This is how I have interpreted it from the core rulebook and from a youtube video, however every discussion I have read online never states this so I thought I would ask here.

When a PC wishes to use the force, they MUST roll a light side point. If they only roll 1 dark side point, then this cannot be used at all unless a light side point is also rolled.

1st Example:

A PC with a force rating of 1 wishes to use a force power requiring only 1 force point. They roll 1 die and land on 1 dark side point, so then cannot use the force at all.

2nd Example:
A PC with a force rating of 1 wishes to use a force power requiring 2 force points. They roll 1 die and land on 1 light side point and 1 dark side point. The 1 light side point has now activated the force so they can either use a power which requires only 1 light side point, not use the force at all or use the dark side point. Using the dark side will require then to flip a destiny point from light to dark, suffer 1 strain and 1 conflict.

Have I got this right? The rulebook and a video seem to say this but all online discussions say that you can use a dark side pip without needing to have rolled a light side point as well to activate the force (it would be the opposite for dark siders).

No you can still use a dark side point to activate a power you just need to flip a destiny and spend 2 strain for some reason.

This is what I am taking from the rulebook:

Quote

he creates a dice pool that consists solely of a number of Force dice equal to his Force rating . He then rolls the dice. Every light side result generates one Force point the character may spend to fuel the power's abilities. Every dark side result generates no Force points, and is disregarded

You can use Dark Side points as well if you flip a Destiny Point. It helps a bit if you read further:

Quote

However, the dark side of the Force is always offering easy power, tempting a Force user to give in and accept its aid.

A Force-sensitive character may use one or more Dark Side point to generate one additional Force Point each—in addition to those generated by the Light Side points. The consequences that come with this choice can be dire, and can gravely affect the individual who gives in to this temptation.

A Force-sensitive character in Force and D estiny who wishes to use one or more Dark Side points to provide Force points for a power must flip one Destiny Point from light to dark. If there are no light side Destiny Points to flip, he may not use Dark Side points at all. He then suffers strain equal to the number of Dark Side points results he uses to generate Force Points and suffers Conflict equal to the number of Dark Side points results he uses to generate Force Points. A character may always choose to have a Light Side point result or Dark Side point result not generate Force Points.

Once the character determines how m any Force Points he has generated, he consults the Force power or Force talent and determines how he may spend those Force Points. Most powers and talents have abilities that require one or more Force Points to activate. Each Force Point can be spent only once. The character may spend as many or as few Force Points as he wishes; however, once he is finished spending any unspent are lost.

So, as you can read, you can activate the power with Dark Side points. All you need is to flip a Destiny Point and then suffer the strain and conflict. Alternately, if you're a Dark Side user, you flip a Destiny Point and suffer strain to use a Light Side point.

Hope that clears it up.

I think I'm getting a little confused between the terminology of: Light Side Point, Dark Side Point, Force Point and Destiny Point.

I think:

Destiny Point = Destiny tokens generated by force die roll at beginning of session

Light Side Point = white pips on force die

Dark Side Point = black pips on force die

Force Point = a white/black pip rolled which PC decides to use

Am I right?

2 minutes ago, Darryl89 said:

I think I'm getting a little confused between the terminology of: Light Side Point, Dark Side Point, Force Point and Destiny Point.

I think:

Destiny Point = Destiny tokens generated by force die roll at beginning of session

Light Side Point = white pips on force die

Dark Side Point = black pips on force die

Force Point = a white/black pip rolled which PC decides to use

Am I right?

That's correct. Sorry for not clearing up the terminology, I sometimes forget that it's not as clear cut for people who just started playing it.

That's okay, your description really helped. So...one more time:

Example 1:

A PC with a Force Rating of 1 wishes to use a force power which requires 2 Force Points. The PC rolls 1 force die. The die rolls 2 Light Side Points, the PC converts these to Force Points and can use the power.

Example 2:

A PC with a Force Rating of 1 wishes to use a force power which requires 2 Force Points. The PC rolls 1 force die. The die rolls 1 Light Side Points and 1 Dark Side Point. The PC still wants to use the same power, so they flip 1 Destiny point, suffer 1 strain and 1 conflict. The PC converts the Light Side and Dark Side points into Force Points and can use the power.

Example 3:

A PC with a Force Rating of 1 wishes to use a force power which requires 2 Force Points. The PC rolls 1 force die. The die rolls 2 Dark Side Points. The PC still wants to use the same power, so they flip 1 Destiny point, suffer 2 strain and 2 conflict. The PC converts the Dark Side points into Force Points and can use the power.

Have I got it now?

27 minutes ago, Darryl89 said:

That's okay, your description really helped. So...one more time:

Example 1:

A PC with a Force Rating of 1 wishes to use a force power which requires 2 Force Points. The PC rolls 1 force die. The die rolls 2 Light Side Points, the PC converts these to Force Points and can use the power.

Example 2:

A PC with a Force Rating of 1 wishes to use a force power which requires 2 Force Points. The PC rolls 1 force die. The die rolls 1 Light Side Points and 1 Dark Side Point. The PC still wants to use the same power, so they flip 1 Destiny point, suffer 1 strain and 1 conflict. The PC converts the Light Side and Dark Side points into Force Points and can use the power.

Example 3:

A PC with a Force Rating of 1 wishes to use a force power which requires 2 Force Points. The PC rolls 1 force die. The die rolls 2 Dark Side Points. The PC still wants to use the same power, so they flip 1 Destiny point, suffer 2 strain and 2 conflict. The PC converts the Dark Side points into Force Points and can use the power.

Have I got it now?

Yeah, that's right.

Awesome, thank you. Now I finally understand why the rulebook states that the force is always ‘successfully’ activated. It just depends if you want to convert the points into force points or not.

To be pedantic, there is no result of one dark side point and one light side point, but had they rolled two force dice and got that result, the rest is correct.

2 hours ago, Darryl89 said:

Awesome, thank you. Now I finally understand why the rulebook states that the force is always ‘successfully’ activated . It just depends if you want to convert the points into force points or not.

What they meant by this is that you should always narrate it as if the power was activated but if the requisite Force Points aren't spent the desired result doesn't happen (or fails another part of roll if the task requires a Skill or Opposed check as well).

• For example: the PC wants to Move an X-Wing out of a bog but doesn't roll enough pips on the dice to activate the necessary upgrades so you don't just say "You fail" and move on you narrate the scene as "You draw on the Force and your ship rises slightly, but the strain becomes too much and it sinks back into the muck..." .
• Another example: "You attempt to Misdirect the Stormtrooper while you cross to the control panel but instead of turning towards the noise you created he notices you and raises his blaster."
• Last example: "You send a wave of Force at the Inquisitor (Move) and he slides back towards the edge of the walkway, but he overcomes your attack and recovers before going over the edge" - the Player rolls enough LS Points but fails the Opposed Discipline check.

The idea is that you want to keep that cinematic feeling that the PCs are capable and that they don't fail at nominal tasks, like the heroes they are, just that not everything goes as planned.

It should also be noted that Dark Side characters must spend Dark Side pips instead of Light Side pips unless they flip a Destiny Point.