The Force Is My Ally – Using Force Dice and Abilities

In this latest RPG article from Seth, he explores how the results from the Force die can influence your characters’ abilities throughout your Edge of the Empire, Age of Rebellion, or Force and Destiny adventures!

The Force is My Ally
Using Force Dice and Abilities
by Seth Glenn

The Force. That mysterious energy field we all know and love that binds the galaxy together. While few of the beings and creatures in the Star Wars universe can actually manipulate the Force, almost every object, being and creature are connected through the Force. In the Star Wars RPG system, the Force guides the players through their adventure, whether they are Force users or not, through the use of Destiny to help move the narrative along. For those characters that are Force users, they use a special Force Die to use abilities and manipulate the Force during gameplay. This brief overview will attempt to help you understand how to use these Force Dice and abilities. All three core rule sets (Edge of the Empire, Age of Rebellion, Force and Destiny) give descriptions of using Force abilities and talents during game sessions, and the Force and Destiny rules offer a more in-depth look as a primary aspect of that expansion. See those rulebooks and resources for specific Force related questions and descriptions.

The Force Die
As a Force sensitive or Force user in the Star Wars universe, a player character(PC) has abilities beyond that of other characters in the galaxy. As such, they will become increasingly familiar with the Force Die. This white 12-sided die has white “light side” points and black “dark side” points that do not determine success or failure like the other dice. Nor do dark and light side points cancel each other out. Rather, these points are used as a resource, with different abilities costing different amounts of Force points; or to fuel a Force ability’s ongoing affect.

The Dark Side, and the Light
As we all know, the Force is dual natured, having both a Dark and a Light side. Player Characters in the Star Wars RPG system are considered morally part of the Light side, and therefore generate Force points from the white Light side force icons on the Force die. PCs can, however, use Dark side points generated from the Force die, but they must flip a Destiny point from Light side to Dark, as well as take 1 strain equal to the number of Dark side points used. A player may always choose not to use any Force points generated as well. If a PC uses the Dark side of the Force too much, they run the risk of falling to the Dark side. In the game, this is accomplished when a character’s morality drops below 30 and they are then considered a Dark side user. When a player is a Dark side user, the rules are reversed and so they suffer penalties for using Light side points generated. PC will always use Light side Destiny points however, and the GM always uses Dark side Destiny points.

Force Points as a Resource
A PC is considered Force sensitive when he gains a Force rating of at least 1. In order to generate Force points, a PC rolls a number of Force Dice equal to his Force rating. He or she does this each time they declare they are attempting to use a Force Power. Players may use a Force power as an action, or may use a Force power to give a bonus to an appropriate ability check; for example, using the Force power Enhance to boost an athletics check. When a player makes an athletics check, and they have a Force rating of 1, they may add one Force die to the ability check dice pool. For each Light side force point generated, the player may add one Success or Advantage to the roll; whichever they choose. If they have a Force rating of 2, they may add two Force dice, and so on. A PC may choose to use any Dark side points generated by suffering the penalties mentioned earlier. If a PC is using a Force ability or talent as an action, they do not need to roll(unless stated otherwise) as long as they have the appropriate amount of Force points to spend.

Ongoing Force Abilities and Talents
Some Force powers and abilities have ongoing effects that can be activated and deactivated. Each of these provide an ongoing benefit to the PC, and are fueled by a player committing one or more Force die to that specific ability. When a Force die is committed to a particular ability or talent, it is unable to be used to generate Force points until the player deactivates the ongoing Force effect. For example, if a player has a Force rating of 2, and commits 1 Force die to his Force Sense ability, he will only have 1 available Force die to generate Force points, but is in a continual state of awareness of living things and their emotions within short range until he deactivates his Sense ability. This ability might be useful for detecting enemies or creatures nearby and their intentions. There are many abilities and talents that can be activated in such a way. See the appropriate source book for each one.

Use the Force Luke
Whether as a player or a GM, be encouraged to use the Force often unless it goes against the narrative or your character’s nature. Too often, players treat the Force as some super powerful move to only be used in the strictest, most dire circumstance. But would not a young Force sensitive feel the curiosity to practice his new abilities? Or would a Sith Inquisitor hesitate to use the Force as often and as potently as possible against a group of upstart rebels? Be creative and have fun with how you incorporate the Force into your Star Wars role-playing;
And may the Force be with you!