conflict and how much to give

By starrius, in Game Masters

I've recently started to use morality and I'm trying to work out conflict and how much to give.

now it's pretty much written in stone for how much for using the force but for other things it's pretty vague I was wondering what sort of numbers other GMs give out

I only recently read up on Morality, since we might need to do a new campaign, and want access to all the books if we do it.

So while I don't have any hard experience with Morality I merely wanted to provide some casual discussion:

From what I gathered it's a super arbitrary mechanic. Like you said, specific force powers are pretty clear cut. For example: using Influence for negative emotions should definitely generate conflict.

But in more narrative situations it quickly becomes a blur. I don't like to adjudicate what a character perceives as good or bad.

Like sure, coercing someone into doing something they don't want, especially if that act is bad in itself should generate conflict, but it get's hard to judge on more moraly grey matters.

In New Hopes cantina scene for example, Obi Wan straight up cuts a dudes arm off. Was it self-defense? Did he do it just to protect Luke?

Do you think he was conflicted by what he's done? Probably not. But per the guidelines of Morality he should earn conflict.

Being Obi Wan, there surely was a non-violent outcome for that encounter that at the same time would have protected his identity as a Jedi.

Just from reading I'm not sure I even like the mechanic, but again, I haven't had the chance to actually play it out.

I have a feeling the entire thing would quickly turn into derailing arguments at my table.

When I say, this action would earn you conflict, because X and Y, I guarantee at least one of my PCs would go: "But from my perspective the Jedi are evil!" (Like doing basically evil stuff but still wanting status quo, or even Paragon, or something along those lines)

Overall I feel like you could easily handle the ascend and descend of a Force User on a purely narrative level.

We're probably going to try it out, and I may update on what we think of it, but I probably wouldn't have a problem with ditching the entire mechanic if it doesn't suit our playstyle.

I've recently started to use morality and I'm trying to work out conflict and how much to give.

now it's pretty much written in stone for how much for using the force but for other things it's pretty vague I was wondering what sort of numbers other GMs give out

Honestly, I use the chart in the GM's Chapter as a benchmark, not only for what sorts of acts generate Conflict, but also how much. The chart itself isn't meant to be the end-all and be-all of what does and doesn't earn Conflict, but a reliable measuring stick to see where a PC's actions will rate.

One big thing to keep in mind with Morality/Conflict is that in Star Wars, the ends generally do not justify the means, so an evil action to solve a crisis is still an evil action. For instance, shooting an unarmed man who doesn't know you're there in the back to stop him from triggering a bomb is still going to generate Conflict, but it's not going to be nearly as much as if you'd just shot a random unarmed stranger who doesn't know you're there in the back.