Mandalorian Iron and the Force

Abel Pena has done it again with continuity and Mandalorians it seems.

A curiosity they did notice was the relation between the field and the exceptionally durable Mandalorian iron: they found that the metal could not be affected by the Force energy field, this effect peculiar only to iron from Mandalore and not "normal" iron. The scientists mistakenly believed then that this odd iron could actually suppress the Force energy field. This proved true only in the loosest sense, as discussed later in relation to the Leth Universal Energy Cage, though the metal did make for effective Jedi containment devices, as seen with Mandalorian dungeon ships and manacles. However, it has been hypothesized that the Ysalamiri of Myrkr, creatures known for their ability to dampen the Force, could owe their unique gift to their ability to process the great quantities of Mandalorian iron to be found in the trees that serve as both home and nutrition for the creatures

 

Man that's just bizarre.

;-)

 

and here he is explaining his reasoning behind this new addition to the Mandalorian myths.

I actually spent a lot of time thinking about this section. When it was first introduced, Mandalorian iron seemed to have Force-supressing properties (in Tales of the Jedi and Dark Empire), though the original sources themselves reveal that this was a false perception, at least insofar as we see Luke use the Force to see beyond the walls of his Mandalorian dungeon in Dark Empire.

Nonetheless, the presentation of Mandalorian iron in this manner produced a confusing effect similar to the "fake" Prophets of the Dark Side from the Glove of Darth Vader series. In the end, we weren't exactly sure what the heck the definitive properties of Mandalorian iron were.

That Mandalorian iron was somehow considered a particularly effective means of obstructing or detaining Jedi (Mandalorian manacles in Tales of the Jedi, a Mandalorian iron dungeon in Dark Empire, a Sith tomb blocked by walls of Mandalorian iron in Dark Lords of the Sith) is recurrent enough that the root of the false presumption (i.e. that Mando iron can dampen the Force) demands some explanation. Thus beginning with the assumption that we're dealing with reasonably intelligent beings (the Mandalorians who make the stuff and whoever is condoning its use), I tried to clarify the specific properties of Mando iron in relation to the Force and to explain how the misperception that Mando iron had Force-dampening abilities could reasonably come about. Hence, the Force itself seems to have no effect on the iron, but the iron cannot actually prevent Force use the way an Ysalamiri does. And of course, lightsabers, which are independent of the Force itself, can slice into it, though with considerable effort.

But just to keep the waters murky (or Myrkr?), I added that bit about the Mandalorian iron deposits found in the trees the Ysalamiri hang out on. Its existence there could mean something, and yet it could mean nothing. How did the iron even get there? That's also up to the imagination. Certainly Mandalorian iron is called that because it's thought to be indigenous to Mandalore, but that conclusion is likely based on the fact that that's where it was first found or found in the largest quantities (or maybe just harvested in the largest quantities). The reasonable conclusion is that Mandalorian iron could just as rightly be called Myrkr iron, given its discovery on that planet. The iron's ultimate origin at this point is unknown.

Take care,
Abel

 

Where can I read this source material at? You've piqued my natural instinct to gather info and then use it against my enemies.

 

As regards the thread though, I'd heard about Mandalorian iron having a Force-dampening affect before, but I'd always assumed it was just fanon. Interesting...

 

Seriously, is this from Pena's blog or something? Could I please get a link?

 

No idea. I just got it copied it from Abels thread on the SW board. I'm sure he didn't write it for nothing, I just don't know where his new little piece of pie is.

 

Well like it says, the Iron can't damper the force. However, at the same time the Jedi can't you the force against it.

 

Again, that's rather interesting to know, and clarifies a few thoughts I had on the nature of the metal, though I now have the strangest feeling that beskar is going to quickly become the most (vocally) hated inanimate object in the GFFA...

 

Nonsense. It just requires a little creativity and extra effort.

Just because you can't move Mando iron with the Force directly doesn't mean you can use the Force to make other things move it.

 

Among Jedi it will. Just think, weapons,armor, and the like. No wonder the Jedi had problems with the Mandalorians.

 

That's true, but in how many situations would Jedi have that available to them? Especially in a battle? You can't take their armor off of them, crush it, or destroy it. Just think of Iron made weapons. Jedi can't force take it from them.

 

Man, people have a hard time dealing with extra galactic beings that are not felt in the force yet a chunk of metal can have special properties like that?

Carnage

 

If you're fighting on the ground, that might provide all the material they need. Depends on the Jedi.

 

While I find it strange that the Force has no effect on Mandalorian iron, I guess I don't have a huge problem with it. The thing with the ysalamirs, however, is superfluous, especially considering the retcon Abel made renders that bit of information - also of his invention - meaningless.

 

Or just move the air around them. Make a storm!

 

Or just push the man, not the armor...

 

I don't think many Jedi have that much imagination.

 

Not until the Yuuzhan Vong war, at least.

Hm...I can't believe there's not a single canon instance of a Jedi force pushing a Mando.

 

There's one example of it in Open Seasons, but that's a pretty simple action. I don't think it's easy to be especially creative with your Force-powers in a firefight, and Mandos aren't going to fight like Vong anyway.

 

I was talking specifically about the above discussion of Force pushing. My point is that a canon example, like the one in Open Seasons, demonstrates that creative measures are not needed. Mandalorian iron either isn't particularly Force resistant, or they're not pushing on the armor, per se.

 

I don't know about that. I kind of doubt Force push is going to be enough to win a fight by itself.

Or else it's not Mandalorian iron they're wearing. Could just be duraplast.

 

Again, I was just responding to the comments about Force pushing Mandos found above your responses. See those guys talking about pushing air around? Overly creative measures.

 

Im just thinking over the subject. Now, is it that the force cant effect the iron at all because of a specific trait, or is it that the force cannot 'destroy' the iron. For example, Count Dooku bends the metal of that giant piece of equipment and snaps it then tries to throw it on Anakin and Obi, and Yoda is forced to save them. He uses the force to actually bend and tear pieces of the metal off. Maybe Mandalorian armor is just so strong, no amount of force can bend it. A jedi could use thier powers to move it all they want, but its not going to bend, break, or anything.