We're a couple sessions into mish-mash of Edge of the Empire and Force and Destiny (though I'm working to separate the groups), and thoughts have naturally turned toward getting lightsabers. I've three F&D players, with varying levels of lightsaber interest. My plan has been to run them through the adventure in the GM's kit, in which they find lightsaber crystals, and everyone is happy. Lately I've been thinking that I should save building them for the ol' Knight Trial, and instead offer them a few opportunities to hunt down black market sabers or crystals. My evil GM grin started showing when I thought of sending the shining Jedi-wannabe to rob a gentle noblewoman of the Mephite crystal she wears on a necklace.

In the end though, it seems likely that I'll be sending them on three Lightsaber-hunting quests, and then probably doing the same a bit down the road, when one guy decides he wants a Dantari Crystal while another wants to hunt a Krayt Dragon for his pearl. Would that just be aggravating?

This is really a flavor thing, and one I would discuss with your players. Do they want to spend the time to lovingly design and construction their own safer? Or do they want a weapon quickly now and put the time in when finding the gem they want?

Do note that if you give the PCs second hand lightsabers, then they won't enjoy the benefits of a personalized lightsaber such as reduced difficulty or adding their Force die to the Mechanics check. Same goes for lightsaber crystals that the PCs didn't properly earn (i.e. go and harvest or at least undertake a proper Trial); so buying some 'saber crystals on the black market or swiping one from a nobleperson means these aren't personal lightsaber crystals, so no Force die added and no reduced difficulty when modifying them.

It is possible that they may wish to go questing for the more exotic crystals, like the Dantari and especially the Krayt Dragon Pearl, in which case I would say the PCs very much need to earn those crystals. Which means going to the planets they are found on, and going through an ordeal (as discussed in Nexus of Power) to earn that crystal if they want the full perks of a personal lightsaber.

Do note that if you give the PCs second hand lightsabers, then they won't enjoy the benefits of a personalized lightsaber such as reduced difficulty or adding their Force die to the Mechanics check. Same goes for lightsaber crystals that the PCs didn't properly earn (i.e. go and harvest or at least undertake a proper Trial); so buying some 'saber crystals on the black market or swiping one from a nobleperson means these aren't personal lightsaber crystals, so no Force die added and no reduced difficulty when modifying them.

It is possible that they may wish to go questing for the more exotic crystals, like the Dantari and especially the Krayt Dragon Pearl, in which case I would say the PCs very much need to earn those crystals. Which means going to the planets they are found on, and going through an ordeal (as discussed in Nexus of Power) to earn that crystal if they want the full perks of a personal lightsaber.

Hm! This is why I read these forums (well one of the reasons, good posts all around!), to get useful posts from veteran gamers. I totally forgot about those benefits.

Say where can you find the stats for that Krayt Dragon?

The Pearl is in the Rule Book,

for the actual beast... there are none, but as I recall correctly there were some attemps to build Stats for this playerkilling MONSTER.

Yup here it is:

https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/topic/122306-krayt-dragon-pearl-but-no-krayt-dragon/?hl=kraytdragon#entry1267722

PS my build would be some thing like this:

Canyon Krayt Dragon (Nemesis)

Brawn 6 Agility 3 Intellect 2 Cunning 2 Willpower 4 Presence 1

Soak Value 18 Wound Threshold 60 Strain Threshold 40 M/R Defense 1/1

Skills: Brawl 3, Survival 2, Vigilance 3; Coolness 1

Talents, Abilities: Silhouette 4, Massive 1, Durable 5, Adversary 3 (higher if the group exceeds 4 players), Tail Sweep (Can spend a Triumph on a successful Brawl attack to knockdown another target engaged or at short range from the dragon).

Equipment: Vicious bite (Brawl; Damage 20: Critical 2; Range [short]; Ensnare 1, Inaccurate 1, Vicious 3, Pierce 5);
Sickle Claws (Brawl; Damage 16; Critical 3 Range [short]; Knockdown; Ensnare 1; Pierce 3])

If they kill that of the Pearl would be earned

And it had better be tough, because KOTOR basically MADE me blow it up, or scene-killed me, if I didn't, no matter how powerful I thought I was. Might also depend on whom they are allied with, regarding their Mentor, possibly, as, while it's a bit too early for Luke to do so, later he frowns on the practice of hunting the beasts for their pearls, and wrecking what passes for Tatooine's ecosystem. You are basically ivory-poachers, at this point, and your master might want to tell you that murdering a creature, purely for its bling, and to make a better, more powerful, lightsaber is a crime, and maybe even beginning down the Dark path.

Certainly, i get that players will be called upon to go places, and to sometimes kill the crazy, mindless, or just irritating denizens that live there, but one must decide how much butchery is allowed, and what sort of "reward" is worth it, whether you go wipe out Kinraths, on Dantooine, Krayt Dragons, on Tatooine, or wherever you decide to go get a "fancy" lightsaber crystal.

Silly quandary, but does the book really reference the bonuses for hilt, and crystal, for if you made it? I know that the character can get bonuses from using the Force if they work on "their" lightsaber, but that might just mean one they've carried for a while, or that they won't give off to someone else, which might be why the Sage gets the talent for tweaking sabers. As for crystals, I don't remember the books saying ANYTHING regarding caring how you got the crystal. I could certainly just be spacing it, which makes it good for me to ask, but I was pretty sure the game didn't care how you got the bits, and pieces, so long as you planned to keep them, and I don't remember the game giving a bonus for using your self-built saber, like Saga did; many people might never find blueprints on how to build one, and just have to hope to find one, instead. In the two character stories I wrote, one was still using the one his Master gave him, before she got Grievous-ed, and he eventually steals it, and several more, back from the crime lord who procured them, over the intervening years, definitely plans to keep using that one, as it has sentimental value to him, and gave his Master's to his friend, who he is slowly helping come to be a Jedi, though he's no where near qualified to have an apprentice, either. The other had his, lost it, and his girlfriend kept it for two years, before she saved him from an Inquisitor, and beaned him in the face with it, for up and disappearing one day. Neither had their Trials (blame the end of the Clone Wars), and thus neither had built their own, but I don't see a strong reason for either to give up what they, in my head, anyway, seemingly already have a potent connection with, just to have a different lightsaber, and no "bonus" I'm aware of, nor any Order to reward them with promotion.

The Pearl is in the Rule Book,

for the actual beast... there are none, but as I recall correctly there were some attemps to build Stats for this playerkilling MONSTER.

Yup here it is:

https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/topic/122306-krayt-dragon-pearl-but-no-krayt-dragon/?hl=kraytdragon#entry1267722

PS my build would be some thing like this:

Canyon Krayt Dragon (Nemesis)

Brawn 6 Agility 3 Intellect 2 Cunning 2 Willpower 4 Presence 1

Soak Value 18 Wound Threshold 60 Strain Threshold 40 M/R Defense 1/1

Skills: Brawl 3, Survival 2, Vigilance 3; Coolness 1

Talents, Abilities: Silhouette 4, Massive 1, Durable 5, Adversary 3 (higher if the group exceeds 4 players), Tail Sweep (Can spend a Triumph on a successful Brawl attack to knockdown another target engaged or at short range from the dragon).

Equipment: Vicious bite (Brawl; Damage 20: Critical 2; Range [short]; Ensnare 1, Inaccurate 1, Vicious 3, Pierce 5);

Sickle Claws (Brawl; Damage 16; Critical 3 Range [short]; Knockdown; Ensnare 1; Pierce 3])

If they kill that of the Pearl would be earned

Oh yeah I knew the pearl was there. That's why I was wondering about where the beasts stats are located.

Shame there is none, but I guess it's fine as I wasn't going to directly attack it anyways.

Yeah, nothing official on the Krayt Dragon. Maybe if/when FFG does a sourcebook that covers Tattooine, we'll get stats on those beasties.

Though the stats that Nightone linked/posted are pretty reasonable for the titanic threats these beasties are meant to be.

Because of lack of offical stats, our GM tries to figure something else out.

Well... there are stats, but I think only for adolescent/young adult dragons.

Do note that if you give the PCs second hand lightsabers, then they won't enjoy the benefits of a personalized lightsaber such as reduced difficulty or adding their Force die to the Mechanics check. Same goes for lightsaber crystals that the PCs didn't properly earn (i.e. go and harvest or at least undertake a proper Trial); so buying some 'saber crystals on the black market or swiping one from a nobleperson means these aren't personal lightsaber crystals, so no Force die added and no reduced difficulty when modifying them.

Well aware. Rather pleased about it, actually, because that simple tweak keeps stolen lightsabers from becoming uber weapons, while still being hella sweet. I was figuring on Ilum crystals (which become very hard to mod) and perhaps a Mephite, which really just seems like a liability to me.

Personally, Mephites are my favorite Crystals, and they're actually, the most powerful once you factor in all of the potential Damage increases. While The Kryat Dragon Pearl starts with Vicious +1 and +9 Damage, with the potential for three additional +1 to Vicious, it only one Damage +1 mod. Mephite has 3 Damage +1 mods, a Decrease Critical Rating mod, and a Vicious +1 mod available. Thus, you can get the damage from Mephite to + 12 just modding the crystal. If you take An extended Hilt mod and Superior Hilt Quality, that's potentially +14 damage. the Krayt Dragon Perl will only get up to +12 tops with those additional attachments. Ultimately, it comes down to if you want the higher damage or the higher Vicious quality.

Well... there are stats, but I think only for adolescent/young adult dragons.

Oh? What books?

Personally, Mephites are my favorite Crystals, and they're actually, the most powerful once you factor in all of the potential Damage increases. While The Kryat Dragon Pearl starts with Vicious +1 and +9 Damage, with the potential for three additional +1 to Vicious, it only one Damage +1 mod. Mephite has 3 Damage +1 mods, a Decrease Critical Rating mod, and a Vicious +1 mod available. Thus, you can get the damage from Mephite to + 12 just modding the crystal. If you take An extended Hilt mod and Superior Hilt Quality, that's potentially +14 damage. the Krayt Dragon Perl will only get up to +12 tops with those additional attachments. Ultimately, it comes down to if you want the higher damage or the higher Vicious quality.

What about having to only roll 1 advantage to crit? Does Mephite do that as well?

Well... there are stats, but I think only for adolescent/young adult dragons.

Oh? What books?

The Edge of the Empire Beta book. If you have or can find a copy, but the stats are loaded into Oggdude's character generator.

Personally, Mephites are my favorite Crystals, and they're actually, the most powerful once you factor in all of the potential Damage increases. While The Kryat Dragon Pearl starts with Vicious +1 and +9 Damage, with the potential for three additional +1 to Vicious, it only one Damage +1 mod. Mephite has 3 Damage +1 mods, a Decrease Critical Rating mod, and a Vicious +1 mod available. Thus, you can get the damage from Mephite to + 12 just modding the crystal. If you take An extended Hilt mod and Superior Hilt Quality, that's potentially +14 damage. the Krayt Dragon Perl will only get up to +12 tops with those additional attachments. Ultimately, it comes down to if you want the higher damage or the higher Vicious quality.

What about having to only roll 1 advantage to crit? Does Mephite do that as well?

Yep. That's one of the mods. It starts with a Crit rating of 2. You can mod it down to 1. The stats for Mephite Crystals are on page 200 of the F&D core rules. Krat Dragon Pearl is on page 199. One of the key factors I love about Mephite, aside from their stats is purely flavor taken from the lore. They're one of the types of Adegan Crystals. According to the Tales of the Jedi comics, Adegan Crystals were considered to the the best crystals for making lightsabers. The reason being is that all Adegan Crystals are Force Reactive; they could be infused with the Force. It is this quality that is reflected in the effect of people with Sense being able to detect Mephite crystals in a lightsaber. While some players may find that to be "inconvenient" in the Rebellion era, the actual effect is that it means there is a very real and intimate connection in the Force between the Jedi and his lightsaber that no other type of crystal can provide. It's also why many Force Talismans also used Adegan Crystals in their construction. I'd say the primary reason why Jedi of later eras switched to Ilum crystals is the destruction of the Chron Star Cluster made access to the Adegan system extremely hazardous for at least several hundred years. In fact, the Adegan System was completely cut off for many generations. Ilum was simply easier to get to.

Well... there are stats, but I think only for adolescent/young adult dragons.

Oh? What books?

The Edge of the Empire Beta book. If you have or can find a copy, but the stats are loaded into Oggdude's character generator.

Since it was the Beta and didn't make it to the official release.... Think it was rather weak that youngling dragon,wasn't it ?

And it had better be tough, because KOTOR basically MADE me blow it up, or scene-killed me, if I didn't, no matter how powerful I thought I was. Might also depend on whom they are allied with, regarding their Mentor, possibly, as, while it's a bit too early for Luke to do so, later he frowns on the practice of hunting the beasts for their pearls, and wrecking what passes for Tatooine's ecosystem. You are basically ivory-poachers, at this point, and your master might want to tell you that murdering a creature, purely for its bling, and to make a better, more powerful, lightsaber is a crime, and maybe even beginning down the Dark path.

Certainly, i get that players will be called upon to go places, and to sometimes kill the crazy, mindless, or just irritating denizens that live there, but one must decide how much butchery is allowed, and what sort of "reward" is worth it, whether you go wipe out Kinraths, on Dantooine, Krayt Dragons, on Tatooine, or wherever you decide to go get a "fancy" lightsaber crystal.

Silly quandary, but does the book really reference the bonuses for hilt, and crystal, for if you made it? I know that the character can get bonuses from using the Force if they work on "their" lightsaber, but that might just mean one they've carried for a while, or that they won't give off to someone else, which might be why the Sage gets the talent for tweaking sabers. As for crystals, I don't remember the books saying ANYTHING regarding caring how you got the crystal. I could certainly just be spacing it, which makes it good for me to ask, but I was pretty sure the game didn't care how you got the bits, and pieces, so long as you planned to keep them, and I don't remember the game giving a bonus for using your self-built saber, like Saga did; many people might never find blueprints on how to build one, and just have to hope to find one, instead. In the two character stories I wrote, one was still using the one his Master gave him, before she got Grievous-ed, and he eventually steals it, and several more, back from the crime lord who procured them, over the intervening years, definitely plans to keep using that one, as it has sentimental value to him, and gave his Master's to his friend, who he is slowly helping come to be a Jedi, though he's no where near qualified to have an apprentice, either. The other had his, lost it, and his girlfriend kept it for two years, before she saved him from an Inquisitor, and beaned him in the face with it, for up and disappearing one day. Neither had their Trials (blame the end of the Clone Wars), and thus neither had built their own, but I don't see a strong reason for either to give up what they, in my head, anyway, seemingly already have a potent connection with, just to have a different lightsaber, and no "bonus" I'm aware of, nor any Order to reward them with promotion.

It states in the CRB and the GM Kit that it is totally up to the GM and the players what is seen as a personal Lightsaber.

That said:

I rule at my table, you have to build the hilt yourself (eather by getting an old Blueprint, have a Mentor who tells you how, or evenreconstruct it with mechanics and Knowledge (lore) checks) all Forcesensitives in my campainges get the chance to do so.

And you have to be called by the force to your kybercrystal... this can be something like what we see in Rebels and TCW when Ezra and the younglings have to go through an Trial within an tempel, but it also can be by coming across some "wild" exemplars within a mine, a monsters nest (or stomach considering the Krayts). It even can be that the forcy walks across a young lady with a beautyfull necklace when he hears the call of the force...

Yes someways can be lead on a darkpath (if done wrong, like just grabbing the mentioned necklace...or even kill the owner)

BUT it will never be by just looting the BBGs lightsaber, or by be given the lightsaber of any ancestor, or old friend, anything that is not build by one self doesn't gets the bonuses at my table.

The one drawback to the Mephite crystal is that if there's an enemy Force user, such as an Inquisitor, then hiding from them becomes nigh-impossible, since the crystal pretty much equates to a "Hey, Over HERE!" sign to anyone using the Sense power to pick up life forms. And unless your GM is a complete and utter numpty, if they've got a PC using a Mephite crystal then Inquisitors (or similar villains) should have at least the basic Sense power by default, possibly with a Range Upgrade or two.

The one drawback to the Mephite crystal is that if there's an enemy Force user, such as an Inquisitor, then hiding from them becomes nigh-impossible, since the crystal pretty much equates to a "Hey, Over HERE!" sign to anyone using the Sense power to pick up life forms. And unless your GM is a complete and utter numpty, if they've got a PC using a Mephite crystal then Inquisitors (or similar villains) should have at least the basic Sense power by default, possibly with a Range Upgrade or two.

Here's an interesting thought about a Krayt Dragon. I can easily understood why a Jedi might balk about slaying one just for the off chance of getting a crystal. There's a lot of potential here for some epic stories. Pulling from movies like Dragonheart or Feist's Magician series and add a little Force Vergance and options abound.

The PC's find an ancient Dragon that is on it's way to die but game hunters abound. It calls through the Force for help. The Pc's hear the call and respond. After a few awkward moments they agree to escort the dragon to an ancient graveyard so it can die in peace.

Another option is the Dragon has a need of a service and calls to the PC's through the force. After said service is rendered the Dragon barfs all over the character and somehow dislodge a crystal that had been bothering it for years.

A Dragonna has been causing a ruckus in a nearby farm or village. This is just your plain run of the mill wild animal. Hunt it down and kill it. Maybe the Force led them to this location to put the beast down in the first place?

The one drawback to the Mephite crystal is that if there's an enemy Force user, such as an Inquisitor, then hiding from them becomes nigh-impossible, since the crystal pretty much equates to a "Hey, Over HERE!" sign to anyone using the Sense power to pick up life forms. And unless your GM is a complete and utter numpty, if they've got a PC using a Mephite crystal then Inquisitors (or similar villains) should have at least the basic Sense power by default, possibly with a Range Upgrade or two.

Year, howwever, that world still be the case with any Force user with a Force rating higher than 1-2. If you're strong in the Force, you'll shine like a beacon to other Force users. Thus, I don't consider that much of a drawback.

There's also no exact rules on detecting other Force users either. Sensing another Force user is ultimately up to the GM if such a thing occurs.

And at least in Legends, there's instances of Force uses hiding their presence in the Force, making them harder to sense in the Force. with the Mephite crystal, that option doesn't exist, since it's an always-on beacon that there's a Force user present.

And at least in Legends, there's instances of Force uses hiding their presence in the Force, making them harder to sense in the Force. with the Mephite crystal, that option doesn't exist, since it's an always-on beacon that there's a Force user present.

It is a Forcetalent, Sentinel - Shadow, 15 XP talent on the left side: "Shroud - The Character may spend 1 destiny Point to make himself undetectable via Forcepowers and make his own powers go unnoticed for the reminder of the encounter."

Well a Mephite would help the BBGs to find you while using this ^^