Star Wars VRMMO: Galactic Expedition

Through the window of the starship, Coruscant was on full display. The planet was covered in buildings. Even after seeing it in the movies, it is still unbelievable that the entire planet is one large city.

The starship quickly flew down through the atmosphere and docked in a landing bay. Conveniently, the bay was pretty close to the Jedi Temple.

Tyler unstrapped the restraints. "Thanks for the ride."

Val turned around and said, "No problem kid. Be careful out there. Coruscant isn't the greatest place."

"I appreciate the advice. Safe travels." Tyler then turned and exited the starship.

*New Location Discovered: Coruscant +100 EXP*

*Congratulations. You are the first player to enter Coruscant. You have been granted 6,000 reputation with Coruscant.*

*Congratulations. You have reached 6000 reputation with Coruscant and have gained the status of Friendly.*

*Quest Completed: Yin or Yang*

*Reward: 100 EXP*

*Chain Quest Triggered: Locate the Jedi Temple*

*Description: You have traveled to Coruscant. The Jedi temple is seeking you out to become a jedi. Locate the temple and present this coin to one of the guards.*

'Thank the lord. I was correct. I don't know what I would have done if this somehow didn't follow the logic I expected.'

Tyler approached one of the Republic guards that was monitoring the landing bay. "Excuse me, would you be able to tell me how to get to the Jedi Temple?"

The guard looked down at Tyler and said, "Of course. On the far side of this landing bay, there is a taxi stand. You should be able to get someone to give you a ride there."

"Thanks!" Tyler ran off to the far corner of the landing bay. Low and behold, there was a sign that said "Taxi Stand." He was slightly embarrassed to say the least.

He approached one of the airspeeders that had someone leaning against it. The man was a Rodian. He had a muscular build and looked like he did not have a care in the world.

"How much for a ride to the Jedi Temple?"

The man looked Tyler up and down before saying, "10 credits normally. With your status, 9 credits."

Tyler's eyes lit up. Apparently different levels of reputation provide discounts at vendors that are ȧssociated with said faction.

He quickly opened his inventory and removed 9 credits. "How much is the discount?"

The man laughed and said, "You get a 5% discount for your status. Normally, I would just ignore the discount since it would only lower the price half a credit, but I like that you were straight and to the point so I lowered it a full credit."

Tyler smiled as he hopped into the passenger side of the speeder and said, "Wow, thanks!"

The man got in and they headed off to the temple. The journey only took a few minutes.

Once they arrived, Tyler hopped out after thanking the man.

The Jedi Temple was huge. It was a large, pyramid shaped building with a flat top. Towering over it were 5 towers. One at each corner and then a larger one in the center.

Tyler walked down the path that led to the entrance. There were jedi all over the place. He didn't recognize any of them.

As he approached the entrance to the temple, a Temple Guard approached him. "Halt. State your business."

Tyler froze. The guard was in a fighting stance and had his lightsaber staff pointed straight at him.

Tyler then took the coin out of his inventory and presented it to the guard. Upon seeing it, the guard raised his staff and stood at ease. He reached over to his wrist and activated a comm. "This is Landing Pad to HQ. Please send someone down here to escort a guest to the Jedi Council."

A voice sounded from the other side. "HQ to Landing Pad. I'll send someone down immediately. They'll be there shortly."

*Reward: None*

*Chain Quest Triggered: Speak to the Jedi Council*

*Rank: Epic*

*Description: You have arrived at the Jedi Temple and are about to meet with the Jedi Council. Enter the council chambers and speak with them.*

*Reward: Jedi Padawan Class Change, 100 EXP*

After a short wait, another temple guard approached Tyler. "Follow me young one. The council is expecting you."

Tyler followed the guard through the temple. They went to the center of the building and entered an elevator. It took them all the way to the top of the middle tower.

The elevator opened and revealed a hall. There was a red carpet that led to the council chambers. On either side of the door were statues of ancient jedi and guards.

"You may get off here. Enter the council chambers and speak with them." Tyler stepped out of the elevator and it closed behind him. He walked up to the doors to the council chambers and they slid open automatically.

Yoda opened his eyes. "Welcome you, this council does. Speak to you, we must. Come sit. The center of the room you must be."

Tyler nodded and walked over to the center of the room. He knelt down and sat on his legs before resting his hands on his thɨġhs.

Yoda nodded and said, "Hmmmm, conflict within you there is. Great control over it you have. I commend you for this." He then looked over to Master Windu and nodded.

Windu looked at Tyler. "We have had visions of many jedi approaching the temple. Each one is predicted to hold great potential that may help bring balance to the force. Thus, we are inviting you to become a padawan learner. What is your response?"

Tyler nodded and said, "That is why I am here Master Windu. It would be an honor to join the order."

*Chain Quest Component Completed: Speak to the Jedi Temple*

*Reward: None*

*Chain Quest Completed: Becoming a Jedi*

*Reward: Jedi Padawan Class Change, 100 EXP*

Windu smiled and said, "That is good to hear. Welcome to the order padawan. For your first task, we will help you get accustomed to using the force and teach you how to wield a lightsaber."

*Chain Quest Triggered: Jedi Training*

*Rank: Epic*

*Description: The Jedi Order is going to put you through basic training to help you learn the ways of the force.*

*Reward: Lightsaber(s), Jedi Starfighter w/ Hyperspace Transport Ring, Astromech Droid, 6000 Jedi Reputation, 1000 EXP, 5000 credits*

'Whoah, this is cool. Let's check my stats before doing this.'

Draco, 8 years, Jedi Padawan

Level 2

EXP - 0%

HP - 170

MP - 120

STR - 1

DEF - 1

DEX - 1

STA - 1

VIT - 1

INT - 1

CHA - 1

Free Attribute Points - 15

'Okay, 15 points? Let's put 5 in dexterity for speed, 4 in intelligence for more mana to use the force, 2 points in strength, 2 points in vitality for more health, and 2 points in stamina.'

Tyler decided on this allocation because aside from speed being important to a jedi, they are well rounded warriors. In addition, Tyler's character has become 8 years old now. Each player's character will age from 7 to their real age as they reach level 10 and get their class.

Now his stats look like this:

Draco, 8 years, Jedi Padawan

Level 2

EXP - 0%

Mandalorian Human

HP - 210

MP - 300

STR - 3

DEF - 1

DEX - 6

STA - 3

VIT - 3

INT - 5

CHA - 1

Free Attribute Points - 0

'Alright. I think I am ready to start my training.' "I am ready Master Windu."

Windu nodded. "The first thing I will have you do is learn to feel the force. It will most definitely feel nothing like anything you have ever done before. First, you will close your eyes and calm your breathing. Once you are relaxed physically, let the thoughts clouding your mind wash away with each exhale. Lastly, you are to search for a feeling of connection with everything around you."

'This is kinda funny. My mom was always trying to get me to do meditation with her. White people, am I right? Anyways, deeeeep breaths. Experience tranquility. All of that calming and relaxing bullshit.'

Tyler was deep in meditation. As he cleared his head, he started feeling a warm and fuzzy feeling. It was almost as if there was a deep warmth emanating from within his body.

'Whoa, this feels weird. Maybe this is what they want me to find and grasp.'

Tyler continued clearing his mind of all distractions. Finally, as if it were a light in the dark, the warmth was on full display. Using his will, he tugged on the feeling and suddenly, he felt a wave of clarity and energy flood into his mind and body.

Yoda nodded and tapped his cane on the floor a few times. "Young ones, very smart indeed. Now, a question for you I have. The force… what is it?"

Tyler opened his eyes and thought for a moment. There was one answer. "The force is a link between all things in the universe. It can be used in many ways to manipulate the world around us."

Yoda nodded again. "Very wise you are. Great potential. Let us try something young one." Yoda took out a training lightsaber and used the force to float it over to Tyler.

Tyler reached out and grabbed it.

*Item Obtained: Training Lightsaber*

*Rank: Common*

*Description: This is a low level and low energy lightsaber. It is small and used for training younglings. This weapon deals little to no damage but will cause slight burns on contact.*

'Aww, this is kinda lame. I wanted to slice some shit up.'

Windu picked up a helmet that had a black visor on it. He then floated the helmet over to Tyler and said, "Put this on. We are going to train you in the usage of a lightsaber. Before we move on to attacking, you must learn the art of defense."

'Ohhhh. I see what we are gonna do.'

Windu then used the force to lift a training droid into the air and activated it. As he did this, Tyler pulled the helmet over his head and lost his sense of sight.

Windu then said, "Use your connection to the force to sense where the blaster shots are coming from. Use your saber to block or deflect. You may begin."

Tyler waited for a moment expecting to get a new skill or something. But nothing happened. It was then that he came to a realization. He understood why the Jedi and Sith classes were the hardest in the game.

THERE ARE NO SKILLS!

Everything the force wielder does is something that they spent time learning. There wasn't a skills store where you can just buy stuff. It was all hard work and determination. The plus to this is that there are no restrictions on what a player can do with the class as long as they work hard enough and are working within the limitations of the physical laws of this universe.

It now made sense how they balanced the force sėnsɨtɨvė classes. There is no luck in terms of base abilities. There is only skill. Tyler realized he was in for a long road.

Suddenly he felt a sting on his arm. The training droid had started its ȧssault. "Young one, keep your mind clear and sense around you."

Tyler took a deep breath and cleared his head the same way as before. Then, he used his will to grab hold of the connections he now felt with the surrounding world.

It felt almost as if a web of strings was connected to every single object and being in the universe. The strings attached to living beings were stronger but varied on their individual force potential. The strongs attached to objects were weaker. He was mainly only able to feel the objects in his immediate surroundings.

Suddenly, it felt as if one of the strings was being tugged on. Almost as if it was warning him of something to come. Tyler quickly stepped to the side and a blaster shot whizzed by him and hit the floor.

"Great. You pick up the sensory portion pretty quickly. Now try using your lightsaber."

Tyler nodded and got into an athletic stance. He let his right elbow fall back and held his lightsaber in two hands at his side. It just so happens that this is called the Jedi Ready stance.

Similar to last time, he felt the warning of an incoming shot. He focused on the warning and was able to isolate a direction. Just as the droid shot, Tyler felt the string vibrate. He swung his lightsaber in a small arc in front of his body and deflected the shot into the floor.

"Good job padawan. Do tell when you are ready to ramp up the training."

"Yes master. I'll let you know." Tyler fell back into his ready stance. He focused on the force string that was tethered to the droid. Again, he felt the warning and deflected another bolt into the floor.

This time, he felt the location where the bolt landed. 'Hmmm, maybe I can try that.'

Even more determined now since he was going to attempt to do something new, Tyler fell back into his stance.

This time when the droid fired, he stopped his saber in the trajectory of the shot and held it there. He felt a light force as the shot deflected off of his saber. He then felt that the shot bȧrėly missed the droid and hit the wall behind it.

"Well done. You were almost able to perfectly deflect a blaster shot."

Tyler was ecstatic. This would be such a cool ability to have. He continued to practice deflecting blaster shots for 30 minutes. He was able to hit the droid only 6 times. However, this is pretty good for his first try. It seemed as if he was a natural swordsman.

After the 30 minutes, he started to feel a bit tired. Before moving up to the next stage, he decided that he would meditate for a few minutes and give John a call.

"Master Windu, would you mind if I meditated for a few minutes? I would like to catch my breath and clear my head before the next stage."

Windu nodded and said, "That is perfectly fine. Meditating is a great way to strengthen your connection with the force."

"Thank you master." Tyler sat back down on his knees and closed his eyes. He could still not get over the feeling that the force gave him. It granted him great clarity in his mind.

Not one to waste time, Tyler called John.

"Ey, Ty! What's up?" John looked stressed.

Tyler sighed. "Are you good bro?"

John chuckled and said, "Nothing to worry about. Just a quest giving my group a hard time. What'd you call me for?"

"Well, I just wanted to give you an update. This class change quest is going to take a while. I probably won't be able to meet up with you until level 10. This class really does live up to its title as the hardest class in the game."

John was intrigued. "Why is that?"

Tyler laughed crazily and said, "There are no skills in this class. I need to learn everything as if it were real life."

John's jaw dropped. "That is ridiculous. I mean, it balances the class but won't that give you a severe disadvantage?"

Tyler smiled. "Well, you are both right and wrong. It is a disadvantage that I need to actually learn how to use my abilities, but that also means that I have almost no restrictions with how strong I can get."

John's face lit up. "That's great news! Oh! There is something I want to have you think about. I was thinking that maybe we can start a guild together. The people that I have been questing with might be interested too. Let me know! Anyways, I gotta go. Someone just pulled some unnecessary trash. Later!" He hung up.

'Well, that is a lot to process.' Tyler was now a bit jealous. His friend was out meeting new people and he was stuck here learning. He now understood the meaning of the phrase, "There is no such thing as free lunch." He would have to work for it if he wanted to succeed.

Tyler continued his meditation for another minute. He then stood up and opened his eyes. "Master Windu, I am ready to ramp it up."

Windu nodded. "Very well." He used the force and lifted another training droid into the air before activating it.

'Oh no. The next step is two droids.'