Force Traditions at a Glance (Including Several Suitable for NFUs)

In collaboration with Coren Starchaser, a quick overview of some favorite Force traditions for character creation purposes —

TRADITION: Fallanassi
MEMBERSHIP: Mostly humanoid women, secret. Light-oriented.
SIGNATURE GEAR: None. Note that they do not carry weapons.
STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES:

• The Fallanassi are isolationist pacifists. When their enclaves are revealed, they evacuate and build new ones.
• The Fallanassi tap into the White Current, a part of the Force spectrum outside what the Jedi and Sith use.
  • NFUs can learn Fallanassi powers, though it takes years or decades. Most Fallanassi do not register as Force-sensitive on standard tests.
  • Highly skilled illusionists and benders of minds. ‘Immersion’ in the White Current is invisibility so profound that sensors and droids will not see you.
  • No telekinesis, no energy manipulation, no physical enhancement, etc.

TRADITION: Gesarils
MEMBERSHIP: The Gesarils are a light-oriented, pre-technological, Force-sensitive alien species. They have been known to teach their skills to light-oriented, Force-sensitive visitors.
SIGNATURE GEAR: Primitive carving tools.
STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES:

• Unrelated to the standard Force powers, though Gesarils acting together have been known to cause approaching ships to crash. Zero relationship to the Jedi or Sith heritages.
• The Gesarils have a Force crafting tradition centred on woodcarving. Their statuettes are imbued with the emotions and memories that a Gesaril focused on while carving. This principle can be applied to other physical artworks, e.g. painting, forging, sculpting, or jewellery-making.
• Limited resources, quite poor by galactic standards.

TRADITION: Zeison Sha
MEMBERSHIP: Originally estranged Jedi on the world of Yanibar, the Zeison Sha have become survivalists and independent, staying out of galactic affairs, but are willing to help those in need. Light-oriented.
SIGNATURE GEAR: The discblade, a metal ring with hand grips and four metal blades, customizable battle armor that allowed the wearer freedom of movement
STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES:

• Very focused on telekinetic abilities, in use of their discblade, or anything that can become projectiles
• Have been known to utilize the Force to create a barrier around their own bodies, similar to a physical shield
• Isolationist to a degree and spiteful towards Jedi.
• Their efforts are focused inward, to protecting themselves and their family

TRADITION: Jal Shey
MEMBERSHIP: Nomadic and scholarly beings of many species. Light-oriented.
SIGNATURE GEAR: Crafted armors, gloves, focus bands, and belts, to assist any wearer in the Force and enhance their abilities
STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES:

• Utilize the Force in a very intellectual way, as something to be studied rather than mastered.
• A distinct lack of physical abilities.
• Adept at debate, negotiations and diplomacy.
• Have a vast knowledge of the Force, history, and even Force nexuses.
• Highly skilled in imbuing and crafting items.

TRADITION: Matukai
MEMBERSHIP: Nomadic and spacefaring beings of many species. Light-oriented.
SIGNATURE GEAR: The wan-shen, a polearm-style weapon.
STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES:

• Very inwardly focused, masters of Control and the body.
• Able to awaken the Force through intense meditation and discipline.
• No fixed headquarters.
• NFUs can learn a degree of Force sensitivity through years or decades of Matukai training.

TRADITION: Wardens of the Sky
MEMBERSHIP: Nomadic and spacefaring. They almost always keep their Warden identity secret. Defenders of free travel on the spacelanes. Light-oriented.
SIGNATURE GEAR: None.
STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES:

• Unique fighting style combines unarmed combat and the Force, e.g. projected fighting.
• Unlikely to carry out use blasters aboard ships, and they spend most of their time on and around ships.
• No structure or hierarchy; limited options for calling backup.
• Indistinguishable from normal spacers with normal jobs.
• Heritage of hyperspace exploration and instinctive astrogation.

TRADITION: Order of Shasa
MEMBERSHIP: Almost entirely Selkath, but they have been known to welcome outsiders. A low-profile martial order focused on protecting Manaan, Progenitor firaxa sharks, and the Selkath people. Mostly, or most often, light-oriented.
SIGNATURE GEAR: Curved cortosis Fira blade, forged in undersea volcanic vents as a rite of passage.
STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES:

• Several signature Force abilities that channel physical and mental power drawn from the oceans.
  • Highly skilled at perceiving deception.
  • Progenitor's Call can flood minds.
  • Waveform enhances telekinetic attacks, especially underwater.
• By far the deadliest Force order in underwater situations.
• Skilled at sword combat and capable of going up against lightsaber-wielding Jedi and Sith as equals.
• The Order's methods have sometimes failed to keep its members from falling; there is a significant history of Shasan adepts struggling with the dark side.
• Not suitable for dry climates.

TRADITION: Dagoyan Order
MEMBERSHIP: Sages and mystics among the people of Bardotta. Almost entirely Bardottan, but they frequently share their teachings with outsiders. Light-oriented.
SIGNATURE GEAR: None.
STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES:

• Dagoyan adepts do not 'use' the Force to affect the world around them. They focus on developing intuition, wise judgment, and personal spirituality. They engage with the Force passively.
• Long history of distrust of the Jedi.
• Nonviolent.
• Skilled at gentle, meditative physical exercises.

TRADITION: Guardians of the Whills
MEMBERSHIP: Force-attuned monastic warriors, generally not Force users. Focus on protecting sacred places and pilgrims. Light-oriented.
SIGNATURE GEAR: Handcrafted lightbow
STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES:

• Guardians of the Whills do not use the Force as such. They focus on intuition and trust in the Force, e.g. walking through blasterfire or shooting blindly.
• Extensive use of chanting and meditation for focus and connection with the Force.
• NFUs can benefit from following this tradition.
• Limited resources, quite poor.

TRADITION: Order of the Sight Voltaic
MEMBERSHIP: Isolationist technomystics, a.k.a. 'grand-engineers.' Light-oriented.
SIGNATURE GEAR: None.
STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES:

• Unique spiritual connection with technology. Capable of controlling or befriending droids, or putting information directly in a droid's memory banks, for example.
• No particular emphasis on what Jedi would consider the standard abilities of a Force-user. Generally needs to rely on droid assistance in combat.
• Employers may go to great lengths to secure the services of a grand-engineer, and may not take no for an answer.
• Most grand-engineers are non-interventionist unless there is an overwhelming need. This earns them few friends.