ST Kylo Ren's Lightsaber

I like it. If it's an ancient lightsaber, even better.

A cool or uncool lightsaber will not make or break the film. Hell, Maul's lightsaber was the coolest thing and Phantom Menace was still a terrible movie.

 

Yes, it seems like they want to show us a new era in the Star Wars Universe. Maybe a Dark Age consumed the Galaxy after the fall of the Empire, and as a result we'll witness more medieval inspired themes, like the design of the lightsword (I didn't like the sword either. However, if they do things right it might work). This era might be a time of little progress, political instability, uncertainty, superstition (maybe related to the Force, Jedi or the Sith) and disease. The three movies will probably deal with the restoration efforts and the struggle for peace and prosperity in the Galaxy.

 

Thanks.

Star Wars has consistently drawn inspiration from many cultures across many different eras, though. There's heavy Christian symbolism in the strict adherence to Campbell's monomyth "The Hero's Journey" in the original Star Wars, and of course the 'space Western' elements (e.g. Han Solo), so not all of Star Wars has an Eastern inspiration, really it's just the Force and the Jedi/Sith dynamic.

However, even then, lightsabers were originally envisaged as very heavy weapons to be wielded like Western claymores or broadswords, and it's only as we progress into TESB onwards that we see kendo dominating combat, with the further introduction of wushu in TPM. Note concept art of Stormtroopers with lightsabers and very Western shields, or the fact that while Vader's helmet is very Samurai, the concept itself is that of a Black Knight, and also note the clear inspiration of Nazi Germany in the OT (from the Galactic Empire to the Triumph of the Will-inspired final scene of ANH).

This is forgetting the immaculate conception of a messianic figure in Anakin. Star Wars has always had a great Western, specifically Christian, influence, so the lightsaber invoking a more Western feel is hardly out of place.

 

Crossguard on lightsaber is pretty cool idea. I like the medieval style of it, but there is a problem that kinda annoys me with this one. The crossguard is not actually providing any protection! Opponent would just cut through it.

 

There's a theory that cutting through the crossguard won't cut very far - because inside it is lightsaber plasma.

The idea is that the guard's only there to protect the wielder's hand from the plasma.

Basically, the interior of the guard is a bit like as if it were the "Lightsaber 3-way Extension kit"

 

I see. That might explain it. It is basicly same blade inside just split in 3 at the start.

 

To protect the users hands from the cross gaurd

 

The Jedi/Sith prosthetic business will take a dip if this thing actually works.

 

looks longer. i like it, very cool.

 

Personally, I think it's a cool new design. We've heard some cool ideas as to why it has a crossbeam, but we will get a better idea once we see it in action. I wouldn't be surprised if it's heavier than a normal light-saber.

 

A few people have mentioned this, but it's not talked about all that much, but the blade looks longer to me than a normal blade. Anyone agree? Is it just an illusion because the shot is so up close?

 

Not so. Cortosis, beskar, phrik, the latter of which isn't even Legends but is in fact the stuff Grievous' bodyguards' electrostaffs and Palpatine's lightsaber hilt are made out of, are all lightsaber resistant materials.

It's a trivial assumption to say it's obvious the metal parts of the crossguard are made out of one of the three (likely phrik, given its preferential status outside of the Legends continuity, although personally I'd like to think it's pure cortosis since unrefined cortosis ore actually short-circuits a lightsaber upon contact), and that's not to mention that the metal base of the crossguard likely contains the lightsaber plasma beam, with the actual emitters being inside the hilt.

 

Also, as people have attempted to illustrate, perhaps the blade extends inside the metal part so that if a blade hits it, it still hits blade underneath. The metal is there simply to protect the user's hands

edit: Beaten by post above lol

 

I think it is somewhat longer, yes, although not by much (think Malak's lightsaber, perhaps). The longer reach would be useful.

To me, this weapon just screams Sith, and ancient Sith at that. It has several unique and practical features; it just has a brutal, utilitarian and archaic feel to it that makes me think it's a weapon for slaughter, not self defense.

 

Man, what a great description

 

As to the question of this thread ''is there a practical purpose for the bad guy's lightsaber'' Yes apart from killing jedi & sith alike you could play pull the lighstaber out of stone I know a king Arthur theme sucks but that's my post. Next?

 

How about the "Devastating Energized Armament of Triple Hacking" or 'DEATH' for short.

On a more serious note, put me down for 'the cross guard is both made of phrik and are actually vents to help regulate the power flow of the overcharged main blade of pure death.

Further, I'll predict that the presence of the side vents will actually be a plot point either in the villain's favor (using it to kill someone in an unexpected way) or the heroes' (damaging the vents overloads the blade so it explodes in the villain's hand) favor and that it will definitely either cut through another lightsaber blade or just outright destroy someone else's lightsaber at some point in the film.

I further predict that whoever its wielder is will DEFINITELY survive into future episodes the way Maul SHOULD have. Its just way too badass to NOT make a return appearance.

ETA: If they ARE vents and you shut off the port for the main blade, would it make the side 'blades' shoot out longer (like some sort of Lightpick)?

 

the user would cut his own hands or worse

 

I think close quarter clashing blades it limited also looks like upright sabre strikes might be the fighting style.

 

A longer blade could signify a tall user, but as lightsabers have been made with extendable blades the whole length of the blade might just be insignificant with whats going on with the character.

 

Nah. That's like saying a regular, physical cross guard would break someone's wrists if put on a sword. That's obviously not the case. We already know Jedi/Sith generally have to use the force in order to properly wield a lightsaber. At most, the person wielding this has to use more of the force, and that's right up a Sith's alley. Or the simpler answer, he's trained to use this kind of lightsaber specifically.

 

I wonder what jedi in that forest caused the being to activate that lightsaber with such anger.

 

There are many practical uses the the crossguard hilt. There are reasons medieval swords and claymores were based of this type of design. First of all it protects the user's hand from the opponent's blade sliding or cutting down upon impact. Additionally when locked in close quarter combat or during a block it can be used to make a quick jab or thrust towards the opponent's head or body which can be very useful.

People are complaining that the emitters make it useless since they would be cut off upon impact but what if they were made of a lightsaber resistance material such as cortosis or whatever it is that General Grevious' droid guards' staffs were made of...

 

EXAMPLES OF SITUATIONS WHERE THE USER WOULD KILL HIMSELF

Somebody in imdb compilled this
I see a lot of people saying that this new lightsaber is spectacular and extremely useful, I wonder if they ever saw duels in all 6 movies, and the way they use the lighsabers, these fights were characterized by rapid maneuverability and acrobatic moves, and with this type of new lightsaber you can't imagin that, in the next pics if they use this new lighsaber...

http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130212055217/starwars/images/4/40 /ObiwanSoresu.png

http://resources1.news.com.au/images/2011/09/08/1226132/308397-return- of-thejedi.jpg

http://moviesfilmsmotionpictures.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/mv5bmje3mdi3ndc0nl5bml5banbnxkftztcwmdaymza4na-_v1-_sx640_sy428_.jpg

http://media.moddb.com/images/groups/1/5/4477/ObiWan_Kenobi_vs_Anakin_Skywalker__Revenge.jpg