Why don't the Jedi Knights use shields?

I just thought of this the other day. Why, exactly, would they not use energy shields to supplement their lightsabers?

The Gungans have a nifty wrist-mounted shield that they use (about the only cool thing about them IMHO), and this would be the perfect complement to a lightsaber.

 

Hmmm... Why would they use them?

They can block lasers with Lightsaber.

 

Why don't fencers use shields? Different strokes for different folks.

 

Why don't fencers use shields? Different strokes for different folks.

Umm, I hate to tell you this, but the main reason fencers don't use shields is because foil, saber, or epee fencing is a highly evolved gentleman's game with very little applicability for real combat.

The Jedi are quite clearly involved in life-or-death combat, and so I think a shield would be useful (especially around someone like Darth Maul).

 

You have an interesting way of inviting people to post on your threads.

 

IIRC, lightsabre combat is meant to be modeled on combat with katana - a principally two-handed form. Adding a shield would make that unwieldy, and prevent flexibility in combat.

 

You have an interesting way of inviting people to post on your threads.

Hey, I apologize if you feel slighted by my last remark. I wasn't deliberately trying to offend you.

IIRC, lightsabre combat is meant to be modeled on combat with katana - a principally two-handed form. Adding a shield would make that unwieldy, and prevent flexibility in combat.

Interestingly though, the lightsaber handles seem, on average to be somewhat shorter than a classic katana's would be, allowing less space for the grip, and thus for some of the cuts. The lack of a proper shield too, was always a major flaw in the Japanese fighting style.

 

Prehaps they can't use the force if they have hand-held shields. Think about it, if your holding a Lightsaber in one hand and a shield in the other then how are you going to use the force?

 

xoxoxo buddy.

 

Prehaps they can't use the force if they have hand-held shields. Think about it, if your holding a Lightsaber in one hand and a shield in the other then how are you going to use the force?

But what if your shield generator is strapped to your wrist? Would that not solve the problem?

 

But what if your shield generator is strapped to your wrist? Would that not solve the problem?

Yes it probably would solve the problem but if they had shields for Jedi then Star Wars wouldn't be the same.

 

Yes it probably would solve the problem but if they had shields for Jedi then Star Wars wouldn't be the same.

It would be interesting though, in a whole new way.

 

eh, not sure shields would really be much use to Jedi. They can deflect blaster bolts with the lightsaber. They use the force for any physical objects. And against another lightsaber a) dunno that a shield would be much help and b) it'd seriously screw up their fighting styles. I think in the end a shield would hinder the way Jedi operate.

 

Considering the practicality and effectiveness of shields in sword combat, I think it's likely that a Jedi armed with lightsaber and energy shield could overwhelm a lightsaber-only opponent with relative ease.

They can deflect blaster bolts with the lightsaber

They can't deflect every blast that comes at them though. Another bonus would be that a shield-bearing Jedi would be doubly protected against blasters.

 

When George originally imagined Lightsabers... he told the actors to think of them as if they were very heavy, they needed two hands whenever they would swing, ect. I believe that this (if true) would make it very hard for anyone not built like a barbarian to wield both at the same time. I read this somewhere, and I know someone will ask me where... But I don't remember

 

Rebo, that info is true, it is on the bonus disc of the dvd trilogy.

why use a shield when they have the force???

 

You don't need a limb free to summon the Force. It is all around. If that is indeed the case, how does Vader do it with 2 prosthetic arms?

 

why use a shield when they have the force???

Because they seem to die in alarming numbers when fighting simple battle droids.

 

so did the gungans

 

It's because Lucas doesn't care about continuity. Everyone should use those impenetrable gungan shields. Think about how much more effective and survivable stormtroopers would be if they had a shield to go with their blaster. Or how many of those Jedi on Geonosis would be alive if they'd had a shield to go with those allegedly-blaster parrying lightsabers. The battle in the field on Naboo and that in the arena on Geonosis both involve thousands of battle droids. Yet the Gungans largely survive because of their shields, while the Jedi drop like flies.

 

A Jedi with a lightsabre would be to reminiscent of some sort of gladiator. To unweildy and cumbersome. Why don't we add a laser mace to the armament? How bought a light-spear and a Korfass Maiden?

On a more serious note though, I though that I saw somewhere in one of Ralph McQuarrie's paintings that originally, the Stormtroopers carried lightsabres, and they also had some sort of hand held shield.

And one more thing while we're talking about shielding, and i'm sure it has been asked before, if a lightsabre can cut through anything, how did Vader's armor deflect Luke's lightsabre blow in ESB?

 

And one more thing while we're talking about shielding, and i'm sure it has been asked before, if a lightsabre can cut through anything, how did Vader's armor deflect Luke's lightsabre blow in ESB?

Perhaps it's cortosis, or (even better) Mandalorian iron.

For myself, I like the idea of the Jedi using shields because it would help crystalize their image as knights, and we all know the importance of image in Star Wars.

 

I would think, although this is in my Final Fantasy Kind of way that they could create a sheild out of the Force!
Wouldn't that be cool!
But it would petter down once enough hits get through it, however, making a shield out of the Force is a cool idea.

 

Interestingly, Ralph McQuarrie's original concept work that helped sell the first SW to Fox Executives had one piece of art showing stromtroopers with sabers.....and shields.

 

Quiet_Mandalorian posted on 4/26/05 7:48am

---

Umm, I hate to tell you this, but the main reason fencers don't use shields is because foil, [b]saber[/b], or epee fencing is a highly evolved gentleman's game with very little applicability for real combat.

[hr][/blockquote]

I'm so glad the Jedi don't use light[b]saber[/b]s, then. [face_plain]