A view from the gallery

The "Power of the Force" book by Wizards of the Coast is one of the most complete indexs of the force put out by either West End Games (the privous owners of the Star Wars RPG franchise) or Wizards to date. It has a number of stats of characters that have made up the esteemed order along with additional jedi powers, feats, equipment and so forth. Another great feature of this book is that it also has stats on such jedi's like Kit Fisto, the Gray Lady, as well as updated stats on Mace Windu.

The book also shows some of the other functions of the Jedi Order and some races also view it. I only wished that it had come out after the Knights of the Old Republic game so that the Jedi Sentinal PrC could've been included but then again, that's just me.

Other than a few minor issues with the rules, Power of the Force is a great book to own and a *MUST* if you play a jedi in any era of Star Wars.

Necessary Jedi resource

To be frank, the Jedi classes offered in the Core Rulebook just aren't that cool. You can be a Guardian (typical butt-kicking Jedi saber-warrior) or a Consular (Princess Leia-ish diplomat type that shuns violence). The two prestige classes (aside from master, which of course is always cool) are interesting, but not that great. Additionally, there's little guidance on how to handle Force Spirits, which you would think is an important Jedi aspect.

Power of the Jedi remedies all of these deficiencies, adding several prestige classes that are both interesting and useful (e.g. the Jedi Healer and Weapon Master), additional light side feats and skills (including Battle Meditation and Cure Disease/Poison), and rules for managing a Jedi campaign and Jedi characters- including Force Spirits. There's also a section on Jedi equipment, including some older Jedi starships and specialized lightsabers (including the dual-phase and great saber), additional species, nasty force-wielding monsters, and a description of Jedi history and famous Jedi. The latter is particularly extensive, and includes descriptions and maps of some famous Jedi sites (e.g. the Chu'unthor).

The volume is hardcover, which largely explains the cost, and includes numerous and excellent illustrations- many of which are actual art instead of just more film captures.

If you are planning on running a Jedi campaign, or even have any light side Jedi players in a non-Force oriented campaign, this supplement is critical. I can't overstate how much depth and material it adds to the Jedi character in this game.

The Jedi's Handbook

The Power of the Jedi Sourcebook is a full-color, hardcover resource for all things pertaining to the Jedi Order. Continuing from the standard set by the Dark Side Sourcebook, the "PotJ" book combines information and utility with a tasteful arrangement of interior artwork and photos.

Most players will probably be most interested in the selection of new Jedi Prestige Classes, Light Side Force skills, feats, and equipment that the book offers. But there are also sections discussing Jedi history, Jedi traditions, new equipment, and new force-sensitive creatures. There are entries on important characters, important locations, and even advice on how to run a Jedi campaign. And of course, no book on the Jedi would be complete without a discussion of Force Spirits. This is also a section discussing new races, but most of these are also in the newer Ultimate Alien Anthology.

This book has been one of the important resources in my Star Wars campaign. I've really enjoyed using the Prestige Classes. From the Jedi Healer to the powerful Jedi Weapon Master, players now have a much wider range of advancement options open to their characters. In addition many of the force-sensitive characters, creatures, and locations have already popped up in my storyline. I also found the notes on running a Jedi campaign to be very useful, for not only can they guide a GM but they can also aid players on how a Jedi should conduct himself.

However, I do have a few minor complaints. A few of the Light Side force skills, particularly Force Light and Sever Force, seem to be quite powerful. Perhaps this is because they were based on the abilities of comic-book characters, but in any case, it was a wise move that such skills may only be acquired with GM approval. I would have also preferred to see a much more in-depth history section, particularly as it pertains to the Tales of the Jedi storyline. Finally, I felt that the maps for some of the important locations were fairly inadequate.

However, as I noted earlier, these were minor complaints.

Overall, I found this to be an outstanding addition to my Star Wars campaign. I use it often, and it is likely that I will continue to do so for some time to come. Whether you're the GM of a campaign with Jedi in it, or whether you're a player wanting to explore the possibilities of a Jedi character, I'd recommend this book as a solid investment.