Apparently I was a little vague so clarification
So, we're still gonna be using the approval system?
Yes
But using Role-play instead of combat as the reasons to request in your approval?
Combat can still count but the overall impact of a character is more important. The relationships a character forms, the tasks they do for instance will be more rewarding than needing to fight and win. For instance a character like Sj might come in to contact with Locke, string him along and gain intelligence that he then feeds to his master and how he goes about it will matter regardless of whether he is successful. Essentially this boils down more to character development and on its own characters develop through interactions with others - not necessarily battles but social engagements.
And so on the saber skills being automatic? this means they don't need to be requested/taught for apprentices, and would be learned progressively over-time, right?
An apprentice never requested saber abilities, it was always a masters teaching that auto-granted them. They need to be taught for a force user to become proficient/confident in using a particular form - as such an apprentice should not be boldly throwing themselves in to a lightsaber battle just because they know the
basics of Shii Cho. Being taught from a master will develop their proficiency level in a particular lightsaber skill. The approval for characters remains unchanged but anyone Knight and above does not need to request lightsaber skills but are expected to develop them through roleplay.
Though, they still hold the same amount of feat points as far as the force system is concerned, correct?
Yes, one stance = 1 feat point and a character needs free points to use a stance
And, does these stats apply to current toons or only new ones?
It applies to all force characters
Also, does character development before today apply retro-actively towards the automatic saber stats?
Yes, this change is simply making it less focused on training & combat for a force user to improve or learn lightsaber skills. Past developments count providing a character was eligible for the additional stance. For instance Sj who has been an apprentice can use everything from his Apprentice phase to justify development.
F.E. Say toons that have had a lot of development but haven't really requested stat changes that much.. and have below the automatic stats for their rank in the Force System.
If a character had not previously possessed a lightsaber stance prior to this change we assume they had known it on its basic level. For instance lets say Remi as a Knight had only learned 2 stances but was eligible for 3, he would assume that the 3rd stance was something he had always known since becoming a Knight only he was yet to fully develop it. For an Initiate/Apprentice it will be Masters/Knights who teach proficiency in a particular saber stance unless the individuals spend time themselves practicing.
uhh like Remi Nain for example. Would now have the automatic stats?
Yes if he is eligible for an additional stance and has the feat points free to gain it then yes he gains it. If he does not have spare Feat point he will need to swap out a feat point elsewhere if he wants the additional stance.
Also, does this mean toons with more then the the Automatic Stats for their rank in saber combat now have their abillities lowered?
If a character had learned too many Stances then yes they will need to lose one of them. The same applies to Defense. The update details the max stats eligible so anyone with too many is expected to lose them - I do not believe anyone will actually be needing to lose any saber stats based on this.
and, if so how does one go about learning staff or duels in that case?
There are two elements to Staff/Duels
1) Staff/Duals = Single Saber stance
2) Staff/Duals = Staff Lightsaber/Two Lightsabers
A character who is approved for Staff/Duals gains the single stance in them with their existing Defense abilities. However if they use Two Lightsabers or a Lighhtsaber Stave then they use Defense 0 only until they have improved enough to gain Defense 1 when using these. The additional Defense points needed are independent of this change - meaning you request the additional Defense points as if it was a typical Feat.
For example:
Juliet's single saber abilities are:
Shii Cho, Makashi, Niman (Staff), Ataru (Duals) + Defense 3Juliets staff/dual abilities are:
Niman (Staff), Ataru (Duals) + Defense 1As such Juliet has spent +1 Feat to gain the additional defense point. Staff/Duals will be treated in the same was as it was in the previous system:
1) Access to using the actual Dual Wield or Stave requires approval
2) Beginners in Dual Wielding or Stave have Defense 0 until points are spent to improve it
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