How many people in real life would try to activate a lightsaber they discovered? Certainly, in the SWRPG Galaxy, more people may recognize a lighsaber hilt than in real-life. A player wants to be a Demolitionist and create/modify simple lightsaber-looking hilts fit with explosives for the same reason we may predict how people would try to turn-on a found lightsaber.

Running away from lots of enemies? "Drop" a lightsaber hilt...

Eliminate an enemy diplomat? Gift an antique relic...

Surrender? Okay- I'll turn over my weapons...

Aside from some obvious ploys, I could be crafty, too. For example, have the lightsaber "drop," but it may activate/explode on impact. The mark may want to activate the lightsaber in front of the PC. Jedi/Inquisitors seem interested in a guy who seems to have a lot of lightsabers.

SINCE I don't yet have Dangerous Covenants, is the use of the career falling in line with what a Demolitionist can do?

Again, he needn't have actual lightsaber hilts, but something that could house the explosives (which kind?). He doesn't want a backpack filled with 'em, either. Having one around his waist and an extra in storage would likely meet his goals for every adventure. He has no interest in using a lightsaber, either, except as noted for explosives.

Would something like this character sell you on getting the DC sourcebook? Thanks in advance!

EDIT: PC doesn't need crystals for his modifications. In fact, he predicts things are easier without the crystals.

That is pure, 100% mad genius right there. I like the cut of his jib, would like to subscribe to his newsletter, etc etc etc.

Of course, it's probably worth noting that his rather...esoteric choice is going to bring a lot of heat down on him and his team if anyone DOESN'T turn one on (or survives doing so). "No really Mr. Inquisitor, t's not a forbidden ancient weapon of a long-dead anti-Imperial cult! It's just a booby trap to take out more bucketheads!"

That is diabolical.

... in a good way.

Thanks for the fast feedback!

Both character and player understand the dangerous risks inherent to their style of play. It's going to be my job to adjudicate how those explosions won't make for a Total Party Kill during any given encounter. Thankfully, the player has enough experience to avoid random acts of violence, and expects he may expire at the hands of a bad dice pool. I do not expect him to walk around a local spaceport strapped with a dozen explosive hilts. In fact, wearing a lightsaber hilt at his side invites the kind of attention his bombs intend to target. On a side-note, he hopes that the hilts target a specific named target, while other explosive use his specialization against minions.

Hence, I'm asking more about the Demolishionist specialization. I know there are some talents that help minimize a blast for allies, but what else makes buying Dangerous Covenants worthwhile, if just for expanding this idea? For example, are there more and different kinds of explosives that may suit the job as planned (i.e.: knock-out explosions, non-lethal, etc.)? With all purchases, I have to weigh the utility, but think this could be a good investment. The included species seem interesting.

The character is a Kyuzo, so he intends to use either his cool hat or his leaping ability to help minimize blast damage, which gives me more wiggle room to help avoid a random death due to dice. I do not believe the character has their own death-wish, nor will the player run the character as such. Just looking for more advice about this character in development, and more about the specific sourcebook as it could relate to this build.

I'll pass along the forum respect for his idea! Thanks!

To probe further, would buying Dangerous Covenants offer this PC more options, or do his intentions qualify for simple references to the CRBs and other possible sourcebooks?

I have the opportunity to borrow the book from the player, but for limited times due to travel distance apart. Is having this book worth it, for more GM options for managing explosions?

This is just brilliant and totally evil. You scare me a little.

One thing to keep in mind is that lightsaber hilts vary widely. They are personalized for each creator (see the Clone Wars episode where the Younglings make their first lightsabers and choose from hundreds of potential parts). Which both helps and hinders your idea. It helps because if you're trying to make something look like a lightsaber it's hard to "get it wrong". But it hinders it in the sense that because there's no one specific look to lightsabers, it's hard for someone to look at it and say conclusively that that's what it was. Generally, those who tend to just "know" that something is a lightsaber are Force-Sensitive types who can feel a Force-attuned crystal, and of course your bombs won't have that. It still might work though.

A bit of a tangent, but I wonder how feasible it is for someone to make a lightsaber that doesn't look like one, so that you could carry it on a tool belt without raising suspicions. Have it look like a glowstick or hydrospanner. Wouldn't this be a plausible lightsaber hilt?

A Chadra-Fan Force-Sensitive in my game did just that. Long before he could get his furry paws on a lightsaber, or have the knowledge or materials (crystal) to build one, he built a fake lightsaber rigged to explode when ignited. Many sessions later he and the other Force-Sensitive in the game (an Edge game) were on their quest to find crystals. They run the heck away from an inquisitor, and the little critter actually manages to think off dropping the lightsaber as he fled.

My plot will pit the characters against the inquisitor at the rise of the adventure, when the pair has their lightsabers. And clearly the inquisitor will be sporting a new cyberarm. For the furry little Chadra-Fan's ingenuity and creativity the inquisitor will have a couple of setbacks to all his rolls using his lightsaber since he is still unaccustomed to his new arm. But it is very, very clear who he'll be going all-out for. That little furry bastard has a target on his back now.

I co-GM the game, and the players hire-out as Force-seeking bounty hunters. Got a debt against some low-life gambler? Want to make someone pay for a lost cargo shipment? These are not typical bounties for the group. Actually, most members are Force-users who walk around freely, asking about other Force-users on whom they have a bounty. When pressed about their lines of questioning, they hold up their Bounty Hunting licence and invoke how bad of an idea it'd be to interrupt their part in cleaning the galaxy of potential Jedi. Their collective goal is to identify their mark, and learn more about the Force before or if they collect said bounty. It allows us to include many possible yet brief Mentors for new Force-powers, knowing the time investment vs collecting their bounty.

Other players in the group have bought-into the use of the lightsaber explosive, using Move and Misdirect as needed. This game looks to be very creative, as demonstrated by the Demolitionist. He further added how new generations have very little connection to past technologies. For example, what kid today remembers the sound of a dial-up modem? Aside from Dr. Who, would a teenager or young adult recognize a public phone booth? How likely are newly commissioned Imperial officers to have skill ranks in Knowledge (Lore) or Mechanics to know the difference between a crafted forgery against the lure of plucking this hated old relic for a quick promotion or quick re-sell on the Black Market? Understandably, many adversaries focus on combat or social skills- we don't often see an Archaeologist Nemesis, but that's where our jobs as GM come into focus.

Regarding the use of typical equipment, I initially thought the above picture WAS a lightsaber until I read the details! I like the idea of modifying a lightsaber hilt to look innocuous! Are there rules about identifying forgeries like these suggested?

The Demolitionist spec is all about making things go boom. As an added bonus Dangerous Covenants also has some new explosives in the equipment chapter.