Devs answered question

Using the Move power to fly
Question asked by Awayputurwpn :
Is the Move power designed to allow the Force user (the one using the power) to fly? Barring that, can a Force user levitate something that he is standing on, and in *that* manner fly around? My take is that it allows the Force user to affect anything outside himself, but not his own body or things that he is standing on. That's what we went with, but I would appreciate any insight into the intent of the power's design!

Answered by Sam Stewart:
Move was actually left a little intentionally vague on that regard, because we wanted people to have the chance to come up with their own creative uses when necessary. So, to answer your question; yes, it’s not unreasonable that you could use Move to fly.

However, as with anything, there are some caveats and risks involved. First, you’ll be using pretty much all your concentration to keep yourself aloft, and moving very slowly. (In game terms, you’re spending at least an action every turn to activate the Move power, and move somewhere). In addition, once you’re aloft, failing that Force power check is going to have some very unpleasant consequences!

You could turn to the “Moving and Duration” sidebar on page 299 for some ideas on how to commit a die to stay hovering, rather than making a check every turn. However, if I was the GM I would be well within my rights to say that while you could “hover” in place by committing a die, if you wanted to actually move somewhere else, you’d need to make another check. In addition, if you keep trying to keep yourself aloft, you’re going to tire yourself out quickly, and start suffering strain (also covered in that sidebar).

In short, it is possible to Move yourself with Move. However, it’s difficult, slow, and potentially dangerous, which is why most Jedi use Enhance to get around, or just purchase an airspeeder!


Basically up to the GM. but left vague on purpose.

Jetpacks are also slower.

Most people flying jetpacks also wear motorcycle helmets ever wonder why?

They also wear fire retardant suits so the flames won't melt their legs off.

In order to fly at any decent speed you are going to hit wind resistance. Which is part of the reason motorcycle riders tend to wear special suits if they are going to drive around at any kind of real speed. Imagine driving a car with no wind shield at 2-300 miles an hour in robes with your unprotected face being the thing cutting through the air. Then talk to me about why.

Are you suggesting that the speed at which objects are thrown with Move is fast enough to create damaging heat? You also suggest jetpacks are slower, however what are you basing this on? Your entire post is thinly supported.

Episode 1- Obi-wan gets knocked off platform in power station. Can't fly.

...

Episode 6- Vader tosses Palpatine down shaft to his death. Can't fly.

I really don't know why this keeps coming up. The no flying rule is absolute cannon.

also no flight in the clone wars cartoon ever. And no flight in rebels either.

I have no idea why falling is so deadly to Jedi in the movies, but it's a normal mode of Jedi transport in the cartoon. Perhaps these are examples of Enhance and Athletics, or Force Leap?

My vote is for deadly falling and no flying, but I think each group should decide what's fun for them.

Although I would not be against a tiny bit of levitation during meditation, or a controlled fall for a short distance, but that's about my limit for the game I run.

Jetpacks are also slower.

Most people flying jetpacks also wear motorcycle helmets ever wonder why?

They also wear fire retardant suits so the flames won't melt their legs off.

In order to fly at any decent speed you are going to hit wind resistance. Which is part of the reason motorcycle riders tend to wear special suits if they are going to drive around at any kind of real speed. Imagine driving a car with no wind shield at 2-300 miles an hour in robes with your unprotected face being the thing cutting through the air. Then talk to me about why.

People wear motorbike clothing because if you come off a motorbike at speed, a road surface acts similarly to a cheese-grater. Also, it has reinforced armour at likely impact points such as elbows, the spine and the ankles (hips also if it's the really real bike armour). It's really little to do with air resistance - you don't see many Hells Angels in lycra! And people do ride with open-faced helmets or their visor open all the time. They'll just wear a pair of glasses to keep the wind out of their eyes.

All of the above is just going to lead to players saying things like: "okay, I'll wear a helmet and warm clothing" and proceed to fly. If you don't want characters to fly, just rule that Move power doesn't let you use it on yourself (that's Force Leap and that doesn't let you fly, either). There are countless moments in canon where a competent Force user would like to be able to fly but doesn't. And next to no instances in canon where they show any ability to levitate. I can think of only two: In a TCW episode, Obi-Wan and Anakin use the Force to slow their impact with the ground when they jump off a massive wall (the episodes where they re-take the bug world which I can never spell); and Yoda meditating in the prequels who floats slightly above his cushion. But Yoda is the grandmaster of the order and also in mystical communion at the time.

Just say "No!" to flying Jedi.

The midichlorians refuse to be used for such purposes.

I think RAW the biggest you can get with Move is a Sil 4, which is most freighters, but its also a ton of xp invested.

No you can activate Strength upgrades multiple times, range is what usually precludes you from being able to throw star destroyers at things. Unlike Battle meditation there is no planetary scale move upgrade.

That being said if some idiot wants to use hurl to fly they aren't going to like what happens.

1. The speed they would be moving at would rip the clothes right off them especially robes.

2. With out goggles on most planets they would be rendered blind or worse by high speed micro debris.

3. At altitude the cold and oxygen would become an issue.

So if someone wants to fly here is the basics

1. They are going to take damage 10 points a round.

2. They will have to commit at least 2 force dice and suffer 2 strain a round.

3. They will need to make depending on speed hard or higher coordination tests to avoid smacking into things.

While playtesting Gatekeeper, the answer I got from FFG was Each Upgrade can only be activated once.

So... with 2 strength upgrades, you can spend +2 force to each add +2. With 4 upgrades, it's +4 force for +4 each.... which is Sil 16. (But getting the 4+ force dice needed for that isn't an easy thing to do... especially with the range restrictions.

The old Star Wars d6 system had the "Telekinesis" power, which was basically the same power, but broader (you could use it to do the equivalent of Bind as well... in fact, aside from that game severely punishing you for using force powers for aggressive means it was a hideously broken ability). There was nothing saying you could not use it on yourself, or it may have even specifically said you can use it on yourself. However, I banned using it to float, as floating Jedi just don't fit with the feel of the setting and are never demonstrated in any of the background I had seen. I did rule it could be used to "throw" yourself, to mimic the super jump ability Jedi demonstrate. It was harder to move things more quickly, so it was less game breaking (rather than just slowly levitating up cliffs, over canyons etc, which was really easy), and there wasn't a "Force Jump" ability, so I presumed that you were meant to use the power to do that.

As this game has a force jump ability (Enhance) then I would certainly rule "No".

Telekinesis, if taken to its logical conclusion and without arbitrary limits, is actually absurdly powerful, as the writers of "Heroes" discovered when they gave it to Silar.