system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
[Star Wars] I a pre-empire world, why was it practical for the Sith to only consist of a master and apprentice, while there were dozens-if not hundreds of Jedi to oppose them?
gpt
During the Republic era, the Jedi didn't know the Sith were still around. They can't build up numbers fast enough to survive the inevitable Jedi attack that would come when they discovered that buildup. Even if they could equal the Jedi in numbers, the nature of the Dark Side means that they'd be very vulnerable to infighting and internal strife that badly weakens their war efforts. It's much more practical to stay out of sight and working against the Jedi from the shadows.