Hello and welcome to my second report as Voice of the Brotherhood. I recently picked up the new Ahsoka novel and am about a quarter of the way through it. I really like it so far, and as a long time fan of The Clone Wars and her appearance in Rebels, I’m pleased. While I haven’t finished, this is one of the latest new canon novels, and matches the storytelling quality of A New Dawn (origin of Kanan joining Hera) and Lords of the Sith (beginning of the rebellion, Vader and Palpy go HAM). If anyone else picked it up or wants to talk about it, let me know.

In this report, I will talk about an updated fiction rubric, “DB Canon,” Species in the Dark Jedi Brotherhood, the next ACC Event, and other upcoming projects and changes from the Voice’s office.

Table of Contents

• Updates
• Ask The Voice
• Projects
• Competitions
• Upcoming Events
• DB Fiction Chat

Updates

Telegram DB Chat

As Voice, I’m going to pretend that communication for the club is part of my job.

The telegram DB Chat has been upgraded to a Supergroup. This was done to give more control to the admins (the GMs/Dark Council), and allows them to, most prominently, delete content from the chat such as text or photos not deemed appropriate. Like most of the rest of our chat groups on Telegram (Art Chat, Fiction Chat, and most Clan Chats), converting to a Supergroup gives us other advantages as well.

1. Better ability to manage/admin the group as it continues to grow.
2. Ability for Admins to remove content, posts, or images.
3. Members can already edit their own messages, and can still do so. When they delete a message, it deletes it from the whole group, not just the local view.
4. Most coolly (totes), we can pin topics. (Just like on IRC!)

This might require you to update/check your notification status, but going forward, Supergroups are technically coded to be less obtrusive with notifications.

You can join the DB Chat [here - Log in to view join link].

Fiction Rubric 2.0

One of the pending proposals from before I took over as Voice was an update to the Voice Staff Fiction Rubric. Thanks to some heavy legwork from Atra Ventus, we are pleased to present the new Fiction Rubric 2.0. Any fictions that are submitted for approval following the posting of this report will be expected to use the updated Rubric. Currently running competitions will still adhere to the old rubric or whatever criteria was listed out by the competition organizer. If you have any questions on this, let me know.

Most notably, we’ve compressed the 5 categories into 4 with “Entertainment Value” rolling into Story. This brings us closer to the 4 categories used in the ACC Rubric, but also keeps it uniquely separated. Where the ACC values Continuity with the previous posts and the other writer’s story, Fictions instead focus on the added Creativity of plot and storytelling elements. That said, Fiction will ultimately always have more liberty than the ACC in certain ways. This is simply a result of the ACC’s mechanic-heavy focus.

What does this Rubric change mean to you? The biggest thing to note, I think, is the fact that we’re preparing ourselves to take Star Wars and in-universe cohesion more seriously. This means that yes, for competitive fictions for the Dark Jedi Brotherhood, Realism will play a bigger factor in how fictions are graded. This goes for Character Sheet mechanics including Force Powers, Force Usage, Feats, and Skills. This means that if you have 0 points in piloting, and write your character zipping through the air like Poe Dameron, you’re going to lose points.
This also means adapting to the new Possessions inventory items such as ships and weapons.

Don’t panic, though.

For personal fictions, you obviously have more freedom to explore the Star Wars universe. Just because you don’t have a Star Destroyer in your Possessions Inventory doesn’t mean you can’t write a story on your own about your character having one and setting out to rule the galaxy.

For Clan-level and sub-unit fictions or competitions, we strongly encourage the use of the Fiction Rubric, but as long as there is a clear and transparent grading criteria you are free to try different things out.

Please note: While it’s allowed, the Voice, DGM, and GM strongly discourage the use of alternative Rubrics. Why? In our experience, the best way to prepare members for future Brotherhood competitions (Vendettas, Wars, Events) is to have them familiar with the standardized format that is used in Brotherhood competitions.

But what If I don’t have a Character Sheet?

(This is probably a moot question at this point, and probably affects >0.01% of the Brotherhood’s members, but I know someone is going to bring it up. So, here’s your answer.)

Members are not required to have a Character Sheet to participate in Fiction related activities with the exception of the ACC (which requires Qualification, and therefore a valid Character Sheet). For grading purposes, a truly outstanding story told by a member can still be considered for placement, but based on changes to the rubric there is a strong chance that a similar quality of story featuring a Character Sheet will have a chance at placing higher.

Species

I talked about Species in my last report, but wanted to talk about them again.

This data sheet (thanks James and Kord!) breaks down the number of Species currently being used by the Character Sheet system. The first tab is the number of used Species, while the second tab shows the NPC Species. Google Sheets also even made a neat chart!

Here is what I took away from looking at this data: Humans make up 52%, with Zabrak second closest with 6.2%. Nothing else goes higher than 5% of total Species. What we see is pretty evident. The most popular species seen in Star Wars movies and media are at the forefront: Zabrak (Maul), Twi'lek (Everywhere), and Chiss (Thrawn/Timothy Zahn fanboys), Zeltron (No idea but they’re super popular now).

We have started to see some cool Hybrids popping up. I will also point out that just because a Species isn’t in the Character Sheet system, doesn’t mean you can’t write about them. Pravus’ Inquisition against the “Undesirables” is purely an **in-character* plot device. Out of character, we strongly encourage people to write and create alien characters to supplement storytelling. I personally have always loved Wookiees, especially our newst one, Kelviin who recently joined the club and has started exploring a Wookie Scavenger that has already made a cameo in the Herald’s Fiction. K’tana’s new character is a very interesting Sephi-Zeltron crossbreed, and I’m seeing more than a few people trying out the new NFU Disciplines. This makes me very happy. Also for anyone that’s talked to me, you’ll know that one of my favorite canon characters is Hondo Ohnaka for how he takes the idea of Han Solo or Lando Calrissian, removes the suave, and just goes for survival of the fittest as a pirate-smuggler-businessman. In short, aliens are awesome.

(Kelviin is cheering you all on.)

That said, there are very specific reasons for why we control the amount of selectable species members have access to. The main reason is that we don’t like to make any additions based on impulse. Why? Because it ends up becoming a waste of effort, and we create material that never gets used. If you really, strongly feel like you need to play a certain kind of character, and can’t find a compromise with any of the other 40+ Species, talk to me and we’ll see what we can do. I want everyone to be happy playing their characters, but I really take issue with executing or adding anything based on passing whims or the most recent idea-of-the-day. Beyond that, the policy is clear, and I’m happy to expand on it.

I will once again point to the updated Policy on the wiki. I’ll also talk a little bit more about Species later on in the “Projects” section.

Ask The Voice

I won’t be following the typical AskTheVoice Q&A trend as Voice, and will instead look to address things that come up frequently. Here are a few “hot” talking points that have come up since my last report that I wanted to address.

Defining DB Canon

I feel like this topic comes up at least once a week. Most of the time, it’s the result of a returning member, but also raises questions in some of our new members. What is DB Canon? Where do we draw a line between the new Star Wars Canon, and the Star Wars Expanded Universe? Who makes these decisions? Why can’t I use my lightsaber to fly, and why can’t I have my own Super Star Destroyer?

After speaking with a returning veteran member the other day, and conferring with the rest of the Dark Council, I am going to attempt to answer these questions.

What does "Canon" mean?

On April 25, 2014, Lucasfilm announced that all Expanded Universe material is now reorganized under the non-canon "Legends" banner to make way for the "new canon" to take place. The new canon began on screen with the Star Wars Rebels animated television series and in print with the novel A New Dawn. Under the direction of the Lucasfilm Story Group, all elements of Star Wars canon now operate in a unified and collaborative storytelling setting. The "new canon", which was set forth on April 25, 2014 and which is overseen by the Lucasfilm Story Group, exists in a connected "one universe" continuity. This means that, beginning with the Star Wars Rebels animated television series and the 2014 novel A New Dawn, all officially-licensed Star Wars storytelling from this point forward stands on equal canon footing.

The important words to take from this are “recategorized.” This is very important. Your favorite stories and characters were not deleted. They have not gone anywhere. They are still there for you to read, reference, and love. I, personally, am a huge fan of Corran Horn. While he is no longer considered a canon character, I’ve been pleased to see other prominent characters like Thrawn being brought back into the new canon timeline. (Thanks, Star Wars: Rebels!)

What is DB Canon, then?

To kind of quote myself from a Telegram response given to a member:

The line is determined by the Dark Council as a collective. We discuss and make decisions based on logical application of material to create what is ultimately the "DB Canon." The focus for this is to keep the club as current and forward-moving as possible, with the hopes of growing and appealing to a new generation of Star Wars fans that might not necessarily know or care about who Jacen Solo is or what the big deal with the Vong was, or that Chewie died. In that pursuit, we try our best to incorporate elements of the past. That means the DB history (Orders becoming Traditions), combined with the Star Wars Expanded Universe (Books published prior to April). A perfect example is what Star Wars: Rebels is doing with Thrawn. They took one of the most popular antagonists from the EU and brought him back into the new Canon. So far, I've been really impressed. There is also a subjective element that comes into play. This element is harder to define, because there are simply things that we, as the leaders of the club, do not think make logical sense. For me? That means balancing the fictional applications of things. That is why not everyone just runs around with twin Sith Swords and "Unlimited Powwwaah.” It's about balance, and a progression system, and a lot of other factors.

Does Possessions mean I can’t have _____

Yes. Among other things, Possessions has two major functions for the Brotherhood. First, it helps create more incentives to promote DB activity while providing a visible and tangible “Inventory” for our Dossiers. Credits are tied directly to accomplishments of activity and leadership in the club, so this is just another way we can enrich the experience and promote activity.

The second — which is more in line with the “DB Canon” I talked about above — allows us to better keep ourselves grounded in the realism and suspension of disbelief we see in the Star Wars universe. While this might seem constricting to some, Possessions becomes monumental in helping to balance out Character Sheets, fictions, ACC matches, and in general how we go about telling stories with our characters. Speaking from experience as former Combat Master, the fact that each weapon in Possessions lists its Character Sheet Weapon Type (Blaster, Bladed, Blunt, etc.) has already cut down on half the questions we fielded. I believe this will ultimately lead to less confusion and better collaborative writing between members.

As I said above, no one can stop you from writing what you want to write. Your personal fictions are yours, and yours alone. When you want to play with the rest of the community, however, you have to understand and respect that the system was created for uniformity and fair play to every single member. Please try and keep this in mind if you get upset that Evant said no to having gunblades from Final Fantasy or giant Gundam swords.

Please also keep in mind that we are currently in Possessions Beta. Even when we go live, there might still be some bumps. Evant, James, and the rest of the DC and their respective teams have worked very, very hard on this project, and the things you see before you right now are a direct result of the work they poured in.

Please keep that in mind as you explore these new features and changes to the Dark Jedi Brotherhood.

TL;DR

We (the DC/Voice Staff) are not trying to stifle your creative freedom as writers. We simply want to create a unified, transparent standard that can be applied universally across the Brotherhood's various activities. Beyond that, you are encouraged to try new things, create stories, and explore topics and themes that pique your interest.

Who do I ask about...

Possessions is a big collaborative effort across the DC. It combines graphics, writing, number balancing, member dossier/history accuracy, society awarding and countless other small, interconnected elements that require us to work together as a team. With that said, there is a basic division of labor with where to direct specific questions in regards to Possessions.

Evant is the REGENT. He is in charge of the Possessions system. If it involves inventory, tangible items and the inventory of items in the system, Evant and his team are your go to.

If you have questions about the graphics being used and how they are going to be linked to dossiers, that falls under the HERALD. Vyr is your guru.

If you have questions about how the items in Possessions relate to the Character Sheets or how they will be used in the various fictional activities in the club, you can come right to me as VOICE. Atra is also a great resource and works very closely with Evant and I on a daily basis.

If you spot bugs in anything coding or bug related, your best resolution is to email the Senechal . James is love, and life.

Projects

The craziest thing about being on the DC is that I’m tracking on more projects than I ever have in my time in the DB. Here are a few things that I’m working on.

DC Fictional Roles

Sarin and I are currently workshopping these. This will hopefully answer a lot of questions members have had about how the various Dark Councilors functions in character. You should be able to see a bit of this in the Anthology fictions

Fiction Hub

I’ve started a Proposal to create what I’m calling the “Fiction Hub”. This will be a resource page on the main website that links to:

• The DB Vendetta/War Comics.
• GJW Fictions.
• DB Plot Updates.
• Position Updates.
• Fiction Archive (Google Drive folder, most likely, or other third party solution)
• Novae Archive (Google Drive folder containing award winning fictions from past Wars and Vendettas).
• Star Wars Digest Articles

My hope with this will help us continue to organize and make sure that the heavy amount of fiction content we create as a club is organized and easily accessible.

Star Wars Digest Articles

My Praetor, A’lora, has volunteered to start working on what we’re calling a Star Wars digest. The goal is to highlight new canon species that become available so members, while also offering reviews and suggestions on the new Canon comics, books, and other content that comes out. Keep an eye out for that as well.

New Planet/Capital: Arx

You’ve probably already seen the name “Arx” popping up in fictions and in the naming scheme of Possessions. This is because we are currently flushing out and working on development of “Arx,” the new homeworld of the Dark Jedi Brotherhood, replacing Antei.

CS 2.5

We are calling the next batch of additions and updates to the Character Sheet system version 2.5. The focus here will be to make some changes to how Force Powers are used, especially in relation to Mind Trick, Force Interrogation, and things we’re starting to see more of in new Canon. Know that there is already development going on, but we don’t like to just haphazardly make major changes without being thorough. This includes a back and forth between the ACC/Voice teams, and the DGM/GM who are both former Voices as well. In short, these changes are being worked on, but there isn’t really a timetable on when we’ll make a major change. Right now, the CS’s are working in line with what we want, and that’s how we’re going to keep it for the immediate time being.

Competitions

There are currently 3 Fictions running Brotherhood wide. I will not be running an Inquisitorius [INQ] themed fiction for the month of November, as we are going to be focusing on helping Atra with the next big ACC Event you’ll be hearing about shortly.

Brotherhood Wide Competitions

• Don’t Panic — I’m actually going to be writing for this one myself. Very excited and think that this is a really interesting and fun sounding prompt!
• The Thirteen Stories
• They Are Coming For You

Spooktober - Fiction Competition

The Brotherhood Masqureade Fiction contest was my first one being run as Voice. While I was hoping for a few more entries, I was really impressed with the entries that we did receive! I’ve gotten to know a lot of your characters over time, especially during my time as Combat Master, and look forward to continuing to learn more and hear more stories from you all!

I wanted to congratulate Qyreia on his first place fiction specifically. If you’re looking for examples of competition winning entries, I’d start with this entry as a prime example of using the prompt, creating an engaging story and using a medley of supporting characters beyond just your own. Congrats to all the participants, and I hope the feedback I left on each individual entry helps!

Survey Says?

Members were given a chance to fill out this survey to help me better gauge the interest in fiction competitions across the club. You can see the results in pretty graphs here, but I’ll quickly break them down here as well.

Do you feel like there is an adequate amount of fiction competitions being run to keep you interested as a writer?

Out of 22 responses, 77.3% of members felt there was an adequate amount of fiction competitions being run.

Do you feel like there are TOO many fiction competitions being run to keep you interested as a writer?

Here, 59.1% felt that there were not too many, with a larger slice saying they were indifferent and a similar 2 members feeling that there were indeed too many fiction competitions being run at the same time.

With both of these questions, these answers are quite pleasing. My fear was originally that we were becoming too oversaturated. Only 2 members out of the 22 felt that there were too many, which pretty much puts my fears to ease. Noted. :)

Other things to take away:

• The majority of members are subscribed to either 1-2 fiction competitions currently. Of the 22 members polled, a majority are confident they will be able to finish their fictions on time, with a small number optimistic that they will finish some of them and an even smaller slice worried they wouldn’t be able to. Real life always comes up, but these numbers help paint a picture for us as leaders.

• There is a pretty even split between members in terms of the types of prompts being run. This is noted, and we’ll try to mix familiar prompts with some new ones that look to break out of the conventional mold.

• 59.1% of the 22 members polled want moar fictions. This is heard, and will be worked into future planning. :)

• 31.9% would rather be texting their best friend forever Jill (for those who missed the reference). This also makes me feel old because I’m on the mom’s side in this situation, here. Paying bills and adulting sucks.

Upcoming Events

Anthology Part 2: Rise of the Lotus

This was originally going to be included in this report, but I decided to break up fiction updates into their own news posts. This will be the second DB Plot update that will hopefully set up things to come as we start to sow the seeds for a Great Jedi War. Look for this shortly after this report posts.

ACC Event

Atra is going to be running an ACC event starting by the end of this week. I think this event is really cool, as Atra and team have put a lot of work into creating a really cool, exciting concept. I will let him elaborate on this more in his upcoming newspost.

December Run-On Event

Similar to last year, the DC is going to be running an Event in time/themed with the release of Rogue One (hypeee). My contribution will be a team-based Run-On I’d like to organize. More on this in the future.

DB Fiction Chat

For those of you that haven’t heard, we have a DB Fiction Chat on Telegram. You can find the join link [here - Log in to view join link] on the Brotherhoods chat page.

Other than regular fiction talk, we’ve begun to feature a question each day that is aimed at fleshing out and learning more about the plethora of characters created and played by the members of the Dark Jedi Brotherhood.

You can view all of this information here on the Resource Hub in terms of how to submit questions and view previous ones!

Keep in mind that like most chats, be respectful of your fellow members and try to stay on topic.

Final Thoughts

That’s all for now. Keep an eye out for the next Anthology update, and Atra’s ACC event, coming Soon.™

Thank you. :)