[Saga] Versatile Jedi

[kalaskaagathas]

So I've been invited to join a Saga edition campaign, and as I know very little about optimizing a Saga character, I figured I'd come here for help.  We're playing in the Old Republic era, so I'd like to roll a Jedi.  I know that Jedi, with the right talent selection, can key various skills off of Use the Force, so that seems to me like a good place to start building - how many skills can I replace with Use the Force?

Beyond skills, what sort of cool things can be done in Saga?  I've got most (if not all) of the books, but I haven't really looked through them that deeply, is there perhaps a guide to Jedi or Saga Optimization somewhere?  Are there any races that really stand out?  How about classes/talents/whatever?

We'll be playing with everything open, as long as it's not inappropriate to the era of play, and we'll be starting at level one.

[Tweedledope]

I'd like to offer a little help from the old SW boards at WotC.

http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75862/19436714/Star_Wars_RPG_OmegaDex

Download that file and go to town.  It's a GREAT resource for everything you're looking for.  Some things to keep in mind when playing a Jedi: you have no ability with ranged attacks unless you multiclass...it also greatly increases your MAD which is already very high.  This can be game ending for most players and something that's often overlooked.  A well-played Assassin character can destroy a flat-footed Jedi at long range.  That being said, I almost always multiclass my Jedis...having a blaster is invaluable.

Also, you're not trained in stealth.  So much of every SAGA game I've been involved with requires this skill...if you can, somehow, justify White Current Adept you can sub your UTF for Stealth.  Being a Force-using Tradition, that'd be hard to justify on any old ordinary Jedi.

Just some thoughts from a long-time player.