Hey all,

So I'm reading up on the adventures provided in the core book and GM kit, and I can't find anywhere that describes the characteristics of the Rubat Crystals the PC's harvest in the "hidden depths" module.

Do we just treat them as Illum?

Yes, treat as Ilum crystal. I think it even says that. Wasted opportunity, if you ask me. That's why I'm going to wait until further in the campaign to use the CRB/GMK adventures and replace that crystal with something more interesting for advanced characters.

Yeah, the Rubat Crystals are treated the same as Ilum crystals.

I had to re-read the module twice to catch that bit, as I figured the rubat crystal would have unique stats much like the Athiss Cave Crystals did in the Lost Knowledge adventure from the Beta and such would be given at the end of the module.

I agree with Lorne in that it's a missed opportunity, as the Athiss Cave Crystals made pretty good "starter crystals" for a group of PCs that have just gotten their lightsabers.

Page 6, paragraph right above the words "The Crystal Canyon".

I mentioned this in another thread; I'm treating Rubat Crystals as Ilum crystals with two less +1 Damage Mods available (so Rubats have two +1 Damage Mods instead of the Ilum's four). That makes them mechanically alike Ilum crystals, but also gives support to the fluff that the Jedi went to Ilum for crystals once it was discovered and stopped frequenting the planet in the adventure.

Page 6, paragraph right above the words "The Crystal Canyon".

I mentioned this in another thread; I'm treating Rubat Crystals as Ilum crystals with two less +1 Damage Mods available (so Rubats have two +1 Damage Mods instead of the Ilum's four). That makes them mechanically alike Ilum crystals, but also gives support to the fluff that the Jedi went to Ilum for crystals once it was discovered and stopped frequenting the planet in the adventure.

Consider that idea yoinked.

The rub is that Ilum is still the default crystal installed in "basic sabers", which can be found in the preceding CRB adventure, so why would any party make the journey for this Rubat crystal?

The rub is that Ilum is still the default crystal installed in "basic sabers", which can be found in the preceding CRB adventure, so why would any party make the journey for this Rubat crystal?

*shrug*

No idea.

I used the Ilum crystal but bumped up the base damage from 6 to 7 to keep the flavor described to it from the previous systems.

The rub is that Ilum is still the default crystal installed in "basic sabers", which can be found in the preceding CRB adventure, so why would any party make the journey for this Rubat crystal?

I can think of a couple reasons.

1) Ilum could be under careful watch by the Empire

2) The PCs don't know anything about Ilum, and/or this is the only lead they've got for a source of kyber crystals

Ilum is being mined by the Empire for crystals to make all sorts of things?

Death Star Focusing Crystal.

Stygian Crystals for phantom ties stealth tech.

Basically if its a super weapon you will find an Ilum crystal in there somewhere.

I need to go back and read the fluff, but they definitely say that all known crystal spots are watched by the empire. Even this one, which has recently been unearthed by tectonic activity, has a token force guarding it, waiting for more.

Also in regard to Ilum versus Rubat, I don't get the feeling that Ilum is better, but instead that's just where all the Jedi went because of tradition, because things were set up there.

Waiting for the Opila crystal to come out

I need to go back and read the fluff, but they definitely say that all known crystal spots are watched by the empire. Even this one, which has recently been unearthed by tectonic activity, has a token force guarding it, waiting for more.

Also in regard to Ilum versus Rubat, I don't get the feeling that Ilum is better, but instead that's just where all the Jedi went because of tradition, because things were set up there.

It is more than just tradition. Part of it is the age of the people who are going there to get the crystal to build their first light saber. So are you going to send a youngling to someplace wher they are going to have to fight a dangerous beast 80 to 99% of the time so someplace safer?

I need to go back and read the fluff, but they definitely say that all known crystal spots are watched by the empire. Even this one, which has recently been unearthed by tectonic activity, has a token force guarding it, waiting for more.

Also in regard to Ilum versus Rubat, I don't get the feeling that Ilum is better, but instead that's just where all the Jedi went because of tradition, because things were set up there.

It is more than just tradition. Part of it is the age of the people who are going there to get the crystal to build their first light saber. So are you going to send a youngling to someplace wher they are going to have to fight a dangerous beast 80 to 99% of the time so someplace safer?

it clears out the riffraff >: D also guys can wander around croissant or tatoo-weenie untill they get enough xp to fight the dangerous beast! >: D (just kidding I agree with you, send the kids to the less dangerous planet on an outing/picknick to get their saber crystals.

Although a bit of an imperfect solution, you can compare the stats of the Rubat as they appear in KotOR with the crystals that appear in both KotOR and F&D and extrapolate your own version.

Although a bit of an imperfect solution, you can compare the stats of the Rubat as they appear in KotOR with the crystals that appear in both KotOR and F&D and extrapolate your own version.

I'd thought about that a while back (prior to the core rulebook coming out) as part of a potential update for my old Ways of the Force fandoc.

Problem is that in KOTOR, a Rubat crystal is pretty boring, giving a very small bonus to hit and damage so I didn't give them any further consideration for possible inclusion, since I already had a "basic starter crystal" in the form of general Adegan crystals rather than the more potent mephite crystals that had been published.