Having recently finished Dark Forces II, I was wondering: in Star Wars games, do you prefer playing as a Jedi (like the Jedi Knight series, KOTOR, Force Unleashed), or someone with just a trusted blaster (first Dark Forces, Republic Commando, Battlefront)? If you've played the Old Republic, did you play as a force user, or some trooper or smuggler guy?

In general I'd say I like being a Jedi more, after all the lightsabre is a more civilised weapon, but I do love Republic Commando, and to my surprise I found myself barely using the lighsabre in Dark Forces II outside of duels. Frankly, outside of duels it kinda sucks.

I don't really care either way, I just like the (SW) universe.
But just like I usually pick a mage first in fantasy games, I tend to gravitate toward the Jedi first if it's an option.
And in the Jedi Knight series I would often challenge myself to a lightsaber (and force powers) only run.

I think at this point, Jedi, force powers and lightsabres are so overdone in Star Wars that I find it more interesting to play characters with ordinary blaster weapons and the like.

Dont really have much preference, lightsabers are ok, seem a bit over powered in the films, and in reality not so great. I mean, lets see them block an akimbo napalm launcher.

In Jedi Academy it wasn't even a challenge, that's pretty much the only way I've played it. I remember switching to some blaster by accident at one point, and being almost surprised "oh right, there is this FPS thing here too" :D

Jedis are slackers; if they exercised a bit more they'd be able to use heavysabres.

Depends on the game. In Jedi Knight series i enjoyed playing as Jedi Knight, it was a lot better than running with gun. But in Knights of the Old republic i liked more playin blaster. My only concern was that developers didn't forsaw this option, and they didn't give some more option for you characters. For example they could, instead of force powers, give you something like explosiv shot, bouncing shots. Yeah, you have perks, like power shot or sniping shot, but it's not much. Well, there is still a new Battlefront :)

Academy is a bit of a weird one, but since you're training to be a Jedi it makes sense that you'd mostly be sabering around.
In Academy I tried to kill everyone with the reverse-stab move.

Read the Bane Trilogy written by Drew Karpyshyn. There's one fighting scene with a couple of Jedis, one of them a huge, muscular guy with a two meter (IIRC) long lightsaber ;)

I don't like the Force. Only reason that I use it is because I value having power. Aside from that, I prefer my Stormtrooper Blaster over a lightsabre. Ranged is far more enjoyable for me. Especially liked the Plasma Cutter and Concussion Blaster from Dark Forces.

Isn't that basically what Gorc used in Dark Forces 2?

Strength shouldn't matter should it? I mean a lightsaber is a small device which emits a sword made of light, so would be the same weight for a 1meter one as 6 meters? The only weight difference would be in the devices power source/equipment. Now dexterity on the other hand would be necessary, it would be a lot easier to swing around a 1m sword than a 6m one unless your seriously bendy.

Also, one thing that might be interesting, if they can use the force to move lightsabers, why not have a cloud of them surrounding the weilder floting in the air, that'd be pretty cool.

Being a Jedi is nice, but I'd be really interested in a good Star Wars FPS without force powers and lightsabers. Clone Wars or Rebellion, I don't care... There's a dirty side of those wars too. Let us see it with the eyes of a normal soldier! Republic Commando went into the right direction, but the gameplay felt a bit weird. Good shooter mechanics are quite important without force and lightsabers... Something like Battlefront with a good singleplayer story would be great.

Battlefront 2 has a single player campaing, but I have no idea if it's any good.

It sucks ;)
It does matter. Not to swing your sword, but your enemy has to parry your blows. And the more physical force you can put into them, the more physical force it'll take to block them. And a longer lightsaber has more leverage too.