What are the advantages/disadvantages of having a light/dark side alignment of the opposing side? [duplicate]

Solution 1:

So far the only thing I have found that has your alignment as a requirement are the light and dark side items which are sold for Republic, in the Republic fleet. There are two shops at either end of the shopping concourse which sell light and dark items.

All of which have an alignment requirement.

Your alignment also affects your companions, just as with Kotor. For example, I play Jedi Guardian with T7 as my companion and he values honour and justice. So usually when I make a light side choice, my affinity with him goes up.

I would imagine this is the same for the other classes and sides.

Solution 2:

The biggest effect I've seen is that of convenience... Most people in the Empire tend towards 'dark' and in Republic towards 'light' (at least in the first months). That means you're more likely to find items that have the opposite restriction (and cheaper) in the AH since they drop at the same rate, yet less people want them.

Solution 3:

This doesn't answer the "opposing side" part of the question, but one general benefit of high dark side alignment is

Sith Corruption

Dark Side users do get a little visual change as they get darker. It's called Sith Corruption and can be turned off in the options if you don't like it.

The following images show the effect. It's subtle, but cool.

... and so on for each dark side level.

Or see this video or Sith Corruption comparison image.

(This is similar to the shrinking or deepening scars Shepard had as he grew more Paragon or Renegade in Mass Effect 2, also made by Bioware.)

Solution 4:

What I've seen so far, choosing either Light or Dark has mostly cosmetic effects.

Even your companion is easy to be persuaded: one gift is enough to compensate a 'wrong' decision.

So my advice is to do whatever you feel is 'right' for your character.

Might it turn out to be wrong, it's possible to go to the other extreme by playing some Flash Points over and over. So the choise you make now is not forever.