Sadly, both Leia, Snoke, and Kylo Ren refer to it as "the light." Leia's confirmed as Force-sensitive (if not trained), Kylo Ren is definitely trained, and Snoke is up in the air.

Not 100% certain, but I think Maz uses that term well, regarding the ongoing war between the light and the dark sides of the Force, and I believe she has been confirmed as a Force user; thus her line "I am no Jedi, but I know the Force" to Rey after she finds Anakin's old lightsaber.

With the possible exception of Snoke, I don't consider either of them educated enough. Leia chose a different vocation and Kylo is simply in a state of disillusion about a lot of things. Pity though, I am really starting to find myself getting irritated with how shabby the presentation of the movie actually was.

Maz... I didn't know that one. Thats pretty interesting.

I imagine it is an in-universe example of what happened in the real world. While original intent (and scholars) viewed it as only the Force, and the Dark Side was twisting the Force, all the talk and fuss about the Dark Side made people simply assume their had to a Light Side to be the opposite, regardless of the the original philosophy.

Technically speaking, there is no light side. Just the force and the darkside, which is the force perverted by evil will. The light side has never been referred to as such, because it is the force containing all energies of life. That simplification always really annoyed me.

Unfortunately, that's no longer the case, as TFA has made pretty specific references to "the light" in contrast to "the dark side."

Now it could be that what's being referred to as "the light" is really just the Force in its normal/natural balanced state, but until there's some clarification down the line, as things stand within canon there is a "light side" of the Force.

This was one of the most shocking moments to me, the reference to the light.

I chalk it up to the writers not really caring about Lucas's intention (only Force and Dark Side) and wanting to talk about balance in a more explicit sense. Which, personally, I think it dumbs down the idea of the Force and takes it from something that is mysterious and turns it into something more tangible/understandable. Which clearly I am not a fan of.

Pretty sure TCW name dropped the light side well before Ep. VII did.

Pretty sure TCW name dropped the light side well before Ep. VII did.

They had the whole episode with the Father, Daughter, and the Son thing.

I thought those string of episodes were really odd.

Technically speaking, there is no light side. Just the force and the darkside, which is the force perverted by evil will. The light side has never been referred to as such, because it is the force containing all energies of life. That simplification always really annoyed me.

Unfortunately, that's no longer the case, as TFA has made pretty specific references to "the light" in contrast to "the dark side."

Now it could be that what's being referred to as "the light" is really just the Force in its normal/natural balanced state, but until there's some clarification down the line, as things stand within canon there is a "light side" of the Force.

This was one of the most shocking moments to me, the reference to the light.

I chalk it up to the writers not really caring about Lucas's intention (only Force and Dark Side) and wanting to talk about balance in a more explicit sense. Which, personally, I think it dumbs down the idea of the Force and takes it from something that is mysterious and turns it into something more tangible/understandable. Which clearly I am not a fan of.

IMO, Lucas already did this himself by introducing midichlorians.

Hmm I'm not sure about the dark side of the force being the normal force perverted by sentient beings. That explanation doesn't mix very well with places strong in the dark side like the cave in Dagobah in TESB. It seems like a natural part of the force, not something artificial. I would say that the use of the dark side corrupts the user, not the other way around.

I think the fact that they now call the light side, instead of just the force as in previous movies, is to make it more clear that there is 2 sides of the force.

That's a bad story to prove your point with. The story of David and Goliath is a story about placing your faith in God and trusting that God will deliver you in the end. Thus the power of faith is more powerful than any mortal power.

It wasn't the power of faith, it was the power of a ranged weapon. You can win any battle if you can do it from a distance.

And a well spent Destiny Point?

Slingshot has vicious five,critical one, David rolls like, two triumphs and three adv. High rolls on that critical roll and bam, he's down.

Important note: Sling, not a slingshot. The lead bullets that were used at close range could punch through armor like, well, a bullet.

Hmm I'm not sure about the dark side of the force being the normal force perverted by sentient beings. That explanation doesn't mix very well with places strong in the dark side like the cave in Dagobah in TESB. It seems like a natural part of the force, not something artificial. I would say that the use of the dark side corrupts the user, not the other way around.

In old cannon the impressions of strong emotions could color the force in certain areas. Most often they created dark side sites.

Sites of conflict and atrocities involving the force. Mind you most of this information was formed in WEG, but it made sense.

I think the tree in Empire was the site of the death of a dark side adept of some stripe. In Domain of Evil it was caused by a mad jedi who survived the purge.

I prefer my force where emotion and intent are also factors. Killing still generates conflict, but cold blooded murder or enraged slaughter will net you more than self defense.

As for midiclorians, I just use them as a force sensitive parasite. The stronger in the force you are the more you can support.

I always liked the force as a mystical element, and not not generated by space mitrocondrea. Just my two cents.

As for midiclorians, I just use them as a force sensitive parasite. The stronger in the force you are the more you can support.

I always liked the force as a mystical element, and not not generated by space mitrocondrea. Just my two cents.

As do I, but I've always enjoyed the idea that not everyone can be a Jedi/Force User/etc. Because then it's like those people where chosen by the Force!

And that's just one of those tropes I love to death, the people who have magical powers who use them to protect others because they can.

Honestly, since the critiques appear to be fomenting into a circle jerk of the same couple of posters upvoting each other, I'll probably make this my last post on the matter.

Okay, having just arrived, I'll offer my critique. I don't see any real problem with the current rules as written, but as a pure numbers game, yes, the Light Side comes out on top. And as a patch to this, you come up with weird, complicated rules that, near as i can tell, give far too much power to the Dark Side, then you berate those who disagree with you. Your suggested "fix" is a mess, and you take criticism like a spoiled child.