybe strange gut feelings. Nothing more.
Also it should be noted that the Force generally takes a life time to learn, practice and to master. So if your character is at Master level, don't have them learning everything they know before they're 9 years old (or in the first 3 years of their training if they get a later start).
Adolescence (Ages 13 - 18) - The teenage years are an extremely important time for a character's growth and developement. Usually these are the years when a Force user learns the most about the Force, using a lightsaber, etc. Even if your character has had a later start being trained, know that it does generally take 5 years or so to become proficient at such things, no matter how old you are.
As far as training goes, there are certain things all Force users are typically taught:
The Force
Control - The most basic practice taught to all noobs in the Force was control. The idea of "control" was gaining the ability to control one's self, as this would set up the basis for all other abilities. As Master Qui-Gon said "When you learn to quiet your mind, you will hear the Force speaking to you." Qui-Gon was referring to learning control. Learning to use this mainly includes meditation and simply listening, training yourself to feel and hear the Force inside of you. Powers like Heal, Valor, Speed, most Body techniques stem from Control.
Sense - The next step in learning to use the Force is sense. Once one has mastered the ability to hear the Force within themselves, they are ready to broaden their abilities to the world around them. Sense was the ability of a Force user to immerse themselves in their environment, stretching out from themselves and feeling the Force all around them. Sense was also acquired passively through meditation and listening. Powers like Precognition and Empathy are Sense abilities. Most Telepathy and Sense techniques stem from Sense.
Alter - This is the big one that contains most of the powers people associate with Force users, and of course it is also the most difficult to learn and master. After one is able to hear and feel the Force within themselves and around them, only then can they begin to learn to redirect and manipulate the Force's energies. This results in abilities like good old Push and Pull, Barriers, Force Jump, Force Lightning, etc. Telekinesis and Channel Powers stem from Alter.
Lightsabers
What you need to know about Lightsabers as a Gray Jedi is that everyone (and that means EVERYONE) starts with Form I: Shii-Cho. Why? Because Shii-Cho is essentially sword fighting 101. Shii-Cho teaches all the basic moves, parries, thrusts, etc. and it teaches the basic target zones one needs to aim for to disable a foe. It's the foundation of all six of the other forms. So basically, if you don't learn Shii-Cho, you can't use a lightsaber. Also, you can't be any more skilled in any form then you are in Shii-Cho (For example: If you're Advanced in Ataru, you have to be at least Advanced in Shii-Cho).
Adulthood (Ages 18+) - Once you've actually spent a good amount of time learning to use the Force, then you can start kicking ass with it. Usually it takes at the VERY least 10 years from when you start learning to be able to use the Force at Knight level. No earlier than age 20 if you started as a child. Also it usually takes 20 years at the VERY least for Master level, no earlier than age 30 if you start as a child.
Current Gray Jedi
-Tracinya Drakain (Wanderer)
