STAR WARS: Top 5 Force Traditions Better Than The Jedi or The Sith
When you talk about the Force in Star Wars, there are two groups of people that always come up: the Jedi, and the Sith. While they are the most prevalent (and really only) groups represented in the movies, there are myriad other groups from other cultures that are vastly more interesting than the old Good vs Evil complex. Some possess abilities neither the Jedi nor the Sith ever really use, but most of them are just more interesting from a storytelling perspective. Please note, most of this information comes from the former Expanded Universe and so is no longer canon. Here are a few of those groups.
Baran Do Sages
The Baran Do were a Force tradition among the Kel Dor. Until they were discovered by the Republic and the Jedi, all Force sensitive Kel Dor were trained by the Baran Do. Specializing in the ability to foretell the weather of their home world, the Baran Do could predict storms accurately enough that the rest of their people could prepare. With the arrival of the Republic, however, technology that could do the same thing was brought in, and the Baran Do Sages faded into near total obscurity, remembered by those Kel Dor who were more traditional. Ultimately, their obscurity worked in their favor as they survived the Jedi purge, and the subsequent hunting down of any Force-using groups. Luke later learns from the Baran Do and learns to respect their connection to their home world through the Force.
The Nightsisters
The Nightsisters were given a much deserved showing in the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, being a major plot point for Asaaj Ventress and even involving Count Dooku and the Separatists heavily. The Nightsisters didn't believe in good or evil, but rather a balance of their two deities, with a focus on illusions. The Nightsisters also did not subscribe to the view of the Force that many other did. Instead they took a more shamanistic approach, using their “magicks” to contact the spirit realm and manifest powers and abilities outside the normal view of the Force. In The Clone Wars, the Nightsisters even raise an army of undead servants to fight. The Nightsisters are strongly tied to real world witchcraft with their use of potions and rituals to manifest Force abilities, but they are incredibly dangerous nonetheless.
The Jensaarai
Formed by a fallen Jedi after reading a Sith manuscript claiming the Jedi had taken their knowledge from the Sith before exiling them, the Jensaarai had a rough start to their existence. They were hunted by the Jedi order, then by the Empire during the Purge, then used as assassins by pirates before meeting the then Grand Master Luke Skywalker and learning that their view of the galaxy had been skewed. After the death of their founder, the fallen Jedi Nikkos Tyris, at the hands of the Jedi, the Jensaarai drastically changed course, no longer being pulled toward the Dark Side by their former leader. Using their limited knowledge of the Force they combined the teachings of the Sith and the Jedi, using them in unique ways. Most notably, they could hide their presence in the Force, making them capable of masking themselves to those who hunted them. They also focused their abilities on the creation of Sith-inspired armor, working Cortosis into the armor to protect them from lightsabers, which they also implemented. The Jensaarai were ultimately brought in under the greater knowledge of the Force Grand Master Skywalker, sharing their love of justice with their new Jedi comrades.
Imperial Knights
Part of the Fel Empire, the Imperial Knights existed over 100 years after the fall of Emperor Palpatine and his Empire. The Imperial Knights served a two-fold purpose. The first was to protect their Emperor, a task they were more than up to, being well-trained in the Force but with a more combat-focused perspective. Their second task was in the case of the Emperor falling to the Dark Side they were either to kill him, or bring him back to the light. This is a notable difference from the previous Empires, being almost exclusively run by Dark Side users. The Imperial Knights proved themselves time and again, standing strong against full-blown Sith repeatedly and killing many of them. The Imperial Knights, like the Jensaarai, wore armor to protect themselves and used lightsabers as their weapons of choice, although, notably, all of their lightsabers were white-bladed, placing less emphasis on the individuality of the weapon.
Aing-Tii
The Aing-Tii are perhaps the most different of Force traditions. While most see the Force as either black or white, good or evil, the Aing-Tii see the Force as a full color rainbow. So, to them the Force has many different aspects, each with its own strengths. The Aing-Tii were a technologically advanced race, using a combination of technology and the Force, which made them incredibly dangerous in combat. With that, they hunted pirates and slavers near their home in the Kathol Rift, showing a strong sense of morality and justice. Their most notable ability comes in the form of Space Folding. The Aing-Tii could use the Force to create a small-scale wormhole and instantaneously move an object any distance. This could be anything from a single being to a massive starship, giving them an immense edge over those using hyperdrives to traverse great distances in space.
I hope that we'll get to see more of these and the numerous other Force using groups in the new Expanded Universe. With abilities that make the normal Force powers of the Jedi and Sith seem bland, this is a great opportunity for some more in-depth explorations into the Force... preferably without any Midi-chlorians.