Force Power Checks "always successful"?

By BigTroubleLittleChina, in Star Wars: Force and Destiny RPG

My question is when making force power check, and your check results as nothing but dark side points, and the character does not want to use them, and thus stay away from the dark side. Later on it states that activating a force power is always successful regardless if you generated any force points or not. Is this just saying you don't have to roll to see if it activates if you had the points? Cause this is what im getting from it, but I wanted a second opinion.

Also even if the force power check fails, I was thinking about giving it a narrative flare, like say a PC was attempting to use the Move power to pick up a lightsaber but failed, so maybe it just rattles a bit. thoughts?

I always give a narrative flare, better story telling :)
In any case the Force Point Mechanic is just that, a mechanic to balance the use of Force Powers in the game. It really only says that the desired result does not happen, just like rolling no Successes when firing your blaster, you still shoot you just don't hit anything. You could, for example, say that you move the object/person/whatever but you don't move it enough to do anything to change the scene in a mechanical way. Further, when a PC chooses not to use a DS pip they feel the pull and know they could change a failure into a success but with a cost...

Edited by FuriousGreg

Yep, it's just saying that whether you get the pips you want or not, you still burned the action, and if it matters to the narrative, you used the force.

My question is when making force power check, and your check results as nothing but dark side points, and the character does not want to use them, and thus stay away from the dark side. Later on it states that activating a force power is always successful regardless if you generated any force points or not. Is this just saying you don't have to roll to see if it activates if you had the points? Cause this is what im getting from it, but I wanted a second opinion.

Also even if the force power check fails, I was thinking about giving it a narrative flare, like say a PC was attempting to use the Move power to pick up a lightsaber but failed, so maybe it just rattles a bit. thoughts?

This isn't RAW, but I am starting to lean towards always requiring Force Power checks to be part of a skill check as well, not to determine success or failure, but to provide Advantage/Triumph/Threat/Despair possibilities.

For example not using any pips on a Move power check to recover a lightsaber, but generating a Despair on the upgraded Discipline check could mean the lightsaber moves, but is caught midair by an enemy. By the same token using pips to successfully use Move to recover a lightsaber, but generating a Despair from the Discipline check could indicate the use of power is documented with a clear image of the character, leading to heightened Imperial scrutiny. Advantage and Triumph could provide typical combat advantages as the display of Force distracts enemies. A Triumph in Force Power use could even lead to some opponents suffering a fear check due to realizing what they are facing.

Yeah, I personally don't care much for the "always successfully activated" verbiage used because it can be pretty confusing, but I agree with the statements above: Using an action to activate a force power takes the action and counts as 'using the Force' regardless of the result. Additionally, I concur that something *should* happen narratively from the activation of the force power, even if no pips were spent.

In a separate discussion here, others have argued that nothing should happen at all. The argument being if you don't roll enough pips to activate the desired ability, nothing happens, and the character simply stands there wringing their hands, as they 'thought better of it' and decided not to call on the force after all, or some nonsense. Additionally, they argue that nothing bad can happen from a 'failed' force check (e.g. jumping and missing) since no threat or despair can be rolled on the check. Personally, I find that interpretation of the rules to be ludicrous, but clearly others don't agree.

Edited by LethalDose

In a separate discussion here, others have argued that nothing should happen at all. The argument being if you don't roll enough pips to activate the desired ability, nothing happens, and the character simply stands there wringing their hands, as they 'thought better of it' and decided not to call on the force after all, or some nonsense. Additionally, they argue that nothing bad can happen from a 'failed' force check (e.g. jumping and missing) since no threat or despair can be rolled on the check. Personally, I find that interpretation of the rules to be ludicrous, but clearly others don't agree.

Agreed.

After all, we see a prime example of a Force power being activated but not succeeding in Empire Strikes Back when Luke makes his attempt to lift his submerged X-Wing out of the Dagobah swamps. In terms of the narrative, it certainly looks like he might succeed, with even Yoda looking on in brief amazement before the X-Wing sinks back into the muck.

Thank you everyone , this has helped me out a lot !, im not new to running games but im new to the system and I wanted to make sure I was understanding it right. Honestly this systems narrative affect is solid and so fresh. Also this is probably the most friendly and helpful forum. Thanks again