I give 1 XP to each player for each Dark Side Destiny Point on the table at the end of the session.

"You mean light side Destiny Points?" one player asked when I explained this at the start of our last session.

No, XP for each dark side Destiny Point. And by the end of the session the players had flipped at least twice as many light side points as compared to previous sessions, especially toward the end of the session.

not a bad incentive. Is this to keep them from hoarding them? or is it to remind them they are available for use? or both?

That's clever.

I would rather rack up the challenge though, so that they feel they actually need to use the Destiny Points and are relieved when it saves them.

One thing I've done is allow Triumph and Despair to flip a point if things start to stagnate. In a way it's kind of like banking the result for later. YMMV.

I do two things:

1. When they are in a rough spot, point out that they have them there and what they can do for them
2. Spend dark side destiny down to 1 remaining rather quickly.

#2 is the thing that gets them spending it more - I don't horde dark side myself.

Once they get used to a back and forth, it's going to flow back and forth a lot.

At our the last session to finish the adventure I encouraged the players to spend destiny points as the challenge of the encounter increased, I then waited until all had been flipped to dark side and then I stated spending them to show how dire the situation was. This encouraged the players to spend when they could to improve their chances of survival.

I've had no problems with players spending destiny.

I've honestly had them try to spend destiny when they don't need to, and I'm like "you don't even need one there bro."

If anything, I'm having a hard time spending DS destiny to give it back to them! XD

I've had no problems with players spending destiny.

I've honestly had them try to spend destiny when they don't need to, and I'm like "you don't even need one there bro."

If anything, I'm having a hard time spending DS destiny to give it back to them! XD

Upgrade initiative dice.

Use it to move up an initiative slot.

Upgrade the occasional difficulty, so long as you keep PC pools' yellow > red, and green > purple.

Have the bad guys find something useful to the PC's (so that the PC's can then take if from their dead bodies).

Have another squad of mooks show up for no good reason.

Good ideas. Yeah, when my friend DMed a one shot, he used one to trigger a self destruct mechanism on the droid we beat up.