Force-sensitive
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A Force-sensitive was a being who was highly attuned to the flow of the Force. Force-sensitives could, with training, learn to sense and manipulate the Force.
The Jedi and Sith alike of the Old Republic took Force-sensitive children at a young age to become a part of their Order. A Midi-chlorian count through certain tests could determine how strong in the Force one was.
Trained Jedi could sense high levels of the Force in persons. The presence of those persons in a vicinity could also be sensed. For more accuracy, they performed midi-chlorian counts to detect Force-sensitivity in candidates.
People could be Force Sensitive by three known means. Either they inherited it by an also Force-sensitive family member (which was often the case), acquired the sensitivity through random mutation or evolution, or, in rare cases, one could be artificially imbued with sensitivity with the Force. Latent force sensitivity could also be artificially activated or magnified.
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[edit] Abilities of Force-Sensitives
The Force, being far more powerful than any machine in the Galaxy, had the ability to be used as a weapon by the Sith, or as a tool by the Jedi. In either case, the Force gave Force-Sensitives the ability to perform actions that would otherwise be considered impossible. For instance, Jedi Master Yoda had the ability, even at 800-some-odd years old, to use the lightsaber form of Ataru, demanding incredible acrobatics and speed. This was in no small part due to his amazing power in the Force. Some Force abilities included healing, psychokinesis, increased physical abilities, foresight, and various offensive techniques, such as the notorious Force Lightning.
Most untrained force-sensitives still had raw force associated talents, such as improved reaction time, physical strength, or an affinity to animals, weather or certain other aspects of the Force. For example, due to his raw Force abilities, Anakin Skywalker was an accomplished pilot at an age of ten, despite a complete lack of formal training.
It was commonly considered near impossible to wield a lightsaber without a sense of the Force, This was, however, an exaggeration, as non-sensitives have successfully utilised lightsabers on numerous occasions. It did, however, require Force training to successfully to build one, and a Force-user would generally be a more accomplished combatant.
Some force-sensitives, were known to have drastic side effects for possessing Force sensitivity, although not having the knowledge to properly control it.
[edit] Nonsentients
A creature (or object) doesn't necessarily have to be sentient to be able to possess force sensitivity. Qui-Gon Jinn once gave Obi-Wan a stone from his homeworld's "River of Light" and it by unknown means appeared to be Force-sensitive as speculated by Obi-Wan.
Creatures, are other examples of nonsentient creatures who are considered Force-sensitive. On the contrary, some sentient species were entirely Force-sensitive.
However, droids were an anomaly, being sentient yet not a part of the Force, although droids are non-living machines.
[edit] Force-user
The terms Force-user and Force-sensitive are distinct in meaning. Force-sensitive denotes anyone with Force power, latent or active, while being called Force-user implies that the individual has at least some understanding and control of his abilities and is able to use them to accomplish specific tasks. The latter is also used in a more specific sense as a general term for Force-trained individuals who do not belong to any of the two major Force traditions (the Jedi and the Sith). Another term for Force-user is Force adept, for dark-siders sometimes Dark side adept (not to be confused with the Imperial title and organization proper).
[edit] Independent Force-users
Besides Sith and Jedi traditions and Imperial dark side cadres, there were other organizations devoted to the Force. Often, these originated in another earlier tradition, but had left it after a schism or similar event. These could belong to either the Light or Dark side, or simply exist somewhere in between. Also, some Force-users did not adhere to any code or creed, but were self-taught or raised and trained by independent masters.
[edit] Force Sensitives throughout history
Qui-Gon Jinn discovered Anakin Skywalker through his prowess at Podracing. Anakin himself once believed as a boy that he had a "string of lucky guesses", when actually these guesses were early indicators of the Force. His mother Shmi Skywalker noticed these anomalies in her son as well, and described Anakin Skywalker as "special". Indeed he was, for Skywalker had no biological father; Shmi was a virgin mother.
Other potential Jedi have been discovered in roughly the same way - when there seemed to be an unusual amount of luck associated with an individual; in fact, when Luke Skywalker was looking for candidates for his Jedi Academy (later Jedi Praxeum) he told the droids R2-D2 and C-3PO to search for people with an unnatural amount of luck.
In the Old Republic era, Force-sensitives were typically discovered by the Jedi at a young age and enlisted for training as Jedi. Individuals discovered late enough to have developed family ties and friendships with others were not generally trained; an example of this would be Alexi Garyn. This rule originated after the Exar Kun War but was not strictly enforced until after the Ruusan Reformation.
During the time of the Galactic Empire, force sensitives were known to be taken in to be trained as Inquisitors, Emperor's Hands, or otherwise. Most force sensitives discovered by the Empire however, were killed due three possible factors: the threat of other powerful force wielders was a fear of Palpatine's and as such most were simply eliminated on sight, discovered alien force sensitives were likely killed upon discovery as Human High Culture would suggest, or some were eliminated due to lack of sufficient power during vigorous "tests" performed by Imperials.
[edit] Droids
Although many people beleived that machines were untouched by the Force, the Force was strongly held inside the battle droid Darth Tyler, who seemed to have faster reflexes, smarter, reading mind capabilities, and many other Jedi/Sith traits. Many people believed this impossible until this happened. Tyler was able to delflect blaster bolts, as during the Skirmish over Jestefad, and also duel other Force-users, such as Darth Wyyrlok and Lah D'ar.
Other case was with the Kundun's Guards, special droids made to protect Lord Kundun during his mission. The Artusian Crystal in the thorax of each droid made them "one with the Force"; circuits between the droid's "brain" and the crystal were capable to "read" and "sense" the Force in the Crystal, and a advanced software deep insed the droid's brain was capable to unterstand them, making the Kundun's Guards one excellent body guard.
