“I do not love the bright sword for it's sharpness, nor the arrow for it's swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend”
Live free, die well.
Those who shed their blood beside me shall be my brother, and those who stand before me die!
Syri shai maer saes shyr shaerodi ti mar shi tia shyraes, eil syri shai mal shaerysi ti pai
“It needs but one foe to breed a war, and those who have not swords can still die upon them.”
"We make war that we may live in peace." - Aristotle
"To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace." - General George Washington
"He Who Knows Others Is Wise. He Who Knows Himself Is Enlightened." - Tao Te Ching
"Without Knowledge, Skill cannot be focused. Without Skill, Strength cannot be brought to bear and without Strength, Knowledge may not be applied." - Alexander the Great's Chief Physician
“Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.”
"I seek not only to follow in the footsteps of the men of old, I seek the things they sought."
"I dislike death, however, there are some things I dislike more than death. Therefore, there are times when I will not avoid danger." - Mencius
"The flower of flowers is the Sakura - Cherry Blossom. The Samurai is the man among men." - Japanese proverb
"War is not about who is right, it is about who is left."
"You might as well stand and fight because if you run, you will only die tired" - Vern Jocque - Sei Shin Kan.
"He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot, will be victorious." - Sun Tzu
"If you are far from the enemy, make him believe you are near." - Sun Tzu
"Pretend inferiority and encourage his arrogance." - Sun Tzu
Beware the guardians in the mist,
for they protect the innocent from harm and expell all evil,
They are the champions of justice,
and will die for those who need it.
They all stand in the way of harm,
so that those without shielding may survive.
They are the peacekeepers in a time of trouble.
They are strong at heart,
yet gentle at the same time.
They are of a rare breed.
Selfless.
Honorable.
Couragous.
They light the way to guide those without light.
"This threshold is mine. I claim it for my own. Bring on your thousands, one at a time or all in a rush. I don't give a damn. None shall pass."
--Ganner Rhysode
"You need not fear a man who bears arms and armor---unless he also bears a deadly resolve."
---Erden Geboren
Type of Switch Game Effect Difficulty to Install Switch/DC Increase
Standard One click activates, one click deactivates No extra roll
Double Offclick One click activates, two clicks deactivates; this is so that the lighstaber does not accidentally shut off in combat. Easy/+5 DC
Lock On The lightsaber's On/Off switch can be locked into the 'On' position and can't be turned off with one touch. Moderate/+10 DC
Force Activated The wielder must use the Force to make a connection withn the handle which allows energy to flow. Very Difficult/+15 DC
Colors
While it may seem to be a bit of trivial detail, the color of a lightsaber is as much a part of the personality of the weapon as anything else. Upon completion of the lightsaber, roll 1d6 and compare it to the Standard Lightsaber colors table. Should a 6 be rolled, reroll and compare it to the Rare lightsaber colors table.
Standard Lightsaber Colors Table
Roll Color Result
1 Blue (Anakin, Obi-Wan)
2 Green (Luke, Qui Gonn Jinn)
3 Red (Darth Vader, Darth Maul)
4 White (Ben Kenobi)
5 Orange
6 Roll from "Rare Colors" Table
Rare Lightsaber Colors Table
Roll Color
1 Crimson
2 Teal
3 Royal Blue
4 Purple
5 Forest Green
6 Yellow
Length
A lightsaber can be anywhere from 1.0 to 1.5 meters in length. Like rolling for color, roll 1D on the table below for the length. A Note On Adjustable Lengths: A character may choose to modify lightsaber so that the length can be changed by turning a dial on the handle of the lightsaber. For each length aside from the standard length, make a lightsaber repair roll against a Moderate difficulty, modified one more difficulty level for each extra length (D6), or made a modification to the DC of the final Craft check (D20).
Example: A Jedi decides that he wants a lightsaber with three lengths in total. His standard length blade requires no extra roll or DC increase. However, for the second length, he must roll a Difficult lightsaber repair roll (Moderate + 1 difficulty level) (D6), or add +5 to his Craft DC (D20). For the third length, he must roll a Very Difficult lightsaber repair roll (Moderate + 2 difficulty) (D6), or add +10 to his Craft DC (D20).
Should the Jedi fail any one of these rolls, the lightsaber will not function. If all three are passed, the Jedi rolls on the below table for a standard length, then chooses additional lengths (from .5 m to 2 m).
Roll Standard Length
1 1.0 Meters
2 1.1
3 1.2
4 1.3
5 1.4
6 1.5
Miscellaneous Modifications
The following miscellaneous modifications may be made to a lightsaber.
Joining Sabers
In order for the Jedi to join two lightsabers together, he must find the following items: a set of special welding tools (50 credits), a magna-lock for each saber (200 credits each), a release switch (50 credits), and a power connector (150 credits). Once obtaining these items, a Jedi may attempt, with a Very Difficult lightsaber repair roll (D6) or a Craft (lightsaber) check DC 20 (D20), join the two together. Failure to make this roll results in one or both of the sabers being damaged, depending on how badly the roll was missed by. If the roll is a success, they are joined by a powerful elecromagnetic field which can only be unlocked by hitting the release switch. They are joined together at the base of each saber and make a staff-like weapon.
Cell Recognizer
This device is used to modify a lightsaber such that it will not function for anyone except certain people. A small sensor array (800 credits) and recognition chip (350 credits) are installed in the handle of the lightsaber, which reads the cell patterns of whoever is holding the weapon. If the cell patterns do not match that of designated "safe" users, the weapon's power cells shut down, and any failsafe devices are activated. Failsafe devices can range from electrocution to a loud warble to a quiet beacon which alerts the owner via comlink that the weapon is in the hands of an unauthoried bearer. A Difficult lightsaber repair roll (D6) or a modification to the Craft (lightsaber) check of +10 is needed to install this device.
Pressure-Grip
This adapter for the handle of a lightsaber allows for what is, in essence, a "deadman" switch on a lightsaber. The lightsaber activates and deactivates as normal, but automatically deactivates should the pressure on the handle of the lightsaber be removed. This is also a good when combined with the lock-on switch mentioned above. This pressure sensor itself runs roughly 600 credits.
Call Beacon
The call beacon is the simplest device to install in a lightsaber. This device will summon a ship with a slave circuit like a regular call beacon, only the button is embedded in the handle of the lightsaber. This requires a Moderate lightsaber repair roll (D6) or a modification of the Craft (lightsaber) check of +5 (D20) to make the modifications. The cost for the call beacon to attach to the lightsaber is roughly 1,000 credits.
Concealed Compartment
A Jedi may choose to create a hidden compartment in his lightsaber which can only be accessed if you know what to look for. The cost is no more than the cost of the supplies to construct the handle of the lightsaber, however the difficulty when crafting the blade is increased by one difficulty level (D6)/+5 to DC (D20).
Water-Proof Casing
When constructing a lightsaber, some Jedi (particularly those at home in a moist environment, like Mon Calamari) add a secondary water-proof casing to the handles of their lightsabers in order to protect the power cell inside. While still not reliable for functioning underwater, this will allow a lightsaber to be carried normally on aquatic journeys, without the necessity of removing the power pack. A water-proof casing costs roughly 200 credits, and must be crafted at the same time as the lightsaber itself to fit properly over the handle.
Translator Unit
A notable Jedi from days long gone made a particularly odd modification to his lightsaber that some consulars might find useful. From the early stages of planning, he designed his lightsaber to contain a small droid translator unit, as well as a form of vocabulator with a built-in earpiece for discreet use. This enabled the Jedi to have a translator with him wherever he went, right there in his lightsaber which never left his side, for use in delicate situations requiring precise translation. The cost of installing this is roughly 800 for the droid parts, plus another 300 for the necessary wiring and pieces of the lightsaber.
Stun Damage
It is possible for some of the most skilled lightsaber craftsment to design a lightsaber that does little more than stun an opponent, rather than slicing them as a standard blade does. These blades use a very special kind of crystal that alters the harmonics of the lightsaber blade such that it no longer deals normal damage. Instead, the lightsaber does stun damage equal to the standard damage rating of the weapon, but no longer ignores the hardness of items. The cost of this is 5,000 credits minimum for the crystal, plus the difficulty for creating the blade is increased by two difficulty levels (D6)/+10 to the DC (D20). This special crystal can also be used in place of a blade-lengthening one, effectively creating a lightsaber which can be switched from normal damage to the stun setting; use the rules for a variable length blade in addition to the stun damage blade when determining the difficulty of construction.
Multi-purpose Use
Some Jedi design their lightsabers to have secondary functions, such as a glowrod, a comlink, or a syntherope dispenser. In such a case, the cost of making the modification is merely the cost of the secondary function, and the difficulty to install is increased by one difficulty level (D6)/+5 to DC (D20).
Trapped Handle
Typically reserved for Dark Jedi, some lightsabers have special traps in their handles to prevent unauthorized use. The handle may have spikes or blade which burst forth from the handle and damage the user (2d4 damage), or electrocute the user instead (1d6 shock damage). Whatever the trap, they are triggered typically through incorrect cell recognition (see the Cell Recognizer above), or by a "dummy" activiation switch which triggers the trap. The difficulty to install a trap is increased by two difficulty levels (D6)/+10 to DC (D20), and the cost varies from 300-1000 for the parts.
Silenced
Some Jedi texts from the days of the wars with the Sith indicate that certain Sith warriors had perfected the art of effectively silencing a lightsaber blade. By adjusting the crystals within the blade, and adding a few special ones to reduce noise, some lightsabers have been reduced to a nearly noiseless blade, making only the faintest whisper of a noise when activated. The cost of obtaining a silencing crystal is 2000 credits (or more; they are exceedingly rare), and the difficulty to install is increased by three difficulty levels (D6)/+15 to DC (D20).
For the Gamemaster: Using Lightsabers as a Plot Device
Lightsabers can (and often are) used as the focus of adventures, and are means of telling a better and more fluid story in a roleplaying game. Of course, it is easy to use the creation of a lightsaber by a PC as a means for furthering the plot of a campaign. The character must find the necessary parts, purchase crystals, and collect all that's needed before he can even begin assembling. However, GM's aren't limited to this tried-and-true method of furthering the plot; there are many ways in which a lightsaber can serve as the focus of the story.
Perhaps the weapon also houses a Jedi holocron, which is instructing the masterless Jedi in the Rebellion era while the campaign goes along. Conversely, perhaps it is a Sith holocron which is attempting to seduce the fledgling Jedi to the Dark Side of the Force. The weapon's value is also considerably greater once it is discovered to be housing a holocron; bounty hunters, thieves, Dark Jedi, and other groups will be hot on the party's heels in an attempt to obtain the weapon. Instead of a holocron, perhaps it has a holographic map imbedded in its hilt, leading the party to a mysterious planet to explore ancient Jedi/Sith/Krath/etc. ruins, leading them further and further into danger. Or perhaps the weapon houses an electronic key, which will open the entrance to a secret vault somewhere, again putting the party right in the line of fire as the greedy and the deadly pursue the lightsaber with reckless abandon.
The Force power Inhabit Object could be used to create quite plot device. As Exar Kun and Callista Ming did, perhaps a Jedi or Sith placed his spirit into his lightsaber for preservation upon his death, and now it has fallen into the hands of the party members. Perhaps it offers the characters gentle nudges and warnings through the Force; or, in the dark of the night, the character awakens from terrible nightmares, slowly driving him over the edge towards the Dark Side. At a critical moment, the lightsaber refuses to activate unless the spirit's wishes are heeded, or perhaps the blade randomly ignites at an inopportune time, refusing to shut off. Perhaps the spirit lends some of its energy to the Force ability of the bearer (giving a bonus to Force power rolls), or draws part of the bearer's life essence into itself over time (giving a penalty).
Maybe the lightsaber has some legendary history behind it, or is a relic of some famous historical event. The lightsaber once belonged to Darth Vader himself, or Cay Quel-Droma, or any one of the other famous Force users. Perhaps it was discovered on the battleground at Ruusan, or was used to slaughter Jedi during the Purge after the Empire rose. The lightsaber might be part of a matched set which once belonged to a Battlemaster, and its twin has fallen into the hands of the part's enemy. Regardless of what the Gamemaster chooses to do, there are many variants of these themes that could be implemented with ease into any campaign to give it action, mystery, adventure, personal ties, and great character development.
THE NEXT WAR
By Wilfred Owen
Out there, we've walked quite friendly up to Death,
Sat down and eaten with him, cool and bland,
Pardoned his spilling mess-tins in our hand.
We've sniffed the green thick odour of his breath,
Our eyes wept, but our courage didn't writhe.
He's spat at us with bullets and he's coughed
Shrapnel. We chorussed when he sang aloft,
We whistled while he shaved us with his scythe.
Oh, Death was never enemy of ours!
We laughed at him, we leagued with him, old chum.
No soldier's paid to kick against His powers.
We laughed, -knowing that better men would come,
And greater wars: when each proud fighter brags
He wars on Death, for lives; not men, for flags.
Angel Natavi Community Member 
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