Brainstorming a non-Jedi Force user

[Stormborn]

When the campaign I am running is done we will be playing Star Wars Saga. My current plans for my primary PC (we have 2 players and a GM, so 2 PCs each) is really shaping up, but I would like some help mechanically.

Set during the Old Republic Era, my PC is a human from an Arabian Nights inspired world that we are [maybe tenativelly] calling Osirion (borrowing the name from Pathfinder). The world was governed by several families descended from a near mythic force user known as the Prophet and his disciples, serving a joint administrative and spiritual function. About 40 years ago the ruling class was deposed and exiled in a what seems like a popular uprising, one with suspicious origins. Most have settled on Courescant. In recent years the Jedi have tried to fold the Scions of the Prophet into the Order, and have made the head of the Scions a member of the council. Technically they are Jedi, but still hold to their own traditions and training methods.

This is where my PC comes in. Amoz ibn Rah is both the son of wealth and a Scion. In the campaign he will be partnered with a more traditional Jedi, most like focusing on light saber combat, the other PC. Our secondary characters are up in the air, butI am leaning toward a scoundrel or scout corporate agent the GM can use as a conduit for information.

We will be starting at 3rd level. I want Amoz to reflect both the aristocratic side and the Scion side of his background. I also want the Scions to be destinct from the Jedi in what they do. Do I do Amoz as a Noble 3, with Force Sensativity and Force Training; a Jedi 3 but focus on non-combat powers and talents; or some combination thereof?

Thoughts?

 

[ValhallaGH]

A quick bit of clarification: what weapons does Amoz use? There's an implication of the light saber, but you could just as easily go with primitive or normal weapons. This may have an effect upon class choice and other advice.
Also, are the Scions of the Prophet basically human?

 

[Stormborn]

A quick bit of clarification: what weapons does Amoz use? There's an implication of the light saber, but you could just as easily go with primitive or normal weapons. This may have an effect upon class choice and other advice.
Also, are the Scions of the Prophet basically human?

The Scions of the Prophet are the force-using tradition of Human nobility of Osirion, yes. Although I would be willing to consider otherwise should a strong case be made.

As for weapon, while its difficult to argue with the benifit of the lightsaber if I went with a non-Jedi build I would be willing to either just use a simple weapon (the quarterstaff seems appropriate) or spend a feat for advanced melee weapons, something exotic, or the lightsaber. I am not as concerend about him being able to dish out tons of damage. In fact, something intersting that wasn't a lightsaber would help with the distinction I am trying to make.

 

[ValhallaGH]

So what you want is an aristocratic character from a long line of force users in a unique tradition.

Hm.

Option 1: Jedi levels with an emphasis on Force talents. Kind of bland and unless you convince your GM to swap out the weapon proficiency you'll be more hindrance than help in combat unless you break down and use a light saber. Not great, but certainly workable.

Option 2: Noble, with a selection of feats and talents that will make you eligible for the Force Adept prestige class. One of the benefits of going with a human is that you'll have a total of 3 non-class feats (1st, 3st, plus Human bonus). The combination of skills, Noble talents and the Noble bonus feat should allow you to really play-up the aristocratic leader role, while still being Force capable.

Option 3: Other classes, with a selection of feats to make you a potent Force user and eventual Force Adept.

The big flaws with options 2 and 3 are feat options. Specifically that you will be spending most of yours to use the Force at all (Force Sensitivity plus Force Training, and maybe even a skill focus [use the force]). This will limit your options for other feats and advancement options. Still, they aren't as confusing as the Jedi-but-not.


I would probably go with the following:
Human Noble 3:
Feats: Force Sensitivity, Force Training (Force Slam, Force Stun, Move Object), [Combat Feat]
Talents: Force Recovery, Disciplined Strike, [Telekinetic Savant]
Skills: Knowledge (bureaucracy), Knowledge (galactic lore), Knowledge (social sciences), Ride, Persuasion, Use Computer, and either Pilot or Treat Injury (both if I could swing it).

I'd keep an eye on the requirements for a Force Adept and be ready to go nuts when I get there.

My final build would probably be a Noble 6 / Force Adept 9 / Force Disciple 5. That build really emphasizes the non-Jedi mastery of the Force, and would benefit from a GM willing to build (or let me build) a series of talents similar to the Jensaarai and Danthomiri Force using talents.
However, you can choose a different path for this guy, a path that doesn't focus on his mastery of the Force.

 

[Donovan Morningfire]

My suggestion would be to go straight Noble, as very few of the Jedi class talents relate directly to Force-usage, and you'll have more than enough skills to play around with opposed to the Jedi getting a paltry two skills to start with. I'm assuming human, so take Force Sensitivity as one of your two starting feats, and Force Training at either 1st or 3rd level.

Alternatively, take your 1st level in Noble, multiclass into Jedi at 2nd level to get Force Sensitivity as your bonus feat, and then bounce back to Noble. You can also play off some of the Noble class talents has having more of a basis in the Force (the Inspiration talent tree is great substitute for Battle Meditation instead of the lackluster talent in the corebook). Use your Noble bonus feat to get Skill Training in Use the Force (or see if the GM will let you reserve one of your initial trained skills for that purpose), and your 3rd level feat to pick up Force Training for some powers. As for what powers to take, that's up to you. ValhallaGM listed out the "combat powers," but you may want to instead consider Force Stun, Mind Trick, and Farseeing, and the Jedi Consular talents in the KOTOR guide make Farseeing a very useful power to have in a fight instead of being mostly "fluff-based."

 

[Stormborn]

So far the discussion is leading me back to my initial thoughts, which was Human Noble 3. The Force User aspect to be filled by Force Sensativity as my Bonus Human Feat and Force Training as my 1st level feat (or visa versa), most likely going for something like Vital Transfer, Move Object, and Mind Trick for Force Powers. I am tempted for background reasons to go with force perception, farseeing, visions track - but don't want to make things difficult on myself or the GM. That leaves 1 charcater level feat and 1 class bonus feat and 2 talents yet to be determined. If I did go with WP(Lightsaber) for one of those then Noble Fencing Style talent from KOTOR would be a good choice for the CHA focused Noble, but I am still open for suggestions in that regard. Skill Focus (UtF) seems like a given, but I am not sure. In the long run he will likely want to take some levels in Force Adept, but perhaps not straight there.

 

[Angellis_ater]

Conceptually, I think you should devise WHAT your Tradition did. You say "Prophet", right? So go with the "perception-based" powers, even if it makes things a little difficult. Or take stuff you can "fluff" as related to prophecy (any form of combat bonuses can be called "combat foresight" and so on).

I think going Force Adept IS the right way, as soon as possible. Being a Noble is training and upbringing, but being a Scion is a calling, a "force" (pun intended) that compels you. Destiny always outweighs upbringing, atleast in my book.

 

[rowport]

Alternatively, take your 1st level in Noble, multiclass into Jedi at 2nd level to get Force Sensitivity as your bonus feat, and then bounce back to Noble. You can also play off some of the Noble class talents has having more of a basis in the Force (the Inspiration talent tree is great substitute for Battle Meditation instead of the lackluster talent in the corebook). Use your Noble bonus feat to get Skill Training in Use the Force (or see if the GM will let you reserve one of your initial trained skills for that purpose), and your 3rd level feat to pick up Force Training for some powers...

FWIW, this is literally identical to what I did with my "non-Jedi Force user" other than my levels at 1 and 3 being Scout rather than Noble, since my background was from a mechanic/slave rather than nobility.

It works great. You will feel very different that other regular Jedi PCs, but still be plenty effective. What is nice about the multiclassing (Scout for me, but Noble is equally true) is the broader skill base letting you shine in non-combat encounters.