A Padawan's Guide to The Wheel - Suggestions Welcome!

[Rev Solomon]

We already have a FAQ in the public Wheel forum which explains the basics of what the Wheel is. However, there's still a lot of confusion over what there is for Padawan characters to do in the Wheel (Exhibit A (http://www.sw-fans.net/forum/showthread.php?t=21087), Exhibit B (http://www.sw-fans.net/forum/showthread.php?t=21130). This is an attempt at a FAQ that'll help users who are new to the Jedi find their feet. It could easily be added to the existing FAQ.

I have a feeling this could use a lot of work still, but it's a starting point. I think it would also be good to include a short list of exemplary threads of a few different types: a mission thread, a master/Padawan training thread, a thread between Padawans, a promotion thread (once we have one).


I want to create a Jedi character!
Great! First, make sure you understand the current state of the galaxy (http://www.sw-fans.net/wiki/index.php?title=Reset#Results_of_Reset) in SW-Fans Roleplay. There's no Jedi Temple, so your character must either have received training prior to the Purge, received training in secret, or be untrained in the Force. It's also our policy that you start your character at the Initiate (untrained) or Padawan (limited training) level. Make sure to introduce your character to us in the Roleplay Helpdesk (http://www.sw-fans.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=300) forum so we can approve your character and background.

I've got my character made. How do I join the Wheel?
The easiest place to start is in the Roleplay Helpdesk (http://www.sw-fans.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=300) forum. Once you've introduced yourself, we can work out a way for your character to learn the location of the Wheel - usually by meeting another Jedi who can guide you there.

How do I become a Knight?
In the Jedi Enclave, promotion is the reward for solid roleplaying. First of all, your character needs to grow enough, both as a Jedi and as a person, to merit the Council awarding him or her the rank of Knight. It's not about how many stormtroopers you kill or how many villagers you save - it's about the story. How has your character changed? What kinds of relationships have you built with other characters? Be patient and play out your character's story. It's infinitely more rewarding to gain a promotion at the end of a complex and intriguing story full of victories and failures than as a result of a by-the-numbers training routine.

Padawans will be nominated for promotion by their Masters, who will direct the Council's attention to one or two strong examples of the Padawns' roleplaying. This is something best planned in advance by both Padawan and Master. If for any reason the Council has a problem with a candidate Padawan, they will explain the issue and also explain what needs to happen to gain approval for Knighthood.

How do I get a Master?
A good place to start is (once more) in the Roleplay Helpdesk (http://www.sw-fans.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=300) forum. Let us know you're looking. You can ask Knight characters directly OOC, but it's often more effective to let these relationships develop IC. (Example: This thread (http://www.sw-fans.net/forum/showthread.php?t=20896) started as an open training thread and ended with Tionne Thanewulf taking Akasha Khan as a Padawan.)

Help! My Master is out of town/busy/out of contact!
Real life often interferes with RP, so don't become dependent on your master to set the agenda for your character. Branch out! Meet other characters on the Wheel! Join open mission threads! All of this counts toward your progress as a character, even if your Master isn't involved.

Here are a few ideas for threads that Padawans can be involved in. (http://www.sw-fans.net/forum/showthread.php?t=21130) (Note: those ideas probably can be moved to the FAQ thread also, as they're currently only available in Avalon, so newbies can't even see them)

[Serena Laran]

I think that this is a good start! I'm not sure what else it might need.

[Dasquian Belargic]

Clear and concise. Nice work :)

[Rev Solomon]

One question I considered adding was, "Do I need a Master?" But I'm thinking the answer to that could be too complicated. IC, I'd think the answer would have to be yes - anyone who rose to the rank of Knight without a Master would require exceptional extenuating circumstances. That could be interesting to RP, but it probably wouldn't be a viable plan for a new Padawan character.

But I think just about everyone who's played a Padawan has had a Master who just disappears for one reason or another, usually because real life is unpredictable. So there needs to be a way for the Padawan to keep progressing, even if all the training under his/her Master happens off-screen. Training threads shouldn't carry the majority of the character development anyway; it's very hard to keep them from being terribly dull.

Also, the last item rather requires that we have open mission threads that are available to Padawans. I think we all need to take the responsibility of, once in a while, starting an open-ended thread that newbies can join. I think that would go far toward making new Padawan characters feel more welcome.

[Cleo Némain]

Training threads shouldn't carry the majority of the character development anyway; it's very hard to keep them from being terribly dull.

Also, the last item rather requires that we have open mission threads that are available to Padawans. I think we all need to take the responsibility of, once in a while, starting an open-ended thread that newbies can join. I think that would go far toward making new Padawan characters feel more welcome.

^^ YES PLEASE.

...yeah just kinda tossing in my cents on that one. That's always been my gripe about generic "training threads" and I was kinda worried we might get stuck in that routine, which... just nooo.

[Inyos Aamoran]

You've loosely explained how becoming "eledgable" for promotion to Knight works... but who instigates the process? Does your Master submit you? Do you submit yourself? Does the Council periodically look at who might be ready, and deliberate? Is it just a "Woah, that thread was awesome; let's promote this person?" thing, or...? etc.

Also, might it be wise to shuffle this to a non-private board? That would allow people to see what they're getting into, without having to apply for group membership first. Makes us a bit more open and approachable that way, etc.

[Rev Solomon]

This absolutely will shift to a public board. I wanted to put it here first so we can hash it out before making it official.

The Council can't keep tabs on everyone, but they should definitely review a candidate's work when the question of promotion arises. I believe that ideally characters should be nominated by their masters once the understanding is reached between master and Padawan that the character is ready. They can then point the Council to two or three threads that show the Padawan's readiness.

If the Master isn't available, I think a Padawan character should be able to petition for a promotion on their own. Same criteria: give a few examples that demonstrate why your character is ready. Then people on the Council will discuss, make their decision, and let the writer know. Then we can have a promotion thread, or a final trials thread if we so choose.

I wouldn't expect there to be many contentious cases OOC, honestly (contentious cases IC are fun!), but if there is a disagreement, the discussion should be as open as possible, and the writer should be able to make their case as clearly as they need to. If it's a no, there should be a clear reason, and the people making the decision should make it as clear as possible what needs to happen to change it to a yes.

This is all off the top of my head, so it's a bit rough. Thoughts?

[Captain Untouchable]

Another question that popped into my head, which might be useful: "How do I get a lightsaber?"

Obviously, it's a "You get one when you get one" story-based things, but a brief little summation of the possible ways and hows - not to mention letting the newbies know they'll be fighting with sticks in the mean time, etc - might be a worthwhile addition. :)

[Dasquian Belargic]

Is this ready to go public? :)

[Jason Na'moda]

Just as a side note and cause I'm putting my hand up for this elsewhere, (figured I'd put it here too) Jason can take any padawan who needs a master/knight. Assuming that's cool with everyone else. I'm a pretty solid poster so shouldn't be going anywhere soon. So yeah, get back to me ^_^