I think the Force is created by microscopic lifeforms injected into all species by time travelling talking apes.

Or it's the invisible energy in all things that can be manipulated by those with the affinity to do so.

I have only read about half the posts thusfar in this thread, so I apologize if someone has already brought something like this up.

My favorite game to GM thus far in my limited experience as a GM was apocalypse world, partially due to how much freaking freedom it gives you to define everything. I am treating EotE the same way, essentially letting my players treat the force as if it were a slightly different version of the psychic maelstrom, and allowing them to define its workings as long as they can explain it well.

Here's how it is going in my current game (just about to kick off proper next week): My one force sensitive character has taken force sense, and decided that he hears voices. This caused him to develop a horrific addiction to death sticks since they quiet the voices down. Over time as his abilities improve, he'll learn to channel this to be more useful and not bothering him as often, and perhaps that will allow him to start getting over his addiction. It made enough sense, drove his character, and was hilarious. Fun and roleplaying is the name of the game, so I allowed it. Perhaps they will come up with other fun/interesting ways that the other force powers work if he/someone else takes them. In any case, this is the reason why I allow my players to define these sorts of nebulous things, rather than me. It's just so damned entertaining.

I have yet to bring in the Force into my game. In fact an NPC said "May the Force be with you" and a player was immediately suspicious.

But for me, I like to use Timothy's Zahn perspective: The Limit of Force powers is Yoda moving Luke's X-wing on the Dagobah swamp. A lot of the "Training" is what you would get being a dedicated Martial Artist. Perfection of the mind and body. Very much like a dedicated Shaolin monk

The Force allows enhancements of the body (speed, strength, balance), precognition, and a bit of fancy Telekentics.

When you start using the force to cause harm to someone without acting in self-defense, they the corruption starts and you start becoming a Meglomaniac. this is the result of the Dark side.

Now, beyond the mumbo jumbo, I always though it would be interesting that there was some obscure force school, where instead of building a lightsaber, the student builds a blaster. Be some sort of wild west trick shooter with a heavily modified blaster

My ten-year-old gave me my new favorite analogy to the light side and the dark side.

He compared it to "How to Train Your Dragon 2".

The dragons are the Force, natural but intelligent. Peacefull by nature but capable of being devistatingly destructive.

Hiccup followed the light side. He is kind and gentle with the dragons, makes freinds and uses their strength very carefully.

Drago followed the dark side. He is mean and cruel to the dragons, dominates them and uses their strength to conquer.

Feeling like a lucky dad, at the moment.

Change in "The Momentum" with respect to time.

Quick question. It builds off of this topic well-enough I didn't feel a new thread was warranted...

I know that the final answer is, as always "my game, my story" but I want some opnions, nonetheless.

How wide-spread would you imagine the knowledge of midichlorians (as myth, legend, what-have-you) is by the time of the EotE default setting?

Interesting question. Keeping to the movies, we only see a few people mention them, and all but one are Jedi. The other is Palpatine. Granted, we know that palpatine is a Sith, but at the time of the scene in question, Anakin did not know that, and he did not find it weird that Palps knew about medichlorians. So either it's one of three possibilities: that's common knowledge, that's not common knowledge and Palpatine is just a scholor, or Anakin is blind to Palpatines' true nature. I'm inclined to think the latter, since Palpatine starts talking about Sith like they were at the breakfast table on a Sunday morning, and he doesn't find the topic out of place.

Lastly, Anakin as a child did not know. So we can safely infer that it's not "Common Knowledge" like air is composed of oxygen would be.

In my games, I would say that it's not commonly known at all outside of specific circles.

All-in-all, Palpatine and Skywalker seemed pretty chummy within the social status confines of thier ages and positions.

I would not at all be surprised if Anakin told Palpatine all about midichlorians and the latter played it as new information.

I am toying with the idea of a non-Force-Sensitive Imperial Doctor that theorizes that he can induce Force-Sensitivity using midichlorians. Still looking at multiple ways to set up the backstory and whatnot.

You might be right about how comfortale Anakin and Palps were.

I like your idea, it's reminiscent of Darths and Droids.

Quick question. It builds off of this topic well-enough I didn't feel a new thread was warranted...

I know that the final answer is, as always "my game, my story" but I want some opnions, nonetheless.

How wide-spread would you imagine the knowledge of midichlorians (as myth, legend, what-have-you) is by the time of the EotE default setting?

My take on it is: it is the science behind the Force. So Jedi, possibly those close to Jedi, and scientists that study The Force/Jedi.

That said, The Empire is pretty much forcing its interpretation of history on the galaxy (COMPNOR), so that knowledge would not be readily available, even restricted.