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New Force powers

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At time of writing, there’s discussion/ranting in G&G Fan’s thread about Yoda using a lightsaber, and about Jedi and Sith use of lightsabers in general. I thought of this thread idea a while ago but it feels relevant now.

I’m one of those people that believe Yoda shouldn’t have fought with a lightsaber - I don’t want all Jedi knights to be samey, and Yoda, as an ancient, sage master of the Force (who also happens to be very short), should have progressed beyond such weapons.

I think although it felt right for Palpatine to duel Mace Windu and the other Jedi with a red lightsaber, after his got knocked out of his hand and out of the window, that should have been the end of it. He would be much the same as Yoda, drawing on unique magical abilities befitting his mastery of the dark side of the Force. I think it would be better if we never got to see Yoda at full fighting capability in AOTC, then in Episode III the long-awaited duel between the Emperor and Yoda would get to be a demonstration of exactly how much power an individual can wield. The only trouble is, outside of lightsaber combat, we have… telekinesis, force lightning, repelling force lightning…jumping about like a maniac… is that it?

This might be a controversial idea, but if you HAD to introduce new and powerful Force abilities, what could they be? Off the top of my head, I thought playing with the elements like in Avatar would be nice, Palpatine conjuring destructive fire and Yoda being able to conjure water - but that’s getting into Harry Potter territory, like the fight between Dumbledore and Voldemort in Order of the Phoenix. Good examples of new and inventive abilities are The Last Jedi’s Rey and Kylo connection and Luke’s force projection, I thought those were very in-line with what the Force is all about.

Interested to see how this thread will do. Perhaps terribly.

“Remember, the Force will be with you. Always.”

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They should have looked at all the ones in Dark Forces II and brought in things like Destruction, Blinding and Deadly Sight.

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Mocata said:

They should have looked at all the ones in Dark Forces II and brought in things like Destruction, Blinding and Deadly Sight.

Ah. I’m still on Dark Forces I.

“Remember, the Force will be with you. Always.”

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Yeah, while the sequel trilogy has plenty of faults, I though the new force powers it introduced (especially the “JediSkype” where even environmental elements like rain drops transferred and of course Luke’s force projection) were really great and felt very in keeping with the right “feel” of the Force.

I also think looking to the Jedi Knight games as a source of inspiration would be great. I was happy to see Force healing implemented in TRoS and The Mandalorian. It was implied by Ben Kenobi’s actions toward Luke in ‘77 but never explicitly shown or dealt with.

I don’t like the idea of conjuring elements so much (it’s a bit too magic) but I love the idea of being able to command or control the elements and think it would feel like a natural extension of the force. So, for example a Jedi couldn’t make fire or water appear out of nowhere, but if it was already there they could manipulate and control it to a certain extent. Which I guess we technically saw with baby Yo… er, Grogu in season one of Mando.

Basically, since the force is a natural, elemental type of mysticism created by living things and intertwined with the physical world around them (the tree. The rock.) those are the types of powers I like to see. It should be able to enhance, expand, and manipulate the mind, body, spirit, and natural world in and around the user.

If I had to invent a new force power… hmm. I don’t know if I can come up with one that hasn’t already been at least touched on in official media. Maybe something like the ability to put your enemies to sleep? I could see that being a cool scene for a hero hopelessly outnumbered in a critical situation to reach out with the force and watch a whole platoon of stormtroopers start feeling very drowsy and struggling to stay focused and awake until they give in and all fall asleep. Has something like that been done before?

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canofhumdingers said:

If I had to invent a new force power… hmm. I don’t know if I can come up with one that hasn’t already been at least touched on in official media. Maybe something like the ability to put your enemies to sleep? I could see that being a cool scene for a hero hopelessly outnumbered in a critical situation to reach out with the force and watch a whole platoon of stormtroopers start feeling very drowsy and struggling to stay focused and awake until they give in and all fall asleep. Has something like that been done before?

I like this. I also feel like hypnosis would be a natural extension of the mind trick power.

In response to the OP, I hate the force-projection thing. I thing it would have been better if it was a bit more limited. Like if it was instead a “force hallucination” power. Luke could have caused Kylo Ren to think Luke was there, without anyone else being able to see it, and it would have undermined Kylo’s credibility a bit as well as providing just the right amount of confusion needed for the Resistance to get a leg up.

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I’d love to see “Force Light”, from Tom Veitch’s Tales Of The Jedi comic books seen on screen. Though done in a satisfying way with weight and reason for it. Not some cheap gimmick or throw away ability, like “Force Dash” from TPM!

Maybe in one of the 3 new theatrical films recently announced?
 

I loved the “Force Projection” power in TLJ, it felt natural, that it wasn’t a gimmick or cheat, and it did have that emotional weight I personally like to see when the Force is used.

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Marooned Biker Scout said:

I’d love to see “Force Light”, from Tom Veitch’s Tales Of The Jedi comic books seen on screen. Though done in a satisfying way with weight and reason for it. Not some cheap gimmick or throw away ability, like “Force Dash” from TPM!

That would be interesting to see.

“Force Meld” is something I think could be quite cool to be viewed onscreen. Connecting the minds of those around them to create a “network”, to read each other’s thoughts and give instructions accordingly for when in danger, in battle, or simply for covert communication.

It would probably have to come under as yet another ‘rare force ability’ than could only be used, or initiated, by a small number of force wielders.

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Juno Eclipse said:

Marooned Biker Scout said:

I’d love to see “Force Light”, from Tom Veitch’s Tales Of The Jedi comic books seen on screen. Though done in a satisfying way with weight and reason for it. Not some cheap gimmick or throw away ability, like “Force Dash” from TPM!

That would be interesting to see.

“Force Meld” is something I think could be quite cool to be viewed onscreen. Connecting the minds of those around them to create a “network”, to read each other’s thoughts and give instructions accordingly for when in danger, in battle, or simply for covert communication.

It would probably have to come under as yet another ‘rare force ability’ than could only be used, or initiated, by a small number of force wielders.

I like that idea, very cool. And also a believable Force power for that small number of Jedi able to initiate or create that network.

I have to ask, as you’re a fan of The Force Unleashed, what do you think of Starkiller’s Force powers in the TFU game, and also being in-canon, at the time?

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 (Edited)

Marooned Biker Scout said:

I have to ask, as you’re a fan of The Force Unleashed, what do you think of Starkiller’s Force powers in the TFU game, and also being in-canon, at the time?

Yes, the powers in the game were way over the top. I put it down to simply being “a product of its time” with the “boss baddies” and style of game familiar to many of us gamers from that era. The “Starkiller on Steroids” force powers didn’t detract from what was an enjoyable story, and fun video game, for me.

Yeah, Lucas considered TFU canon, “an actual chapter in the overall story line”. As I’ve mentioned previously on here this became my “Star Wars Prequel” for a time. The less said about the TFU2 the better!

The TFU book is actually a good read. It does start out a little simplistic and “gamey”, but after the initial chapters it expands upon what we see in the game, in some detail and does it very well, evolving the depth of the story and immerses you into it more, so the overpowered nature of the force powers and their effect do seem more believable, tolerable, and acceptable.
 

I, like many other other fans of the various “multimedia projects” from Star Wars was more than a little miffed when we were told our investment and commitment to these projects were no longer canon, or “an actual chapter in the overall story line”. Over time that sour feeling has eroded, with head canon has become a more popular and accepted way of thinking.

Edit - It still makes me laugh when I read people from Lucasfilm or on the print side of things now trying to claim that George was never involved or read any of the EU books or comics, or played the games. All easily disproved lies and some strange claims and retcons to be making on their part. I imagine they are quite adept at doing this with the practice they have had in this field.

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Thanks for that. I’m sort of along the same lines. I did find his overpowered nature quite jarring at the time, but that was the same as many games of that time, like you say. Plus, it does a minor thing compared to now, especially with even modern Force abilities like Force Heal not even being needed to recover lightsaber wounds [Inquisitors being impaled in Kenobi for example, and then appear to be fine just days later (or even hours later)]!

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Like jedi_bendu, I didn’t want Yoda to have fight with a lightsaber. Certainly not like he did against Dooku and Palpatine, with all that spinning. He looked like a yo-yo!

I do like the idea that nearly all the Jedi have the “basic” Force skills, the more “advanced” skills are only available to certain Jedi; through their experiences, their natural talents, their studious nature of the Force, and the challenges and patience of achieving that. Not some midichlorian count either!

I do like Juno’s “Force Meld/Network” idea, that does seem unusual, but also a curious Force power to have.

The “Wall Of Light” used by light side users to imprison or trap another force user seems an intriguing idea. One I’d like to see on screen. Maybe in Dawn of the Jedi, or similar film or series set years ago.

The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear.

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Though not a powerful Force ability, it would be cool to see onscreen why Force users do not or cannot use the force on their opponents lightsaber, or breathing mask in Vader’s case?

The ability to turn off an opponent’s lightaber off with the Force, or alter the settings on Vader’s chest plate, or anyone else using a breathing mask, would be interesting to see explained.

Maybe some sort of “Force Protect” power is used in combat between the Force users?

The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear.

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I think you have to have some limits. Otherwise every battle would just be two opponents trying to break each others arms or skulls with the Force.