Hi there

I just started playing Force and Destiny joining an existing Sith group playing in the Old Republic era.

If you are from the group with the new Chiss Sith in the Ruhrgebiet, please stop reading 😉

I created a character with the gamemaster but after the first game session I am a bit unhappy with my character and could use some inspiration.

I am playing a Chiss-Sith, because I like the Chiss and especially the contrast between the Siths and Chiss’ worldviews (especially on emotions).

Character background is that the parents of my character are members of the ISB and as their son’s potentials was discovered they tried to ship him away back to Csilla, but a Sith Lord discovered and trained him. His parents are still alive, and he still has contact to them.

My main point is, that I did not want to play a Sith, which is a simple fighting brute: strong in close combat or with offensive force abilities and always eager to fight. My idea was more of a background, scheming, plotting and ruthless character. I think the combination of Chiss and Sith can result in an efficient and unscrupulous character. This resulted in my character being rather proficient in mundane talents like computer tech, infiltration and mechanics.

So, I have two questions:

1. Do you think in the Old Republic era, it is very atypical for a Sith to be proficient with hacking, mechanics etc. and not that much with fighting and the force?

2. Do you have some ideas how I could try to play my character to be perceived as a ‘true’ Sith, without being the best fighter and storming head over heels into every battle or simply using the force as an all out weapon all the time?

7 hours ago, Morkarios said:

1. Do you think in the Old Republic era, it is very atypical for a Sith to be proficient with hacking, mechanics etc. and not that much with fighting and the force?

I don't think it's unheard of, but your PC would definitely be an "odd bird" compared to the standard way their culture progresses. Strength is a key part of their ethos, it's in their creed after all. So the idea that you aren't strong enough physically, and mystically to A) defend yourself from other people (like a fellow Sith with ambitions to kill you and take your power/stuff, and B) enact your ambitions on the world and see them realized , would likely make them sneer at you as being "weak and ineffective".

But I mean, Palpatine (pretty much the poster boy for Sith for many a decade), did pretty much ALL of his ultimate scheming, without being a powerhouse or brute. It was all political and economic manipulation, social skill checks, and probably some of the more mental based Force powers, to nudge things in the direction he wanted. He didn't actually show his true form (that of a cackling lunatic with twirling lightsabers), until the Republic was literally burning around them, and he had already basically secured his objective (Destroying the Republic and the Jedi).

So yeah, I'd say you have a pretty good template for how to play a Sith that isn't a bruiser already

I would focus on your character trying to capitalize on that misconception of their abilities. Let people think they are beneath their notice and concern, makes it easier for your PC to get things done in the shadows that will surprise your enemies when it's too late for them to act.

You should at least be good with 1-2 force powers, and maybe a few ranks in a saber style, if only for the defensive benefits of things like Reflect and Parry. You don't need to fully invest in them, but there is a LOT of power and potential in those Force powers, that a smart/cunning player could easily use to further their own goals. To ignore them entirely would be a waste of potential I think.

You don't have to solve every problem with a Force Choke or a lightsaber slash...but when that IS the best resolution to the situation, it's good to be at least semi-competent at it.

This is funny enough like my character who is more of a Chiss gray/dark force user

I will say if you are int brased the harm power is really good way to strike out and defend yourself yet not be a brute

As for the other part it’s hard in the old republic days days for a Sith to fit in and not crack some heads unless you play the long game and lay low as a toady for some time to latter backstab

I would say it absolutely fits for a concept. However, you will have to be ever Vigilant (what Chiss isn't) as other Sith are going to see you as weak and will be constantly challenging you.

I would focus a lot in Heal/Harm and in Suppress. Reduce your opponent's ability to reach the Force and fight back to your Force attacks. Bind would be good option to help prevent their lightsaber attacks.

Good luck with the character

Thematically, it's unusual, but there are a couple possibilities.

1 - you could be apprenticed to a secret lightsider - Sure, passion leads to anger and anger leads to hate and all that ... but if you direct your passion at opposing an organization (i.e. the Republic) it's quite possible to be empathic and have regard for individuals. The light side justification is this: The Republic is hopelessly, unfixably corrupt. There's no clear prospect of it ever getting significantly better, as the corruption spans thousands of Senators, judges and bureaucrats. Even if someone were to wipe out the entire lot, the planets would just elect/appoint the same class of political elites to replace them. The Sith Empire is clearly evil ... but that evil is driven by a relative handful of incredibly powerful individuals. If you could gain enough power to become one of these individuals, and protect yourself against the competition, there's a real prospect of you alone controlling the fate of billions. If your master can maintain their light-side affiliation, they'll be the most benevolent ruler for those billions the galaxy has known! Whether or not their new apprentice may concur is an open question, but a lightsider could justify not killing them as 1) murder is dark side and 2) it's a good cover and 3) maybe she/he can turn their apprentice with the right situation.

2 - you can be quite low rank - Yes, you have to have gotten through the Academy, and that'd be hard without direct force powers or saber proficiency, but not necessarily impossible. Your class could have been filled with bumblers, fools and the overconfident. Ending up as the sole survivor of a class is a fantastic way to become Sith. Slicing in particular could be useful, as droids are immune to mind-affecting powers, and I can certainly see some wannabe Sith alpha striding into a room and telling your character it's time to put you down ... only to get blasted in the back from a droid. Traps are also a potential justification for success. Once through training, you're apprenticed to a Sith. If that Sith is low-ranking enough, they'll have other low-ranking rivals, and you just might not be enough of a concern for anyone other than your master's immediate rivals to worry about.

I think people get a little too attached to the extremes we see in the films and miss the rest of the curve. The essential characteristic of the Dark Side is ruthlessness, the lacking of pity or compassion for others in the pursuit of an objective. Being willing to use any advantage, develop any skill, subvert any person, etc. to advance closer to whatever personal goal one has. If this means doing good acts to lay the groundwork to create trust from a useful ally or to fool a potential victim, they will do that as well. Nothing is off the table but that doesn't mean always doing more than is necessary. For example Vader took no pleasure in torturing Leia or Han, it was a means to an end nothing more, he probably didn't even consider whether it was right or wrong only that it was necessary. The Force to him was to have power over life and death. The Emperor on the other hand enjoyed torturing Luke, I mean just listen to him when he's egging him on in RoJ and then finally his joy in getting Force lightning him. Other good examples are Dooku, Ventriss, or the Inquisitor in SW Rebels, these were Dark Side masters and had evil ambitions but they weren't mindless, chaotic evil monsters.

So keep in mind that the Sith embrace the Force and bend it to their will (or try at least), they use it ruthlessly without restraint or remorse and that's what makes them Dark Side. So my advice would be don't just be a two dimensional villain, to set a goal(s) for your character and then choose a path to achieve that goal using whatever means necessary. If that means becoming a Hacker then do that, if it means taking on a party of allies, do that. Also choose something that your Character really loves and play that up as well, it doesn't have to be an actual vice but play it like it is one. Maybe they love to see people in pain and can't help draw out a victim's death, or maybe their need for ancient knowledge is so great they won't hesitate to kill to get access to it... whatever fits your idea of who they are.

Have fun.

Thank you for your comments. I think the concept is not completely useless, but, as i expected somewhat challenging.

As I said, I have played the character once, joining an existing group, so I could start witrh some initial XP. As Careers, i have the Sentinels Artisan and Shien expert, so i can at least have some parry skills. As a force power, i chose Foresee, which I somewhat regret right now, as i think the benefits for a battle are rather neglectible and the true benefit of foreseeing events is hard to measure and not exactly suited to make me appear as a powerful sith.

I am not unable to stand my ground in a fight, as i have 3 proficiency dice with the lightsaber.

Which force powers would you advice for an Int 3 character with Force Rating 2, to stand my ground in battle?

1 hour ago, Morkarios said:

Which force powers would you advice for an Int 3 character with Force Rating 2, to stand my ground in battle?

Why stand your ground (right now) when you have other idiots that will do that for you? Build your strength slowly and live by being underestimated. Appear weak but useful at all times and let those that benefit from your abilities spend their resources (and possibly lives) defending you.

I do like Artisan as an entry career - you get some nice ship repair bonuses up top, and once you make it down to the lower left of the tree, you get some serious crafting boosts.

If you're a Sith and you're happy to take conflict, it's hard to go wrong with Harm, especially if your Intellect is high for your Mechanics checks. Drains life (ignoring soak) from your enemies, and gives it to you (as strain or wounds). Oh, and it doesn't count as a combat check (Supreme Reflect from Shien, hint hint). You can even raise the dead - assuming you're willing to kill something as the price.

Bist du etwa Deutscher?

When you character is a mechanic and/or hacker, you should talk with your GM about Droid crafting.

If your chiss is not a good fighter, he could surround himself with some Droid guards he built or found somewhere and maybe even upgrade them.

Otherwise, when he tries to get others to do what he wants, your Character should invest into the force power influence, especially the control upgrade on the left side.