25 minutes ago, Eoen said:

...3 Reflect; not sure if only works with lightsabers or not?

The Reflect talent technically only calls out lightsabers in its rules text, but any item can be ruled to work with the talent (like the Shield Gauntlet is).

I would allow its use with some melee weapons and projectiles, depending heavily on the projectile and the construction of the weapon in hand. If you're talking about a thrown or sub-sonic ballistic object, I could see a Force user using a melee weapon to Reflect the projectile. But if we're talking slugs or blaster bolts from a gun, then I would rule that you need a lightsaber or something designed to take that kind of impact (like a shield gauntlet, a weapon like a force staff, or a weapon imbued with the Force like a Sith sword).

I looked at Force Adherent and I don't understand what people are recommending it for. There isn't Force Rating in it, Precision Strike is *meh* without improved IMO, and most of the rest is kind of uninspiring. Ranks of dodge is great, especially if I take the Dodge from Steel Hand, but otherwise I don't see the draw from the talents. It seems a good tree for a Consular to go down the left side for Knowledge(Lore) buffs, Resolve, Force of Will and Disciplined Soul but I don't see much for a melee saber user.

If it comes to it, Aggressor in the core book has better synergy with my character concept of "angry vengeance paladin". Just cruise down the left side of the tree and across the bottom to get Intimidating 2, Fearsome 3, Grit 1, FR +1 and dedication for 135 xp. If I get a reliable way to Disorient (not Terrify, don't want 2 talents that give me conflict every session after I take Juyo), 35 additional XP gets me Prey on The Weak 2.

My current thought would be start in Juyo with my Zhobaka, move into Aggressor for Fearsome/FR then move to Soresu or Niman depending on weather I need to be more tanky or want to be more active in force use (currently just slated for Ebb/Flow and Enhance[Control Brawn]). The RP thought would be that by the time I finish what I want in Aggressor, I am tempering my righteous anger better (trying desperately the whole way to stay above 30 morality).

20 minutes ago, holymauler said:

I looked at Force Adherent and I don't understand what people are recommending it for.

I feel the same about that spec for almost any build. It's rather unimpressive to me.

On the topic of the Zhaboka, it specifically states in the sidebar in F&D that the Zhaboka has a "detachable central grip". I am thinking this is a way to split the Zhaboka into three parts, the central grip and the two blades. With this configuration, there would have to be a quick way to assemble it for a fight. Maybe spring tension rotation mechanisms? Insert blade end into grip with force and rotate to a lock position, then spring tension in the central grip keeps the blade locked into the grip. My problem is that having to attach two blades to a center seems cumbersome in a split second fight. I like the idea that there is one joint in the center of the grip that basically splits a Zhaboka into two individual swords for storage in traditional sheaths. For my flavor purposes I would want the sheaths on my back (specifically with the handles on the bottom so I reach behind me, disengage the blades from storage, and bring them together in one fluid motion).

My mind's eye can see drawing a pair of blades and quickly joining them as a maneuver, but this goes against the established action economy of drawing two weapons requiring two separate maneuvers. I am going to argue "rule of cool" with the GM, but these sort of small things are important to me in how I want to narrate what my character does in the world.

edited out

Be aware that the combination of Parry and Dodge will fill up your ST very quickly even if you are trying to use Flow to keep it in check.

4 hours ago, holymauler said:

I looked at Force Adherent and I don't understand what people are recommending it for. There isn't Force Rating in it, Precision Strike is *meh* without improved IMO, and most of the rest is kind of uninspiring. Ranks of dodge is great, especially if I take the Dodge from Steel Hand, but otherwise I don't see the draw from the talents. It seems a good tree for a Consular to go down the left side for Knowledge(Lore) buffs, Resolve, Force of Will and Disciplined Soul but I don't see much for a melee saber user.

If it comes to it, Aggressor in the core book has better synergy with my character concept of "angry vengeance paladin". Just cruise down the left side of the tree and across the bottom to get Intimidating 2, Fearsome 3, Grit 1, FR +1 and dedication for 135 xp. If I get a reliable way to Disorient (not Terrify, don't want 2 talents that give me conflict every session after I take Juyo), 35 additional XP gets me Prey on The Weak 2.

My current thought would be start in Juyo with my Zhobaka, move into Aggressor for Fearsome/FR then move to Soresu or Niman depending on weather I need to be more tanky or want to be more active in force use (currently just slated for Ebb/Flow and Enhance[Control Brawn]). The RP thought would be that by the time I finish what I want in Aggressor, I am tempering my righteous anger better (trying desperately the whole way to stay above 30 morality).

Force Adherent is primarily designed to create a non-Force using Martial Artist, who believes in the Force, and tries to live up to the ideals of the Jedi and other Force using traditions.

2 hours ago, HappyDaze said:

Be aware that the combination of Parry and Dodge will fill up your ST very quickly even if you are trying to use Flow to keep it in check.

The build I am currently looking at does not include Dodge, as I do not plan on getting "improved" Parry or Deflect so the ability to generate extra threat/despair is lessened. I would rather get Defensive/Deflective to add setback dice for more failures.

13 minutes ago, holymauler said:

The build I am currently looking at does not include Dodge, as I do not plan on getting "improved" Parry or Deflect so the ability to generate extra threat/despair is lessened. I would rather get Defensive/Deflective to add setback dice for more failures.

It's too bad then that you don't want to use a shield and one-handed weapon

14 minutes ago, HappyDaze said:

It's too bad then that you don't want to use a shield and one-handed weapon  

I understand that is mechanically optimal, but I want to use the Zabrak racial weapon and then the plasma blade version later. This is not as mechanically beneficial as many other ways that I can see building it, but this is a role playing game and not WOW

1 hour ago, holymauler said:

I understand that is mechanically optimal, but I want to use the Zabrak racial weapon and then the plasma blade version later. This is not as mechanically beneficial as many other ways that I can see building it, but this is a role playing game and not WOW

The Zabrak are a spacefaring species that are fairly well integrated into the galaxy. The equivalent would be 1990s Europeans using katanas instead of European-originating weaponry when taking heads in Highlander. IOW, not restricting yourself to a stereotype (even though katanas were their own stereotype in the 90s) isn't necessarily a WOW thing.

On 8/30/2018 at 4:30 PM, HappyDaze said:

The Zabrak are a spacefaring species that are fairly well integrated into the galaxy. The equivalent would be 1990s Europeans using katanas instead of European-originating weaponry when taking heads in Highlander. IOW, not restricting yourself to a stereotype (even though katanas were their own stereotype in the 90s) isn't necessarily a WOW thing.

You are absolutely correct! I did not mean to infer that I was sticking to some universally superior stereotype.

The GM for this game is planning on taking it in a "samurai in space" direction from a world feel perspective, really playing up traditional movie troupes (or foils) RPed straight and not for laughs. Your example of Macleod using Ramirez's Katana is really on point for this game and part of the reason that I wanted to use a weapon that had significance to my character. In this case I am fully embracing the racial weapon of my people instead of the weapon of my mentor like in Highlander.

If I was a human Tapani noble, sure as hutts are greedy, I would be using a Lightfoil and shield in a Makashi type saber character. Which does sound like wicked good fun!

I think I have settled into Starting Juyo Berzerker, grab the top row (Toughened and Grit at least) and go around the loop through both ranks of "Inner Peace" and "Unleash Your Hate" to play with damage and destiny pool. Take the base power of Ebb/Flow and use it with my FR1 and no upgrades. I would then make my way into Aggressor for the left side mainly, but a few cheap right side (Intimidating, Grit, Fearsome 3, Dedication, +1FR on left, Toughened 2, Sense Advantage and Grit on the right). With 2FR, I would grab the first Strength upgrade, Range, Tier 2 and 3 Control, and the Strength for failure/success eventually. This is what I would consider "final planned build". If I still have campaign to play after that point, take a cross class spec into Warden(Guardian) for the right side (Intimidating, Scathing Tirade, Bad Cop 2, No Escape, Fearsome, FR+1 and Dedication). This puts me well into 300+ XP, but I like having a plan