The Force — Cost, Strain, Falling

The Force is not free. Every active power requires a check. Failure wears you down. Natural 1 makes you choose: Dark Side or burnout.

How Force Checks Work

Step	Rule
Check	Expertise: The Force vs DC 10 + Power Rank. Power Rank = level you have (Mind Trick 4 = DC14, Force Choke 3 = DC13, etc)
Success	Power works as written. Degrees matter for Affliction (1 = Impaired/Vulnerable, 2 = Disabled/Defenseless, 3 = Incapacitated/Controlled).
Fail by 1-4	Strain -1 to further Force checks this scene (cumulative). You can push through but it gets harder.
Fail by 5+	Fatigued. -1 to all checks, can't run. Second Fatigue = Exhausted. Need 8h rest or Meditation (AWE DC15 1h removes 1 Fatigued from Force only).
Natural 1	Generate 1 Dark Side Point OR become Fatigued and cannot use that power rest of scene. Your choice, but Dark Side is tempting when you really need it.

What Powers Need Checks?

Need check: Mind Trick, Farseeing, Force Choke, Force Lightning, Move Object, Telepathy, Force Healing (Light), Battle Meditation, etc. Anything Active.
No check (always on): Force Boost — the passive +1 STR/STA/AGI/FGT/AWE/DEX you get from levels, representing Jedi reflexes. Costs levels, not checks. Represents being a Jedi even when not "using" the Force.
Move/Object passive? Leaping 1 + Speed 1 (Force Jump) — check once per scene when you use it dramatically, otherwise no.

Light Side — Healing Costs You

Healing (Force Healing Rank 4-6) causes Strain on the healer on any use (even success = 1 Strain if you use Dark? Actually Light healing = Strain 1 on fail? In V2: Light Side healing causes Strain on the healer — every time you heal someone, you take -1 to your next Force check this scene. Dedicated Healer talent removes Injury, not just Stabilize.)

Stabilize as Move action with Force Healing (vs Treatment DC20 Standard normally) but does not remove Injuries unless you have Dedicated Healer.

Dark Side — Lightning Needs A Price

Force Lightning Rank 5-6 requires you accept 1 Dark Side point on use (even if you succeed). It is not optional. The game tracks Dark Side points openly.

0-2 = temptable, 3-5 = shadow, 6+ = you Fall unless you Atone (1 session hard roleplay, GM quest, spend Hero Point, DC20 Expertise: The Force + Persuasion). At Fall, GM can take your sheet for a scene (Complication). Full Dark Side sheet flip = new class (Sith).

Force Fury: Spend Hero Point free to reroll Force check +5, must take second, fail by 5+ = Vulnerable to Force attacks until next turn.

Common Powers (From Your 3 Jedi/Sith Classes)

Mind Trick 4 (Jedi Councilor L3) — Will vs Entranced/Compelled, Subtle, Check DC? Requires 4? Actually DC10+4=14. Can make enemies forget.
Farseeing 4 (Councilor L3) — Senses 4, Concentration, you become Vulnerable (Dodge/Parry halved) while using. DC15 vague, DC30 near-perfect. Farwalker talent removes Vulnerable.
Force Choke 3 (Sith L3) — Perception Ranged Affliction 3 (Fort; Hindered, Defenseless/Chokehold), Concentration, DC13. 2 degrees = Defenseless + sustain Move Damage 3 DC18 Silent. 1 Dark Point per scene if used offensively.
Force Lightning 5 — Ranged Damage 5 + Affliction (Dazed/Stunned), needs Dark Point, DC15, Short 50m? Actually Pistol style.
Move Object 4 / Improved Choke L7 — 800 lbs, Damaging + Chokehold, Lift+choke+slam Damage 4, target Vulnerable to saber while choked.
Force Boost (all Jedi) — No check, +1 to +3 to abilities as you level, represents passive augmentation.

See class pages for full power lists — Guardian (deflect, saber forms), Councilor (more mind), Sith (choke, lightning, fury).