What is a Power?

A power is a discrete enhanced effect, a single shaping of the energies of the Force or a result of a technological formula, that creates a desired effect. In casting a power, a character carefully constructs the desired effect using the source of their power, and then releases it, all in the span of seconds.

Powers can be versatile tools, weapons, or protective wards. They can deal damage or undo it, impose or remove conditions (see appendix A), drain life energy away, and restore life to the dead.

A great number of powers exist, and over time many have been created and forgotten. An ancient force technique may exist in a long-lost holocron, or a piece of Rakatan schemata may contain revolutionary tech.

Power Level

Every power has a level from 0 to 9. A power's level is a general indicator of how powerful it is, with the lowly burst of speed at 1st level and the powerful greater explosion at 9th. At-will powers—simple but effective powers that characters can cast almost by rote—are level 0. The higher a power's level, the higher level a force- or tech-caster must be to use that power.

Power level and character level don't correspond directly. Typically, a character has to be at least 17th level, not 9th level, to cast a 9th-level power.

Known Powers

Before a force- or tech-caster can use a power, he or she must have the power learned, or must have access to the power in an enhanced item. Once a power is learned, it is always prepared. The number of powers a caster can have at any given time depends on the character's level.

When you learn a power, either an at-will, 1st-level, or higher, you choose from the list of powers provided in Chapters 11 and 12. You can learn powers from any level up to your Max Power Level, including at-will powers. The total number of powers you learn in this way can't exceed your Force or Tech Powers Known for your class.

If a power is granted to you by a class feature, that power does not count against your powers known and you can't voluntarily unlearn it. If you already know that power, you may learn an additional power that is available to you.

Additionally, every time you learn a new power as a result of gaining a level, you can choose one of the powers you know and replace it with another power of the same type, as long as that power is not of a higher level than your Max Power Level.

Force and Tech Points

Regardless of how many powers a caster knows or prepares, he or she can cast only a limited number of powers before resting. Manipulating the Force and channeling its energy into even a simple power is physically and mentally taxing, and higher-level powers are even more so. Thus, each casting class's description includes a table showing how many force or tech points a character can use at each character level. For example, the 3rd-level consular Umara with 17 Wisdom has 15 force points.

When a character casts a power, he or she expends a number of points based on the level of the power to create the slot to cast it. At-will powers always cost 0 points, while casting a power at any other level costs the power level + 1 points, as shown in the Power Level Point Cost table below. When Umara casts project, a 1st-level power, she spends two of her 12 force points, leaving 10 remaining.

Finishing a long rest restores any expended force points, and finishing a short or long rest restores any expended tech points (see chapter 8 for the rules on resting).

Casting in Armor

Because of the mental focus and precise gestures required for force- and tech-casting, you must be proficient with the armor you are wearing to cast a power. You are otherwise too distracted and hampered by your armor for force- or tech-casting.

Casting a Power at a Higher Level

When a caster casts a power using at a higher level than the power's normal level, the power assumes the higher level for that casting. For instance, if Umara casts project at 2nd-level, she uses three force points and that project is 2nd level.

Many powers have more powerful effects when cast at a higher level, as indicated in the Force Potency and Overcharge Tech sections of the power's description

Power Level Point Cost

At-Will Powers

An at-will power is one that can be cast without expending force or tech points. An at-will power's level is 0.

Casting Focuses

While forcecasting doesn't require a focus to cast force powers, techcasting requires that you have a tech focus in order to cast tech powers.