I've had an idea in my head for a while and I would like to get it down in writing, why not do it here? I thought. That way I can get some feedback on it too.

The gist of the idea is that I think using Mechanics on a Kyber crystal to install optional modifications doesn't really represent what happens when a character bonds with their Kyber crystal such as Kanan told Sabine in Star Wars Rebels. There is also currently no lack of connection for when a Dark Side Force User picks up a lightsaber that hasn't been bled.

With that I have a house-rule I am considering trying out. You will find it below.

When modifying a lightsaber crystal attachment, the owner does not need to spend any credits and rolls a Discipline check instead of a Mechanics check, following the normal modification rules beyond that. This is to represent the user's connection to the crystal through the Force; when the connection grows, so does the effectiveness of the Kyber crystal.

When anyone other than the owner of the lightsaber attempts to use it, the crystal stats are from its unmodified state, to represent the lack of connection to that person.

If the owner of the lightsaber becomes a Dark Side Force User, the crystal stats are from its unmodified state until the owner either bleeds the crystal or becomes a Light Side Force User once more.

If a character starts the game as a Dark Side Force User and are using the Knight-Level Play rules, they may start with an already bled lightsaber crystal attachment in their lightsaber.

22 hours ago, GroggyGolem said:

This is to represent the user's connection to the crystal through the Force; when the connection grows, so does the effectiveness of the Kyber crystal.

Except Discipline doesn't necessary represent that connection, I'd think it's more represented by FR. Maybe treat it like Enhance, where FR is added to Discipline? That might make scaling more difficult though.

Overall I prefer Discipline to Mechanics though.

22 hours ago, GroggyGolem said:

When anyone other than the owner of the lightsaber attempts to use it, the crystal stats are from its unmodified state, to represent the lack of connection to that person.

If the owner of the lightsaber becomes a Dark Side Force User, the crystal stats are from its unmodified state until the owner either bleeds the crystal or becomes a Light Side Force User once more.

I like these.

Even in RAW, you can use Knowledge: Lore, and add your Force Rating to the roll. I think that works well enough. Anyone with a decent amount of power can add a few modifications without much trouble, but if you want to go nuts on the crystal, you want to either be a skilled crafter or be well versed in Jedi Lore.

I disagree with using Discipline, mostly because it's already used for almost every Force Power, as well as resisting Fear. I don't think it needs to become even more powerful.

I think knowledge lore would be more interesting then discipline. Though maybe it depends on the type of connection. Shalion monks use kata (martial art poses and practice forms) to meditate. Let a combat focused force user do the same. Lightsaber check to bond with your crystal. Let the guy focusing on foreseeing the future use discipline, and the scholar turned padawan knowledge lore.

If the goal is to make modingyour lightsaber more thematic, make it more thematic to the character trying to make the changes.

I always allow the Force Sensitive to use either Lightsaber or Discipline +Force Rating to bond/enhance their Kyber crystal. Adding mods to the hilt is mechanics, but I have allowed the players to use their force rating in addition as the whole process of building lightsabers is more mystical and time consuming. Of course letting the droid double check the modifications to the hilt as seen in Rebels the show is not necessarily a bad idea. But I love the idea of forcing someone to bleed their crystal as a method of rebonding with crystal after falling to the darkside. IT is very thematic.

I'd lean more towards Knowledge (Lore) myself, as Discipline already has a lot of value for Force users as The Grand Falloon noted in his post. Although a possible middle ground could be to have Willpower be the governing characteristic instead of Intellect, but then a lot Jedi-type builds tend to favor Willpower to begin with.

Under this house rule, would PCs still be able to add their Force dice to the check? I think whafrog's got a point in that adding Force dice is FFG's way of addressing the "connection" and "attunement" a PC has with the lightsaber crystal.

For the "bled" crystals, is that just a notation or do the crystals become Corrupted Crystals as detailed in Disciples of Harmony?

This house rule does involve a bit of extra bookkeeping with regards to crystal stats depending on who's using it and what their Morality is, but if you and your group are okay with it, then they aren't problematic.

Yep, they'd still add their Force Rating to the check. My main point about it is mechanics is not what someone uses when bonding to their crystal. You don't shave off pieces of the kyber, you attune yourself to it.

Bled crystals would just regain the stats one had before they lost their connection with the crystal. So if you had 1 damage and 1 vicious upgrade, lost them when you fell to the dark and then bled your crystal, you'd be back to where you were before tho now with a red kyber that you've forced your will upon.

Yep it is some extra bookkeeping. It feels more thematic and I enjoy the idea of sending my darksiders on a quest to bleed their crystal.

Nice discussion.

In a month or two, I'll need to start taking a serious look at this subject once the players get to the point where they need to start working on their lightsabers.

I like the options being considered, especially since most of the PC's in our group are NOT mechanics.