Post by Arka on Nov 29, 2005 14:04:52 GMT -5
Please note, if you have a lightsaber destroyed, you can not buy one, or magically have another. You must create a thread on which you go through an adventure, collecting the peices. The following is information about lightsabers, provided by wikipedia.org.
Lightsabers in the Star Wars Universe
A lightsaber duel between Count Dooku and Master Yoda.Using "frozen blaster" technology, a blade of pure energy is created. The beam can cut through almost anything solid, except another (immaterial) lightsaber blade, the rare mineral cortosis, force-fields of various sorts, an alloy used in Magna Guards' electrostaves called phrik, superconductors. Mandalorian iron is also known to resist the effects of a lightsaber, and very dense materials such as heavy armor has been shown to marginally slow them down.
The first lightsabers were developed as siege weapons. These required a separate power pack, which was often worn on the back, and later, a belt worn power source. The power sources and components were miniaturized in the construction to create the simple weapon used in the later era and adopted by the recently-formed Jedi Order in the early days of the Old Republic.
[edit]
Lightsaber Colors
In the original film trilogy, lightsaber blades were blue and, later, green for the Jedi, while red-bladed lightsabers were associated with Dark Jedi Knights or Sith - though the first Sith Lords used alchemically altered Sith Swords as Lightsaber technology had not been developed before the original Dark Jedi were exiled.
The various Expanded Universe (EU) sources and the prequel films opened up the spectrum of blade colors to include many variations of blue, green and red, as well as purple, orange, silver, turquoise, pink, bronze, yellow and possibly white and gold, among others; the full variety and extent of focusing gems, and consequently, of colors, is unknown.
The Expanded Universe has no definitive information relating to the color of a lightsaber and its association with Jedi or Sith positions. The reason for the smaller variety of colors for lightsaber blades is revealed throughout several forms of media; the Empire destroyed the caves that housed the lightsaber crystals which Jedi used to focus energy and create their blade's unique color. Synthetic crystals were created to replace the natural crystals found in caverns, typically having either a blue or green color.
Obi-Wan Kenobi primarily wielded a blue-bladed lightsaber, while Mace Windu famously uses a purple-bladed lightsaber. One lightsaber in particular, created by the Jedi student Gantoris, was violet with patterns of rainbow light rippling across its white core.
The color of a lightsaber's blade depends on the crystals used to focus it. Blue-bladed lightsabers are loosely associated with Jedi Guardians; green-bladed lightsabers are loosely associated with Jedi Consulars; yellow-bladed lightsabers are loosely associated with Jedi Sentinels; and red-bladed lightsabers are more closely associated with the Sith and dark Jedi. Nearly every Jedi who has wielded a purple blade has been a powerful Jedi, and a catalyst for change. Therefore, they could be considered "Jedi Powers".
Each Jedi (or Sith) is free to choose whatever hue for their blade they wish or can acquire. Usually the lightsaber crystal will call out to its chosen master during the trials to become a Jedi when the padawan travels to llum.
Prior to the Battle of Ruusan, Jedi used lightsabers in every known hue. Afterwards, Jedi relied on more common Ilum crystals such as blue and green. Mace Windu braved the rock-encrusted natives of Hurikane to obtain the rare purple crystal. In the New Jedi Order Era, Jedi had a wide array of colors such as orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and light blue.
The synthetic red crystals favored by the Sith can create a somewhat more powerful blade than blue or green crystals, but are not as pure due to their artificial nature and can thus be undesirable as the focus of a lightsaber. The Sith apparently had a large supply of red crystals and they also favored red as symbolism for blood.
Star Wars character Lightsaber color
Agen Kolar Blue
Alema Rar Silver
Anakin Skywalker Blue
Anakin Solo Purple
Ben Skywalker Blue
Callista Topaz
Corran Horn Silver/Purple (dual phase)
Count Dooku Red
Darth Maul Red
Darth Sidious Red
Darth Vader Red
Jacen Solo Green
Jaina Solo Purple
Ki-Adi-Mundi Blue
Kit Fisto Green
Kyp Durron Purple
Leia Organa-Solo Green/Ruby red/Blue
Luke Skywalker Blue/Green
Luminara Unduli Green
Mace Windu Blue/Purple
Mara Jade Skywalker Blue/Purple
Obi-Wan Kenobi Blue
Plo Koon Yellow/Blue
Saesee Tiin Purple/Green
Shaak Ti Blue
Tahiri Velia Blue
Tionne Solusar Silver
Yoda Green
[edit]
Lightsaber Types
The very rare Great Lightsaber, similar to a standard lightsaber, had focusing crystals and a power supply producing a blade up to 300 centimeters (9.8 feet) in length.
The rare Dual-Phase Lightsaber is any lightsaber constructed to operate at two different blade lengths. Historically, these complex blades were constructed mostly by ancient Jedi and Sith in their many heated wars; the surprise advantage of a blade which could shoot forth several feet or inches was worth the additional difficulty of constructing a lightsaber with several focussing gems, and further outweighed the fact that a lengthy blade was often inferior from a pure fencing perspective. Darth Vader's lightsaber is an example of this, as he has buttons on his hilt allowing him to change the blade length at will. In Dark Apprentice, with the help of the spirit of Exar Kun, Gantoris created such a lightsaber. Similarly, in Splinter of the Mind's Eye, Luke Skywalker adjusts the controls of his saber to produce a short, pencil-thin blade, which he uses to cut through the bolt of a door lock.
The Electrum Lightsaber is simply a lightsaber with a hilt forged from gold-like electrum. Mace Windu's lightsaber in Episode II and III is an example; Sidious's lightsaber is also similar. Whether the electrum in the hilt affects the blade's properties or is merely decorative is unknown.
There are also variant lightsabers with shorter handles and blades (known as Short Lightsabers or lightdaggers) that can be wielded as offhand (weaker hand) secondary weapons (which is used by Jedi Master Kavar) for the dual-bladed lightsaber combat style Jar'Kai, or as the primary lightsaber of a small Jedi like Yoda.
Darth Maul, with a double-bladed lightsaber, battles Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi on NabooThe Double-Bladed Lightsaber, or "saber-staff", or "Sith Lightsaber" is a unique variant in which the handle is about three times the length of a standard lightsaber and has two beam emitters; one at each end. The beams can be activated and deactivated independently, allowing for a lot of versatility. This variant was invented by the Dark Lord of the Sith Exar Kun nearly four thousand years before the Battle of Yavin. Kun's lightsaber was notable in that he was able to carefully adjust both its length, from half a meter to one and a half meters, as well as its intensity, allowing the blades' power to vary from that of a deadly blade to an intangible, harmless beam of light. The double-bladed lightsaber proved to be a very popular weapon among the Sith and Dark Jedi of Darth Revan's new Sith Empire. Besides Exar Kun, notable wielders of this weapon include Zez-Kai Ell, Jorak Uln, Uthar Wynn, Darth Bandon, Bastila Shan, Darth Maul, (possibly Jaden Korr), and Azrakel the dark warrior. The NJO Jedi Knight Corran Horn also used one of these; however he tended to keep a single side ignited. Use of double-bladed lightsabers as primary weapons has been frowned upon by the Jedi because of their aggressive nature and usage. Though for most Jedi double-bladed lightsabers are used for training purposes, some Jedi do specialize in their use as weapons.
The Saber Lance is a lesser known saber type that is completely force controlled. It's hilt is a Cubit or longer. The blade length, color, strength and other attributes are altered by a variety of conductor cables and switches on the inside of the hilt. These are changed by the force. It was used by the "Gray order" of Jedi. There are no specific Jedi recorded to use this weapon.
Other lightsaber variants include the massive lightclub wielded by the Dark Jedi Gorc, and the lightwhip, a rare and exotic weapon used by Githany, Ona Nobis, and Lady Lumiya.
[edit]
History
Lightsabers are the principal weapon of the Jedi but are also used by the Sith. After the extermination of the Jedi, lightsabers became rare relics. Their use is usually restricted to the Jedi, partially because it is too dangerous for an unskilled user, but also partly because, for non-Jedi, blasters are more effective. However, lightsabers remain prized by some collectors, and some black market sales do occur.
Typically, Jedi are given a lightsaber on the first day of training. Jedi Masters emphasize that the lightsaber is a measure of progress for an apprentice as lightsaber techniques take great skill and concentration. It is considered a final test for a Jedi student to be able to construct their own lightsaber. According to a Star Wars novel the construction takes place in a cave on Ilum. The padawan then goes in by themselves and will only come back out when they have made a lightsaber. But in the Clone Wars micro-series the master and padawan go into the caves.
Luminara Unduli:
The crystal is the heart of the blade.
The heart is the crystal of the Jedi.
The Jedi is the crystal of the Force.
The Force is the blade of the heart.
All are intertwined
The crystal, The blade, The Jedi.
You are one.
- Speech made during lightsaber construction ceremony
Star Wars: Clone Wars - Cartoon Network
[edit]
Training
A deviation by the Jedi Order from standard lightsabers, the training lightsabers helped train apprentices in the use of a standard lightsaber. Training lightsabers are similar to a standard lightsaber. However, the power is greatly diminished and the size is reduced, the latter being similar to Yoda's lightsaber. Training sabers are usually white in color. Training lightsabers are used in combat education in the Jedi academy of the Old Republic. While these lightsabers are intended to be non-lethal, contact with the blade is highly painful and can be fatal.
[edit]
Use
Related topic: Lightsaber combat
In the hands of someone trained to use the Force, a lightsaber is a powerful and versatile tool. In the hands of the untrained, however, it is far more of a danger to the user, mainly because only the hilt has mass in any detectable amount, making it difficult to judge the position of the blade accurately during use. Also, the arcing of the blade back along itself generates a gyroscopic force causing instability in the hands of the untrained, easily seen in Luke Skywalker's first experience with a lightsaber in Episode IV. A lightsaber can cut through virtually anything (blast doors and enemies alike) except another lightsaber blade (because of the other force field) and other energy fields of sufficient power (such as the reactor shields seen in Episode I). The only known exceptions to this rule are: the cortosis ore, capable of repelling or even shorting out a lightsaber blade (as shown in the novel I, Jedi and the video games Knights of the Old Republic and Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast); the metal ultrachrome ( a superconductor used for ship armor hundreds of years before the Empire as shown in the novel Shatterpoint by Matthew Stover); phrik alloy (seen in the energy staffs of General Grievous's guard droids); Sith Swords (alchemically strengthened weapons used by the ancient Sith) and certain types of energy shields, as well as the hides and shells of certain creatures, such as the taozin and Lava Dragon, which are able to diffuse or refract the weapon's energy. Cortosis ore apparently sets up a feedback loop in the lightsaber blade assembly, shutting it down. It is also known that the organic weapons and armors of the extra-galactic Yuuzhan Vong are capable of marginal resistance to the blade of the lightsaber. In the novel series Jedi Apprentice it is shown that a stock lightsaber blade will short out if it comes in contact with water- however a specially designed saber such as Kit Fisto's can be used underwater effectively.
Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn battles Sith Apprentice Darth Maul.Using the Force, a Jedi can use his or her lightsaber to deflect and reflect incoming energy attacks, like blaster bolts and even Force Lightning, though they are ineffective against ion beams unless finely tuned to specifically deflect them, thereby rendering them ineffective against traditional energy weapons. Lightsabers are melee weapons but can also be thrown for a ranged attack and recalled through psychokinesis, a basic Jedi skill. There are many different forms of lightsaber combat, including (but not limited to) Darth Vader's Form V, which is a combination of two other Forms, Form II and Form III. There is also the basic Way of the Sarlacc or Form I, the first one learned in Jedi training. Average in defense as well as offense, it is the most common stance. Then there is Form IV, emphasizing quick body movement and fast slashing attacks, which requires deep connection with the Force.
There are also the more "exotic" ways of wielding the lightsaber as a weapon, such as the rare double-bladed lightsaber style, as seen used by Darth Maul in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. One of the rarest styles of lightsaber use is dual-wielding them; seen briefly in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones and in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith by the young Anakin Skywalker, as well as in an animated miniseries, this style incorporates blinding fast attacks and devastating sweeps, but each individual swing is weak and easily deflected. Jedi Master Mace Windu created his own form, named Vaapad. Other users of Vaapad fell to the dark side, such as Depa Billaba and Sora Bulq. While not really unique styles, some more experienced Jedi choose to wield their lightsabers in non-conventional ways, such as backhanded or half-backhanded like Jedi Master Adi Gallia. One of the lesser known (and more archaic) forms used by the leader of the order of Force users known as the Jensaarai (seen in Michael A. Stackpole's "I, Jedi") involves the wielder holding the lightsaber blade so that it is oriented towards the ground, with one hand grasping the hilt and the other on the lightsaber's pommel cap. Another unorthodox fighting style is used by General Grievous, who can wield four lightsabers at a time because his two arms can split into four; Grievous's almost exclusive and unique style of fighting involves misleading the opponent with quick cunning attacks from all directions. In the miniseries on Cartoon Network, Star Wars: Clone Wars, Grievous also uses his "collected" lightsabers with his feet, thus you could say that Grievous fights with up to 5 hands (1 used to stand up).
[edit]
Blade characteristics
The standard blade for a human or human-sized wielder appears to be one meter long (~3 feet) or just above this length, with a diameter of approximately 20-25 millimeters. However, these numbers may vary depending on the wielder's own size and preferences.
The blade is completely round, thus more akin to a rod than a blade, and capable of instantly burning human flesh into a carbonized mass, and melt high density alloys within seconds. Despite this, the blades themselves do not seem to radiate heat.
[edit]
Construction details
The lightsaber is made up of a short polished metallic cylindrical tube (usually around 30 centimeters) that emits a beam of pure anti-protons that acts as a sword blade. All lightsabers contain some common basic components:
A handgrip
An activation stud plate, button, switch, or internal Force-activated mechanism
A safety or dead-man's switch
An emitter matrix
A primary focusing crystal (which gives the blade its hue, Adegan/Ilum crystals are most commonly used)
Up to two secondary crystals which produce different effects
A lens assembly (focusing crystals)
A blade-length adjuster (only on Dual-Phase Lightsabers)
A power cell
An Energy Gate
A power conduit
A recharge socket
Cycling field energizers
A belt ring (optional)
Lightsabers are powered from the control studs by a circuits channel and focusing crystal found only in nature on the planet Ilum. Before 1,000 BBY, the Jedi also used crystals from the planet Ruusan. This appears to be a matter of tradition rather than necessity, as there are many examples of crystals from elsewhere in the galaxy being used effectively in lightsabers, particularly with the revival of Jedi Order after the downfall of the Empire. Since the Jedi control the supply of suitable crystals, the Sith use synthetic crystals that generate a red blade. Some of the early Sith had other blade colors, but as fallen Jedi they might have re-used the crystals of their old lightsabers. Shadows of the Empire has Luke Skywalker using a synthetic crystal in his lightsaber construction. Green blades can also be created from Corusca Gems from the gaseous planet of Yavin (Jacen Solo used a Corusca gem for his lightsaber) or any green-hued crystal capable of withstanding the strains of having so much power flow through them. This is true of other hues, as well. Natural crystals are usually preferred to synthetic, as there have been instances of synthetic crystals failing at unfortunate times, as happened to Corran Horn in I, Jedi.
The Dual-Phase Lightsaber used crystals that handle differing power level requirements. These are wired to the diatium power cell, which acts like an energy source for the lightsaber. The hilt of this lightsaber rotates in such a way that it aligns the crystals, which doubles the length of the lightsaber and changes the color. Users of this lightsaber type include Anakin Skywalker, Micah Giiett, Gantoris, and Corran Horn.
A Double-Bladed Lightsaber or Lightstaff is essentially two lightsabers in a single oversized hilt. It is a very difficult weapon to handle, but extremely dangerous in the hands of a master. Notable users of double-bladed lightsabers are the Sith Lord Exar Kun and Sith apprentice Darth Maul. Kun's lightsaber was both double-bladed and dual-phase.
When the activator is pushed, internal power cells create photoelectric energy and the blade is focused from the crystal. A tight beam of anti-protons appears on command, which is focused through one, two, or three multi-faceted crystals. The activation button energizes the weapon forming a positively charged shaft of coherent packets of anti-proton energy about a meter long. The anti-protons are attracted back to the saber hilt by a negatively charged, high-energy flux aperture. The anti-proton packets are recycled to create the glowing blade by a power cell superconductor. The saber hums and scintillates with a distinct sound and has a shimmering blade. The entire functioning processes are completely contained and self-regenerative. Lightsabers only lose power when they come in contact with other objects, and thus can last nearly indefinitely.
Lightsabers in the Star Wars Universe
A lightsaber duel between Count Dooku and Master Yoda.Using "frozen blaster" technology, a blade of pure energy is created. The beam can cut through almost anything solid, except another (immaterial) lightsaber blade, the rare mineral cortosis, force-fields of various sorts, an alloy used in Magna Guards' electrostaves called phrik, superconductors. Mandalorian iron is also known to resist the effects of a lightsaber, and very dense materials such as heavy armor has been shown to marginally slow them down.
The first lightsabers were developed as siege weapons. These required a separate power pack, which was often worn on the back, and later, a belt worn power source. The power sources and components were miniaturized in the construction to create the simple weapon used in the later era and adopted by the recently-formed Jedi Order in the early days of the Old Republic.
[edit]
Lightsaber Colors
In the original film trilogy, lightsaber blades were blue and, later, green for the Jedi, while red-bladed lightsabers were associated with Dark Jedi Knights or Sith - though the first Sith Lords used alchemically altered Sith Swords as Lightsaber technology had not been developed before the original Dark Jedi were exiled.
The various Expanded Universe (EU) sources and the prequel films opened up the spectrum of blade colors to include many variations of blue, green and red, as well as purple, orange, silver, turquoise, pink, bronze, yellow and possibly white and gold, among others; the full variety and extent of focusing gems, and consequently, of colors, is unknown.
The Expanded Universe has no definitive information relating to the color of a lightsaber and its association with Jedi or Sith positions. The reason for the smaller variety of colors for lightsaber blades is revealed throughout several forms of media; the Empire destroyed the caves that housed the lightsaber crystals which Jedi used to focus energy and create their blade's unique color. Synthetic crystals were created to replace the natural crystals found in caverns, typically having either a blue or green color.
Obi-Wan Kenobi primarily wielded a blue-bladed lightsaber, while Mace Windu famously uses a purple-bladed lightsaber. One lightsaber in particular, created by the Jedi student Gantoris, was violet with patterns of rainbow light rippling across its white core.
The color of a lightsaber's blade depends on the crystals used to focus it. Blue-bladed lightsabers are loosely associated with Jedi Guardians; green-bladed lightsabers are loosely associated with Jedi Consulars; yellow-bladed lightsabers are loosely associated with Jedi Sentinels; and red-bladed lightsabers are more closely associated with the Sith and dark Jedi. Nearly every Jedi who has wielded a purple blade has been a powerful Jedi, and a catalyst for change. Therefore, they could be considered "Jedi Powers".
Each Jedi (or Sith) is free to choose whatever hue for their blade they wish or can acquire. Usually the lightsaber crystal will call out to its chosen master during the trials to become a Jedi when the padawan travels to llum.
Prior to the Battle of Ruusan, Jedi used lightsabers in every known hue. Afterwards, Jedi relied on more common Ilum crystals such as blue and green. Mace Windu braved the rock-encrusted natives of Hurikane to obtain the rare purple crystal. In the New Jedi Order Era, Jedi had a wide array of colors such as orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and light blue.
The synthetic red crystals favored by the Sith can create a somewhat more powerful blade than blue or green crystals, but are not as pure due to their artificial nature and can thus be undesirable as the focus of a lightsaber. The Sith apparently had a large supply of red crystals and they also favored red as symbolism for blood.
Star Wars character Lightsaber color
Agen Kolar Blue
Alema Rar Silver
Anakin Skywalker Blue
Anakin Solo Purple
Ben Skywalker Blue
Callista Topaz
Corran Horn Silver/Purple (dual phase)
Count Dooku Red
Darth Maul Red
Darth Sidious Red
Darth Vader Red
Jacen Solo Green
Jaina Solo Purple
Ki-Adi-Mundi Blue
Kit Fisto Green
Kyp Durron Purple
Leia Organa-Solo Green/Ruby red/Blue
Luke Skywalker Blue/Green
Luminara Unduli Green
Mace Windu Blue/Purple
Mara Jade Skywalker Blue/Purple
Obi-Wan Kenobi Blue
Plo Koon Yellow/Blue
Saesee Tiin Purple/Green
Shaak Ti Blue
Tahiri Velia Blue
Tionne Solusar Silver
Yoda Green
[edit]
Lightsaber Types
The very rare Great Lightsaber, similar to a standard lightsaber, had focusing crystals and a power supply producing a blade up to 300 centimeters (9.8 feet) in length.
The rare Dual-Phase Lightsaber is any lightsaber constructed to operate at two different blade lengths. Historically, these complex blades were constructed mostly by ancient Jedi and Sith in their many heated wars; the surprise advantage of a blade which could shoot forth several feet or inches was worth the additional difficulty of constructing a lightsaber with several focussing gems, and further outweighed the fact that a lengthy blade was often inferior from a pure fencing perspective. Darth Vader's lightsaber is an example of this, as he has buttons on his hilt allowing him to change the blade length at will. In Dark Apprentice, with the help of the spirit of Exar Kun, Gantoris created such a lightsaber. Similarly, in Splinter of the Mind's Eye, Luke Skywalker adjusts the controls of his saber to produce a short, pencil-thin blade, which he uses to cut through the bolt of a door lock.
The Electrum Lightsaber is simply a lightsaber with a hilt forged from gold-like electrum. Mace Windu's lightsaber in Episode II and III is an example; Sidious's lightsaber is also similar. Whether the electrum in the hilt affects the blade's properties or is merely decorative is unknown.
There are also variant lightsabers with shorter handles and blades (known as Short Lightsabers or lightdaggers) that can be wielded as offhand (weaker hand) secondary weapons (which is used by Jedi Master Kavar) for the dual-bladed lightsaber combat style Jar'Kai, or as the primary lightsaber of a small Jedi like Yoda.
Darth Maul, with a double-bladed lightsaber, battles Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi on NabooThe Double-Bladed Lightsaber, or "saber-staff", or "Sith Lightsaber" is a unique variant in which the handle is about three times the length of a standard lightsaber and has two beam emitters; one at each end. The beams can be activated and deactivated independently, allowing for a lot of versatility. This variant was invented by the Dark Lord of the Sith Exar Kun nearly four thousand years before the Battle of Yavin. Kun's lightsaber was notable in that he was able to carefully adjust both its length, from half a meter to one and a half meters, as well as its intensity, allowing the blades' power to vary from that of a deadly blade to an intangible, harmless beam of light. The double-bladed lightsaber proved to be a very popular weapon among the Sith and Dark Jedi of Darth Revan's new Sith Empire. Besides Exar Kun, notable wielders of this weapon include Zez-Kai Ell, Jorak Uln, Uthar Wynn, Darth Bandon, Bastila Shan, Darth Maul, (possibly Jaden Korr), and Azrakel the dark warrior. The NJO Jedi Knight Corran Horn also used one of these; however he tended to keep a single side ignited. Use of double-bladed lightsabers as primary weapons has been frowned upon by the Jedi because of their aggressive nature and usage. Though for most Jedi double-bladed lightsabers are used for training purposes, some Jedi do specialize in their use as weapons.
The Saber Lance is a lesser known saber type that is completely force controlled. It's hilt is a Cubit or longer. The blade length, color, strength and other attributes are altered by a variety of conductor cables and switches on the inside of the hilt. These are changed by the force. It was used by the "Gray order" of Jedi. There are no specific Jedi recorded to use this weapon.
Other lightsaber variants include the massive lightclub wielded by the Dark Jedi Gorc, and the lightwhip, a rare and exotic weapon used by Githany, Ona Nobis, and Lady Lumiya.
[edit]
History
Lightsabers are the principal weapon of the Jedi but are also used by the Sith. After the extermination of the Jedi, lightsabers became rare relics. Their use is usually restricted to the Jedi, partially because it is too dangerous for an unskilled user, but also partly because, for non-Jedi, blasters are more effective. However, lightsabers remain prized by some collectors, and some black market sales do occur.
Typically, Jedi are given a lightsaber on the first day of training. Jedi Masters emphasize that the lightsaber is a measure of progress for an apprentice as lightsaber techniques take great skill and concentration. It is considered a final test for a Jedi student to be able to construct their own lightsaber. According to a Star Wars novel the construction takes place in a cave on Ilum. The padawan then goes in by themselves and will only come back out when they have made a lightsaber. But in the Clone Wars micro-series the master and padawan go into the caves.
Luminara Unduli:
The crystal is the heart of the blade.
The heart is the crystal of the Jedi.
The Jedi is the crystal of the Force.
The Force is the blade of the heart.
All are intertwined
The crystal, The blade, The Jedi.
You are one.
- Speech made during lightsaber construction ceremony
Star Wars: Clone Wars - Cartoon Network
[edit]
Training
A deviation by the Jedi Order from standard lightsabers, the training lightsabers helped train apprentices in the use of a standard lightsaber. Training lightsabers are similar to a standard lightsaber. However, the power is greatly diminished and the size is reduced, the latter being similar to Yoda's lightsaber. Training sabers are usually white in color. Training lightsabers are used in combat education in the Jedi academy of the Old Republic. While these lightsabers are intended to be non-lethal, contact with the blade is highly painful and can be fatal.
[edit]
Use
Related topic: Lightsaber combat
In the hands of someone trained to use the Force, a lightsaber is a powerful and versatile tool. In the hands of the untrained, however, it is far more of a danger to the user, mainly because only the hilt has mass in any detectable amount, making it difficult to judge the position of the blade accurately during use. Also, the arcing of the blade back along itself generates a gyroscopic force causing instability in the hands of the untrained, easily seen in Luke Skywalker's first experience with a lightsaber in Episode IV. A lightsaber can cut through virtually anything (blast doors and enemies alike) except another lightsaber blade (because of the other force field) and other energy fields of sufficient power (such as the reactor shields seen in Episode I). The only known exceptions to this rule are: the cortosis ore, capable of repelling or even shorting out a lightsaber blade (as shown in the novel I, Jedi and the video games Knights of the Old Republic and Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast); the metal ultrachrome ( a superconductor used for ship armor hundreds of years before the Empire as shown in the novel Shatterpoint by Matthew Stover); phrik alloy (seen in the energy staffs of General Grievous's guard droids); Sith Swords (alchemically strengthened weapons used by the ancient Sith) and certain types of energy shields, as well as the hides and shells of certain creatures, such as the taozin and Lava Dragon, which are able to diffuse or refract the weapon's energy. Cortosis ore apparently sets up a feedback loop in the lightsaber blade assembly, shutting it down. It is also known that the organic weapons and armors of the extra-galactic Yuuzhan Vong are capable of marginal resistance to the blade of the lightsaber. In the novel series Jedi Apprentice it is shown that a stock lightsaber blade will short out if it comes in contact with water- however a specially designed saber such as Kit Fisto's can be used underwater effectively.
Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn battles Sith Apprentice Darth Maul.Using the Force, a Jedi can use his or her lightsaber to deflect and reflect incoming energy attacks, like blaster bolts and even Force Lightning, though they are ineffective against ion beams unless finely tuned to specifically deflect them, thereby rendering them ineffective against traditional energy weapons. Lightsabers are melee weapons but can also be thrown for a ranged attack and recalled through psychokinesis, a basic Jedi skill. There are many different forms of lightsaber combat, including (but not limited to) Darth Vader's Form V, which is a combination of two other Forms, Form II and Form III. There is also the basic Way of the Sarlacc or Form I, the first one learned in Jedi training. Average in defense as well as offense, it is the most common stance. Then there is Form IV, emphasizing quick body movement and fast slashing attacks, which requires deep connection with the Force.
There are also the more "exotic" ways of wielding the lightsaber as a weapon, such as the rare double-bladed lightsaber style, as seen used by Darth Maul in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. One of the rarest styles of lightsaber use is dual-wielding them; seen briefly in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones and in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith by the young Anakin Skywalker, as well as in an animated miniseries, this style incorporates blinding fast attacks and devastating sweeps, but each individual swing is weak and easily deflected. Jedi Master Mace Windu created his own form, named Vaapad. Other users of Vaapad fell to the dark side, such as Depa Billaba and Sora Bulq. While not really unique styles, some more experienced Jedi choose to wield their lightsabers in non-conventional ways, such as backhanded or half-backhanded like Jedi Master Adi Gallia. One of the lesser known (and more archaic) forms used by the leader of the order of Force users known as the Jensaarai (seen in Michael A. Stackpole's "I, Jedi") involves the wielder holding the lightsaber blade so that it is oriented towards the ground, with one hand grasping the hilt and the other on the lightsaber's pommel cap. Another unorthodox fighting style is used by General Grievous, who can wield four lightsabers at a time because his two arms can split into four; Grievous's almost exclusive and unique style of fighting involves misleading the opponent with quick cunning attacks from all directions. In the miniseries on Cartoon Network, Star Wars: Clone Wars, Grievous also uses his "collected" lightsabers with his feet, thus you could say that Grievous fights with up to 5 hands (1 used to stand up).
[edit]
Blade characteristics
The standard blade for a human or human-sized wielder appears to be one meter long (~3 feet) or just above this length, with a diameter of approximately 20-25 millimeters. However, these numbers may vary depending on the wielder's own size and preferences.
The blade is completely round, thus more akin to a rod than a blade, and capable of instantly burning human flesh into a carbonized mass, and melt high density alloys within seconds. Despite this, the blades themselves do not seem to radiate heat.
[edit]
Construction details
The lightsaber is made up of a short polished metallic cylindrical tube (usually around 30 centimeters) that emits a beam of pure anti-protons that acts as a sword blade. All lightsabers contain some common basic components:
A handgrip
An activation stud plate, button, switch, or internal Force-activated mechanism
A safety or dead-man's switch
An emitter matrix
A primary focusing crystal (which gives the blade its hue, Adegan/Ilum crystals are most commonly used)
Up to two secondary crystals which produce different effects
A lens assembly (focusing crystals)
A blade-length adjuster (only on Dual-Phase Lightsabers)
A power cell
An Energy Gate
A power conduit
A recharge socket
Cycling field energizers
A belt ring (optional)
Lightsabers are powered from the control studs by a circuits channel and focusing crystal found only in nature on the planet Ilum. Before 1,000 BBY, the Jedi also used crystals from the planet Ruusan. This appears to be a matter of tradition rather than necessity, as there are many examples of crystals from elsewhere in the galaxy being used effectively in lightsabers, particularly with the revival of Jedi Order after the downfall of the Empire. Since the Jedi control the supply of suitable crystals, the Sith use synthetic crystals that generate a red blade. Some of the early Sith had other blade colors, but as fallen Jedi they might have re-used the crystals of their old lightsabers. Shadows of the Empire has Luke Skywalker using a synthetic crystal in his lightsaber construction. Green blades can also be created from Corusca Gems from the gaseous planet of Yavin (Jacen Solo used a Corusca gem for his lightsaber) or any green-hued crystal capable of withstanding the strains of having so much power flow through them. This is true of other hues, as well. Natural crystals are usually preferred to synthetic, as there have been instances of synthetic crystals failing at unfortunate times, as happened to Corran Horn in I, Jedi.
The Dual-Phase Lightsaber used crystals that handle differing power level requirements. These are wired to the diatium power cell, which acts like an energy source for the lightsaber. The hilt of this lightsaber rotates in such a way that it aligns the crystals, which doubles the length of the lightsaber and changes the color. Users of this lightsaber type include Anakin Skywalker, Micah Giiett, Gantoris, and Corran Horn.
A Double-Bladed Lightsaber or Lightstaff is essentially two lightsabers in a single oversized hilt. It is a very difficult weapon to handle, but extremely dangerous in the hands of a master. Notable users of double-bladed lightsabers are the Sith Lord Exar Kun and Sith apprentice Darth Maul. Kun's lightsaber was both double-bladed and dual-phase.
When the activator is pushed, internal power cells create photoelectric energy and the blade is focused from the crystal. A tight beam of anti-protons appears on command, which is focused through one, two, or three multi-faceted crystals. The activation button energizes the weapon forming a positively charged shaft of coherent packets of anti-proton energy about a meter long. The anti-protons are attracted back to the saber hilt by a negatively charged, high-energy flux aperture. The anti-proton packets are recycled to create the glowing blade by a power cell superconductor. The saber hums and scintillates with a distinct sound and has a shimmering blade. The entire functioning processes are completely contained and self-regenerative. Lightsabers only lose power when they come in contact with other objects, and thus can last nearly indefinitely.