Ok so, just to clarify, if I'm a lightside Force user, and I use Dark Side pips with the Heal power, I still heal the target right? I just also incur some Conflict on top of the healing? I've read the description and it seems to say that, but a part of my brain keeps thinking I'm reading it wrong.

Aye you are correct in that

Darkside force users lose the power to heal and can only harm. But a lightsider using dark pips can chose to heal or harm.

If your a Dark Sider your too selfish to heal others except in anger when you hurt others to heal your friends, it's basically you exacting revenge. There is also the extreme case of bringing someone back from the dead, and even then your probably doing it for very selfish reasons too.

Right, I'm cool with the "If you're a Dark Side User" angle of it, my problem was with several examples of the rules saying "You get this result with Light Side pips, and this other result with Dark Side pips", I wasn't sure if this was another example of that logic. I was pretty sure it wasn't, but that little voice in the back of my head kept nagging at me, saying I was reading it wrong Wanted an outside opinion!

Quiet Douglas! They answered the question already! Get back in the box!....sorry, where was I?

Thanks for the response.

Heal is light side only.

That being said the first control upgrade only allows you to heal strain if you do not use any dark side pips.

It also allows dark side users to heal strain equal to wounds inflicted if any dark side pips were used with harm.

So other then that small caveat you are good to heal using dark side pips.

My last character got more conflict healing people then almost any other way. There's some irony for you.

You could work it into the story even more. If you heal with dark side points than it could leave scars.

You could work it into the story even more. If you heal with dark side points than it could leave scars.

I like this. It should also hurt like the dickens. Light side pip healing could be like a gentle warmth that spreads over the body, reinvigorating it. Dark side pips might be like cauterizing a wound with a hot iron.

Take a look at the Legacy comic book series for examples of fueling the Heal power with the dark side in the form of Cade Skywalker's healing power. From all accounts, until he gets his head together (and thus starts drawing upon the light side of the Force) it looks pretty unpleasant for the patient when used.

I think personally I'd do a house rule that requires light side to heal. I can't see someone channeling their hate/anger/etc to heal someone. That being said, I realize that's a house rule call on my part.

I think personally I'd do a house rule that requires light side to heal. I can't see someone channeling their hate/anger/etc to heal someone. That being said, I realize that's a house rule call on my part.

The problem with this though, is that it would seriously limit the usefulness of the power to a starting PC, who is trying to not be a combatant, but wants to be useful.

Using the dark side to heal someone is fine, think of it in terms of the narrative.

The heroic Jedi fighting alongside his fellow Rebels when one of his friends takes a savage strike to the leg from a vibto axe, [roll 2 Dark 1 Light] the Jedi dives toward his friend panicking that he may bleed out before he gets there but is able heal him just in time.

His fear of losing his friend is allowing his connection to the dark side, he gets conflict (mechanically for using the dark side) but thematically for allowing his fear to control him

I think personally I'd do a house rule that requires light side to heal. I can't see someone channeling their hate/anger/etc to heal someone. That being said, I realize that's a house rule call on my part.

There's also fear, desperation, a refusal to let go, and even just pure ego that can feed the Dark Side.

However, from a RL perspective, I've personally channeled my anger constructively while providing care for a patient. Anger can make you focus in intently on a particular subject (even though you might lose some degree of your sensitivity to matters peripheral to your focus).

Also acting without thinking or in haste could be a dark side trait.

I assumed Cade called upon the darkside but the problem is solely with the force user rather than the patient barring one notable exception if we're talking Cade Skywalker...

Of course the point they revealed is that was his particular talent and not something anyone had access to so if your gm allows it, you might end up hunted for your character's particular specialty something even the Emperor would be interested in take that as the warning its intended to be!

I think personally I'd do a house rule that requires light side to heal. I can't see someone channeling their hate/anger/etc to heal someone. That being said, I realize that's a house rule call on my part.

Of course you can Heal with negative emotions-

"Don't you dare die on me you SOB!" [anger]

"At least, not until you pay me those 50 credits you owe me." [greed]

"You're not going to die on me! All my patients live; I'm strong in the Force!" [pride]

"Rebel scum, you can't die yet; not until you tell me where the Rebel Base is." [wrath]

"When I report the location of that base, I'll get a promotion." [ambition]

"You die when I say you die. I decide who lives and dies" [sadism]

"You're going to live until you finish pleasing me. I'm not a necrophiliac." [lust]

"Heal; or else I'm going to have to get out my medkit and nurse you for a week to heal you. That's too much like actual work. [sloth]

I just never accepted the base Dark/Light morality of the Force as Good/Evil, or Selfless/Selfish.

I prefer to see it as Sensation/Power dichotomy. Light Side is all about listening to the Force, feel its subtle ebbs and flows, and let it guide your life.

Dark Side is all about imposing your Will on the world, a certitude that nothing is beyond your power and your desires.

One might lead to emotional and material withdrawal from the world; a tendency to develop as hermits who dont seem to care for the troubles of the world. Where the other grows into spoiled individuals, who are so used in getting what they want, and that nothing can deny their whims and desire.

Said whims and desire might be selfless. Or selfish. (Usually, the Dark Side will internalize any selfless emotions you might feel and corrupt it into a "me" sentiment).

So in a way, healing someone can be seen as a Dark Side power. You override the reality with the Force.