Guide to Role Playing the Trials

Below is the guide written by Allarianas, on Role playing during the Trials. Part of the lead in has been omitted

for length. At the end of the guide, I will include a live link back to the post on the forums. Thanks Allarianas,

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This guide is strictly for the Initiate Trials and the Jedi Knight Trials. It is intended to make the experience more enjoyable for all involved. (And also make them go somewhat faster.)

Warning
The Trials are a strictly Guild RP aspect, realize that you can fail the Trials. This will more than likely only happen if you come unprepared at all. Since this is a RP aspect, and Guild rank

is only an RP thing for the most part, do not take it personally if you do fail. All the Trial Council is asking is that you "grow" a little more before trying. Growing in this case is only to come

better prepared. More than likely, you are not giving correct answers to the material posted by Kyorla. But that does not mean that is the only way to fail by far.

Also, the Trial Council will take into account that not everyone is J.K. Rowlings or Robert Jordan. This means that not everyone is a great writer. The last four parts of the Trial require you to tell

stories about events that have happened in your characters life. If you tell a story about something that happened in game involving a NPC, do not use the NPC's game name. Change the names to

protect the innocent, be creative. Also to avoid repetition since the class missions are all the same. It is also acceptable to use other player names, as long as it is in a non-derogatory manner. If you

ran with a Guildee or found someone in a PUG (Pick-up Group) that had an impact on you, do not hesitate to add that player. If it was Empire, then I think you can get away with bad-mouthing

(talking about how you bested them) them.

Chat Windows
The order of the following implies in no way any importance, they are all equally important. •Create a new chat tab and set the settings as follows:

•Turn off General , Trade and PVP
•Turn on Emotes, Local, Ops(for the Jedi Knight Trials)
•There is nothing going on that is so much more important that it cannot wait until later.
•Pay attention. If you are paying attention, you can respond faster and can allow the Trials to move rather quickly.
•After you have finished answering, especially after an answer that is going to be long, type:

((done))

This allows all participants to know you have finished and they will not be expecting more from you.
•Do not worry about typos. I can type 60 words per minute on a good day, but I still make spelling errors.
•You will not be failed for bad grammar. If you say something that is not clear to the listener, just like in any conversation, you will be asked to elaborate.
•The use of emotes is not discouraged, in fact quite the opposite. If you, as your character or even as you, feel anxious, display that. /me <does something> is the mechanism for doing so.

When it comes to emotes, remember that this is supposed to be a solemn occasion. Emotes such as /me picks nose or /me farts are not really acceptable behavior for any participant,

including the spectators.

Behavior of ALL attendees
During these Trials, decorum is the watchword. Participants and spectators are expected to comport themselves appropriately. Watch the movies. The Jedi did not cut up, they did not duel, they

were respectful to all, even when they did not wish to be; they did not flaunt arrogance, act rude, or dismissive. While SWTOR is a GAME to be played, The Trials RP is a totally different animal.

During these times it is not about the game, it is about the RP. It is about the social aspect. In this instance, it is about The Trials. It is about the pomp and circumstance. Think of the most tedious

ceremony you have attended, a wedding (not the reception), a graduation, a funeral, a christening, etc. Comport yourself during RP as you would comport yourself at those times. Spectators are

encouraged during the Initiate Trials. For those who are looking to find a Padawan, this is a great time for recruitment. For those who are recruits but do not at the time of the Initiate Trials want to

rank up, you can learn much that is required of you and also how RP works if you are not familiar with it.

The Lead up
From the Guild perspective, The Trials are another mechanism for players to interact with one another in a social environment as a citizen of the Star Wars Universe, most especially, in this case,

how you see yourself as a Jedi; how you believe you would act as a Jedi.

What you need to know as an Initiate to be promoted to Padawan.
http://beaconofhope.starwarswebsites.com/forum/m/2033027/viewthread/2017923-initiate-trials/page/1#last

What you need to know as a Padawan to be promoted to Knight.
http://beaconofhope.starwarswebsites.com/forum/m/2033027/viewthread/2029388-jedi-knight-trials

Those are the websites containing the information you will be tested on.

The Trials
When you approach the Trials, PLEASE, and I cannot stress this more, PLEASE, COME PREPARED. Study the materials Kyorla has posted. If you read the material and know it, the Trials will

go quicker and smoother, and therefore be more enjoyable for all involved. If necessary, there is no reason why you cannot have notes sitting next to your computer to which you can refer. You can

take a couple of hours of game time and devote it to going over the material and preparing for the Trials. Trust me, you will appreciate the RP aspects of The Trials much more by doing so. I went into

Arianas’ Trials expecting to be able to ad lib my responses impromptu. I suggest you not try “shooting from the hip.”

These are supposed to be Trials. They should be difficult, remember what the Jedi Order is about. A Jedi is special. Not everyone can be a Jedi. Not all Force-sensitives can be Jedi. Not all those called

Jedi should be Jedi. Look at the descriptions of what a Jedi is supposed to be and then look at what each subclass encompasses: Warriors, protectors, defenders, healers, adjudicators, diplomats, the list

goes on. These Trials are a test of your worthiness to be called Jedi by those who would have become your peers in the Guild. You are trying to be one of them, remember that. The Trials are a test.

Keep in mind that you can fail. Some tests in life you only get one shot at, in the event that you are not promoted, you are allowed to take them as many times as necessary. I know I keep reiterating this,

but this is only a RP aspect of the game. If you fail it is because you did not come prepared and know the information required, there are no social nor game mechanics penalties for failing.

The Trials are very solemn occasions. In the game’s mechanics, you are promoted or given titles because you complete certain missions or mission chains. In the Guild, you are given titles for RP purposes

based upon your participation in the Trials and Guild RP in general. The Trials are tough, as they should be. But they are also supposed to be entertaining, as is RP. From a character’s point of view in the

RP environment, this is what would actually happen to you on your journey to become a Jedi. But, remember, this is a Guild social mechanism, it is meant to bring you deeper into the Guild, deeper in to

your character and create a role for you in the Guild greater than just saying you are a member of the Guild. Once you become a Jedi Knight by Guild Rankin the Guild, you can take on a Padawan (another

member of the Guild who has passed the Initiate Trials) and train them for the Trials and Knighthood, or you can act in other ways to the benefit of the Guild. Once the Guild Council deems you worthy you

will be promoted to Jedi Master in the Guild. There are many roles needing to be filled by Masters in the Guild at this time. And roles will open up in the future.

Initiate Trials
During the Initiate Trials, all participants will be tested at the same time. In some cases, you will be asked a question specifically. In some cases, a question will be asked in general. A participant wishing to

answer must raise his/her hand. This is done by typing “/me raises hand” or “/e Allarianas raises her hand” in chat. As your character will be asked to kneel, doing it this way will prevent your character from

standing up and causing you to have to constantly kneel again. Once you are called upon to answer, do so as quickly and explicitly as you can. Do not hesitate to say you do not know the answer if you do not.

It is possible, from a RP aspect, to fail the Initiate Trials. Your answers to the questions, your participation, will determine if you pass. This is a purely RP mechanism and will have no affect whatsoever on

your standing in the Guild. All it means is that the Trial Council feels that you are unprepared to become a Padawan at this time. As far as Kyorla has it planned, Initiate and Jedi Knight Trials will occur on

a regular basis, current plans imply weekly, so you have time to become better prepared and come to the next Initiate Trial.

The last thing required of you before judgment is passed is to demonstrate your skills. This is done by using all of the abilities that can be used without an enemy target. If you have different stances, initiate

those, if you have non-target AoEs, use those. If you have an ability that allows use out of combat on a friendly target, use it. Just show off.

Once all candidates have done this, the Council will move off to discuss who shall pass and who require more training.

1. A test of your knowledge and understanding of the things you have learned as a Padawan
2. A test of you.

In Part 1, you will be asked questions based on the information posted by Kyorla, see above. There is a lot of information there, so I suggest, if you want to have a good experience, you read all of it and

have a good grasp on the information. All the information posted is fair game. This part can be looked upon as a canned Q and A session. Even so, be explicit in your answers. The better you answer a

question, the better you will impress the Trial Council. In this part, you are expected to have the right answers.

Part 2 is a completely different story. In this part you will be tested on the Five Aspects of you. This is where what I call the “real” Trials begin. The answers to these are supposed to be elaborate, deep

and detailed. There are no wrong answers so to speak, but a simple answer will not necessarily suffice. With the exception of the Trial of Skill, below, let the Trial Council know not only what happened,

but how you felt, what you saw. Were you afraid? Were you over-confident? Did you walk into the situation unaware of what was going on? Tell what you did and why you did it. Entertain. Tell a story.

The Trial of Skill
During this Trial you will duel a member of the Trial Council. Regardless of how you believe you will fair, try your hardest to defeat your opponent. If you are defeated you will not be looked down upon

at all. If you are victorious, well, pay attention to the /ops chat. The defeated Trial Council Member will be ridiculed by his/her peers through your Trial and probably beyond. Most especially if there was

no expectation of you defeating your challenger.

Here and beyond the Trials become more difficult. First off, RELAX. It is all RP from here. At this point, one member of the Council will ask you one of the four questions listed below. They will ask you

to relate a time when… And pass judgment on you regarding your response.

In each of the following I will list some questions that you can keep in mind when preparing your story. You are not expected to limit yourself to answering only these questions, nor are you not expected

to not include the answers to questions that are not listed. The questions posted are only suggestions to give you a jumping off point. If I can come up with one, I will try to give examples of how to look

at answering the questions or I will give examples of what not to do.

The Trial of Courage
This Trial establishes your skill and fortitude when faced with danger.
Relate to the Trial Council a time when your courage was tested.

What was the task?
Why did this event challenge your courage?
What did you do to overcome the challenge?
Why did you do what you did to overcome the challenge?
Analyze your actions and determine if you could have minimized the challenge.

What was the situation?
What was the outcome?
Why did the event cause a conflict?
Why did the event elicit an inner conflict?
Why did your decision go against your code or another's?
What led you to your decision?
Is the conflict in direct confrontation with the Code of the Jedi, the local and/or galactic laws in this singular circumstance?

A singular example of this would be something revolving around a war criminal you were sent to “capture”. By the Code, you should capture the criminal and ensure they make it to trial so Justice can

be served. By your own history, this is the being that annihilated your home world. Your passion says execute him here and now. Your code says allow them to go to trial. Which way did you go and

why? As this is a base example in this Guide, if you use it, you MUST be much more creative in answering it.

The Trial of Flesh
This Trial establishes your ability to overcome great physical pain to complete a mission.
Relate to the Trial Council a time when you had to go above and beyond when physically you should not have been able.

What was the situation?
What injuries were sustained?
How did the injuries come to pass?
How were you able overcome the trauma and succeed? What actions did you take?

(This is paraphrased and shortened somewhat)
Testee: During a sparring match with another Initiate, my arm was broken. The training Master told me to go to the infirmary to get myself checked out. I refused and continued through the

training sessionwith my damaged arm bound to my side.

Tester: That sounds more like stubbornness. The intent of my question was for you to tell me of a time when you suffered great physical pain and did not have the option of running to the

infirmary to get healed. Medical facilities were unavailable and you were required to rely solely on your own abilities and resourcefulness to succeed.

The same Testee went on to a better story of how they were injured and able to complete the mission despite injury.

The Trial of Insight
This Trial establishes your ability to distinguish reality from illusion.
Relate to the Trial Council a time when you were led to believe something potentially fatal or dangerous to you and others, but realized the deception in time to “save the day”.

What was the situation?
What was the illusion?
What led you to discover that you were deceived?
How did you overcome the illusion?
Did the illusion affect only you or were others affected as well?

Giving an example of how to look at this Trial, think about your car (if you have one). You know the color, make, model, etc of your car? One day you come out to your car, just like every other day,

and are running your errands. Everyone you meet who knows you asks if you have gotten a new car, and puzzled, you look at your car and you “see” it is the same one you drive every day. This goes

on for some time until you finally realize that something is wrong. Once you realize the wrongness, you realize you have been deceived and you take action to correct the deception.

In conclusion
When preparing your responses to the Trials, keep in mind the questions I proposed you think about are not all encompassing. Think for yourself of things I may not have mentioned. Also, do not just

answer the above questions as if by answering them, you will have a sound answer. I do not suggest you write War and Peace when preparing for the Trials. But tell a story, tell a good story and the

experience will be pleasurable for all.

If your character has never had to show great courage, has never known any great pain, has never been deceived to an almost fatal outcome, or has never had inner turmoil then your characters has

never lived. Clearly, due to that, you cannot pass if have never experienced any of them. Overcoming adversity is the role of the Jedi, pulling off what would be impossible for non-Jedi. But, if you can

explain your answer to one or two the council will still review your answer. It's about getting into your character and having some sort of good explanation one way or the other.