We see throughout the movies several uses intentionally and unintentionally of the force to foresee the future.
According to Obi Wan it explains the fast reflexes of the jedi. Does that mean that every Jedi (or Sith) constantly foresees the next split second? Or does he have to turn that on and off? Anakin (knowing nothing about the force at this point in time) seems to use it instinctively and without irritations to him.
Untrained (and unaware of the existence of forve visions) Luke on Dagobah had visions about the future of his friends. It was a trap of Vader that could only work if Vader could be sure that Luke would have this vision. So it seems even untrained force users have visions about future events that are important to them.
The emperor foresees a lot of things and is overconfident about it. Just his own failure and death he obviously was not able to foresee.
Also Yoda on dagobah was not able to foresee if Lukes friends will survive. "In constant motion the future is". I interpreted it that way (what could also explain the blind spot of the emperor) that a jedi can only see the future that would happen "untempered" by other force users and their visions and vision based decisions.
So out of the movies I take the following about force visions:
- An "short range" "allways on" version gives a jedi or sith incredible fast reflexes.
- Future events that are important to you (like your friends beeing tortured) automatically and reliable gives you unintentionally visions.
- One can intentionally try to foresee the future but it is exhaustive (Yoda seems to be strained) and unreliable if other force users are involved in the events.
Am I right with my observations?
And if yes, then why where intentional visions not used more often? Aside from being boring for the audience "No. As I knew in advance we didn't get the hyperdrive. But we will win it in a pod race with the help of a little boy. Trust me. I have foreseen it. There is the sandstorm that will give us a reason to visit the boys home." Is it really to exhaustive to use it on a day by day base? Or are intentional visions only mastered by people like Yoda and Palpatine?
To bring the question to one (ok three) point(s):
- How controllable are force visions?
- Who masters controlled visions beside Yoda and Palpatine?
- Why are they not used more often by the ones who master them?