So, I was just thinking about how special the crystals are, in that if you pass energy through them, they create a focused plasma tube. And then I thought "well, that's basically how a blaster works too." You pass energy through a focusing device and it emits it in a tube shape, but just with some velocity to it. So, why couldn't you use kyber crystals for other things, and if so, what could they be used for?

Now, I'm not looking for some OP munchkin-esque "blaster saber" that shoots bolts equivalent to a saber's breach and all that crap, but on the simple mechanical level of it, I see no reason why you couldn't use these crystals for other purposes. But I don't know of any time this has ever been described. Now, perhaps it has been discussed somewhere in the morass that is the EU/Legacy, but I can't be arsed to dive into that junk for a random thought experiment.

Has there been attempts to use the kyber crystals for other things? If so, what? And if not, how else would you as a GM or player, implement them in your game?

Perhaps they could make a slightly more powerful version of a gun, or maybe as a communication device, or perhaps used a Force sensitivity scanner for the Inquisitors to use to find potential targets.

Basically I'm looking for interesting plot ideas about how someone has revolutionized the technology around kyber crystals, and is about to unveil some New Thing that could change the game of power in the galaxy....or just something that's kind of neat and different, that puts a fresh spin on things.

Thoughts? Ideas?

Kyber crystals were used to power/focus the Death Star super laser.

Stygian crystals are used to make cloaking devices.

I'm pretty sure you can use them to make better shield generators, lasers, power systems etc...

Also another good use is powering Holocrons and for making artifacts...

I remember there being a Wookieepedia article about a form of three-dimensional holographic sculptures that were powered by using kyber crystals, but trying to find anything on that site without an ad-blocker is an exercise in frustration.

For the most part, they probably weren't used in a great many things, since they weren't exactly common and by extension were fairly expensive to acquire, especially when there were cheaper and more readily options available.

That said, I could see them being used as decorative items, such as in jewelry or art objects. Could make for an interesting adventure of the PCs seeking to nab a rare and priceless object d'art simply because it contains a series of highly valuable kyber crystals that could be used to craft a lightsaber.

I remember there being a Wookieepedia article about a form of three-dimensional holographic sculptures that were powered by using kyber crystals, but trying to find anything on that site without an ad-blocker is an exercise in frustration.

For the most part, they probably weren't used in a great many things, since they weren't exactly common and by extension were fairly expensive to acquire, especially when there were cheaper and more readily options available.

That said, I could see them being used as decorative items, such as in jewelry or art objects. Could make for an interesting adventure of the PCs seeking to nab a rare and priceless object d'art simply because it contains a series of highly valuable kyber crystals that could be used to craft a lightsaber.

Oooh, I like the jewelry heist idea for a crystal.

I'd argue that Ezra's pistol-saber probably makes his saber crystal do double duty, if only to conserve space, and his blaster doesn't do breach, sunder, or that other stuff, just as you said. I certainly never knew that the Death Star used lightsaber crystals for anything, and the size of them would've needed to be redonkulous, based on the scale of the space station. I'd agree that few other things in Star Wars were described as needing "focusing crystals", and lightsaber crystals were often quite rare. The Jedi, off and on, kept the hidden locations of many such things a secret, just like the presence of some of their other-planetary temples, such as Dantooine. Way back, the Sith didn't even know where to look, and made synthetic crystals for this very reason, while the Emperor quarantined most worlds known to house such gems, both in the hopes of continuing to repress the Jedi Order from returning, and to catch any would-be saber-users, who might be trying. I'd say they probably shouldn't have too many other uses, but then that's just me. They are sort of like uranium; in ways, you can make it pretty safe to use, but using it, for any reason (say depleted, for fine armor, even), having any, at all, comes with certain connotations, and much like it, the Emperor would've just been happier knowing as much of the jewels as possible was under his direct observation, not being used to make lightsabers, first, or second hand. Apologize for the stupid uranium comparison, but it is something the gov't does keep a ludicrously focused watch over.

I'd argue that Ezra's pistol-saber probably makes his saber crystal do double duty, if only to conserve space, and his blaster doesn't do breach, sunder, or that other stuff, just as you said. I certainly never knew that the Death Star used lightsaber crystals for anything, and the size of them would've needed to be redonkulous, based on the scale of the space station. I'd agree that few other things in Star Wars were described as needing "focusing crystals", and lightsaber crystals were often quite rare. The Jedi, off and on, kept the hidden locations of many such things a secret, just like the presence of some of their other-planetary temples, such as Dantooine. Way back, the Sith didn't even know where to look, and made synthetic crystals for this very reason, while the Emperor quarantined most worlds known to house such gems, both in the hopes of continuing to repress the Jedi Order from returning, and to catch any would-be saber-users, who might be trying. I'd say they probably shouldn't have too many other uses, but then that's just me. They are sort of like uranium; in ways, you can make it pretty safe to use, but using it, for any reason (say depleted, for fine armor, even), having any, at all, comes with certain connotations, and much like it, the Emperor would've just been happier knowing as much of the jewels as possible was under his direct observation, not being used to make lightsabers, first, or second hand. Apologize for the stupid uranium comparison, but it is something the gov't does keep a ludicrously focused watch over.

Yes, uranium is closely watched, but there is still a significant amount of it that gets away into unregulated hands. And yes, the kyber crystals are kept a closely guarded secret, by both the Jedi and the Sith....and yet they always seem to find a crystal here or there when the plot demands it. I mean apparently there are kyber crystals on Tatooine, otherwise the Krayt dragons wouldn't be able to develop the pearls in their gizzards. And that planet isn't regulated by the Empire very heavily. In fact, isn't it under Hutt control? I honestly don't recall.

I'm not looking for large scale stuff really, it was mainly just a random thought that fluttered into my head, about crystals in general, how they work, and how there isn't any reason, fundamentally, that the kyber crystals couldn't be utilized in other ways. Ways that could enrich a gaming session with an extra bit of flair. You've gotta have flair you know....you're not the kind of GM that only has the minimum flair are you? *disapproving look over 70's mustache"

Decorating the hull of your ship of all the jedi you've killed. He'll my character is thinking of using the ones of the inquisitors that have tried and failed as jewelry.

Another idea might be using the crystal to power an open air reactive plasma armor device...

So ... right now many tanks are protected by Active Protective Systems (APS) that range from reactive armor, to explosive systems that effectively shoot incoming RPGs out of the sky near them before striking.

What if the BBEG modified their starfighter to include a regenerating reactive open air plasma APS that is powered by a Kyber cyrstal to make it recharge quickly and generate sufficient energy to create the plasma explosion around the vehicle to neutralize any incoming threat.

Fashioning something like a personal defense shield would be cool. Or a booster for ships shield defenses, or as a cognitive accelerator unit for your droids.
The pseudo-science BS uses you can make up are limited only by your willingness to have the crapola in your campaign.

limited only by your willingness to have the crapola in your campaign.

hehe

I think sci-fi that's as light on the sci as the Star Wars universe gets a pass for not having a ton of back story. hehe

On the Art Heist idea, what if the famous piece of art wasn't the target but the shielding system around it. Authorities arrive in response to alarms only to find the priceless piece of Alderanian art siting perfectly safely off to the side, while the shielding system that had been around it is now torn to bits and mostly missing... finally someone tells the Imperials and an Inquisitor hears about it.

Hah! nice twist there. That would be a fun spin to put on a PC who is (hahah!) playing a law enforcement type person on some planet....what? It's possible! They might not be crimin.....psssshhhahahahaah! Sorry no, no I couldn't keep a straight face on that one. PC's playing law abiding citizens.... voluntarily .....hahahahahah!

But no seriously, I like that idea. Basically robbing the device because they want their equivalent of the Pulonium P36 Explosive Space Modulator.

So, kyber crystals have two (theoretically distinct, but technically different) uses in FFG adventures written for Force and Destiny. They'll be hidden behind spoiler tags upon spoiler tags because there's some hefty stuff in there, but you can see if you don't really care/already know..

Major Spoilers for Lesson of the Past:

Minor/Moderate Spoilers for Chronicles of the Gatekeeper: (it talks about the overall quest objective of "scour the galaxy for XYZ purpose")

I would make a case for kyber crystals being used in holocrons regardless. holocrons and kyber crystals both react to force users (otherwise you couldnt attune your lightsaber) the holocron just has a program that has the copy of a force users conceousness as the gatekeeper, as well as the ability to share memni through telepathy. so we have a telepathic, force powered computer.

great!....

>.>

<.<

anything else that is force powered? well not force powered but kyber crystals react to the force...so there you go, kyber crystals could be used to make holocrons. theres also the force sabers from waaaaaay back during the infinite empire, rakata technology itself (rakata were all force sensitive and used the force together with their technology, refered to in "the old republic" video game). lastly there is that thought bomb that detonated at ruusan.

I forgot also, the empire made some "force scanners" that used a kind of crystal, cant remember what kind but it wasnt a kyber, or maybe it was but it wasnt ever used in lightsabers, anyways the scanner was electronic so a regular joe could use it, but it would detect force users and light up and the imperial official with the scanner would then cart the force sensitive away for nefarious purposes.

In the incredible cross sections book for TFA it mentions that General Hux's personal Resurgence Star Destroyer uses kyber crystals in its turbo lasers. It implies this is the first time anyone did anything like that. Says it improved the turbolasers' firing rate, accuracy and power.