Development Cycle Archive

Simple, Nerf-Free Jedi Balance - The Jedi Code

Jedi within the Star Wars universe are supposed to be the top of the food chain, but this conflicts with balanced game dynamics in a role-playing game. The resultant paradox can't be avoided because PC Jedi are a product promise for SWG, but it can bedealt withby taking a tip from the old Star Wars table-top RPG in its handling of the PC Jedi and instituting a code of behavior for Jedi (which, coincidentally, is in-keeping with increased "Star-Warsy-ness", since there is actually aJedi Code). In brief -All Jedi are very, very spiritually "in-touch" individuals (which is the source of their power) and failure to use the powers they command in the appropriate way invariably results in some serious negative effects for Jedi who act inappropriately since they are unbalancing the source of their power itself.

Salient Details

One of the biggest problems with Jedi in a computer RPG is that the people most strongly driven to "win" a Jedi character are also those players most likely to behave in an un-Jedi fashion, which unbalances the game and destroys the "Star-Warsy-ness" of having Jedi in the first place. To reduce the actual power of the Jedi would not be in keeping with the feel of being in the Star Wars universe, but leaving them overpowered opens the door to unfair play and abuse.

A simple code of behavior would heavily discourage whimsical abuses by PC Jedi while otherwise letting them retain their unquestioned combat superiority. Basically, apply temporary penalties to any Jediinitiating combatagainsta non-Jedi, since to do so would be unjust and not in keeping with the Jedi way, since the Jedi are preservers of peace and justice(in the case of Dark Jedi it is because such actions arecowardly and a sign of weakness, since the driving characteristics of Dark Jedi seem to be pride, ambition, and a severe superiority complex). This general type of solution has long been used in table-top role-playing systems to balance out powerful character classes/races. It is simple and effective, but allows realistic"freedom of action" for self-destructive types.

The Good and the Bad

The primary effect would be to make it "not worthwhile" for Jedi players to abuse their power by harrassing weaker PCs. Some added bonuses would be slowing Jedi advancement, since they could only gain experience through conflict initiated against them or with other force-using players/mobs. Reducing the potential for abuse and slowing Jedi advancement would make playing a Jedi "more realistic" and would probably discourage many powergamers from wanting Jedi since the character would be forced to behave honorably and wouldn't allow them to dominate the battlefield except at appropriate times, thus the overall number of Jedi would be reduced to a more realistic level. Another benefit is that this doesn't actually nerf Jedi, it just means that they can only fight in self-defense or against those in a power bracket more similar to their own. All Jedi would have to be calm and self-disciplined, since a player who could be "taunted" or provoked into initiating an attack would not do very well in the long run, whereas a clever Jedi could manipulate others into attacking first.

The downside is that a lot of people who holo-ground their way to Jedi will be very irate and may quit, but that's the same drawback faced in any serious change to a character class. It may also be a coding challenge, but "flagging" enemies with something similar to a TEF should allow them to be differentiated from those who have not attacked the Jedi or his/her party.

Overall, roleplaying potential for Jedi characters goes up, abuse potential remains, but actual abuse would be rare since nothing could be gained by it, and chronic abuse or harrassment would be almost unheard of since such Jedi would always be vulnerable to ambushes. Also, overall"Star-Warsy-ness" goes up due to having Jedi that act like Jedi should instead of Jedi who slaughter the weak for sport and profit.

Details:

A Jedi Code could include the following (in game terms):

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  Any Jedi initiating an attack on a non-Jedi (PC or NPC) (i.e. attacking a player who hasn't attacked you, or attacking a non-aggro'd mob) would recieve noXP/FP of any kind for winning, and would use all force powers at a seriously increased HAM cost due to not being in tune with the force.


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  Any Jedi attacked by other Jedi or non-Jedi (PC or NPC) fights with the full strength of his or her uberness and recieves fullXP/FP for victory against the attacker or any member of the attacker's group.


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  Any Jedi initiating an attack on a FSC or FS-NPC would also fight at full strength and recieve full XP/FP.


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  Any PC or NPC attacking a current party member of the Jedi/Dark Jedi would also be flagged as "fair game" since defending one's comrades from harm is a just action (could just be considered "revenge",which makes it"worthy"from the Dark Jedi's perspective as well).

Notes:

• If lack of XP/FP and restricted use of force powers doesn't do enough to discourage abuses in testing, penalties could be increased, doubling or tripling the cost for skill use against invalid targets to the point that a Jedi who initiates attacks against non-jedi would be no more than an even match for their victims.


• Any combination or variation on the suggested penalties would work, depending on what's most easily coded and most loophole free, as long as the overall effect is to encourage Jedi to act like Jedi and protect players who would rather role-play than max out their character for anti-Jedi combat, but still want to play a role in the GCW.