If you’re coming from D&D and like playing a Wizard, you might be interested in the Consular class from SW5e. I don’t have the stats on this, but I’m gonna guess that the class designed to build a Jedi or a Sith and run around with a lightsaber is probably pretty popular in the Star Wars 5th Edition series.

What’s interesting with the SW5e Force casting classes is that you can choose to either be a light side of the Force user or a dark side of the Force user, based on the powers you want to use. You also have the option to use Universal powers, which don’t really fall to either side. Which side of the Force you tap into also affects what statistic you’ll use. So if you want to use a lot of light Force powers, that’s going to be based on Wisdom. But if you want to use more of the dark side powers, that will be based on Charisma. Depending on your character build, you might do one or the other, and the universal powers can use either stat, your choice.

Which statistics are important?

Your choice of Light or Dark side of the Force is going to drive your primary stat. Personally, if I was going to build a Consular character for myself, I would probably build more of a healer-type caster. This means I would be going high on Wisdom in my stats. But I can see how if somebody was playing a campaign where more of a Sith character made sense, you’d be high in Charisma instead. Those seem to be the two main stats. Pick your side of the Force and then put the most points into the appropriate option.

From here, staying alive is going to be critical so I would suggest going either with Dexterity as a secondary to increase your AC or with Constitution for the extra hit points. In general, this class seems meant to be more at range, supporting the other members of the party, so you might be able to get by without these and let others keep you away from the damage. In that case, perhaps your secondary might be more skill-based around where you want to focus for skill checks.

I’m sure you could build a Strength-based Consular, but if there was one stat I would suggest being your “dump stat”, it would be Strength.

Archetypes and Specializations

All of the Consular’s archetypes are called “Ways”, like Way of the Seer, Way of Endurance, or the Way of Lightning. Each Way has a specific focus. Based on how you want to build your character, choose what your archetype is going to be.

While in many ways this class feels like a mix of the Sorceror and Wizard, you can also choose to be more of a healer. I know that I would likely go the healing route because that’s the type of role I like to play in casting classes, and to achieve that there is an archetype called Way of the Sage, which focuses on healing.

The rejuvenating power of the Force is incredible, and the consular is the master of this usage. Those consulars who follow the Way of the Sage assist with an array of healing powers that grant allies the strength to continue through even the harshest of encounters. Separated from the heart of the fray, the sage can be an unfailing warden to those in need.

At second level you also gain access to Force Empowered Castings which allow you to use Force points to alter your Force power, which is actually a very interesting approach to a caster class. For example, you can spend points to essentially do a ‘Haste’ on your casting with “Quickened Power”.

Quickened Power
When you cast a power that has a casting time of 1 action, you can spend 2 additional force points to change the casting time to 1 bonus action for this casting.

Quickened Power probably one of the most powerful ones available, in my opinion. Other nice empowered castings are Seeking Power which allows you a reroll when you miss, or Twinned Power which allows you to target a second creature with the same power.

Personal Preferences and Playstyle

Now, personally, I’m not a big fan of casters. The SW5e character I was playing had some tech casting on it and already it was not something I wanted to have to deal with. I tend to like classes that are more in the Martial type of area, but if I was going to play one that was a pure caster, I think I might go with the Consular, just because it seems to have a lot of options to be able to go in a lot of directions.

Of the ones I’ve looked at so far, it does seem to have kind of a cool vibe that you can get into in terms of roleplay, especially when you start thinking of how you got to be a Consular. Were you trained as a Jedi? Or were you just a Force-sensitive person who happened to have a strong tie to the Force but you were never trained by anyone in particular? Were you a former Jedi turned to the Dark Side? I can see a lot of really neat roleplay angles where you could pull in background stories and have a really good thread in the world.

Do you prefer video?

I have a short video version doing a brief intro to the class if you prefer to learn that way!

Credits

• Cover image: “Jedi Consular” by Fed Losev (sourced from Wookiepedia)
• Basic class information and force empowered casting quotes: Consular class (SW5e.com)
• Consular Ways: Archetypes listing, SW5e.com
• Way of the Sage quote: Way of the Sage archetype (SW5e.com)