Lightsaber modification, yes that again

By Jegergryte, in Star Wars: Force and Destiny RPG

I'm actually thinking about the hilts, not the crystals.

How would you, if you would, limit hilt attachments? I'm thinking combos.

I assume superior hilt personalisation can go with any other hilt, but would you allow a superior curved extended hilt? Or would I have to choose between curved and extended?

What about an extended and/or curved hilt on a double-bladed lightsaber? or a lightsaber pike? what about the shoto?

I mean, it seems obvious if these are allowed to be combined that every player is going to end up with a superior curved extended hilt for his light-weapon, unless he goes dual-phase mod and settles for one of the hilt mods... unless they make some more for the CRB or change the HP cost on some of these hilts.

On the other hand, I can imagine a curved extended hilt on a lightsaber, perhaps even a double lightsaber, it's harder for the pike and the shoto perhaps, but I'm sure it could be visualised and imagined to work perfectly well...

So, what is your opinion many faced interwebz?!

I don't think a curved hilt makes a lot of sense for a double-bladed saber. The idea behind it is that you have a better grip on a regular saber, that allows you to put more strength into a thrust or block, which is why it is the prefered modification for duellists. If you curve the hilt of a double bladed saber, the whole thing will just look weird. Combining curved and extended doesn't make any sense either, you use a curved hilt with one hand and the extended with 2, you would combine modifications that are geared for different fighting styles, which doesn't really mean you can use both better, but they are sort of getting in the way of each other.

Extended on a double bladed saber seems kind of mandatory, you are using the weapon with two hands most of the times, anyway. A pike is kind of what happens when you take the idea of an extended hilt to an extreme, maybe it should be in there by default? But again, a curved pike doesn't make much sense.

I would allow superior to be combined with everything, this is mainly just a statement on how good the quality of the hilt is, how well it fits into the wielders hands, etc.

I definitely see what you mean.

On the other hand, the curved hilt isn't necessarily just used with one hand, we see Dooku use it with two, although mainly with one I know, nor does the extended hilt explicitly state that it has to be used with two hands, it is of course heavily implied, but it doesn't mean the lightsaber becomes a two handed weapon, like the electrostaff, where it's specifically called out.

So,that's one no. :ph34r:

I don't think a curved hilt makes a lot of sense for a double-bladed saber.

But Asajj Ventress uses just such a lightsaber in the Clone Wars.

As for limiting hilt attachments... me personally, I'd probably let the players go with whatever they wanted.

That's kind of where I'm thinking of going too, but I'm still undecided. If the player can narrate it and describe it making sense, then why not?

It's not cheap to get them all, so it'll take time and the benefits are ... limited, +1 dmg and 1 auto advantage, if engaged with one opponent... oh and +1 Vicious. For the total cost of 4,800 credits, before rarity adjustments and so on, oh and that 100 credit bill for modding the extended hilt of course.

I could see some way of varying between the bonuses depending on how the player narrates the attack, but that can quickly become cumbersome 4 I think, at least for the player.

Current standing: 1-1

I would go with the "If it can be drawn and not look like a pretzel it is okay".

I don't think a curved hilt makes a lot of sense for a double-bladed saber.

But Asajj Ventress uses just such a lightsaber in the Clone Wars.

As for limiting hilt attachments... me personally, I'd probably let the players go with whatever they wanted.

Ah, you're right. Those were separate curved hilts that could be joined together though. I don't think she used them as a double bladed all that often. It seems it would become quite unwieldy in that form. Wookiepedia even says something along those lines.

How would you, if you would, limit hilt attachments? I'm thinking combos.

Common sense.

How would you, if you would, limit hilt attachments? I'm thinking combos.

Common sense.

Kinda this, really.

It's somewhat all about style. I tend to play with folks who are more interested in the aestetics of their lightsaber's look, rather than the mechanics. They won't take a curved-hilt, extended double bladed lightsaber because that's not what they want to use. They want a hand-and-a-half stlye hilt. Or a straight souble bladed hilt. Or a curved-hilt saber. Or a guard shoto saber (you know that hilt-option is coming).

Superior is it's own monster; no reason not to get that for every hilt, every time.

How would you, if you would, limit hilt attachments? I'm thinking combos.

Common sense.

Bah. Nothing is as uncommon as "common sense" ... :ph34r: except unicorns.

I don't think a curved hilt makes a lot of sense for a double-bladed saber.

But Asajj Ventress uses just such a lightsaber in the Clone Wars.

As for limiting hilt attachments... me personally, I'd probably let the players go with whatever they wanted.

Ah, you're right. Those were separate curved hilts that could be joined together though. I don't think she used them as a double bladed all that often. It seems it would become quite unwieldy in that form. Wookiepedia even says something along those lines.

When joined, the curves are in opposite directions and could be argued to cancel out any "curved" bonuses.

Ah, you're right. Those were separate curved hilts that could be joined together though. I don't think she used them as a double bladed all that often. It seems it would become quite unwieldy in that form. Wookiepedia even says something along those lines.

When joined, the curves are in opposite directions and could be argued to cancel out any "curved" bonuses.

I have no problems with these kinds of combos, I mean you still have to deal with limited Hard Points so balance is maintained. Also I don't think there is currently RAW for attaching two Lighsabres, likely will show up in a splatbook. For now if a Player asks I have it require a HP for each sabre and they must be identical.

Edited by FuriousGreg

Tbh, considering how pricy the upgrades are, the only people likely to invest in them are likely to be missing out on the finer points of life. I mean, sure, a lightsaber is nice, but buying two speeder bikes for the price of one attachment and forming a epic biker gang with glow sticks? Called the biker mice from Mars? That's what dream are made of!!!

Personally, I don't see that much of a problem with mixing and matching the various hilt types.

Yeah, it'd probably look odd to see a curved-hilt lightsaber with an extended grip, but then if you go digging through types of swords in our own history, there's been some pretty odd/unusual designs and yet were deemed practical enough by somebody in charge to be put into use.

But seeing as how the basic lightsaber hilt only gives you 3 hard points to play with (2 being take up by the focusing crystal), and the high likelihood that more non-crystal attachments are bound to show up in future career sourcebooks, those 3 hard points only go so far, especially if you've got a PC that really wants to include that superior hilt customization (and frankly, can't think of many reasons why they wouldn't). And the other hilts have less hard points, so that means having to be extra choosy with what attachments you install.

I'd say choose either or. Most of the time, the shadow hilt is probably your best third compnent (superior, shadow, and either curved or extended)

And a Jedi should feel perfectly comfortable maxing out his lightsaber with all his credits. What ELSE is he going to use those creds on? He craves not most material things.

To think we have come to this... I remember our biggest argument used to be that you could only use a lightsaber two-handed unless you were really strong like Darth Vader...

To think we have come to this... I remember our biggest argument used to be that you could only use a lightsaber two-handed unless you were really strong like Darth Vader...

Lightsabres weigh just a Kilogram or so (2.2lbs) which is about the same as your average long sword (3-3.5lbs) so your strength is important but not enough to rule as you have. The key difference is that all the weight is in the hilt with no blade for balance or leverage, which is why it makes sense for it to be a separate skill for melee. In any case Vader only really used his Lightsabre one handed when he didn't find his opponents a threat and to intimidate them. If you watch the fight with Obi Wan on the Deathstar and with Luke in RoJ he uses it two handed most of the time.

Edited by FuriousGreg

I think Gray refers to the directions given to Prowse and Guinness in IV. Part of it was samurai inspired I seem to remember, but there was also something about the sabres being hard to wield and control (due to some space operaficated tech that GL made up for the lighsabres), if I'm not mistaken most of the duels in the OT were two handed, with mainly (but not exclusively) Vader using it one handed, which was a proof of his strength and skill. This changed of course, probably before, but at least for the PT.

Yeah, when the original films were being made, Lucas instructed the actors to treat those things as if they had magnetic fields (or similar technobabble) that made them incredibly heavy and thus required two-hands to properly wield. Vader only used a one-handed grip in ESB because Luke was so far below Vader in terms of skill that he could afford to play around a bit.

Start watching about 3:28

Personally I disagree with Wookieepedia and think it's more reasonable to have LS be closer to 4-5lbs because of power packs and such which is pretty heavy for one handed use. Historically no one handed swords were more than 3.5lbs and greatswords no more than 6lbs which should be a good indicator as to whats reasonable. In any case we see them being easily carried and used in each hand so they can't weigh that much by new cannon.

I always went with a personal reasoning that they produced a gyroscopic like effect so that even though they are light they required muscle to move around. Then the PT came out...

I always went with a personal reasoning that they produced a gyroscopic like effect so that even though they are light they required muscle to move around. Then the PT came out...

These are Jedi , in their prime, with years of instruction and practice (since early childhood) behind them. They make it look easy, effortless. They probably know a bunch of little tricks to get the lightsaber to do what they want it to do, plus they are sure to be using the Force to augment their own strength and alacrity.

Luke got a couple hours of lightsaber training, starting in adulthood, and had to figure out the rest for himself.

Ah, you're right. Those were separate curved hilts that could be joined together though. I don't think she used them as a double bladed all that often. It seems it would become quite unwieldy in that form. Wookiepedia even says something along those lines.

More unwieldy than a double-bladed lightsaber is? Realistically speaking, the saberstaff is a very inefficient design. You can't use it like a staff, so your leverage & reach with the thing is not much better than a normal lightsaber, plus you've gotta deal with the tricky positioning of the blade so you don't impale yourself.

I wouldn't mess around too much trying to complicate the rules with "common sense."

I managed to get my foil into the back pocket on my breaches during a competition.

So I tend to appreciate the idea of just what a light weapon would do if you had it touch you and how hard that may end up being. Darth Maul falls off a ledge and you can see he probably killed himself as he landed becuase his sword cuts accross his flank.