Training lightsabers?

[Vifi Sunfell]

I was coming awfully close to posting some background for my character. Then I saw that Jedi start with training lightsabers. It just seems silly.

Storywise, you could easily write how your smuggler or trooper didn't have his favorite gun. But how do you write an established Jedi who in-game now needs to go through Jedi training and don't have their lightsaber? I mean demoting a Jedi to a training lightsaber seems like starting off your smuggler with a pointy stick.

So it seems to make assumptions that all Jedi are new recruits. Your thoughts for me, the MMO noob? How do you reconsile this with the RP side?

[RavenMiles]

Do not worry about it. Give yourself a lightsaber and call it a day. We all know about training sabers. But we do not believe in them. It is your story so do what you want.

[Vifi Sunfell]

Still seems derpy. I'm seriously considering trying to write it into the character. Someone talk me off the ledge.

[Auric]

The only reason I would do it, is if you're RPing a padawan going into a Jedi. If you're RPing a character that's already a Jedi then there's no reason for it. Training sabers are used as a teaching tool so padawans are the only ones with cause to use them. Jedi use lightsabers, just ignore the first part of the game where you have a training saber, and say you're on a quest to craft a better one or something.

[RavenMiles]

Yep, it is your story. So do what you want.

[Vifi Sunfell]

Cool, keep the comments coming, I'm interested to see what other Jedi are thinking! Thanks Raven & Thib!

[Askari]

Flashback.

When I start my jedi knight and consular in the game, I'm just going to write off the first ~ten levels (probably only a few hours of game time) as a flashback to when I was a padawan.

[Vifi Sunfell]

Flashback.

When I start my jedi knight and consular in the game, I'm just going to write off the first ~ten levels (probably only a few hours of game time) as a flashback to when I was a padawan.

That's a really great idea!  Thank you thank you thank you!

[Mixxi]

Once you get off the training planet no one will ever know...    Definitely could be written off as a flashback--or ignored completely! You Jedi are great with those mind tricks.

This whole issue of the predetermined, identical stories is going to be a big sticking point for RPers. The fact that the quests mean so much to the character personally makes them way more interesting and compelling. It also presents contractions for those of us who actually have a story for our character. I can foresee a lot of parallel things going on--one train of events necessitated by the game, and one train of events that's just your own character's story.

My own personal take will be that I'm living my character's life. Even though the quest-givers may be talking to me as if I'm there for reason A, I'm perfectly content with letting them believe that while I and my allies REALLY know I'm there for reason B.

[PinkRose]

Everyone above me gives good answers.
I'm contrary, though.
I like to play my character as if the game designers are my Game Master.
So if I have training sabers in the game, then my character has training sabres.
It's why I'm having such a hard time (read as: none) RPing on the forums. Because I don't know who my character is yet, because the world hasn't been defined completely to me.

If I find an empty building, then it can be a bakery in my world.
But if there is a bank there already, then it's a bank.

[Rumze]

The great idea that I was going to suggest was already brought up: flashback.

Very neat way.

[Vilidius]

I'm going to skim very close to beta insights here, but so be it.

Yes, the single-player stories in this game all make certain assumptions about your character that you will simply have to ignore if you don't want to be playing in a universe full of people who are living your same exact life.  Every MMO I've ever seen has, to some extent, this problem.  As in "OMFG, I slew this totally badass dragon and pulled this jewel out of it's belly!" and every other warrior in the game who has ever needed to complete that quest to gain their epic sword says "like, totally wow!  I did the same thing last week!"

So yes, SWTOR is going to demand some of the same thing we've always done.  We just pretend that isn't happening.  We tell our own stories in the Star Wars universe while ignoring inconsistent details in game play.  It takes a bit of double think but we're all surprisingly good at it.

And yeah, in terms of flashback, I'll say that all personal stories take place about 10 years after the Treaty of Corrusant and they are all very much tied into current events.  You can imagine it as a flashback if it helps somewhat, but that'll only take you so far.

[Catri]

I had thought of treating my training planet experience as a flashback as well, but I was going to wait and see what the game was like before coming to a final decision. I've been writing my forum posts with the knowledge that the story lines I set up for my characters may have to be altered later to fit the game. I mainly wanted to get used to RPing them in this universe.

I would say write your backstory the way you want to write it now to get an idea of who your character is. When you see what the story of the game is like you can decide to re-write your backstory, treat your start planet as a flashback, or treat your personal story as a parallel plot to the game plot.

[meatgrin]

Another way to look at it is that only the really young Jedi...the ones just starting their training at the age of 5 or 6 get the training sabers until they are able to handle a real one.  I am assuming your character isn't starting out that young....so you are or could be closer to the end of your training (just about to go through the trials) and have already made your saber and have trained with it for years. 

The idea of a six year old with a light saber terrifies me, especially since I have worked around some rather...uhh...troubled kids.     That and at that early age children aren't particularly graceful so little Timmy or little Suzie could easily just take off their own head with it...hence a safer way to train the little ones without a high mortalitiy rate.  Thats just my two cents.

[Jhared]

Well, not all of the trooper quests are going to be IC for Jhared. I mean, there is only so many people who can kill that droid or travel with Mr. Explosions. Instead, I think it is easier to sort of write in what can be and consider your companions someone else than they are shown during your story. So onto lightsabers, point is - if you think you can integrate it into your character's story go ahead and if not just ignore that and enjoy the story told by Bioware until you find something you can use.

[Tal]

Miyamoto Musashi, famed Japanese swordsman, showed up to a duel with a wooden sword once.  There's some different ideas to why (such as he actually forgot his sword at home and improvised) and that he made one along the way.  Could be fun to write in that your jedi lost their lightsaber (through no fault of their own) and is simply utilizing a practical replacement until they fashion a new one.

If questioned or mocked about running around with a wooden stick the Jedi could just reply with [insert something wise about violence being the result of failing or somesuch] and then serenely walks away.

[Gith]

Miyamoto Musashi, famed Japanese swordsman, showed up to a duel with a wooden sword once.  There's some different ideas to why (such as he actually forgot his sword at home and improvised) and that he made one along the way.  Could be fun to write in that your jedi lost their lightsaber (through no fault of their own) and is simply utilizing a practical replacement until they fashion a new one.

Losing your lightsaber = complete disgrace and embarrassment for a Jedi though. That would be a lot of lightsabers on the black market.

[Tal]

Well sure.  It was pretty darn shameful for a samurai to be forgetfull or to lose their sword as well.  I'm sure accidents happen...even with Jedis...

My overall point is: you're never too cool to not beat people up with a wooden stick 

[Gith]

They are supposed to be vibroswords actually I think.