Saber resistant material other than Cortosis

[Ka' el Darcverse]

Hey all I'm going to start playing a Mr. Character with our ever lovalble Mr. Dust. My char is going to be a edgemaster but the question is what material could I use that would be resistant to a saber other than Cortosis, which I believe is outlawed as weapons grade material.

Akrabbim suggested a mag field generator on my weapons but I'd rather something be not dependent on technology. Is it possible for lightsiders to construct weapons made of metal/alloy that are resistant to sabers and if so would it be god moding to say that my character said say a few of these said weapons? Thanks in advance for your opinions.

[Sanis Prent]

There's always quantum, but its insanely difficult to find, even more difficult to manipulate, and would at least require a big RP to rationalize you getting it.

[imported_Mr. Flux]

Mandalorian Iron.

Or perhaps Durasteel could be manipulated in such a way to resist it, but not really.

Thing about Mandalorian Iron, enough wacks from a saber, it'll eventually break.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

I think Mandalorian Iron would be even harder to find than quantum.

[imported_Mr. Flux]

It would. And probably even harder to refine for a saber.

[Figrin D'an]

Madalorian Iron is insanely heavy and dense... I'm not sure it's all that practical for a sword or armor... it's more for things like buildings and barricades.

[Marcus Telcontar]

I did look into this when working out a non moding way to use a sword - unfortunantly I personally couldnt find any other way other than a Force Art. I know it's accweptible a Sith Master can produce a sword that can withstand a sabre, I believe in research I found that Jedi could do it as well - but gave up the art as sabres came along and were far easier to make.

If you want advice, I would RP out finding an Sword.... or........

PM me. Got an idea for you

[Pierce Tondry]

Weapons made out of superconductive material (such as the kind on starship hulls) are resistant to lightsaber attacks. The material will melt if you sit there and hold the lightsaber to it, but unless that actually happens weapons made out of said material can be used to an effect.

An occurance of this can be found in the Clone Wars novel "Shatterpoint".

[Figrin D'an]

Whatever material it is, it would have to have some really strong lattice bonds. Or have an incredibly high heat dissipation rate.

*shrugs*

I guess there are a couple of solutions. Methinks as long as there is a solid backstory to support the origin of the weapon, people would probably be willing to cut you some slack on being able to resist a sabre strike.

[Preacher Blake]

Please don't bring up lattice bonds. I'll have a chemistry flashback and kill you all.

[Marcus Telcontar]

Originally posted by Pierce Tondry
Weapons made out of superconductive material (such as the kind on starship hulls) are resistant to lightsaber attacks. The material will melt if you sit there and hold the lightsaber to it, but unless that actually happens weapons made out of said material can be used to an effect.

An occurance of this can be found in the Clone Wars novel "Shatterpoint".



?!?!?!?!?!?!!!!!!???????????

Okay, this is where I go WTF are the EU writers on. Cortoris is vaguely explainable, because it shuts a sabre off.

But resistant steels and alloys? I start wondering if the author thought it through or was pulling cool tech stuff out of their bum.

A sabre is "supposed" to be basically a plasma weapon, contained in a field effect. Unless your metal or material has a field effect, it's going to be vapourised in a blink.

Now ignoring that fact the description of a sabre breaks all sorts of physics laws in the first place, I just cant see how any material can be resistant to that amount of heat a sabre relies on for cutting without a field effect preventing the blade from touching the surface in question.

But, maybe it could work if you didnt use a conductive material.

Now, i'm not a carbon fibre fabricatior, but I am quite well aware kevlars and carbon fibres are now exceeding strengths near steels for impact and both are hugely heat resistant and witht he right laminates, the uni-directional strength nature of them is being fixed and are now usable as armour and potentially weapons. I'd not use tiles and ceramics, with are even more heat resistant as they are brittle. Still, they are both NON conductive - it seems to me that the less conductive somethign is, the more heat resistant it becomes. Try cutting a brick or a piece of 10mm steel with a gas axe.

So how can a super conductor be more suitible in sabre resistanance, especially steels and alloys? Just doesnt really work for me.

This comes from the thought that super conductivity has AFAIK, not much to do with heat dissipation, but with electrical conductivity. Considering so far you need to have some highly purpose built material and cold to achieve super conductivity at over the boiling point of nitrogen, wouldnt adding heat break the conductivity??????

[Figrin D'an]

Originally posted by Marcus Elessar
it seems to me that the less conductive somethign is, the more heat resistant it becomes.



Not necessarily... in many cases, yes, but there exceptions.



Without getting all technical and geeky, there are two options here...

- Find a material able to resist the heat induced from contact with a lightsabre (ie. non heat conductive... polymers or ceramics... some metals way up there on the periodic table...)

- Create a system to transfer and dissipate the heat quickly, minimizing the instantaneous ethalpy change on whatever material you want to use... (this would involve multiple materials, and would be waaaaay more complex than just forging a blade out of some alloy).



IMO, the first one is the best bet, beyond using the "special Force-enchanted blade" approach.

[Jandor]

The Vong manage to do it with those fancy sticks of theirs so clearly there's a way of mass producing some kinda material that can stand lightsaber blows.

I s'pose you could could just say that the technology, althougth developed independantly, could be a technological equivalent to Vong bio-materials (or even go ahead and use your own kind of bio-weapons).

[Marcus Telcontar]

But Vong stuff is hardly acknowledged here and is even more absurd. A Bio tech able to withstand the heat of a sabre? Not without a field effect. And Ampistaffs dont have that.



Originally posted by Figrin D'an
Not necessarily... in many cases, yes, but there exceptions.

True, Titanium for one. But even titanium alloys are cuttable with a gax axe with the right tip and able to be welded via MIG/TIG or a plasma cutter, the closest I can think of to a real life sabre. If I was going for true heat resistance, I'd be going for soem more fiberous. Certainly, the most effective I use as a heat shield on the turbos is a fibre cloth that has a burn point of 1300 - 1400 C. The interesting point is that this cloth is touchable even whent he underside is subject to a 800C turbo. Try cutting that cloth with a gas axe or plasma cutter. It dont work and it's quite resistant to that type of heat.



Without getting all technical and geeky, there are two options here...

- Find a material able to resist the heat induced from contact with a lightsabre (ie. non heat conductive... polymers or ceramics... some metals way up there on the periodic table...)

- Create a system to transfer and dissipate the heat quickly, minimizing the instantaneous ethalpy change on whatever material you want to use... (this would involve multiple materials, and would be waaaaay more complex than just forging a blade out of some alloy).

IMO, the first one is the best bet, beyond using the "special Force-enchanted blade" approach.

Just had word to the qualified guy in the family to comment on this... and he thinks it's doable, using a few different RL techniques that do work against plasma cutters or lasers. His summary is that is not to use option one or two excusively, but mix them. The material he suggests are..

1) Something built with quantum mechanics

2) Black polymer alloyed (built to absorb at the frequency a sabre's light ignition beam is)

3) The same crystals a sabre is made with or something crystaline, to reflect the energy away

4) Anti Matter

And of course he just said, why not just simply build a field generator into the weapon? No nonsense with quantum or advanced materials, the field can be of a lower power than a sabre and still stop it. That's probably the easiest method and quite produceable

[Jandor]

Actually, thats true. That quicksilver bloke guy caries some kinda "shimering sword" which uses some kind of feild over the blade to protect it and to aid in it's penetration (I think), looks to me like a kind of material equivalent of a lightsaber.

[Pierce Tondry]

Insofar as the superconductive thing goes, I think the idea is that any heat from the lightsaber blade is instantly transferred away from the source and spread out over the entirety of the weapon where it is then dissipated. The weapons in Shatterpoint were salvaged and fashioned from (I think) the hull of a crashed vessel (possibly of Jedi origin, but I'm fuzzy on that too). I'd have to go back and start quoting the book in order to get more specific and accurate, although I think anyone who's that interested in pursuing the topic can read the book themselves rather waiting for me to dole out the info.

And now, back to the original topic.

Technology is the best combat for lightsaber countereffecting, IMO. If you're not up for that, the weapon made of unusual/exotic/rare material will also work but would likely require a quality RP's worth of justification like Charley said.

That's my input.

[Je'gan Olra'en]

Actually, not to be a NJO fanatic, but amphistaffs do have some sort of 'biological field-generator' organs in their bodies...ridiculous I know but whatever.

And to delve into the realm of the Jedi Academy books, you make something out of Eol Sha fireworm scales and it will not only stop a lightsaber, but in some instances even shatter it at the cost of its own integrity (ie. it'll shatter too).

[Lance Freestar]

Cortosis doesn't neccessarily shut off a lightsaber blade. It sends a feedback thorugh the blade that fries the ignition circuits. If one uses a high capacity ignition circuit, or uses a Force activated blade, then the blade isn't affected by Cortosis.
Me thinks that a armour made out of darkmatter, dark holes (Dovin Basals), or light energy would be great for repelling lightsabers. Of couse, I have no idea to how this would be done, but I think it could be done. Maybe make a metal that is incredibly heat resistant, and has tons of negative charges scattered around it, so when a lightsaber strikes it, a lot of positive charges are activated, and a mini-lightning storm activates.
Some strikes you, they get burned by a lightning storm!

[Figrin D'an]

Without wanting to insult anyone... this is getting ridiculously far-fetched...


Marcus's suggestion of equipping the weapon with a particle-based field generator is a reasonable one, within a Star Wars-based sci-fi realm. They exist withing the SW universe, as far as I know.




Originally posted by Pierce Tondry
Insofar as the superconductive thing goes, I think the idea is that any heat from the lightsaber blade is instantly transferred away from the source and spread out over the entirety of the weapon where it is then dissipated.


My question with this is simply to where is the heat dissipated? Unless you have some sort of elaborate heat transfer system beneath the hull of the ship, I can't see this being possible.



And... kinda off topic... what the frell is a Dovin Basal? Is this some crazy Vong thing that I don't know about because I refuse to read the NJO books?

[Pierce Tondry]

My question with this is simply to where is the heat dissipated? Unless you have some sort of elaborate heat transfer system beneath the hull of the ship, I can't see this being possible.

Not sure. I'd check the book, but I'm in this room and it's not. I'll edit later with some info, since this seems a topic of some debate.


And... kinda off topic... what the frell is a Dovin Basal? Is this some crazy Vong thing that I don't know about because I refuse to read the NJO books?

It's a creature that manipulates gravity, kinda like an organic tractor beam/ship engine mixed together. And yes, it is an NJO creation.

[ReaperFett]

Dovin Basals basically are the same as what an Interdictor uses, but in an organic way.

[Park Kraken]

Yeah, but Dovin Basals also project the voids that act as shields for the vong vessels. Use a basal to project a void, and suck in the lightsaber.
As long as we are talking about a mortal going up against a Jedi, Ysalamiri are the great equaliziers. Course, you need to protect the beast very well.
And maybe having a Vorksnr on a leash, or........what was it......a......., oh I remember, a Voxyn.
I'm going to develop a light weight armour that repels lightsabers, you wait and see.

[Xela Oxralad]

I may have to buy a suit of that off you, in the shape of Samurai armor.

[(Alex) Jacen]

Hi...I want to play a sort of Jedi Samauri dude (a Saum'riae), and I need something for his blade to be made out of. If I do a storywriting thing of his childhood when he's getting told about what the sword does, would that be ok? He'll also have lightsaber resistant armour...it slows the blade down so he only gets flesh wounds, instead of getting cut in half. I'll come up with some explaination for it...like the Saum'riae being at war with some Dark Jedi or something. If you've seen The Last Samauri, if you imagine the Dark Jedi, and their superior technology as being the Japanese army, and the Saum'riae as being the Samauri...thats how Janson ends up as "The Last Saum'riae" - pretty much everyone got wiped out, except for a few warriors. Thats where the Star bloodline comes from...

I'll do a Storytelling thing to explain the history...PM me if you've got suggestions or anything.


Edit:

Is Cortosis outlawed? Would it be ok if I was from somewhere that it wasn't, or would it be better coming up with something new?

[imported_Firebird1]

Originally posted by Ka' el Darcverse
Hey all I'm going to start playing a Mr. Character with our ever lovalble Mr. Dust. My char is going to be a edgemaster but the question is what material could I use that would be resistant to a saber other than Cortosis, which I believe is outlawed as weapons grade material.

Akrabbim suggested a mag field generator on my weapons but I'd rather something be not dependent on technology. Is it possible for lightsiders to construct weapons made of metal/alloy that are resistant to sabers and if so would it be god moding to say that my character said say a few of these said weapons? Thanks in advance for your opinions.

Outlawed?

I've heard of people asking that you don't make a 100% Cortosis metal that can shutdown a lightsaber, but outlawing it all the way?

I have not heard that one...

[Sanis Prent]

Well go right ahead and make one, but don't complain when somebody taps it lightly and it shatters.

That's why it doesn't work.

[imported_Firebird1]

Originally posted by Sanis Prent
Well go right ahead and make one, but don't complain when somebody taps it lightly and it shatters.

That's why it doesn't work.

A 100% Cortosis Sword?

That isn't what I ment here...

I thought the rule was that you can use cortosis to lightly cover your weapon to protect it from a lightsaber, just not shut one down completly.

Now I must return to work in REAL LIFE!

See ya

[Dasquian Belargic]

I think Sanis' point is that Cortosis is extremely brittle. It wouldn't take more than a hit or two for the protection to break.

[imported_Firebird1]

Yeah, I realized that..

What I ment is a sword that could shut off a lightsaber.

Now somehow KOTOR solved that problem by just saying that you can have a thin coating of Cortosis and just have a normal battle of sorts.

This solution keeps it simple and organized, instead of looking up every little trick in the book to get around.

[(Alex) Jacen]

I've had a thought. This is probably a bit shakey logic, but it is logic all the same.

The crystal used to refine the lightsaber beam must be at least partially resistant to a lightsaber, else it would begin to degrade - the contact with the blade as it left the crystal would slowly cause the crystal to break down, otherwise. It must, therefore, be resistant to the blade.

All a crystal is is an element or compound formed in a particular way. Diamonds are just Carbon, for example. We get diamond-edged blades IRL. Perhaps the blade could be edged in this crystal, or one similar to it?

Expanding on the idea a little, I read something about magnetic fields or something earlier on in the thread. We find materials that emit radioactive energy, and some that create magnetic fields. Perhaps the element from which the blade is constructed produces enough of an energy field to stand up to a lightsaber?

I think (correct me if my interpretation on the samauri is wrong) that they carry two swords, in order to ensure that they have a blade which they can use to end their own life...it is better to die, than live in defeat. My sword would probably not be the principal weapon of my character (Janson Star), as it is a family heirloom, handed down to the eldest son for generations. I'm doing a storytelling thread that will explain this (I hope). He will probably, once he becomes a Jedi, fight using a Lightsaber primarily, but he will keep this sword in reserve.

I'll carry on with my storytelling thread, and you'll have to give me the yay or nay on the sword. I think the thread is called "Legends of the Saum'riae", but I have a real crummy memory.

[imported_Firebird1]

O_o :huh O_o :huh O_o :huh O_o :huh

Like I said, just Cortosis. It's already accepted in the Video Games, and makes it a little easier then trying to explain like that.

It's not that I don't get it, but it's too easy to twist that around for something else.

[(Alex) Jacen]

Yeah...I don't really want to turn the lightsaber off, though...just stop it. I suppose it could always be a mystery...

[Je'gan Olra'en]

Anyone know if Gungan shield tech would stop a lightsaber?

[Inyos Hei'aan]

Hmm...that would depend on how it works. I'd have thought so, seeing as it stopped blaster bolts, but then again, they can't go through anything. It would depend on how they work. Do we actually know how they work?

If they can stop lightsabers, I want one. :D

[Marcus Telcontar]

Originally posted by Je'gan Olra'en
Anyone know if Gungan shield tech would stop a lightsaber?

If the shield tech is magnetically / field effect based. It will need to be tuned to the wavelengths a sabre is at, but yes, it's very possible and do-able.

[Charley]

Originally posted by Je'gan Olra'en
Anyone know if Gungan shield tech would stop a lightsaber?


Gungan shielding is kinetically resistant, similar to the shield modules in Dune. Fast objects get repulsed. Slow ones may pass through.

Sanis's shielding operates in the same manner.

[Je'gan Olra'en]

*nods* Dune is about what I was thinking, too. Thanks, all.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Cortosis is not outlawed, it is RARE, and it's a fibrous mineral which is totally impractical for fashioning weapons out of.

[imported_J'ktal Anajii]

It's S-A-M-U-R-A-I.

Sorry, constantly misspelled words are a pet peeve of mine.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

I believe that he changed the word so as to use it in Star Wars. You know, a word that means the same as the original, but it slightly different so as to appear unique. Like if I started a new character called Leelaen'a. So it's not misspelled, it's just how he chooses to spell it.

[Mitch]

It wasn't the race name I was correcting.

And, Samurai do carry two swords, if they are of the bushi class. The long sword is known as the katana, o-katana, or tachi, depending on the style, or how it is worn. The short sword, often with a blade under nineteen inches, is known as the wakizashi, or house sword.

The katana is used for open combat, and most duels in open spaces. The wakizashi, being smaller, was primarily used for narrow enclosures such as hallways and small rooms, but was not usually used, mostly worn for a display of the wearer's class. Not all samurai could wear the two swords because of class rankings.

The wakizashi was indeed used for ritual suicide, but only a few forms of it. The katana and the tonto (dirk or dagger) were the primary choices for suicide.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

:o o, sorry. I apologize to the spelling/Samurai King. *bows to Mitch*

;)

[Janson Star]

I could have sworn I posted earlier...

Yep, Saum'riae is supposed to be like Samauri, but different. Samauri means "to serve", where as Saum'riae comes from (in their native tongue) the words "unbreakable" and "soul". That is also why the sword is known as a Saum Blade...it is unbreakable.

The sword is a katana, essentially. It has been handed down from the eldest son to the eldest son. It is tradition that, from his 16th birthday, the eldest son of the newest generation wields the Saum Blade of the family, and has his name carved on the blade. The names run from tip to hilt, so when you stab someone (or yourself), you are running both the blade, and the history of your family through them in order. It is a symbolic way of showing that our ancestors are always with us, and fighting at our side.

Just as a little detail thingy to add a tiny bit of depth to the character, Janson's name is right next to the hilt. There is no space for any more warriors...effectively, if Janson was to have a son, he would not be a Saum'riae. Janson is the last of the last. Thats why he's trying to join the Jedi.

If you let me in, I'll hopefully end up with a Lightsaber...the Saum Blade will be for decarative purposes in that case, or for times when a lightsaber is not an option. Though it can't pass through as much as a saber, a Katana is veeeery sharp, so it should be able to do some damage.

[Sanis Prent]

So, you want a sword with little tiny lightsaber crystals on it?

Well thats fine and dandy until you connect with a saber blade, the light gets refracted, and then you lose an eye.

[Gav Mortis]

You could always just say that the Saum'riae were inertly gifted in the Force and were taught a sacred method of tempering and forging indestructable blades in a way not too disimilar from the weapon crafting accomplished through Sith Alchemy.

I haven't read the bulk of the thread so if this has been suggested, my apologies.

[Janson Star]

Hmm. Good point with the crystals. I'd suggest them not being in crystal form, but they wouldn't necessarily have the same properties...take graphite and diamond, for instance. Same thing, different structure. Don't think I really want to draw on my enemies...

The Alchemy thing would be more fitting...it certainly goes with the whole Saum'riae concept. It would also fit with the idea of handing the swords down from generation to generation...the other members of the family would wield "normal" swords, as opposed to the special ones. It'd explain why the people without the sword die so much easier, too.


The only thing is this makes my sword kinda rare. I was thinking that maybe his armour would be the same too...but as you can see from my avatar, its only gonna stop the basic strikes...you could still up-cut under my arm, for example. Its just to stop my arm getting hacked off...and my head. If you know what you're doing, you could probably hit me in the right place...especially with a blaster. Its just to keep me alive a little longer.

Sound ok?

[Lilaena De'Ville]

The armour being saber resistant is a bit iffy, imo. But I'll let others weigh in on it.

[Droo]

Saber resist armour? Don't push it - that would have to be roleplayed out thoroughly and then some and even then I can't see it being acceptable. So no imo. :mneh

[Vega Van-Derveld]

I agree with Dru. Saber resist armour is too much.

[Sanis Prent]

I think Akrabbim's going to try and stab you, dude.

[Leten Snat]

There is fine line between fair play and godmoding, and with you being so new, having saber resist armour would be crossing that line in my books.

[Janson Star]

Hmm...ok. I was thinking along the lines of just to protect the main areas, and to do what normal samauri does - to turn a mortal wound into a survivable one...bit I see your point. I'll just stick with my cooly sword, and wear normal armour stuff...but that does NOT give you an excuse to come find out if I lied and wore the armour anyway. I'M TO NEW TO DIE!! :D

[Dark Lord Rivin]

*Makes mental note to test Janson's armour with his two lightsabers*

[Arya Ravenwing]

You can't die without your permission.

[Sean Piett]

I liked the idea of swords produced through Sith alchemy. It made them (the Sith) a bit more mystical to me.

[imported_Akrabbim]

I may just stab him on principle, for using the same weapons I do. Or just to be mean.

Is he evil?

[Janson Star]

Noooooo...I'm applying to join the GJO ATM.

I know I can't die without permission...saying that was my lame attempt at being funny. I appologise for the lameness...I get my sense of humour from my dad. ;)

I'm gonna do some sketches of the engravings on the blade...I'll upload them when I actually have something to upload.

[imported_J'ktal Anajii]

If the blade has been forged so that it is molecularily strong enough to withstand contact with a lightsaber, then etching it would be nigh impossible.

Sorry to be Captain Common Sense, here, I jsut think about things like that.

[Janson Star]

I was thinking that it would be carved on an insert. If you imagine the blade like this =====>, then the bit between the equals signs would be a different, softer matierial, that can be etched into. it'd be sunk slightly lower than the proper metal of the blade, and would therefore not get cut off.

Alternatively, if its made with Sith Alchemy, then someone's gotta be able to do something with the metal. Maybe there's a Sith Alchemy tool that is used?

I am aware of the fact that a katana is formed of thin layers of metal, so an insert probably wouldn't work. However, given the fact that the blade has the property of a dense molecular structure, then presumably, if it were forged into a sharp enough shape, it would stay like that...it wouldn't bend, or get blunt.

So I guess its not a Katana per se...it just looks a bit like one.

[Marcus Telcontar]

How on earth are you going to get possibly one of the rarest and most expensive artifacts in the known universe?

[imported_J'ktal Anajii]

Dude, Sith Alchemy is sort of a one-time deal. It's made, and then can't be altered.

Said softer strip would render a katana a worthless piece of crap. The reason katanas are so good is because of their exacting structures.

Now, if you wanted to have the names etched on the tsuba (handguard), that would be fine, but etching into the blade on a sword whose structural integrity would be altered by a great deal of etching is a bad idea.

Sorry, I could go on for a few paragraphs about how katanas are made, and why each piece is so important, but I don't think people want to hear that right now.

[Janson Star]

It is handed down from the eldest son to the eldest son in my family. I'm storytelling how it works at the moment. Its gotten a little less feasable since I started, but...

The sword is very, very old. And, the chances are that I won't be using it like this very often anyway...if I join the GJO, I will (hopefully) get a Lightsaber. I just wanted to explain how the sword did what it did in one of my storytelling posts. *shrug*

Attached is a crummy diagram, so you know vaguely what I mean.


Edit:

I know how a Katana works. But they etch onto Katanas too. When I say "softer", I don't mean something like lead. I'm talking about something very strong. As a Katana is made of layers, then all that needs to happen is the outer layer on this particular part needs to be made of steel instead of whatever metal the rest of the blade is.

I could etch onto the handgrip, but it would loose pretty much all of the symbolism that having things etched on the blade entails.

[imported_J'ktal Anajii]

Again, you modify the tempering of any section of steel in a katana, it becomes a piece of crap.

Putting the names on the tsuba would make far more sense, anyhow.

[Sanis Prent]

Agreed. Tsuba, unlike Katana blades, are usually highly differentiated in appearance.

[Janson Star]

Not a Katana. A Saum Blade. Just calling it a katana coz thats what it looks like. It doesn't necessarily have to be made the same way as a Katana...it could be a solid piece of metal that is forged (somehow) into something very sharp. Then, because of the dense molecular structure, it doesn't get hurt by a lightsaber.

If there's not etching in the blade, then half of the posts I've done are wrong, so they'll have to be corrected.


Edit:

Tsuba, as in the number two blade...the House Blade thingy? That could work...then I can just put the family symbol on the blade when it was forged, so you can see who it "rightfully" belongs to. That sorta works...

[Sanis Prent]

Well, that's all I got then. Unfortunately I'm studying for an exam and can't be bothered to help anymore. Best of luck.

EDIT: No, a Tsuba is the handguard of a katana, or other folded steel japanese blade.

[Janson Star]

Speaking of studying...*watches his bus drive away past the window* Hmm. Guess I'm catching the train today.


Edit:

Ah, ok. Hmm. That kinda doesn't work, really. *sigh* Guess I'd better start changing my posts when I get back. There's no point me reading the names of my ancestors off my sword if they aren't there...*starts trying to re-thing the whole sword thing*

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

but still - I'd think that you're compromising the strength of the blade and making it useless. Doesn't matter if it's a katana or not.

I have to go common sense on this one myself :\

[Janson Star]

Originally posted by s'Ilancy
but still - I'd think that you're compromising the strength of the blade and making it useless. Doesn't matter if it's a katana or not.

I have to go common sense on this one myself :\

Haven't you ever heard of longswords and things being inset with gold? Thats "compromising the strength of the blade", but it doesn't cause any trouble in that scenario. If need be, I can call the Saum blade a slightly shorter, slightly curved single-edged longsword. I just called it a Katana because of the shape and the Samauri link, not because thats how I wanted it to be made, per se.

[imported_J'ktal Anajii]

The denser your molecular structure, the heavier it is. To be so dense as to repel a lightsaber, the blade would weigh in the neighborhood of, oh, say, a ton.

The tsuba is, jsut as I said it two posts ago, the handguard. The house sword is known as the wakizashi. If you really want to get down to it, the dagger is known as a tonto, and is worn inside the kimono on the right side.

Also, you would never, ever EVER put a stamp/etching/carving on a blade of that style on the exposed portion of the blade. It would go on the tang, or the section of the blade that is covered by the handle. I know that they marked Tom Cruise's blade in TLS, but that was horrendously wrong, and done soley for looks.

Please, the tsuba was the part of the sword that held the most importantce. It could hold your name, your family crest, the house you worked dor, your style, and a whole slew of other things. If you want to visibly mark the sword, use the tsuba to do so. I know a thing or two about Japanese swords, and the culture you are modifying to make this character of yours work. Please respect my input, and the input of others on this one.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Originally posted by Janson Star
Haven't you ever heard of longswords and things being inset with gold?

I have. They're called ceremonial or decorative swords.

[imported_J'ktal Anajii]

Longswords and designer swords of their ilk were often not intended for battle, but for show. Also, they used a completely different form of iron as a base, and were forged in a highly different manner. Also, the gold would be nearly wafer-thin, and was often applied as a foil rather than poured in using the lost-wax method.

Arabic swords, escpecially tulwar scimitars are etched with names, words,a nd verses quite commonly, but they also are used differently, and the etching is terribly shallow, not to mention that again, the steel is different.

You can raise all the other examples you like, and I'll still have a problem with etching the blade on a sword in the style of a katana.

[Janson Star]

Ok...fine. It just doesn't fit with part of the mythos I created. Like I said, I'll need to re-think that part. There was a whole "death by the Ancestors" thing going on there, and the fact that Janson's name was the last one on the blade...no more would fit.

And, also like I said, I'll need to change all my posts that featured the sword, because I've been going on a blade engraving. I have no idea how I can change it, and I can't do it now. I have to be out of the house in about five minutes...so later y'all.

[imported_J'ktal Anajii]

Well, I have two options for you, then:

Option one:
Re-write those sections in your posts. You haven't had the character but for a few days, so that shouldn't be hard at all.

Option two:
Make the sword normal steel, and then just ask for a lightsaber at the GJO. Too many things in the realm of acceptable physics are working against the lightsaber-repellant natures of your Saum blade.

Not trying to attack you, but when there are several people offereing reasons why something might not work, and then offering solutions, please try and realize that we are really trying to help you for the long run.

[Sanis Prent]

Option two seems to be a pretty good idea. That way you could merge background and reality seamlessly.

[Janson Star]

Actually, if I take option two, Janson's great great great grandfather gets his head cut off.

If I say there's no engraving on the Saum blade, and maybe have a dagger or a very short sword that has the engraving on instead (kept so that when a warrior looses his sword in battle, he can end his own life), would that be ok?

Alternatively, if I drop the whole ancestral names thing, and just have my little poem thing on the Tsuba, would that be acceptable? It just says "Lived by the blade; died by the blade; remembered by the blade" in symbols...its the main reason for having the family-inherited swords.

That ok?

[imported_J'ktal Anajii]

Your second option sounds just fine, though we're still going to wonder how the long sword can block a lightsaber, but oh well.

Yeah, writing on the wakizashi, or on the katana's tsuba would be fine.

[Droo]

Originally posted by J'ktal Anajii
Your second option sounds just fine, though we're still going to wonder how the long sword can block a lightsaber, but oh well.


I thought he'd decided that the Saum blade was forged via some form of alchemy and tempering through the Force?

[imported_J'ktal Anajii]

I believe that was going to be the general idea, too, but we're not sure yet. That's for Janson to decide.

[Janson Star]

Just to confirm finally, I will have the following:

Saum'Kan (aka Saum Blade - Unbreakable Blade):
- Lightsaber Resistant, forged with a variant of Sith Alchemy
- On the Tsuba, the runes for "Lived by the sword, Died by the sword, Remembered by the sword" are etched.

Sal'd'Riae (Knife of the Soul):
- Steel, ancestors etched on the blade
- reserved for ritual suicides


And I'll maybe get a lightsaber, if the Jedi give me one. That ok?

[Sanis Prent]

Wouldn't that mean your character (or his lineage at least) is evil?

[Janson Star]

Its a terminology problem again. The sword isn't a "Katana", but its like one, so thats what I call it. In the same way, the technique isn't Sith Alchemy, but it is like it, so thats what I call it. It is a technique of forging a blade. It is not inherantly evil in itself. Just like Stormtrooper armour is not inherantly evil. Its just that, because of who predominantly uses it, it has gained that image.

So no, they're not evil. It could be that, way back in history, the Sith learned their technique from someone else...either the Saum'riae, or the people the Saum'riae learned it from. Or, the Saum'riae adopted the technique, having learned it, or learned of it from the Sith, in order to defend against their lightsabers. We just don't know.

So, no. The liniage of my people (as far as I know) is not evil, and if it was, the evil would have been buried long ago in pre-history.

[Sanis Prent]

Just not sure how somebody can use Sith alchemy and not be evil.

[Figrin D'an]

Sith alchemy requires tapping into the Dark Side of the Force to create the blade. It's a good point about there being Dark Side/evil tendancies in the past of people who use such a technique.

[Dasquian Belargic]

If a blade is created with Sith Alchemy, does it retain some kind of... evilness?

[Janson Star]

Hmm. Maybe...maybe it'll have some kind of dark side resonance that people can pick up, or something. Hadn't thought of that. Maybe the very first Saum'riae were less pure than the Jedi. Or maybe they didn't see the Force as good or evil...only as shades of grey. That would probably fit with their philosophy.

[Dan the Man]

Now you're steering into Shadow Jedi territory, and we'll have none of that here.

[Loki Ahmrah]

We're just flogging a dead horse here, let it rest now, lest we turn this thread into a 100+ post thread to do with nothing other than some character's sword.

Such weapons exist in Star Wars, suffice to say it is possible, let's just forget about the ins and outs; it's made from a method similar to Sith alchemy; the ancient Sith tapped into the Darkside of the Force with their primitive rituals without even knowing about it until the Dark Jedi came along and corrupted them. We can just say it was a similar case here.

[Janson Star]

Yeah...good point. It doesn't really matter how it works, as long as it does.

One last thing though, in defence of my character. My ancestors aren't Jedi. Whatever way you spin it, they're not Jedi anythings. They may use the Force, but they're not Jedi. If you think Jedi, you think mind tricks, massive leaps and jumps, running really fast, and all of that stuff. The Saum'riae use the Force merely to defend it. They may move a little faster than your average person, or be a little more agile. They might "Have a bad feeling about this". But they're no where near being Jedi. We worship the Force, as it is the spirit of nature, essentially. We fight to keep it in balance. We believe that there must be good and evil in the universe...one cannot live without the other. Thats what I meant about the grey areas. Some traditions may seem evil to the Jedi. To us, they are just balanced.

[Dan the Man]

Originally posted by Janson Star
Yeah...good point. It doesn't really matter how it works, as long as it does.

One last thing though, in defence of my character. My ancestors aren't Jedi. Whatever way you spin it, they're not Jedi anythings. They may use the Force, but they're not Jedi. If you think Jedi, you think mind tricks, massive leaps and jumps, running really fast, and all of that stuff. The Saum'riae use the Force merely to defend it. They may move a little faster than your average person, or be a little more agile. They might "Have a bad feeling about this". But they're no where near being Jedi. We worship the Force, as it is the spirit of nature, essentially. We fight to keep it in balance. We believe that there must be good and evil in the universe...one cannot live without the other. Thats what I meant about the grey areas. Some traditions may seem evil to the Jedi. To us, they are just balanced.

And that is fundamentally the argument of the Shadow Jedi, which name or not, is severely frowned upon here.

I don't mind you having force users that aren't explicitly among the Jedi religion. This has been done before (Dathomir Witches, Calanic Monks, etc).

What I am saying is that the fundamentals of the force must be preserved. That means that you cannot use the light and dark side in tandem. Its one way or the other. See what I'm getting at?

[Janson Star]

Are you aware of the concept of Ying and Yang? Its that wonky symbol with the white and the black thing. Its about balance. Its a philosophical concept. I don't wanna be a Shadow Jedi. I just want to have some good bits and some bad bits. The religion is aware that there are light and dark sides to the force. But we are also aware that one cannot exist without the other.

Also, the light and dark sides are used in tandem...at least, in some cases. I know its not a perfect example, but the whole concept of JK:JA (Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy) is that there are light side abilities, and dark side abilities, and you have to choose which ones you pick. If you stay balanced, you get commended on it by your mentors. As its telling a story, and because its LucasArts, I'd accept that as evidence that this sort of view is accepted.

We do recognise the destinction between good and evil, but we also recognise the fact that one cannot be truely pure, or truely evil. If a Jedi is purely good, then they would not kill. Killing is considered, by most people, as a bad thing. If a Jedi cuts someone in half with a lightsaber, they're doing a bad thing. Luke Skywalker getting angry, and trying to hack Vader to pieces...thats doing a bad thing. Yet he is the leader of the Jedi. Yoda was using Dooku's dark force powers back at him. Nothing is totally good.


You're saying that using some good stuff and some bad stuff makes me a Shadow Jedi. I say it doesn't. I say it doesn't for the following reasons:

1. There is a Jedi prophecy about "One who will bring balance to the Force". If that really was Anakin, then bringing balance to the Force into balance involved bringing back the Dark Side. The Empire, under Palpatine, was just the universe making up for the years of goodness under the Republic.

2. The Force is not inherantly good or evil...at least, in the Saum'riae view. The abilities they utilise regularly (telekinesis and an improved awareness of their surroundings) are not inherantly good or evil. Ok, so someone used a Dark Force ability centuries ago to forge these swords. But in the mean time, the Saum'riae will have used these weapons for good, thus balancing and justifying the use of the Dark Force ability. So now, Janson Star will not need to use such extremes of his Force powers.

3. As I mentioned above, we're talking hundreds, if not thousands of years ago, with regards to forging these swords. Even if Janson's great great great great great great great great great great great great grandfather was a Shadow Jedi, his more recent ancestors weren't. So it doesn't affect Janson at all. His use of the Force prior to now has been neutral...its the stuff that both sides use. He has his Jedi-style instincts, his Jedi-style reflexes, and his Jedi-style "Force push" (used in combat to knock an opponant off-balance). What happens from here on will be entirely dependant on what is RP'd. But you can't call Janson a Shadow Jedi...if anything, he's just a lowly Force-user. About as powerful as one of the Emperor's Hands (ie. Mara Jade)...probably not even that. So Janson isn't a Shadow Jedi, because he doesn't do the balancing light and dark abilities...his ancestors did. His dad died before he learned the more advanced stuff...thats why he's come to the Jedi - to complete his training...even if its not quite the same.

4. As Janson intends to join the Jedi anyway, the traditions of his ancestors are not an issue. Therefore, he will not be a Shadow Jedi, even if his ancestors COULD have been classed as such. Were I going to be an independant character, you might have a point. But as I'm going to try and join the GJO, whether its frowned apon or not doesn't matter the tiniest little bit. The past is the past. Its just background. It doesn't matter anymore.


So basically, I think you're wrong, but that doesn't matter. There's no point discussing it further, because its niggling over a detail that will have no bearing on my character anymore. So lets leave the subject alone...just like Loki suggested.

[Figrin D'an]

Originally posted by Janson Star
Also, the light and dark sides are used in tandem...at least, in some cases. I know its not a perfect example, but the whole concept of JK:JA (Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy) is that there are light side abilities, and dark side abilities, and you have to choose which ones you pick. If you stay balanced, you get commended on it by your mentors. As its telling a story, and because its LucasArts, I'd accept that as evidence that this sort of view is accepted.


Just an FYI... the only hard Star Wars fact that is universally applicable around here is the films. Everything else falls into the the realm of the EU, which having been discussed at length in the past, has some highly dubious parts and contain contradictions. This is not to say that parts of the EU aren't used on the boards. They just don't carry nearly the weight that 'canon' material does, which are the films proper.





We do recognise the destinction between good and evil, but we also recognise the fact that one cannot be truely pure, or truely evil. If a Jedi is purely good, then they would not kill. Killing is considered, by most people, as a bad thing. If a Jedi cuts someone in half with a lightsaber, they're doing a bad thing. Luke Skywalker getting angry, and trying to hack Vader to pieces...thats doing a bad thing. Yet he is the leader of the Jedi. Yoda was using Dooku's dark force powers back at him. Nothing is totally good.


While the Jedi wish to preserve life, they also stand for justice and defending the innocent. Taking a life of another, when it serves the greater good and when they have no other choice, is not necessarily an evil act. It's when they act because of emotions such as anger, fear or hatred that the taking of life becomes inherently wrong. When a Jedi is in control of oneself, and acts to serve the Light Side, he/she is not automatically committing an evil act by slaying an enemy.

Luke getting angry really isn't a good example, as that moment in the films was the point of temptation for him, in which he had to choose between the light and the dark, between becoming a Jedi or falling under Palpatine's control, holding the fate of the galaxy in his hands. Very few situations are comparable to this.

Yoda using Dooku's own power against him was not an evil act. Yoda was serving the greater good, by attempting to stop Dooku from escaping and continuing the Separatist movement, which he knows will cost countless lives. Yoda was always in control of himself, and was serving the greater good and Light Side.





1. There is a Jedi prophecy about "One who will bring balance to the Force". If that really was Anakin, then bringing balance to the Force into balance involved bringing back the Dark Side. The Empire, under Palpatine, was just the universe making up for the years of goodness under the Republic.


In interviews, Lucas himself has indicated that the Dark Side is, by it's very essence, a perversion of the Force. The Chosen One, who would bring the Force back into balance, is the one who would ultimately break the influence of the Dark Side upon the galaxy. Anakin falling to the Dark Side is not necessarily intrinsic to completing the prophecy. The fact that he does become a Sith, before ultimately being redeemed and breaking the lineage of the Sith, is a wonderful irony that adds to the telling of the tale.




If Janson does not share the same point of view of the Force as his ancestors, fine. Just keep in mind that:

- a sword forged with Dark Side/Sith alchemy will retain some of that Dark Side quality. As Janson attempts to become a Jedi, he will likely not be able to wield the sword without it's influence poisoning his mind.

- if he intends upon joining the Jedi, his view and use of the Force will be made to come into line with the views of the Order, or he will never become a full Jedi. If that is your wish for the character, so be it. So long as you are aware that his current stance will make things very difficult for him if he sticks to it while undertaking Jedi training.

[Janson Star]

*nod* The whole Dark Force influence might be a kinda cool thing to RP...and yeah, he'll probably stop using it. I was thinking of making a symbolic thing of him putting all his Saum'riae stuff in a box and locking it. But yeah.

I'm already RPing stuff about the altering of my views on life. ;) Waaaay ahead of ya there, dude.

[Ezekiel Frost]

Look, just make this simple. My character uses two katanas. They're made of quantum metal. It's an EU material that's basically indestructable. He found just enough of the stuff to make a few weapons. He made them by slowly shaping the metal with the Force over the period of several days. The main reason he made them is for the curvature of the blade, as well as for the fact that they don't make noise. He uses illusions a lot, and thus it wouldn't be helpful to have to cover the sound all the time. The main issue is, it's a logical item to have, I make a decent back story as to how I got it, and since it's not any better than a saber, and in some ways less effective, people basically let it slide. Which is what would happen in this case.

And BTW, not to be rude, but I think the whole thing about not being able to pass on the sword simply because you ran out of room for names on it is a bit silly. That's a terrible reason to stop an entire lineage of warriors. If you went with the names on the tsuba idea, you could simply put full tsubas on display when you finished with them, and then pop on a new tsuba with the most recent name on it. Wouldn't that work just as well?

[Mitch]

Um, isn't Quantum steel REDICULOUSLY HEAVY because of its insane high molecular density? And, all blades make noise. In fact, there was even a Japanese fighter jet that was supposed to debut in WWII that was named after the swishing of a katana through the air.


And...


Originally posted by Janson Star
Are you aware of the concept of Ying and Yang? Its that wonky symbol with the white and the black thing. Its about balance. Its a philosophical concept...

Ahh, I see you know the Chinese Yin and Yang, where there is evil in good, and good in evil. Well, take a gander at how the Jedi view things; I've arranged a side-by-side comparison.

<img src=http://www.nehantish.com/yinyang.jpg>
http://www.nehantish.com/yinyang.jpg

[Ezekiel Frost]

I figured it was more because of the structure of the metal itself, not the density. At least, that's what it appeared to be saying in the books. And by silent, I mean it doesn't hum when I turn it on.

I was thinking about it along the lines of titanium. For the weight, it's twice as strong, or if you go the other way around, it's half the weight for the same strength. So, I just figured they got the strength through molecule arrangement or something.

[Mitch]

Well, I had always understood quantum steel to be of incredibly dense molecular structure. And, the denser something is, the more it weighs. I did misunderstand what you meant by the whole silent blade thing, though. Heh, oops.

And, there is another aspect to think about when using a blade. The weight. To actually be effective, whatever the blade was made out of would ahve to be approximately the same weight as regular steel. Too light, and you don't have momentum and cutting power. Too heavy, and it becomed clumsy and hard to swing.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Mandalorian iron is incredibly dense and strong and heavy. Quantum, I dunno about.

[Droo]

I think quantum metals are so indestructable not because of the material's density but rather thanks to the infinitely complex molecular structure of the metal. It's the quantum bonding process which does it or something similar.

[Lion El' Jonson]

Originally posted by Mitch

Ahh, I see you know the Chinese Yin and Yang, where there is evil in good, and good in evil. Well, take a gander at how the Jedi view things; I've arranged a side-by-side comparison.


And then there is the Aing-Tii Monk's view of the Force, where it exists not as a definitive black or white division, but as a rainbow of colors where the possibilities are ever changing, and one action may lead to a reverse of the spectrum. By the Aing-Tii's standards, the Jedi's view of the Force is rather simplistic and uncompromising. Still, Shadow Jedi are frowned upon.

Is anybody here quite sure how a lightsaber is supposed to work? If it is indeed a blade of tightly contained plasma, how is it contained? Conventional thinking on plasma containment nowadays focuses on the use of strong magnetic fields to shape the plasma. If lightsabers use this, it is possible that by distrupting localized magnetic fields, the saber would lose its coherent shape and dissipate. Of course, if the saber does use magnetic containment, it bring several question to mind as to why the plasma doesn't spill out when contact is made with another object...Oh well, it was a nice thought. :lol

Quantum materials are rare and expensive. To research and produce the armor for the Sun Crusher cost even more than the research for the Death Star's superlaser. Furthermore, I'd cast serious doubts on Quantum armor; it sprung from the mind of Kevin J. Anderson and his wife, who I honestly (I'm sorry) believe are among the worst Star Wars EU authors; I've never felt they captured the feel of the SW Universe in their works.

Molecular bonding is slightly more feasible...but I don't remember where I heard about that. I think it was that giant CSA Prison Tower that Han Solo sent into orbit...but I forgot its name ^_^;. Lest we forget that it was a building, and as such did not have to worry about the extreme weight likely carried by such a form of armor.

You'll be best off with some form of exotic material or composite; besides Cortosis Ore (thanks, Zahn!) and Mandalorian Steel, EU authors and Game Makers have never explained how some weapons were able to deflect lightsabers.

[Figrin D'an]

Originally posted by Lots of People
Quantum metal


*beats head against desk*

Thank you so much, EU, for giving us another craptacular concept that makes absolutely no scientific sense.

[Marcus Telcontar]

I actually thought we outright banned Quantum metal - or just frowned on it's use, which given how most do's and do nots are community generated, not admin directed, means the same in fact.

Phase shifted metal is a craptacular nonsense anyway. The thought of a small ship smashing through a Star Destroyer - while hardly affecting those inside the small ship - is just laughable.

[Lion El' Jonson]

*Mimics Figrin's head-smashing motions*

Yes, you can thank several of the EU authors for wonderful things such as the Eye of Palpatine (oh, another superweapon...), the Crystal Star (*Bangs head on table*), Quantum armor, Torpedoes that somehow gets into a sun without melting into their constituent atoms, a research installation that has survived for 11 years without resupply, and temporal-warping planets...

...well, that last one is Star Trek DS9...but it would fit with the current trend, no?

If you consider the structural integrity of a Star Destroyer, and then the velocity of the Sun Crusher...everybody inside the Crusher would have been liquidated when the two ships collided. And don't get me started on the Maw Installation, there's reasons why you can't have black holes next door to each other. ^_^;

Thank god we've got Zahn to lay things out for us. :lol

[Ezekiel Frost]

From what I understood, quantum metal was banned for use in ships. I RPed out how my character found a few pounds of it, in order to make a few weapons. Anyway, I figured this would be easier to justify than making up my own alloy, or creating a form of Jedi Alchemy. Anyway, doesn't one of the Jedi (Marcus?) have a magical sword? I just assumed that if it made somewhat near sense, was RPed out, and didn't give any huge advantages, it was kosher.

Am I wrong in this?

[Mitch]

He had one, but doesn't have it anymore after he realized how rediculous it was.

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

Originally posted by Ezekiel Frost
I just assumed that if it made somewhat near sense, was RPed out, and didn't give any huge advantages, it was kosher.

Am I wrong in this?

No you are not wrong in this. We're not physists, we're sci-fi writers. Of course, the "sci" in "sci-fi" = science. But then, the "fi" = fiction.

But if anyone shows up with quantum armour again I will tear their eyes out.

[Marcus Telcontar]

Originally posted by Ezekiel Frost
From what I understood, quantum metal was banned for use in ships. I RPed out how my character found a few pounds of it, in order to make a few weapons. Anyway, I figured this would be easier to justify than making up my own alloy, or creating a form of Jedi Alchemy. Anyway, doesn't one of the Jedi (Marcus?) have a magical sword? I just assumed that if it made somewhat near sense, was RPed out, and didn't give any huge advantages, it was kosher.

Am I wrong in this?


You did?

* thinks *

Well, because you DO use common sense and fair play, I dont see a problem. I was just underthe understanding Quantum was totally gone. It appears I'm wrong, I've been wrong before, it'll happen again :)

The actual sword I used to have was, before consigning into the bin of What the frell was I thinking,was created with Alchemy. Had all these powers that were RP'ed out over a year or more, but was just ridiculous IMO.

The present sword is not anything more than a well forged one, with a bit of telekineses to help form the blade.

[Ezekiel Frost]

that's about what I did.

Heck, if you want, I can make them some form of Jedi alchemy, but that's a bit silly, no? :) Anyway, there were things in the EU apart from quantum metal that resisted sabers. The lava-worm thingie that Luke ran across while recruiting Gantoris (is that right?) comes to mind. So, therefore, if something living can even grow the stuff, I didn't see any problem with making a metal that could. :)

[Loki Ahmrah]

I frown upon the increasing trend that if something is not scientifically possible by our real life theories then it should be driven into the ground until made illegal; like has been said already, this is science fiction, not fact, and as long as those who are using this quantum metal don't break the common sense rule we should all let them get on with it.

You can't expect someone to freely write and create when their creative freedom is restricted by what you or others deem acceptable as long as it doesn't break forum rules, ie. god-moding or common sense.

[(Alex) Jacen]

That's a good point. I mean, just about everything in the Star Wars universe is different. Ok, so they have things like iron (as in Ferracrete) and stuff, but thats just the English translation of its name in Basic. But if we get into the realms of "It won't work because insert scientific reason here", then not only are we nitpicking, but we're not being true to the story, AND we're not being realistic. We discover new things every day. Just because we can't create a lightsaber, or a blaster, or a Hyperdrive, or a proton torpedo doesn't stop us from simming that we have them. And it doesn't mean that we won't eventually be able to create them IRL. I mean, take Star Trek into consideration. I've bought a couple of issues of the Star Trek Magazine in the past (mainly for the posters :D ), and they're filled with info on scientific advancements along Star Trek lines. We have palmtops which are like the PADDs they use (HP just came out with a totally flat one). They can "beam" a photon from a to b. Eventually, that'll be a book, or a person, or something. Science isn't a fixed thing...it changes and grows all the time.

When I asked about maybe offering up some of my SW writing to Lucas, I was told that he's very strict on what goes into the EU. If so, that means that the EU is every bit a part of the Star Wars universe. If George Lucas decided that the concept of quantum metal was ok, then who are we to say it isn't?

As for the god modding thing...many people would say that the Jedi, and perhaps more specifically the Sith, are character-types that would be very prone to being god-modded. However, we cope fine with those. We can have Jedi and Sith, because people are sensible. Owning quantum metal sword is a very similar thing. In the right hands, you probably could use it to god-mod...but we have sensible players around here...so it shouldn't be a problem. It won't be a problem.

So y'all just stop complainin', and let the dude have a bit of fun. :D

[Figrin D'an]

There's a line between something being scientifically plausable and being contradictory to basic laws of nature. 'Quantum metal,' as it is described in the EU, would have two properties that would make it completely impractical for use as a sword or bladed weapon: density and thermal conductivity. A 'quantum' material (which is a valid scientific concept) would have a physical structure that is different from that of the traditional lattice forms. To make it lightsabre-resistant, it would need to be very tightly packed (we're talking overlapping electron orbits), and have incredibly strong molecular bonds. That translates into something that will have a very large mass for it's volume. Unless your using it in a low gravity environment, you're going to need super-wookie strength to swing the thing. Additionally, being resisting a lightsabre requires it to high thermal resistance... enough to not have it's chemical bonds broken when it contacts high energy plasma. If this is case, manipulating this material is going to be insanely difficult. You'd need conditions like those found in solar fusion, only without the immense pressure, to forge it into anything.

(And don't start on lightsabers being just as implausable, because that simply isn't true. The concept itself is fine, it's the description of how it acts upon other materials that is flawed and often misstated.)


This isn't string theory or something as complex and incomplete being debated here. These are certain fundemental principles of nature. You can't look at these things in a vacuum when analyzing their plausability, because going against such basic ideas affects, literally, everything else in the RP realm. Yes, this is science fiction. And, like any good science fiction, it needs to follow the basic principles of science. Saying, "Oh, this is science fiction, so it doesn't matter if it makes sense" opens a massive can of worms for unrealistic RP.