Order

[Deepcrush]

Both the Sith and Jedi have built their own orders time after time. Both have found themselves totally screwed up... time after time. We've talked about the flaws of both just as often so where we haven't stepped into is.

If you had/could/did build your own order. How would you do it? Jedi, Sith, Neutral or even both sides of the force are open as is time frame and resources so go crazy.

[Teaos]

Well the Jedi before TPM was for the most part pretty good. It did have its flaws but I think anything you make with a bunch of force sensitive people will have its problems.

I think letting them love and have families is just asking for trouble dispite what people say. The warrior monk method seems the best.

The Sith... the rule of two is basically good, but also limits them.

Having a large organisation works in the short term but always seems to implode.

I would go the Al-Qaeda rout, follow the rule of two or three, but have multiple cells operating, maybe help each other out in the big picture but basically everyone runs their own game, they would help each other by just their presence clouding the force.

[stitch626]

What they need is balance, someone willing to use both light and dark, but is neither an idiot nor an ass.

[Deepcrush]

Well the question is more of how to build your own order.

[stitch626]

Ah... going deeper then.
That's tough and will take a lot of thought.

In general, though, mine would be a merging of the concepts of the Empire and the Republic. Of course the downside being how would it fair after my (the Emperor/President) death, since whomever comes after me may not want any limitations on his governmental powers.

[Deepcrush]

Nothing to say your Order has to be the ruling power in the government. Nothing to say its not a side action force similar to SHIELD or Rainbow or Section.

[stitch626]

Now I must ponder...

[Deepcrush]

I had thought about a group based in the Old Republic, where the Jedi Order was more of a high powered NSA/CIA/FBI styled group. Force Users being trained as Jedi and Force Sensitives being used to help them in a SWAT team/under cover agent fashion. Clearly there would be more to it then just that but its where I'd start.

[Teaos]

The problem I see is always temptation of the darkside. It is a real and very serious problem, anyone who uses their powers for left gain usually get swayed to the darkside. So the only real option is to make a order that is rather like the jedi, selfless for the most part.

Unless you just want power, in which case form a self serving order or gistapo... but be prepared for one of your underlings to knock you off sooner or latter.

So I think the only optionn for a stablle, effective and long lasting order of force users is for them to be something very similar to the Jedi, in one form or another the Jedi lasted for thousands of years and were for the most part very sucessful.

So yeah, you could probably make a smaller more specialized version of them... but they would either end up doing pretty much the same job as the jedi on a local scale, or end up being corrupted.

[Deepcrush]

The number one problem for the Jedi when dealing with the Darkside has constantly been their unwillingness to honestly deal with it. The Old Republic's most constant mistake was treating the Jedi as an Army. If it had just been a part of a greater whole then the threat from the darkside would have been reduced by equal proportions.

[Teaos]

I agree that the Republic should of had a small but very powerful and well trained military in which to deal the greater issues in the galaxy, also it would have been benificial for them to not be so centralised. It cost them a lot of respect and time for the one governing body to deal with every issue. If they had given more power to the individual regions and just kept the senate as a over seer it would have been better for them.

The Jedi should of only ever been used as guides and ambassadors... that could kick arse if needed.

[stitch626]

The real issue with the Jedi is they don't teach anything on how to avoid the falls of the dark side, they just say "don't go to the dark side". They are so afraid of it (yes, fear) they won't even try to properly fight its influence on them and their students. Much like the old abstinence lessons...

[Teaos]

The fear may be well grounded though. Knowledge of the darkside in any form could be dangerous for them to have, or at least be taught. It is best to teach them to fear it and they will learn on their own as ObiWan did.

[stitch626]

Except they don't teach them to fear it either, since fear is part of the dark side. They just say "avoid it" and "don't do it" much like the useless abstinence lessons of decades ago.

[Teaos]

I'm pretty sure they do teach them to fear it, or maybe not fear as they dont think anyone should fear, but to be cautious of it, know it, avoid it.