Lightsabers

The basic lightsaber is, in essence, the baseline to which all other lightsabers and their variants are compared. It consists of a basic hilt constructed from whatever material was available to the builder, typically metal or composites. Simple weapons, though still exceedingly elegant, all lightsabers are equipped with some form of kyber crystal. Kyber crystals are actually a broad family of different types of crystals. Though these can vary in shape and coloration, and even certain properties, kyber crystals share certain unique attributes. These attributes allow kyber crystals to be used within lightsabers, enabling them to focus the lightsabers’ power into their signature energy blades. Prior to the rise of the Empire, nearly every lightsaber constructed by the Jedi Order during the Clone Wars contained a crystal gathered by a Padawan on the planet Ilum as part of the journey to become a Jedi Knight. These Ilum specimens are some of the best examples of kyber crystals.

This lightsaber is a basic lightsaber hilt containing an unmodded Ilum lightsaber crystal. This crystal occupies two of the weapon’s hard points.

Known colloquially among Force adherents as light- staffs or Sith lightsabers, the dangerous double-bladed lightsabers were first designed by the Dark Lords of the Old Sith Empire. Double-bladed lightsabers consist of an oversized lightsaber hilt equipped with an upgraded power supply and twin emitter systems and crystals, one at either end of the hilt. When activated, a full- sized lightsaber blade springs from each emitter, making an exceptionally potent weapon nearly as long as a full-grown human. The weapon’s twin blades allow a user to strike more rapidly, and sometimes fight multiple foes at once. Although quite dangerous and effective in combat, double-bladed lightsabers are also exceptionally difficult to master. Nevertheless, some Jedi constructed double-bladed lightsabers for themselves, including some notable figures in ancient Jedi myth.

Although technically, this weapon contains two lightsaber crystals (one for each blade), for the purposes of gameplay it is treated as having a single crystal. This lightsaber is a double-bladed lightsaber hilt containing an unmodded Ilum lightsaber crystal. This crystal occupies two of the weapon’s hard points.

When purchasing attachments for this weapon (including crystals), each attachment costs double the listed price. This represents the fact that the double- bladed lightsaber generally requires two of each attachment (one for each end). However, when installing and modding these attachments, follow all normal rules.

Essentially miniaturized lightsabers, shotos are one of the more common lightsaber variants. A lightsaber created for duelists, the shoto was initially designed as an offhand weapon for individuals who practiced the two-handed Jar’Kai school of lightsaber combat. As they grew in popularity, shotos were adopted as a primary weapon by Jedi and Sith whose small statures made the use of a standard-sized lightsaber difficult or impossible. Some, especially students of the Ataru school, forsook standard-sized lightsabers altogether, instead wielding two shotos. This allowed these individuals to make good use of the acrobatic forms inherent in Ataru to deliver quicker and more accurate blows than an individual wielding a single full-sized lightsaber or even a lightsaber/shoto combination. Perhaps the most famous shoto user was the Jedi Master Yoda, who carried a green-bladed shoto which he used to shocking effect.

This lightsaber is a basic shoto hilt containing an unmodded Ilum lightsaber crystal. This crystal occupies two of the weapon’s hard points.

When installing a lightsaber crystal into a shoto, reduce the damage of that lightsaber crystal by 1.

Largely considered a ceremonial weapon, long associated with temple guards and Imperial bodyguards, lightsaber pikes are nevertheless potent and dangerous weapons in the right hands. Similar in construction to a force pike or electrostaff, a lightsaber pike consists of a long, sturdy haft typically made of composites or strong alloys. The haft, while a respectable weapon in its own right, contains the internal workings of a standard lightsaber. When activated, a shoto- length blade springs from the end of the haft, creating a weapon between two and three meters long. Its size gives the lightsaber pike incredible reach and respectable defensive capabilities.

This lightsaber is a basic lightsaber pike hilt containing an unmodded Ilum lightsaber crystal. This crystal occupies two of the weapon’s hard points.

Designed to train Force users in lightsaber use, training lightsabers are low-powered, non-lethal variants of standard lightsabers. Equipped with an ultra-low-out- put power generator and either a kathracite or danite crystal, a training lightsaber produces a blade that, while possessing the same mass and energy characteristics as its full-powered cousins, does no lasting damage to living beings. Its permanent low-power setting allows younglings and initiates to practice their lightsaber techniques without the risk of maiming or killing their sparring partners. This is not to say that using a training lightsaber is without its risks: strikes from a training lightsaber cause heavy bruising, painful welts, and even mild burns. As they are simply common lightsabers with internal modifications, training lightsabers can be turned into full-powered lightsabers simply by changing out the power generator and replacing the crystal with a more formidable one.

This lightsaber is a basic lightsaber hilt containing an unmodded training lightsaber emitter. This crystal occupies two of the weapon’s hard points.

Some say the earliest precursors to the Jedi wielded true swords, not lightsabers, in their battles against evil. These weapons possessed strikingly shaped blades and a unique balance that made them difficult to master for those used to wielding more mundane weapons. Some whisper that those early Force-sensitive warriors could somehow imbue these weapons with the Force, making them stronger, keener, and more deadly. Whatever the truth of these rumors, there are still examples of such swords in the galaxy today. Some are artfully crafted replicas or commissioned by specific warriors, while a few are treasured heirlooms preserved from the mists of the distant past.

Crossguard lightsabers are common among students of Makashi and any other Force users who enjoy the challenge and excitement of dueling. They resemble a standard lightsaber and operate like one with one exception: just beneath their blade, they have a smaller, low-output emitter set in the hilt. The internal circuitry is run through a splitter, and through use of a specialized power modulator, the weapon produces two secondary, very short blades at ninety-degree angles to the main blade. While their primary purpose is to vent raw power away from the main blade, in practice these smaller blades could catch an opponent’s blade, either blocking it or, with a little luck, disarming the opponent altogether.

Whenever an enemy engaged with the character makes a Melee or Lightsaber check, after the attack is resolved, the character may spend [1 Dispair] or [3 Threat] to hook her opponent’s blade and disarm him. Aside from losing the weapon, any other effects of being disarmed are left to the GM’s discretion.

Lightwhips are, perhaps, the rarest and most bizarre of the numerous lightsaber variants. Highly modified lightsabers, lightwhips consist of a short lightsaber haft built from alloys or composites laced with either cortosis or phrik. Their internals are modified in such a way that the plasma’s containment field is more flexible, allowing each emitter to create thin, snaking, fluid blades several meters in length. These modifications also have an unintended side effect of reducing the raw damage output and striking capabilities. Once active, lightwhips can both deal damage and capture or entangle an opponent. Due to the instability of the energy blades, though, lightwhips are extraordinarily hard to master and can be more of a danger to their users than their opponents.

When the character using a lightwhip makes a successful Lightsaber combat check, she may spend [2 Advantage] or [1 Triumph] to prevent her opponent from using the Parry incidental to reduce damage. A user may not add lightsaber crystal attachments to a lightwhip, and cannot use a lightwhip to parry or reflect attacks.

Developed originally by an obscure cadre of artificers, these blades were popular amongst cutpurses and assassins before Republic scouts discovered Philaxia. Once the population obtained technology such as vibroblades and other modern conveniences, phase-knives fell out of favor. The weapons may have remained an unremarked oddity had a wandering Jedi not stumbled across one decades later.

Philaxian phase-knives appear as no more than knife-hilts in their inactive state. When activated, however, they project a molecular shield that forms a weightless but solid “blade.” The blade is sharper than comparable vibroblades, but its unique balance makes it very difficult to wield. The user can also adjust the size and shape of the blade on the fly; certain shapes make it surprisingly good as a thrown weapon.

When used with the Saber Throw talent, a character may spend [2 Advantage] or [1 Triumph] to have the phase-knife return to her hand. A user may not add lightsaber crystal attachments to a phase-knife. Anyone searching a character carrying a deactivated phase-knife adds ■ to the Perception check to find the weapon.

Through specialized focusing lenses and emitters, this lightsaber hilt produces a blade that is broader and flatter than a standard lightsaber’s cylindrical blade, lending it a profile closer to that of a traditional metal sword. This form provides a larger overall surface for the massless plasma blade, while forgoing the advantages of a truly omnidirectional cutting edge. Broadsabers never gained much popularity among the Jedi Order, with many masters dismissing the variant as less elegant than other lightsabers. However, broadsabers lend themselves well to the techniques of Shii-Cho, grounded as those are in traditional swordplay, and so the variant found some use among masters of Form I.

This weapon’s profile in represents a broadsaber hilt containing an unmodded Ilum crystal. This crystal occupies two of the weapon’s hard points.

When installing a lightsaber crystal into a broadsaber, increase the damage of that lightsaber crystal by 1.

Great lightsabers are oversized lightsabers built for use by individuals with large, powerful frames. Heavy, often awkward and difficult-to-use weapons, they feature reinforced hilts with heavy-duty power and emitter systems that produce blades in excess of two meters long. Their heavier hilts and more powerful blades, combined with the natural strength of their intended users, make these massive lightsabers even more potent and deadly than their smaller cousins. Because great lightsabers are built for large and powerful beings, individuals of human size or smaller find it difficult to wield one with any kind of effectiveness.

This weapon’s profile represents a great lightsaber hilt containing an unmodded Ilum crystal. This crystal occupies two of the weapon’s hard points.

When installing a lightsaber crystal into a great lightsaber, increase the damage of that lightsaber crystal by 1.

Lightfoils are small lightsabers with hilts comparable in size to those of shotos. Lightfoils differ from shotos in that they feature slimmer, longer blades. While shotos are often used in pairs, lightfoils are designed for use alone, having a small grip that accommodates a single hand. The first lightfoils were said to have been creations of the early Sith. They likely arose alongside the Makashi form, as the weapons are perfectly suited to dueling. Among the Jedi, lightfoils largely fell out of use in favor of shotos by the time of the Clone Wars.

This weapon’s profile represents a basic lightfoil hilt containing an unmodded Ilum crystal. This crystal occupies two of the weapon’s hard points.

When installing a lightsaber crystal into a lightfoil, reduce the damage of that lightsaber crystal by 1.