The Lightsaber "The lightsaber, is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or as random as a blaster. An elegant weapon for a more civilized time." Jedi are not warriors, they are scholars, healers, diplomats and only when the need arises, then they are warriors. The lightsaber is not a weapon of war, a lightsaber only becomes a weapon when used in aggression, in defense of others it is an extension of their will. To the Jedi, it is a symbol of who they are, it is the center of a Jedi's focus. The saber is a symbol of the Jedi, it does not make a Jedi however. What makes a Jedi is what is inside of them. A Jedi's strength flows from the Force, the saber is a symbol, a focus for that strength. It represents their martial prowess, but also their attitude towards protection. The saber in the hands of a properly trained Jedi is capable of deflecting blaster shots and other such energy weapons, stun shots however cannot be blocked by the saber. There was a different saber developed, the stun saber. A hit from this weapon renders the target unconscious. This weapon is capable of only blocking stun shots and not any other energy weapon. Lightsaber Construction The creation of a Lightsaber is a lengthy and complex task, over the millenia the process was refined by the Jedi Masters and Jedi Council into a ritual made simple enough to understand that the young padawns and apprentices could follow with ease. Master and apprentice follow the same practice, though a Master is more accomplished and works with a greater efficency. Apprentices should spend a great deal of time and effort in the construction of a Lightsaber. The Lightsaber is an elegant weapon of ancient technologies. The blade helps the young padawn to focus, attuning them to the Force so that it flows more easily through them. It is used for combat only when other methods of conflict resolution have ended in failure. The technology of Lightsabers is almost as old as the order of Jedi Knights itself. And the Jedi, as is well known, have served as the guardians of peace and justice throughout the Galaxy for over twenty-five thousand years. Most Jedi build several lightsabers over a lifetime, each saber more powerful and well balanced than the last. These improvements reflect the Jedi's increasing prowess in his use and understanding of the Force. Although the exact details of lightsaber operation we have no need to devulge, the general technology is known. A lightsaber must have the following parts: Power cell Handgrip Activation plate Safety Belt ring optional Blade length adjuster Emitter matrix Recharge socket Lens assembly Focussing crystal Power conduit All the controls and components fit into a compact handgrip 24 to 30 centimeters long, with the blades themselves extending upto 1.5 meters. When the Jedi activates the lightsaber, a tremendous charge of pure energy flows from the power cell. A series of multi-faceted jewels focus the energy into a tight parallel beam. The types of crystals used to focus the energy from the power cell determines the harmonic resonance and strength of the blade. Jedi Knights use Adegan crystals almost exclusively, as they have done for a millennia. The Adegan family includes the following crystals in order of rarity. The number in parenthesis represents the strength of the blade when made from the crystal. Kathracite (2) Relacite (3) Danite (4) Mephite (5) Almost all Lightsabers are made using this one Pontite (6) Each saber beam has a unique frequency that determines the "feel" of the blade, how it handles when cutting something or contacting a force field or another saber blade. The cut of the crystal is what gives the saber blade its specific frequency, the frequency of each saber blade can be calculated from its blade color and pitch it generates. Sabers can use between one and three jewels to give their beam a specific frequency. Sabers with a single jewel have a fixed amplitude, which determines the blade length. Other sabers with multiple jewels can alter their amplitude, and thus the blade length by rotating or varying the separation between the jewels. The best sabers use natural jewels, but the Dark Jedi can forge synthetic jewels with a small furnace and a few basic elements. A superconductor transfers the power from the flux aperture to the power cell. Almost no energy is lost in the process - the beam doesn't seem to radiate noticeable heat, though it does fluoresce and hum. The saber looses power only when it cuts through something - but not when contacting another saber blade. The Jedi must use his strength and skill to force his blade against another saber blade; no lightsaber can cut another's beam. A strip of shielding is inserted to protect the controls from the slightest leakage from the superconductor resides nearby. The beam emits from a positively charged continuous energy lens at the center of the handle. The beam then arcs circumferentially back to a negatively charged high energy flux aperture, usually set in a disk that also serves as a handguard without allowing it to eat its way back through the Jedi's hands. The power amplitude determines the point at which the beam arcs back to the disk, setting the blade length. The tight, arcing beam forms a blade of amazing strength. Controls at the hilt of the saber adjust the power cell capacity and allow periodic recharging. The nature of the power cell is not as important as how it is integrated with the rest of the components. Though exact duration figures are not known, it is clear that a Jedi can use their sabers for years at a time before recharging becomes necessary. The saber is constructed in the following order: Hilt Activation plate Shielding Superconductor Crystals High energy aperture Discharged energy cell To construct a Lightsaber from its component parts takes a minimum of four weeks and the Jedi must have the knowledge of how to construct a Lightsaber. This may be knowledge imparted by a Master, a holocron, teaching manuals, or the Jedi can simply allow the Force to guide their hand. It can be noted that in times of extreme need, a Jedi can construct a Lightsaber in a far shorter time period, some Masters have been known to construct a Lightsaber in a matter of days. Do not let these tales of speedy lightsaber construction hasten you desire to build it quickly. To do so could result in you standing holding your new Lightsaber, depressing the activation plate and then nothing happens. Worst case scenario is a power overload and it exploding, with the possiblity of you becoming part of the flow of the Force much early than anyone would have hoped. Patience is the key. Failure in this process is a failure of one of the Jedi Trails and would lead a Master to believe you susceptible to the DarkSide by your lack of patience and harmony with the weapon and the Force. A lightsaber should feel as if it is grown rather than a jumble of hardware. The Jedi should see the parts as belonging together. None are more important than the other, each working with harmony. Creating a lightsaber includes various exercises a Jedi apprentice should go through with each step along the way. A Jedi should be attuned to calm and passive feelings, removing from their lifestyle all unessacary distractions. The popular superstition stating a Jedi channels the Force through his lightsaber is a misunderstanding of how a lightsaber is constructed. The core of the Jedi ritual for creating a lightsaber comes down to charging the power cell the first time. The Jedi, carefully manipulating the Force, binds the components together - linking them on something more than a mechanical or material level, so they work with unimagined efficiency. Without this careful seasoning and conditions of the lightsaber, the blade would be flawed and would fail the Jedi. A Jedi must charge the power cell for the very first time. Begin the power to flow in the powercell and bath the lightsaber with the Force, allow yourself to become one with the lightsaber. You become a conduit for the Force, and the Force will change the saber at an elemental level allowing more and more energy to flow into the cell and throughout the weapon. Modifying your saber A saber may posses the maximum of three modifications. Silencer - Blade colour - Increased damage - This modification allows your saber to have a agreater amount of power flowing through the saber crystal, creating a greater 'damage' Intensity adjuster - Pressure grip - Water proofing - Allows the saber to go under water without short circuiting, however the blade's energy is still dissipated by the water and does not function in this enviroment. Certain modifications require the Force User to have attained a sufficent level. For none standard modifications the Force User should consult the Tech GM then Force GM to see if the modification can pass. The creation of a saber is a well defined and delicate process, to alter the ritual of creation tempts fate for failure of your saber. A saber is prone to failure with modifications unless they are made by properly they can suffer failure at some point in their life. Extra crystals burnt out, components blow. Construction times Level 3 to 4 - four weeks Level 5 - two weeks Level 6 - one week Level 7 to 8 - two days + 1 days for silencer modification + 1 days for blade colour modification + 2 days for extra damage modification + 2 days for intensity adjuster modification + 1 days for pressure grip modification + 1 days for water proofing modification