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A long, long, long, looooong time ago, there was one single Jedi order. Due to IC complications, different interests, and the rise of the Sith as a dominant power, that order no longer exists. There are many different groups: The Silvers, Republic, NJO, The Covenant, and many other smaller branching organizations.
Each of these groups is (usually) tied to a galactic power of some sort. A lot of the reason for this is that it's easy to build something on the back of a faction, people like to have their way with their own little groups, and everyone has their own interpretation as to what a Jedi actually is.
The problem here is that in the process of us all trying to enforce our own beliefs, training regimes, alignments and core systems, we've become something else. Each group has its own culture, and that's wonderful, but the disconnect between us breeds resentment and rivalry.
Grandmaster A wants Grandmaster B to have his High Councilors defer to her Grand Council. The Grand council wants to have an NPC Grandmaster, but Grandmaster A is already a Grandmaster, and has worked hard to take attain that position. Thus disconnect and animosity, sometimes on the OOC level.
OOCly, to me, the splintering of the Jedi factions ruins the atmosphere of what it means to be a Jedi. I saw the OT first, but I wasn't old enough to really understand Star Wars until the The Phantom Menace came out. Say what you will about PT, but I fell in love with the concept of hundreds of space wizards united to defend the galaxy. The council was mesmerizing; seeing all these Jedi walking around going about their business was amazing to a fat little version of me.
My little tangent aside, I think we should all be united. Not by a strict system mind you, as that was what helped caused our splintering in the first place, but by a set of core beliefs. In the past people have been against a mass unification because they felt they would lose the positions they had worked for, and the progress they had made. Those are valid fears.
Yet, from an IC point of view, the Jedi's refusal to unite is both troubling and rather odd. It goes against the very nature of what Jedi are supposed to be, doesn't it?
I have a bit of a solution, and it's inspired by the Old Republic's Jedi Order. In the past, the Jedi Order was ruled by the High Council. Territories affiliated with the Order too far from the galactic core were controlled by smaller councils, such as the one on Dantooine. These councils were mostly autonomous and went about their usual business until the High Council contacted them for any numbers of reasons.
I propose two things. One, the Order itself will have no favorite planetary government. The Order would span all of the 'good guy' factions that would allow them within their borders. This way, the Council could send Jedi wherever they might be needed most to bolster military forces against the Sith, help diplomatic relations move along, and bring change on a galactic scale.
Two, the various orders already established would be absorbed by the overarching Jedi Order, and have councils similar to the one on Dantooine. They would be tied to whatever galactic power they sprung up with, and be the first responders to whatever conflicts might arise in their respective regions.
Temples, training, gear, ship designs, holocrons, etc would be absorbed and shared by the entire Jedi Order. Certain groups would be responsible for maintaining different things: a group devoted to maintaining lore and knowledge, a larger circle of healers, battlemasters and their students to serve as the bulwark against the Sith -- things like that.
The High Council would be the governing body of the Order, as it was in the past. A member of each sub-group would be required to sit upon the Council at first to ease tensions, though that could change as people stop identifying as 'Silver', 'Republic, or 'NJO', and instead refer to them all unanimously as the Jedi Order. The initial members of the High Council would be appointed via the vote of the entire Order, and members added later on could be added by a High Council vote.
The position of Grandmaster has both been a boon and a curse in the past. Most folks strive for it. Some people get upset when others receive it and they do not. Grandmasters have had a great amount of IC power, and that has often been used for good. They are an example for the entire Order to strive to be. I am a strong believer that the Order needs a figurehead to represent it; someone with the virtues one would think of when they hear the word 'Jedi'. Still, whether or not such a position would be implemented should be for the community to decide.
I honestly think this can work if we can all set aside OOC pride and old resentments. ICly, it's been proven that divided we can barely protect ourselves, let alone the galaxy's denizens. OOCly, I want my old Jedi Order back, and I think some other folks do too.
These are all just my thoughts, and my track record ain't great. The real decisions should be voted upon by everyone it would be effecting (if their leaders even agree to it) rather than be decided by a small minority.
Please be constructive in your thoughts.
Each of these groups is (usually) tied to a galactic power of some sort. A lot of the reason for this is that it's easy to build something on the back of a faction, people like to have their way with their own little groups, and everyone has their own interpretation as to what a Jedi actually is.
The problem here is that in the process of us all trying to enforce our own beliefs, training regimes, alignments and core systems, we've become something else. Each group has its own culture, and that's wonderful, but the disconnect between us breeds resentment and rivalry.
Grandmaster A wants Grandmaster B to have his High Councilors defer to her Grand Council. The Grand council wants to have an NPC Grandmaster, but Grandmaster A is already a Grandmaster, and has worked hard to take attain that position. Thus disconnect and animosity, sometimes on the OOC level.
OOCly, to me, the splintering of the Jedi factions ruins the atmosphere of what it means to be a Jedi. I saw the OT first, but I wasn't old enough to really understand Star Wars until the The Phantom Menace came out. Say what you will about PT, but I fell in love with the concept of hundreds of space wizards united to defend the galaxy. The council was mesmerizing; seeing all these Jedi walking around going about their business was amazing to a fat little version of me.
My little tangent aside, I think we should all be united. Not by a strict system mind you, as that was what helped caused our splintering in the first place, but by a set of core beliefs. In the past people have been against a mass unification because they felt they would lose the positions they had worked for, and the progress they had made. Those are valid fears.
Yet, from an IC point of view, the Jedi's refusal to unite is both troubling and rather odd. It goes against the very nature of what Jedi are supposed to be, doesn't it?
I have a bit of a solution, and it's inspired by the Old Republic's Jedi Order. In the past, the Jedi Order was ruled by the High Council. Territories affiliated with the Order too far from the galactic core were controlled by smaller councils, such as the one on Dantooine. These councils were mostly autonomous and went about their usual business until the High Council contacted them for any numbers of reasons.
I propose two things. One, the Order itself will have no favorite planetary government. The Order would span all of the 'good guy' factions that would allow them within their borders. This way, the Council could send Jedi wherever they might be needed most to bolster military forces against the Sith, help diplomatic relations move along, and bring change on a galactic scale.
Two, the various orders already established would be absorbed by the overarching Jedi Order, and have councils similar to the one on Dantooine. They would be tied to whatever galactic power they sprung up with, and be the first responders to whatever conflicts might arise in their respective regions.
Temples, training, gear, ship designs, holocrons, etc would be absorbed and shared by the entire Jedi Order. Certain groups would be responsible for maintaining different things: a group devoted to maintaining lore and knowledge, a larger circle of healers, battlemasters and their students to serve as the bulwark against the Sith -- things like that.
The High Council would be the governing body of the Order, as it was in the past. A member of each sub-group would be required to sit upon the Council at first to ease tensions, though that could change as people stop identifying as 'Silver', 'Republic, or 'NJO', and instead refer to them all unanimously as the Jedi Order. The initial members of the High Council would be appointed via the vote of the entire Order, and members added later on could be added by a High Council vote.
The position of Grandmaster has both been a boon and a curse in the past. Most folks strive for it. Some people get upset when others receive it and they do not. Grandmasters have had a great amount of IC power, and that has often been used for good. They are an example for the entire Order to strive to be. I am a strong believer that the Order needs a figurehead to represent it; someone with the virtues one would think of when they hear the word 'Jedi'. Still, whether or not such a position would be implemented should be for the community to decide.
I honestly think this can work if we can all set aside OOC pride and old resentments. ICly, it's been proven that divided we can barely protect ourselves, let alone the galaxy's denizens. OOCly, I want my old Jedi Order back, and I think some other folks do too.
These are all just my thoughts, and my track record ain't great. The real decisions should be voted upon by everyone it would be effecting (if their leaders even agree to it) rather than be decided by a small minority.
Please be constructive in your thoughts.
