I notice the lack of rules for making lightsaber crystals from scratch.

Supposedly Luke was able to do so before RotJ at Obi-wan's tattoine hut, with a furnace, and the Force.

Granted they are considered inferior, compared to naturally occurring ones

Also, i know for ease of the game you can take a raw crystal and use it in your lightsaber, but I think there should be some process to "Cut" the crystal.. maybe that is part of the process when you modify a crystal

I would say the basic crystal mods would represent either a raw crystal or a cut crystal that is poorly mounted. By fine tuning the mounting of the crystal or by cutting the crystal the character would be able to get the optional mods. Most of this is just narrative within the game.

I'm not entirely sure what you're getting at. Within the canon (two trilogies plus clone wars) lightsaber crystals don't exist as far as I'm aware; let alone a method for "creating" them.

Within the EU, the Jedi were known to use exclusively natural crystals, spending several days of meditation attuning them. However its never stated that anything special is done to the crystals (including shaping) that I know of. In fact, the purpose of a crystal in lightsaber construction isn't entirely clear aside from affecting the color, although there are indications a better quality crystal will make a more stable blade. On the other side of the equation, the Sith were known to produce synthetic crystals but this required the use of the Force to create quality crystals. Attempting to mass-produce lightsabers by making artificial crystals led to low quality, unstable lightsabers; as seen in the Young Jedi Knight novels.

It looks like you're trying to decide on a mechanic but its not clear what kind you're looking for. Is there a reason you don't want to just say "It takes you X days?"

The Shadows of the Empire novel explained that Luke did this. so did Jaina Solo

yet there are no rules on how to do it.

seems kind of cheap to have a 9000 credit crystal, better then the training saber be made by a character (even if inferior) and no rules to limit it.

it certainly needs to be more then "X days" otherwise most hyperspace travels could be spent doing nothing but making crystals to sell on the Black market

Not saying you can't, but to quote the same article:

Conversely, the Jedi frowned on the creation and use of synth-crystals among their initiates, associating this with taking the quick and easy path, as they believed they should rely on crystals found naturally.

My instincts say that a synth crystal should cost just as much the basic crystal and have the same properties on completion, but trade availability of the ingredients for the time spent to manufacture the crystal. Lightsaber-quality crystals are supposed to be rare, after all, but if synth crystals are the "emergency" route, the ingredients should be pretty easy to obtain and it shouldn't be too hard to make. As you mentioned, if the ingredients cost less than an equivalent crystal it would basically be a money engine (though I think this simplifies the economics involved way too much), so making the price the same makes it financially unviable but also allows the construction of a lightsaber when the characters might not otherwise be able to find a crystal.

I'm just treating the base Sabers as having Synth crystals which have no mods (and aren't moddable).

Of course the other crystals aren't purchasable, so if they want a better one they have go a questing.

I'm just treating the base Sabers as having Synth crystals which have no mods (and aren't moddable).

Of course the other crystals aren't purchasable, so if they want a better one they have go a questing.

according to the description the basic saber, is a basic hilt, with an unmodified Ilum crystal (page 124, first full paragraph on the right colum) that occupies two of its hard points.

I notice the lack of rules for making lightsaber crystals from scratch.

My Forsee check says this will be fluff.

according to the description the basic saber, is a basic hilt, with an unmodified Ilum crystal (page 124, first full paragraph on the right colum) that occupies two of its hard points.

Yes, and?

I presume you missed where I said "I'm just treating..." as in "At my game". Note also the Quest requirement I'm adding for my Players to get any actual moddable Crystals.

When it comes to artificial crystals, all I can think of is how sith, apparently quite commonly create an artificial crystal. This process is apparently how the red color comes to be. I have a link to an article, that states that Luke used a synth crystal, and has the details on the crystal as well. Rules wise, I don't see why there would be any change, from what I can see the crystals don't come off as being inferior or superior in any way. So maybe the only change might be in narrative, theme or even backstory.

Follow: http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Synthetic_lightsaber_crystal

I'm just treating the base Sabers as having Synth crystals which have no mods (and aren't moddable).

Of course the other crystals aren't purchasable, so if they want a better one they have go a questing.

according to the description the basic saber, is a basic hilt, with an unmodified Ilum crystal (page 124, first full paragraph on the right colum) that occupies two of its hard points.

Well he's proven to have no problem ignoring anything that FFG has written that doesn't fit his extremely limited view on what fits within the Star Wars setting, up to and including junking established canon just cause he doesn't like it.

I notice the lack of rules for making lightsaber crystals from scratch.

My Forsee check says this will be fluff.

Most likely synthesized crystals would be ilum crystals...

Most likely synthesized crystals would be ilum crystals...

I'd probably house rule them as Ilum crystals that take up an extra hard point or two.

If writing stats for artificial crystals, I'd probably make them just slighlty inferor to Ilum crystals, likely by removing two of the damage upgrades. When fully modified, they'd provide Damage 8, Crit Rating 1, Breach 1, Sunder, and Vicious 2. The trade-off is that they'd have a lower rarity (probably 8, maybe 7) than most 'saber crystals, and thus easier to find.

As for creating them, if there's no updates in the rules to cover the creation of synthetic crystals, I suppose you could have the character make a skill check (Mechanics or Discipline, depending on how much the GM wants to incorporate the EU lore of Force-users being able to shape/nurture the crystal during the synthesis process) with the same difficultly as if rolling Negotiation to find a crystal on the open market.

Is the Force Unleashed any sort of official? They had Synthetic crystals, compressed and unstable if I recall correctly. I thought the idea of "purifying" a synthetic crystal either with focus or with hate was very cool. I don't know how far away from Legend lore that FFG wants to get, but I don't see it hurting anything by making a synthetic crystal the standard.

Is the Force Unleashed any sort of official? They had Synthetic crystals, compressed and unstable if I recall correctly. I thought the idea of "purifying" a synthetic crystal either with focus or with hate was very cool. I don't know how far away from Legend lore that FFG wants to get, but I don't see it hurting anything by making a synthetic crystal the standard.

They've use The Force Unleashed in the books already, we could see material drawn from there some more.

I'm about to start a Legacy Era campaign. In preparation, I've been fiddling around with some homebrewed material since Force and Destiny came out. One of the thing I've made was an Imperial Knight synthetic crystal.

Imperial Knights are far more utilitarian about the Force and the Lightsaber. One of the reasons they all have silver blades is to discourage individuality and encourage unity under the Empire. In light* of this, I created a synthetic lightsaber crystal with no mods. It was better than the base Illum crystal, but far inferior to one fully kitted out. I am not even sure it will ever get used in my campaign, but it was a fun exercise.

The idea was that the Imperial Knights (or at least the ones in my slice of the Galaxy) aren't known to for fiddling with their blades. After all, their supposed to shed their individuality in this regard.

In the end, I would like to see what special rules you would even give a synthetic crystal. Reading through The Jedi Path, the book mentions that the ancient synthetic crystals of the Sith could potentially disrupt opposing lightsaber attacks much in the same way the refined cortosis items do.

* I love a good bad pun.

As far as the "compressed" synthetic crystals, that could probably be something akin to the cortosis bullet effect, only that when the opponent uses Parry with a lightsaber, you spend 3 Advantage to "short out" that opponent's lightsaber.

Synthetic Crystal

Synthetic crystals are created using a machine called a geological compressor. While more well known as the crystals in the Sith red lightsabers, they can come in any colour. Synthetic crystals come in three forms; standard, compressed, and unstable.

Standard Base Modifiers: Installing this crystal changes the lightsaber's amage to 8 and it's critical rating to 2, and the lightsaber gains the Breach 1 and Sunder weapon qualities. This crystal also allows its wielder to destroy a lightsaber on one triumph instead of two. If the crystal is ever removed, the lightsaber loses these qualities, and reverts to its previous base damage and critical rating.

Standard Modification Options: 2 Item Quality (Vicious +1) Mods, 2 Damage +1 Mods, 1 decrease the weapon's critical rating by one to a minimum of 1 Mod.

Hard Points Required: 2

Price: ® 15,000 credits.

Compressed Base Modifiers: Installing this crystal changes the lightsaber's amage to 7 and it's critical rating to 2, and the lightsaber gains the Breach 1 and Sunder weapon qualities. This crystal also gives the lightsaber the Accurate 1 Weapon Quality. If the crystal is ever removed, the lightsaber loses these qualities, and reverts to its previous base damage and critical rating.

Compressed Modification Options: 2 Item Quality (Accurate +1) Mods, 2 Damage +1 Mods, 1 Item Quality (Defensive 1) Mod.

Hard Points Required: 2

Price: ® 12,000 credits.

Unstable Base Modifiers: Installing this crystal changes the lightsaber's amage to 8 and it's critical rating to 1, and the lightsaber gains the Breach 1, Sunder and Vicous 2 Weapon Qualities, although the lightsaber may be shut down by spending 3 threat or 1 triumph with a maneuver action to reignite. If the crystal is ever removed, the lightsaber loses these qualities, and reverts to its previous base damage and critical rating.

Unstable Modification Options: 3 Item Quality (Vicious +1) Mods, 2 Damage +1 Mods.

Hard Points Required: 2

Price: ® 10,000 credits.

You could also use the unstable lightsaber shown in the Jewel of Yavin campaign as a sith crystal effect, dropping the affected saber by 3dmg and 1 or 2 mods...maybe on a successful hit with 3 advantages?

You could also use the unstable lightsaber shown in the Jewel of Yavin campaign as a sith crystal effect, dropping the affected saber by 3dmg and 1 or 2 mods...maybe on a successful hit with 3 advantages?

EU suggests that properly made synthetics can be stronger than the normal sort (lacking flaws) while improper ones are as far below natural crystals as natural crystals are below properly made synthetics. In fact it just kind of implies that the better the quality of the crystal the better the beam, across the board. The preference for natural crystals is just another example of taking/avoiding the easy way.

The artificial crystal is an example of how the story should trump any discussion of mechanics. I can easily see both Sith and Jedi making synthetic crystals during times of war or emergency. The Jedi may see these as a less than desirable necessity, while the Sith prefer the 'artifical' process. It seem reasonable that creating a crystal using technology could produce crystals that span the full range of quality (unstable to superior). The question is: who created the crystal, why, and under what conditions?

A Sith master might have the plans and training to create a high quality synthetic crystal that will serve as a connection to the full force of their hate and anger for years to come. A Jedi master may know how to create a high quality synthetic crystal but choose to create one of inferior quality if the time saved allows them to engage their immediate short-term threats with a lightsaber in hand. That Jedi master may have long term plans to recreate their saber with a natural crystal that appeals more to their Jedi sensibilities. A less skilled practicioner of either faith may have to make do with whatever resources (plans, crystals, planning) they have available.

There are examples in the EU where lightsaber users leave behind the sabers provided by their mentors/relatives in favor of their own. In most cases, I doubt the decision was based on whether they thought their own saber was more 'powerful', but rather on what would make their saber feel more personal. These are religious sects after all! Crystal choices should help fill out a character's story.

My thoughts on a generic Kyber crystal, or perhaps a synthetic one, using the lowest Damage rating, highest Critical requirement, qualities common to all crystals, and modification options that appear in at least 4 other crystals. I set the price a little lower than the Lorrdian Gemstone and the Rarity one step lower than the Lorrdian, as this is meant to represent "generic" crystals.

KYBER CRYSTAL
There are a variety of Kyber Crystals specific to various sources. These are generally named after the source, whether that be a planet, system, or even a creature. However, for each of these there are a thousand other, unnamed Kyber Crystals that would still be suitable for a lightsaber. This is an example of such a crystal.

Base Modifiers: Installing this crystal changes a lightsaber's base damage to 6 and critical rating to 3, and the lightsaber gains the Breach 1 and Sunder qualities.
Modification Options : 1 Decrease the weapon's critical rating by one to a minimum of 1 Mod, 1 Item Quality (Vicious +1) Mod, 2 Damage +1 Mods.
Hard Points Required: 2.
Price: ® 6,000 credits.
Rarity: 6.

Scalding,

That's pretty good, providing a decent crystal with some room for improvement but not so much that it'd overtake any of the naturally occuring crystals.