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Master and Apprentice
A Guide to Role-Playing Jedi/Sith Apprenticeships
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Ready, are you? What know you of ready? For eight hundred years have I trained Jedi. My own counsel will I keep on who is to be trained! A Jedi must have the deepest commitment, the most serious mind.
So, you've reached CL 90 and mastered the Jedi profession. "What do I do now?", you ask. Now, you become a real Master. Merely reaching CL 90 does not a Master make. No, it is only the beginning. To become a true Master, you must train others in the ways of the Force. However, before you can lead others, you must first be clear about which path YOU follow...
<<<Choosing Your Path>>>
Good or Evil.
Light or Darkness.
Jedi or Sith.
Do you yearn for knowledge, or for power? Is your desire to serve others, or to enslave them? Does the will of the Force guide you, or do you bend the Force to your will? Is the Force your ally, or your tool? Study the information contained in the ancient holocrons below, and use it to determine which side of the Force you wish to follow. The choice is yours, but choose wisely; "forever will it dominate your destiny..."
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Once know which path you will follow, it is time to prove it. Skip down to Part III of this guide and complete either the Jedi Knight Trials or the Sith Lord Tests to prove your loyalty to the Light or Dark side of the Force. Once you have done so, you have proven yourself a worthy teacher and are ready to train a student in the ways of the Force...
<<<Part I: Taking an Apprentice>>>
JEDI
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A CL 90 Jedi selects a worthy force sensitive of a lesser CL to be his future Padawan.
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The CL 90 Jedi instructs the force sensitive to travel to a force shrine to meditate and listen to the will of the Force:
- Afterwards, the CL 90 Jedi and force sensitive travel to the ruins of the ancient Jedi Temple on Dantooine:
- Once there, the CL 90 Jedi instructs the force sensitive to kneel and recite the Jedi code:
- "There is no emotion, there is peace"
- "There is no ignorance, there is knowledge"
- "There is no passion, there is serenity"
- "There is no chaos, there is harmony"
- "There is no death, there is the Force"
- Next the CL 90 Jedi asks the force sensitive if he is willing to dedicate his life to:
- "The will of the Force"
- "The protection of others"
- "The guidance of his Master"
- If he agrees, the CL 90 Jedi instructs him to rise, and officialy declares him his Jedi Padawan.
The final step is for the Master to put the following at the bottom of his bio:
and for the Padawan to put the following at the bottom of his bio:
Once this is done, the Padawan's training begins.
SITH
- A CL 90 Sith selects a worthy force sensitive of a lesser CL to be his future Apprentice.
- The CL 90 Sith instructs the force sensitive to travel to a force shrine to meditate on his hatred and anger, and the power which only the dark side of the Force can bring him:
- Afterwards, the CL 90 Sith and force sensitive travel to the temple of the ancient Sith Lord Exar Kun on Yavin IV*:
- Once there, the CL 90 Sith stands between the two black triangles(with the statue of Exar Kun over him) and orders the force sensitive to kneel before him and recite the Sith code:
- "Peace is a lie, there is only passion"
- "Through passion, I gain strength"
- "Through strength, I gain power"
- "Through power, I gain victory"
- "Through victory, my chains are broken"
- "The Force shall free me"
- Now the CL 90 Sith asks the force sensitive if he is ready to dedicate his life to:
- "The pursuit of power"
- "The domination of others"
- "The orders of his Master"
- If the he agrees, the CL 90 Sith bestows upon him his Sith title, instructs him to rise, and declares him his Sith Apprentice.
The final step is for the Master to put the following at the bottom of his bio:
and for the Apprentice to put the following at the bottom of his bio:
Once this is done, the Apprentice's training begins.
*A very nice alternative location for the Sith naming ceremony is the Shore of Remorse, found on Mustafar:
However, since not everyone has Mustafar and everyone does have Yavin IV, the Temple of Exar Kun is used in the outline.
<<<Part II: Training Your Apprentice>>>
Training: It is in their student's training that every Master shows his own individuality and creativity. Unlike the initiation and final trials which are ceremonial in nature, there is no set pattern to follow when training an apprentice, and every Master must determine for themselves how this is best done for their specific student. However, no matter how a Master decides to train his student, there are certain roles which both the Master and student must assume. These roles are discussed below:
The Master: The Master's role in the system is to help the apprentice advance. This advancement comes in three main(though many minor) ways:
- Helping them gain xp to increase their CL
- Helping them acquire the resources and components to construct a more powerful lightsaber as they become certified
- Helping them find superior robes when they are able to wear them
The Student: The Padawan or Apprentice's role in the system is two-fold:
- A Padawan or Apprentice should always be respectful of their Master, who is helping them
- A Padawan or Apprentice should try their best to meet any advancement goals their Master sets for them
Advancement Goals: A Teacher would expectedly set goals for his student(which would vary for everyone, dependong on RL circumstances). A Jedi Master would not belittle or demean his padawan if they did not advance as quickly as the Master expects, instead showing patience and understanding. A Sith Master, however, would be far less forgiving of a slow learner.
Purpose: The purpose of the Master/Apprentice System is for the mutual enjoyment and benefit of both the Master and the Apprentice. The Apprentice benefits from the system by having a more experienced player helping them as they need it. The Master benefits from the system in that only by sucessfully training a Padawan or Apprentice to Knighthood can they become a true Jedi or Sith Master.
Advice for Masters: It is your responsibility to help your apprentice advance, but it is also your responsibility to come up with fun and creative ways for them to do so. While it is your right to decide the best method to train your apprentice, if you will, allow me to give this advice: dont limit their training solely to the "standard" locations and quests. The quickest path is not necessarily the best or the most fun path. The galaxy is a big place. There are 12 different planets and nearly as many space zones, so try to use them all. Dont forget this is STAR WARS. Space combat is a really big part of that, so dont limit your apprentice's training programs to the ground only. Keep this in mind and you will be able to create a fun and exciting experience for both you and your apprentice.*
*For a look at a very creative training system, see Katara-Dawn's post, "Padawan to Jedi Knight":
<<<Part III: Graduation>>>
JEDI
When the Padawan has reached CL 90, the Master assigns him the Jedi Knight Trials(which he must complete alone) to prove himself a Jedi Knight:
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the Trial of Protection
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the Trial of Knowledge
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the Trial of Balance
Below are explanations of what each type of trial mean, as well as an example(remember though, that each Master is free to decide what his padawan will do for each type of trial):
<Protection>: "For a thousand generations the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the old Republic..." The Trial of Protection involves dealing with seedy characters or dangerous creatures that are a cause of harm to the innocent citizens of the galaxy:
Example: Krayt Dragons are some of the most fearsome creatures in the galaxy. Recent reports from Tatooine indicate that of late their population has increased sharply, and is proving a deadly threat to innocent moisture farmers and travelers of the desert world. The Padawan must travel to the Krayt Dragon graveyard on Tatooine and kill 10 Krayt Dragons to help maintain the safety of the locals.
<Knowledge>::As was seen in AOTC, from time to time a Jedi will try to find information on something in the Jedi archives and it will not be there. When this happens, the only way to solve that problem is to send someone to gather information on whatever the subject was:
Example: The Jedi archives lack sufficient data regarding the area known as the Ryatt Trail on the planet of Kashyyyk. It is known that this trail spans an area ranging from the tree-top canopy all the way to the floor of the forrest, but more detailed information requires an expidition team be sent to explore this area on foot. The Padawan must travel to Kashyyyk and explore the trail from the entrance gate to the end on the forrest floor so that the Jedi archives can be updated with more detailed information regarding the area. Along the way, the Padawan should deal with any hostile creatures that might prove a danger to themselves or the locals(notably the Katarn).
<Balance>: On many different planets, there are beings who have discovered or begun to use the force in unnatural ways(the Dark side), and their doing so is causing an imbalance in the force which is left up to the Jedi to correct:
Example: Home to a group of evil force wielding witches who call themselves the Nightsisters, the Nightsister stronghold has become one of the most powerful focal points of the Dark Side in the entire galaxy. Until the Nightsisters are dealt with, the very existence of the light side of the force is threatened, prompting the Jedi to mount an operation to destroy them. The Padawan must journey to the Nightsister stronghold and clear out the Nightsisters from their stronghold and it's neighboring cave so that the force can be brought back to balance.
After the Padawan has completed his trials, the Master instructs his Padawan to meet him at the Light Jedi Enclave on Yavin IV. There, the Master will officialy declare his Padawan a Jedi Knight.
The final step is for the Master to change his bio from:
- Jedi Padawan: <name> to Jedi Padawan trained: <name>
and the Padawan to change his bio from:
- Jedi Master: <name> to Former Jedi Padawan: <name>
SITH
When the Apprentice has reached CL 90, the Master assigns him the Sith Lord Tests(which the Apprentice must complete alone) to determine if he is strong enough to be a Sith Lord:
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the Test of Power
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the Test of Cunning
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the Test of Passion
Below are explanations of what each type of trial mean, as well as an example(remember though, that each Master is free to decide what his apprentice will do for each type of test):
<Power>: "Your no match for him. He's a Sith Lord!" The Test of Power involves displaying all the deadly might granted by the Dark Side of the Force; usualy by killing a fearsome opponent.
Example: Making the Jundland Wastes all the more dangerous are immense reptiles stalking the craggy canyons in search of prey. These huge predators are known as krayt dragons and their bone-chilling howl is enough to send even ferocious Sand People skittering for cover...but such is not the case for one trained in the Dark Arts. For his first test, the Apprentice must travel to the desert world of Tatooine and slay 15 Krayt Dragons.
<Cunning>: "My Lord, it's impossible to locate the ship. It's out of our range."... "Not for a Sith..." A true Sith must be equaly skilled in the arts of tracking and defeating their prey.
Example: The Gorax are a species of behemoths native to the Forest Moon of Endor who frequently prey on the Ewoks. It has been recorded that some specimens have grown to up to 30 meters in height, and their level of strength is guessed to be unsurpassed among Endor's wildlife. For his second test, the Apprentice must travel to the Forrest world of Endor, and then find and defeat a Gorax giant.
<Passion>: A Sith's true power is only achieved through testing the limits of their anger. To do so, a Sith must unleash their anger on all who stand in their way.
Example: On the planet of Yavin IV it is rumored that the warrior-lyke Geonosians have established a secret stronghold, home to many dangerous creatures and droids. For his third test, the Apprentice must travel to the Jungle world of Yavin IV and kill the fearsome Acklay inside the Geonosian labs, killing all Geonosians and droids along the way.
After the Apprentice has completed the 3 Tests of Power, the Master instructs his Apprentice to follow him to the ancient Dark Jedi enclave(also on Yavin IV), for a final lesson:
After they have arrived, the Master and the Apprentice make their way into the inner chamber:
The Master now informs the Apprentice that the time has come for him to prove himself a Sith Lord, and challenges him to a duel to the death.
If Apprentice defeats his Master, the Master becomes one with the Force(clones), and /tells his Apprentice that his training is complete, and that he is now a Sith.
The final step is for the Master to change his bio from:
- Sith Apprentice: <name> to Sith Apprentice trained: <name>
and the Apprentice to change his bio from:
- Sith Master: <name> to Former Sith Master: <name>
<<<Part IV: Ranking System>>>
Reaching Knighthood or Lordship is not the end of a Jedi or Sith's advancement. Below is the Master/Apprentice Ranking System; a simple, yet meaningful system for those interested in long-term RP content.
JEDI
SITH
With the Master/Apprentice Ranking System, rather than having ranks determined by bashing people to death like the old FRS, these ranks are determined by wisdom and experience(in the form of how many students you have trained to knighthood), the way ranks should be determined. Additionaly, the Master/Apprentice Ranking System is long-term content. Training 5 apprentices to CL 90 will take several weeks if not months to do, so people will be able to participate in the system for a while before reaching the last rank.
<<<Part V: The Master Trials>>>
JEDI
When a Jedi has trained 5 Padawans to Knighthood and reached the rank of Guardian, he now qualifies to become a Jedi Master. But to do so, he must first complete the Master Trials, which will test his knowledge of the Force to the limit:
Trial I - Death Watch Overlord: A splintergroup of the ancient Mandalorian mercineries, the Death Watch have become a powerful force in the galaxy and have managed to amass a large army at their stronghold on Endor. Because of their decision to support the Galactic Empire, ruled by the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, it has become necessary to eliminate this threat to the galaxy by striking at it's very heart. Defeat Teti Viba, the Death Watch Overlord.
Trial II - Corellian Corvette(Rescue): One of our most trusted allies in our war with the Sith has been captured and is being transported to Coruscant for public execution. Fortunately, we have managed to intercept a transmission detailing the route that the corvette he is being transported on is taking. Intercept the corvette and rescue our ally.
(It does not matter which faction corvette you do as long as it is the rescue mission)
Trial III - Dark Jedi Sentinals: The jungle-world of Yavin IV has seen many struggles between the Light and Dark sides of the Force. It is home to many structures built during the Jedi/Sith wars, and it seems that the Sith are attempting to re-open one of their ancient enclaves. This must never be allowed to happen. Defeat the Dark Jedi Sentinals outside the Dark Jedi Enclave.
SITH
When a Sith has trained 5 Apprentices to Lordship and reached the rank of Oppressor, he now qualifies to become a Sith Master. But to do so, he must first complete the Master Tests, which will test his powers to the limit:
Test I - Death Watch Overlord: A splintergroup of the ancient Mandalorian mercineries, the Death Watch have become a powerful force in the galaxy and have managed to amass a large army at their stronghold on Endor. Because of their decision to support the Rebel Alliance in their war against the Sith Empire, it has become necessary to eliminate these traitors by striking at their very heart. Defeat Teti Viba, the Death Watch Overlord.
Test II - Corellian Corvette(Assassinate): We have learned that one of the Jedi's most valued allies will be traveling to Corellia to assist them in their campaign against us. Fortunately have intercepted a transmission detailing the route that his ship will be taking. Intercept the corvette and assassinate the Jedi ally.
(It does not matter which faction corvette you do as long as it is the assassinate mission)
Test III - Light Jedi Sentinals: The jungle-world of Yavin IV has seen many struggles between the Light and Dark sides of the Force. It is home to many structures built during the Jedi/Sith wars, and it seems that the Jedi are attempting to re-open one of their ancient enclaves. This must never be allowed to happen. Defeat the Light Jedi Sentinals outside the Light Jedi Enclave.
Though Master is the highest rank that can be achieved in the Master/Apprentice Ranking System, it does not mean you have nothing left to do. Remember that even Grand Master Yoda still trained younglings in the ways of the Force. And for those who are interested, you could even form your own guild following the Master/Apprentice RP System, as the next section shows.
<<<Guilds>>>
Several people have asked me questions about Jedi/Sith guilds, and how to incorporate the Master/Apprentice System in them. In response, I have created the following system. Keep in mind that I'm not telling you how to run your guild, this is just a suggestion on how to impliment the Master/Apprentice System into a guild for those that are interesed:
<Guild Ranks>
JEDI
- Jedi Initiate
- Jedi Padawan
- Jedi Knight
- Jedi Sentinal
- Jedi Consular
- Jedi Guardian
- Jedi Master
- Jedi Council Member
SITH
- Sith Initiate
- Sith Apprentice
- Sith Lord
- Sith Enforcer
- Sith Templar
- Sith Oppressor
- Sith Master
- Sith Council Member
<How the Guild works>
JEDI
To join the guild you will need to submit an application to a member of the council. If the application is approved, then you will be invited to join the guild, and upon joining you will be granted the rank of Jedi Initiate.
After 1 week of membership in the guild, you will be eligable to become a Jedi Padawan. To do so, you must approach the Council and announce your desire to become a Padawan. The council will then assign you several trials you must complete. After doing so, you are granted the rank of Jedi Padawan. You will then be assigned to a Jedi Master, who will mentor you until you have reached CL 90. If you are already CL 90, you will still accompany the Master until you are eligable to become a Jedi Knight.
1 week after becomming a Padawan you will be eligable to become a Jedi Knight if you are CL 90(if not you must first reach CL 90). To do so, you must approach the Council and announce your desire to become a Knight. The council will then assign you several trials you must complete. After doing so, you are granted the rank of Jedi Knight. The next 3 ranks are achieved by training Padawans of your own:
1 week after reaching the rank of Gaurdian, you will be eligable to become a Jedi Master. To do so, you must approach the Council and announce your desire to become a Master. The council will then assign you several trials you must complete. After doing so, you are granted the rank of Jedi Master.
After becomming a Jedi Master, you will be eligable to become a member of the Jedi Council if that is your desire. To do so, you must approach the Council and announce your desire to join the Council. However, whether or not you become a member will be based on a guild-wide election.
SITH
To join the guild you will need to submit an application to a member of the council. If the application is approved, then you will be invited to join the guild, and upon joining you will be granted the rank of Sith Initiate.
After 1 week of membership in the guild, you will be eligable to become a Sith Apprentice. To do so, you must approach the Council and announce your desire to become an Apprentice. The council will then assign you several trials you must complete. After doing so, you are granted the rank of Sith Apprentice. You will then be assigned to a Sith Master, who will mentor you until you have reached CL 90. If you are already CL 90, you will still accompany the Master until you are eligable to become a Sith Lord.
1 week after becomming an Apprentice, you will be eligable to become a Sith Lord if you are CL 90(if not you must first reach CL 90). To do so, you must approach the Council and announce your desire to become a Lord. The council will then assign you several trials you must complete. After doing so, you are granted the rank of Sith Lord. The next 3 ranks are achieved by training Apprentices of your own:
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Sith Enforcer - CL 90 Sith who has trained (1) Sith to Lordship
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Sith Templar - CL 90 Sith who has trained (3) Sith to Lordship
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Sith Oppressor - CL 90 Sith who has trained (5) Sith to Lordship
1 week after reaching the rank of Oppressor, you will be eligable to become a Sith Master. To do so, you must approach the Council and announce your desire to become a Master. The council will then assign you several trials you must complete. After doing so, you are granted the rank of Sith Master.
After becomming a Sith Master, you will be eligable to become a member of the Sith Council if that is your desire. To do so, you must approach the Council and announce your desire to join the Council. However, whether or not you become a member will be determined by your own combat skills.
<How the Council will work>
JEDI
- The council will be made up of 12 members.
- 6 members will be permanant, and 6 members will be elected every month.
- To be eligable to become an elected member of the council you must be a Jedi Master.
- Elected terms on the council will last 1 month, and then a new election will be held.
- A person cannot serve two consecutive terms on the council unless there are no other runners in the election to replace them.
- A list of all eligable Masters(who want to join the council) will be mailed to everyone in the guild, and everyone will be expected to mail their vote to one of the designated permanant council members.
- The Masters with the top 6 highest number of votes will win the election.
SITH
- The Sith council will be made up of 12 members.
- 6 members will be permanant, and 6 members will be determined every month by competitive dueling.
- To be eligable to become a member of the council, you must be a Sith Master.
- Sith Masters that want to join(or remain on) the council will have to duel amongst themselves for the 6 slots.
- The 6 permanant council members will determine the rules of how the dueling will work, and enforce them.
- The top 6 Masters in the tournament will win the 6 temporary seats on the council.
- Terms on the council will last 1 month, and then a new tournament will be held for the 6 temporary slots.
<Regarding the Permanant Members>
In both the Jedi and Sith Councils, there will be 6 permanant members. They do not have set terms, and their spots do not become availible again every month like the 6 temporary spots do. The reason for the permanant members is to impartialy govern the process of selecting the 6 temporary members. The 6 permanant members of the Jedi council will oversee the election and make sure that the votes are tallied correctly, and the 6 permanant members of the Sith council will oversee and judge the competition.
However, these permanant council members can be voted out of their postion by a majority vote from the other permanant council members, and replaced by one of the 6 temporary members(which one will also be determined by a majority vote from the 5 remaining permanant council members).
<<<Finding a Master/Apprentice of Your Own>>>
To find a Jedi/Sith Master or Apprentice of your own, try the following methods:
1) Your Server Forums: One good way to find another player interested in the Master/Apprentice System is by posting a thread on your server's forums. Make sure your thread includes a link to this thread(so people will know what your talking about), and specifies whether your looking for a Master or an Apprentice.
2) Your Guild: Another good way to find a Master or Apprentice is by asking members of your guild. If you are a lower CL seeking a Master, ask a CL 90 if they would be interested. If you are a CL 90 looking for an apprentice, ask a lower CL if they would be interested. Make sure to direct them to this post so they know what is involved.
3) Philip_Gregory of Starsider was awsome enough to create a website for the sole purpose of helping those interested in participating in the system find a Master or Apprentice of their own:
http://www.jedilistings.com/
/tiphat to Philip_Gregory for taking the time to create this great site for the Jedi community!
Good luck to any who decide to give the Master/Apprentice RP System a try 
<<<Other RP Guides>>>
<The Way of the Warrior: A Guide to becomming a Mandalorian Soldier>
<Unlocking the Secrets: A Guide to Mastering the Ancient Art of Teräs Käsi>
Message Edited by Everitt_Cage on 01-26-2007 06:13 PM
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I couldnt think of this any better,very good post.
