I was musing over the lightsaber hilt part of the F&D beta book and thought to myself "even when turned off, lightsabers are still metal sticks. So why is it they don't do any damage at all? I mean sure I can imagine the basic and shoto sabers to not be large enough for knocking someone up side the head, but why not the Double Bladed Lightsaber Hilt might work as a +1 damage melee weapon, and the Pike version could do more damage.

Now sure people will argue "it might break the crystal inside of damage the internal components of the saber". You can probably argue that for the Double Bladed, but the pike can't be all lightsaber, there is still a large metal stick making up one side of it! In fact it says on the description it haft is made of sturdy alloys like cortosis weave of phrik, both lightsaber resistant metals.

I think there should be a change to the Lightsaber Pike Hilt stats or a change to its descriptor stating that the hilt can be used as a Refined Cortosis Staff and perhaps giving it the Linked 1 quality to use both the staff end and the saber end at once.

I could believe that, during lightsaber combat, the hilt could still be used as a weapon.
That's how Darth Maul got the drop on Qui Gon.. checked him in the face with the hilt and spun, back thrust.

Qui Gon was probably Disoriented...

I'd also argue that a lightsaber is probably very durable.. think of all the times they're flung, throw, and dropped.

You can use the rules for improvised weapons for using a non-ignited lightsaber as a weapon, or adapt something based on it. As a small item it would do Brawn + 1 damage, Crit 5, Engaged range.

You can use the rules for improvised weapons for using a non-ignited lightsaber as a weapon, or adapt something based on it. As a small item it would do Brawl + 1 damage, Crit 5, Engaged range.

This

I'd say that as-is, a lightsaber hilt can still be used to inflict damage, it's just that the damage is 0 plus successes rolled since these generally aren't meant to be used as clubs.

in the case of Darth Maul's hilt-strike against Qui-Gon, that was probably a result of Qui-Gon's player having generated a Despair on his last attack, and thus giving Maul a free upgrade to his next attack check, which turned out to be rather brutal critical injury that also pushed Qui-Gon past his Wound Threshold.

I'd go with Improvised weapon rules.

You can use the rules for improvised weapons for using a non-ignited lightsaber as a weapon, or adapt something based on it. As a small item it would do Brawl + 1 damage, Crit 5, Engaged range.

This

Ditto. An improvised weapon is using something that's not made to be a weapon as a weapon. A lightsaber hilt is not made to be a weapon, the blade is. So using it in a manner unintended would be an improvised weapon.

If you want the lightsaber pike's hilt to be made of cortosis, that's what the HP are for. Most pikes aren't made with cortosis since it's a very rare metal.

-EF

With improvised weapon rules, enough threat and the lightsaber breaks. Which is fine, as long as the GM does not have the crystal break as well. That would certainly hurt the wallet.

in the case of Darth Maul's hilt-strike against Qui-Gon, that was probably a result of Qui-Gon's player having generated a Despair on his last attack, and thus giving Maul a free upgrade to his next attack check, which turned out to be rather brutal critical injury that also pushed Qui-Gon past his Wound Threshold.