Star Wars: Lightsabers – A Guide To Weapons of The Force by Pablo Hidalgo

ANATOMY OF A LIGHTSABER notes of interest:
(NOTE: This is the 2018 version, so this is a canon reference book.)

A true lightsaber cannot be assembled by a machine, only those sensitive to the Force can construct one.

“Once the energy is focused, it leaves the handle from a positively charged energy lens inside the blade emitter. The beam is trapped inside an energy field created by the kyber crystal, which bends the beam back towards a negatively charged high-energy flux aperture in the emitter. To an observer, it looks like the blade simply stops growing, but this loop of energy creates the lightsaber’s distinctive hum as well as the spinning effect in the blade’s movements, making the weapon difficult to control for those without training.”

(This is probably what makes the blades so bouncy against each other, because they’re–as someone once described them–a bit like energy chainsaws, in the way that they’re a loop going around and around, rather than a steady beam.)

“A lightsaber is an extention of a Jedi’s Force awareness. Becasue Jedi let the Force guide their selection of the crystal, the vibration the crystal creates in the lightsaber blade helps Jedi center themselves and find balance in the Force.”

MYTH: Only a Jedi or a Sith can wield a lightsaber.
FACT: "Anyone could pick up a lightsaber and use it, but lightsabers are extremely difficult to wield. Those used to swinging solid swords often find using a weightless blade a challenge–one that can have dangerous consequences. Only through rigorous training and enhanced senses through the Force can a Jedi use a lightsaber to its full potential.“

“Training lightsabers emit low-intensity blades that cannot cut and are not lethal. Contact with a training blade will only sting or numb an opponent; however these blades do convey an accurate sensation of holding a real lightsaber.”

“Most lightsabers incorporate a pressure activation lever that causes it to power down if dropped. They may also have a ‘lock’ switch that keeps the blade active, so a Jedi can throw a lightsaber some distance and guide its path through the Force.”

“Beyond its use as a weapon or an instrument of meditation, a lightsaber is a practical tool. Given enough time, a lightsaber can cut through most substances. Even shield-rated blast doors will melt after extended exposure to a lightsaber blade, making it nearly impossible to imprison an armed Jedi Knight. Most Jedi will not risk slicing through bulkhead walls or high-energy force fields, though, because cutting into such a powerful source could be explosive.”

MYTH: A lightsaber can cut through anything.
FACT: The key to creating a solid weapon that can clash with a lightsaber blade is not the metal used in construction but rather the energy the metal conducts. Energy transmitted across a metal blade or polearm can foritfy a weapon so it can block a lightsaber blade. The electrostaffs of the MagnaGuard droids or the energized weapons of Supreme Leader Snoke’s Praetorian Guards, for example, pose a challenge to even trained lightsaber combatants.“

“Standard lightsabers and water don’t mix. While some protective measures do exist, such as flashback waterseals, lighting a lightsaber underwater can be a problem. The weapon may boil the surrounding water, spinning turbulance and making it difficult to control. Should a Jedi become submerged in water during the course of an assignment, he or she had best make sure the lightsaber is prepared for such a journey.”

“A Jedi who loses a lightsaber often builds another. In times of great need–such as the emergency of the Clone Wars–the Order kept replacement lightsabers for Jedi to use while they built a new one.”

“Above all, Jedi must keep track of their lightsabers. Should a lightsaber fall into the hands of an unpracticed or dishonorable person, it will almost always lead to tragedy.”

Source: gffa

Are there any known instances of a padawan’s master being killed? If so, what’s their course of action after that? Do they just get put with a new master right away, or are they alloted some time for grief?

Sorry this took so long, my notifications seem to be going weird! Yes, there are instances where a Padawan’s Master has died while they lived. Bant Eerin would be one example; her Master, Tahl, was killed during a mission. She did have time to grieve before Kit Fisto offered to continue her training and she accepted. This seems to be standard procedure, but there will likely be exceptions made for special circumstances. During wartime, for example, when it’s all-hands-on-deck and the Padawan has forces to lead.

Hope that helps!

~ Jacen

I’m wondering what to call the clothing that the Jedi wore. Wookieepedia describes their robes as “consisting of an undertunic, an overtunic, an outer robe with a deep hood and wide sleeves, loose-fitting trousers, a tabard, and a broad sash tied about the waist.” Are there any other terms for these pieces?For instance, I’m inclined to describe it as a belt, not a sash. What are the wrist-wraps called that young Caleb Dume wore? It also seems that British terms are favored in written works?

In the books, there’s quite a bit of flexibility in the terms used, though you’re right, British terms (and terms that have fallen out of use in everyday speech) are often preferred. I, for instance, favour calling the outer robe a cloak, especially for ones made of a thicker fabric. The sash around their waist can be called an obi, but would generally not be called a belt, because a utility belt is commonly worn over top of it. The undertunic is sometimes swapped for an undershirt, but other than that the terms there are the commonly used ones. (It also depends on the Jedi, because there can be a lot of variety in their outfits. Some Jedi, for example, prefer to wear civilian clothes. In wartime, their outfits could change significantly to accommodate armour.) I’m not sure there is a canon term for those wrist things, but most people refer to them as arm wraps or arm bands. For the most part it’s up to you what to call the different parts. Don’t feel that you have to use many different terms, though; it’s common for the same term to be repeated several times in a row, especially when it’s a more generic word.

Hope that helps!

~ Jacen

Is there a directory of planets where kyber crystals were found? Also are there limited colors?

This depends heavily on whether you’re going with canon or Legends or a mixture of the two, so I’ll do them separately.

In canon, we only see kyber crystals used as lightsaber crystals (while in Legends there are many different crystals that can be used). Notably, they could be found on Ilum, Mygeeto, Jedha, Lothal, and Christophsis. The known colours are black, blue, green, purple, red, white, and yellow, often in subtly varying shades.

In Legends, it can be very difficult to determine whether a planet has kyber crystals or another variety of lightsaber crystal, but I expect it wouldn’t make much of a difference. These are the known types of crystals, and these are the known colours. I don’t know of a compiled list of planets (maybe someone else does?) but clicking on any type you’re interested in will show you where it can be found.

Hope that helps!

~ Jacen

Is there any specific way for a non-Force user to fight someone with the Force? (Without use of a ysalamiri.) Would it be possible to sort of “disarm” a Force-user with use of pressure points of something similar? Thank you!

teagrl:

writebetterstarwars:

I’m afraid I can’t remember any instance of something like this, and I can’t find a mention of it in my reference books (note that I’m not big into the really far back stuff, so if there’s something there I may have missed it). There are plenty of ways to prevent a Force-user from using or even accessing the Force, but they all require some degree of skill in the Force to perform. Generally, when we see a non-Force-user fight a Force-user, they rely on gadgets and traps to get the upper hand, and they are often still beaten.

If anyone knows of an example of this sort of thing that I’ve missed, please feel free to add!

~ Jacen

Might I direct you all to one of my favorite Quora posts ever:

How could a Mandalorian kill a Jedi straight-up, no questions asked?

And my other most fave Quora post:

In Star Wars, what weapons and strategies could a non-force user employ to effectively kill Jedi in a one on one fight? Are there any non-force users in Star Wars universe who have defeated many Jedi, and are considered dangerous by them?

Reblogging for this wonderful addition

During the Clone Wars how much access did the GAR personnel have to the Jedi Temple? Like were they walking around the halls? Briefing rooms only? Or did meetings all take place elsewhere?

It seems that the clones and other officers did have limited access to the Temple during the war. They did hold meetings in the Temple, in various briefing rooms, and we do see clones walking through the halls, usually in the company of a Jedi. Since security was so tight during the Clone Wars, and since typically only Jedi and authorized visitors were allowed in the Temple, it is probable that they didn’t have access to the whole place, certainly not without an escort. (Of course, there are some areas of the Temple that are strictly off-limits to outsiders, even some that not all Jedi were supposed to be in, so the clones would not be allowed there.) Visits were not strictly limited to necessity, either. A number of clones and officers, including Tarkin and Yularen, attended the funeral of the Jedi who died in the bombing of the Jedi Temple Hangar.

Hope that helps!

~ Jacen

What can you tell me about a Jedi Guard’s keys? Wookiepedia is silent on the topic. Are they symbolic? Functional? It’s a uniform so I’m assuming that it’s probably both. Thanks!

I’m pretty much stumped on this one, I’m afraid. I can’t find any information on the Temple Guards’ keys. I would also assume that they have a practical function as well as a symbolic one, as there were certainly places within the Temple that would require a lock. However, it is also unusual to see a physical lock-and-key system used in Star Wars, so it is possible that the keys were not the only required authentication for whatever they were meant to access, or that they were just symbolic.

Sorry I couldn’t be more help!

~ Jacen

Fic Help

maptowhereialreadyam:

I need 2 ships for a story I’m writing.They would be used by Jedi Order, Clone Wars Era. They need to be able to carry minimum 4 and 12 people, complete with sleeping quarters, but not so big as to need a dedicated crew. I’m thinking along the lines of A Ghost or Millennium Falcon. It could be a freighter, I suppose, but it’s being used in a people moving capacity not hauling stuff. One needs to have a shuttle or an escape pod. The other is being used in military operations. Ideas? Thanks!

Tagging: @writebetterstarwars or anyone who has thoughts

For the first one, I would suggest the Consular-class cruiser. It can carry up to 16 passengers, can function with a crew of two, and has two escape pods. It is definitely bigger than the Falcon or the Ghost (at 115 meters long), but you won’t find something much smaller that can carry so many passengers. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan used it in TPM to travel to the Trade Federation battleship over Naboo; it was used all through the Clone Wars as part of the Republic Navy, when some were modified with turbolasers and concussion missiles, but it was primarily a diplomatic transport.

If you really need something smaller, you could go with the Zeta-class long-range shuttle. At 35m long it is about the same size as the Ghost and the Falcon, requires two crewmembers and can carry 10 passengers. I don’t know if it includes sleeping quarters for everyone (most likely not, at that size) or even at all, but it is designed specifically to transport people quickly over long distances.

For the one doing military operations, I’m actually going to suggest the Consular-class cruiser again, the Charger c70 retrofit version. It’s a bit bigger than the unmodified version, is equipped with weapons as mentioned above, can carry up to 30 people (presumably less if everyone wanted a living space), and need 9 crewmembers (I assume you could get by with two, like the unmodified version, if the weapons went unstaffed).

These probably seem a bit big for your purposes. The issue is that the Jedi Order doesn’t often use dedicated transports, they either get rides on civilian vessels or use a Republic Navy ship, so they don’t really have ships reminiscent of the Falcon or the Ghost. Basically, if you want a ship used specifically by the Jedi during the Clone Wars, one that has sleeping quarters, you will need a couple people to act as crewmembers and supervise the controls.

Hope that helps! If you need other suggestions I’m happy to give some more.

~ Jacen

How would pregnancy affect a Force sensitive woman? I remember seeing concept art of Padmé sleepwalking and being physically weak while carrying Luke and Leia, but she is, at least according to Lucas, not Force sensitive. Also, would a Jedi or a Sith be able to tell if the child they’re/she’s carrying is Force sensitive?

I’ll answer your second question first, because it’s simpler: yes, a Force-sensitive can tell if their unborn child is also Force-sensitive. They can reach out and make mental contact, which can be used to calm the child, as Leia would do with her twins.

As for your first question, I believe the answer would vary, but pregnancy should generally have little affect on a Force-sensitive. We only have a couple examples to work from. Leia, if my memory serves, encountered no adverse effects beyond being able to emotionally communicate with the child, implying that under normal circumstances a Force-sensitive’s pregnancy shouldn’t be much different from a non-Force-sensitive’s. Mara Jade’s pregnancy should probably be discounted because of her illness, and I cannot think of any other Force-sensitives who became pregnant and were known to experience unusual side effects. (If anyone knows of an example, feel free to add on).

Hope that helps!

~ Jacen

Is it possible for a Force-user to control water? I know Kit Fisto could create pockets of air underwater with the Force, but I’m talking something more extreme—could a Jedi, for instance, change the direction of a river’s flow, or even stop it altogether? Could they even part the river in two and walk through it moses-style? (Basically can Jedi waterbend, is what I’m asking :D)

Yes, it is possible for a Jedi to manipuate water. This power would probably fall under the Force ability Alter Environment. I cannot recall personally reading about a Jedi controlling water in a drastic way, so I wouldn’t be able to describe how it could work or what it might feel like, but I do know of examples similar to those you gave, such as creating whirlpools and large waves.

~ Jacen