USH'S STAR WARS GAME- Padawan Selection
Players from the Jedi Knight or Master catogories may be asked, over time, to train a Padawan. This is always entirely voluntary, and there is no penalty for refusal.
Training a Padawan brings rewards and problems on two levels. First, the practical- you have to look after your Padawan, and exercise extra responsbility in guiding your Padawan's learning. On the other hand, your Padawan will be around to help you throughout your adventures.
Secondly, the gameplay element- training a Padawan is an extra level of complication for a player, and things can go wrong which may make life difficult. On the other hand, you may enjoy the challenge and like the idea of watching someone grow up in skills and power in response to the way you train them!
So, accepting a Padawan is a serious responsibility but the rewards can be great.
When you chose a Padawan, he starts play at age 13 (having been with you for a year), with a basic set of skills and likewise a defined personality. All the Padawans have their quirks, problems, and talents. Certainly at this early age, you will have to look after them a great deal.
However, your Padawans will grow up quickly between episodes. At the start of each episode, you will receive a progress report on your Padawan, and a new character sheet will be made for him/her to show his/her new skill and stat levels.
Here is the hook. The WAY the Padawans change and grow will be entirely down to you- but not directly! The things you tell your Padawan to do, the ways you act around him, the ways you teach him- even the events that happen around you and because of you in the game, all will shape your Padawan's growth- both in skills, powers, tricks- and personality.
Trouble is, they will pick up BAD things as well as good...
Yup, there is lots than can go wrong with a Padawan! The biggest pit trap is the Dark Side- ALL Padawans are at a dangerous point in their training, when the Dark Side will test them. This danger is very real and do not ignore it. Still, this is the catastrophic end of things and sensible play should keep things under control.
However, Padawans can easily grow sullen, undisicplined, argumentative, depressed, angry, even violent- they are teenagers after all! Less obviously, they may become distracted, or focussed on un-Jedilike things... or they might simply not like you as a trainer!
Padawans normally become imbalanced also, and will develop into unbalanced Knights. You can try and even their studies out but frankly, most of the starting player templates are unbalanced also, so it may be as well to accept that Padawans will want to specialise!
In the end, though, the Padawan will end up reflecting you in some way... so be careful how you do things!