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Lightsabres @ 2012/03/08 23:25:01


Post by: MrMerlin


Been thinking about lightsabres lately. When you see someone fight with them, they're alway dealing blows from the side or top, as if they were using a healy broad sword or a cleaver. Not an extremely light-weight weapon. Wouldnt it be much more effectice to fence with them, poking at your enemy?
I'm not a sword fighting expert, and there are soooo many illogical things in Star wars that this really shouldnt matter, but I cant whatch starwars anymore without thinking about that. Argh!

What do you think?


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/08 23:26:56


Post by: LunaHound


MrMerlin wrote:Been thinking about lightsabres lately. When you see someone fight with them, they're alway dealing blows from the side or top, as if they were using a healy broad sword or a cleaver. Not an extremely light-weight weapon. Wouldnt it be much more effectice to fence with them, poking at your enemy?
I'm not a sword fighting expert, and there are soooo many unlogical things in Star wars that this really shouldnt matter, but I cant whatch starwars anymore without thinking about that. Argh!

What do you think?

Because it looks more dramatic.
100% sure about it


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/08 23:28:14


Post by: Howard A Treesong


It would make more sense to fence with them because a poke from a lightsabre would probably be fatal anyway. In the films they swing them like they are chopping wood, but it looks better for the fight scenes.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/08 23:28:38


Post by: Castiel


Beaten to the punch! Luna nailed it, its for the cinematic wow factor.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/08 23:31:25


Post by: susejo239


LunaHound wrote:
MrMerlin wrote:Been thinking about lightsabres lately. When you see someone fight with them, they're alway dealing blows from the side or top, as if they were using a healy broad sword or a cleaver. Not an extremely light-weight weapon. Wouldnt it be much more effectice to fence with them, poking at your enemy?
I'm not a sword fighting expert, and there are soooo many unlogical things in Star wars that this really shouldnt matter, but I cant whatch starwars anymore without thinking about that. Argh!

What do you think?

Because it looks more dramatic.
100% sure about it

This.
If you were half as experienced as someone like Mace Windu with a lightsabre, you'd know that a fencing-like style would be deadly. Just think - you you got a masterful enough stroke and the opponent caught it, you could cut his sabre and bam you win.

Of course, you do realize, the movies were made with the actors swinging metal poles that had fancy hilts....


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/08 23:31:33


Post by: MrMerlin


yeah, thats propably it..... After all, its common knowledg that the movies were done with almost nothing but merchandising in mind.... oh well.....


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/08 23:32:46


Post by: Howard A Treesong


Why do they even need to hold the lightsabres?


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/08 23:33:28


Post by: LunaHound


Howard A Treesong wrote:Why do they even need to hold the lightsabres?


I dont know, I always thought a master Jedi could use force to hold like 100 light sabers simultaneously


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/08 23:34:55


Post by: MrMerlin


LunaHound wrote:
Howard A Treesong wrote:Why do they even need to hold the lightsabres?


I dont know, I always thought a master Jedi could use force to hold like 100 light sabers simultaneously


but that would be too overkill. It wouldnt look cool anymore

but it would make sense.....


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/08 23:38:59


Post by: LunaHound


MrMerlin wrote:
LunaHound wrote:
Howard A Treesong wrote:Why do they even need to hold the lightsabres?


I dont know, I always thought a master Jedi could use force to hold like 100 light sabers simultaneously


but that would be too overkill. It wouldnt look cool anymore

but it would make sense.....

xD

Luna, you know perfectly well that posting a smiley face and an image is considered spam.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/08 23:41:00


Post by: MrMerlin


wtf?

It looks a little ridiculus.....


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/08 23:45:16


Post by: Medium of Death


It makes more sense in the old films. In the new ones everything changes because the combat becomes much more frantic.

It's hard to believe Vader beating Grevious in a duel, for example. He would probably just crush his skull with the force, but that doesn't fit into a PG movie!

In saying that, old George did manage to get child murder and spouse abuse into a family film.



Lightsabres @ 2012/03/08 23:47:20


Post by: LunaHound


Medium of Death wrote:It's hard to believe Vader beating Grevious in a duel, for example. He would probably just crush his skull with the force


Wont the force from the Jedi sort of cancel that out?


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/08 23:51:12


Post by: Medium of Death


LunaHound wrote:
Medium of Death wrote:It's hard to believe Vader beating Grevious in a duel, for example. He would probably just crush his skull with the force


Wont the force from the Jedi sort of cancel that out?


Yeah, I didn't make that very clear.

What I meant to say is.

Even though it's hard to believe, Vader would probably just crush Grevious' skull with the force.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/08 23:54:17


Post by: LunaHound


I dont know much about starwars, but I always enjoy watching it if its on tv.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 00:01:13


Post by: Slarg232


To be fair, not even the fans seem to be able to get it right.





Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 00:09:17


Post by: LordofHats


The Jedi were semi-based of Samurai, so while its not accurate, their use of a lightsaber resembles what Lucas thought samurai sword fighting should look like (the word Jedi comes from Japanese film). Hence, the sweeping motions, which make sense with Japanese swords which tended to be designed for cutting, but Lightsabers are indeed more similar to rapiers as weapons.


Also, for Force wielding lightsabers: Darth Traya



Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 00:56:00


Post by: purplefood


AFAIK in actual sword fighting the point beats the edge...
As for lightsabres i'd guess it's an entirely different game...
With the ability to use the force compounded by an essentially weightless weapon with the ability to slice as far as you need it to on any part of its 'blade'...
Basically it'd be difficult to do that with modern built swords and such but with a weapon like that i'd say it would seem like a good idea...


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 01:47:04


Post by: Slarg232


Death By a Thousand Cuts has always been my preference, personally.


For movies, no real life experiance.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 01:53:29


Post by: Squidmanlolz


also, given the premise of the lightsaber as described by the fluff is so unrealistic that I consider it nonsense. It's easier to believe the handle projects electrons and an enclosed gravity field holds them in a set shape. I actually brought this point up in a table-top game I'm working on, where megnetic energy is used to contain the electrons. Anything but just having light diffract through a crystal, continue for a few feet and have it make a dead-stop...


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 01:55:18


Post by: CT GAMER


MrMerlin wrote:
LunaHound wrote:
Howard A Treesong wrote:Why do they even need to hold the lightsabres?


I dont know, I always thought a master Jedi could use force to hold like 100 light sabers simultaneously


but that would be too overkill. It wouldnt look cool anymore

but it would make sense.....


Because just like many of the things you can spam in 40K now (dreadnoughts, termnator armour, various wargear items, etc.) lightsabers are suposed to be rare and near sacred artifacts...


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 01:55:59


Post by: Melissia


Actually there is a style designed on fencing.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 01:57:25


Post by: Slarg232


Squidmanlolz wrote:also, given the premise of the lightsaber as described by the fluff is so unrealistic that I consider it nonsense. It's easier to believe the handle projects electrons and an enclosed gravity field holds them in a set shape. I actually brought this point up in a table-top game I'm working on, where megnetic energy is used to contain the electrons. Anything but just having light diffract through a crystal, continue for a few feet and have it make a dead-stop...


They cap it with the force.

That's why only a Jedi can use them

(Hell if I know, but that's what I was told.)


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 01:58:00


Post by: KingCracker


purplefood wrote:AFAIK in actual sword fighting the point beats the edge...
As for lightsabres i'd guess it's an entirely different game...
With the ability to use the force compounded by an essentially weightless weapon with the ability to slice as far as you need it to on any part of its 'blade'...
Basically it'd be difficult to do that with modern built swords and such but with a weapon like that i'd say it would seem like a good idea...




Depends on the sword really. Some are designed for stabbing, some for cutting and others for simply hacking into meat. Rapiers are good for stabbing. A Roman Gladius would be good at both stabbing and hacking. A Claymore is meant for hacking hands down. You run someone through with that, and your going to be screwed on the battle field.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 02:03:21


Post by: deathholydeath


I think it's entirely stylistic. Lucas drew heavily from the samurai when designing Jedi, so the lightsaber is basically a futuristic katana, and they use it in much the same way (well... way more flashier, but still...).


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 02:10:30


Post by: Perkustin


The thing that always bothered me was how come the Pros dont turn their lightsabers on and off during duels? No more blocking for you.

I had a serious 'good point!' moment when i thought of that a couple years ago, now i'm sharing it with you.

As to the force 'capping' lightsabres? No, it's a neat solution but not the canon one. The reason only a jedi can use one is something to do with force sensitive emmitter crystals and the whole 'weightless weapon' thing someone brought up earlier.

EDIT: Roman Gladii were used near exclusively for Stabbing btw. Roman legionairres were trained to simply stab at either the face or groin whilst walking forward sheild raised, no fancy tricks. The Roman army would cause few deaths amongst the enemy but many horrific incapacitating injuries.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 02:11:20


Post by: prime12357


purplefood wrote:AFAIK in actual sword fighting the point beats the edge...


As a fencer, I can attest to this. In combat, economy of motion is key. It is much easier to simply poke at someone than to try to swing something into them. It's why spears and the like were always much more effective than other weapons. length aside, it's easier to stab someone than to cut them, and more often fatal.

Of course, it does look much more impressive on screen to have two blokes swinging glowing light sticks around at each other than have them engage in classical fencing style combat.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 09:13:01


Post by: purplefood


prime12357 wrote:
purplefood wrote:AFAIK in actual sword fighting the point beats the edge...


As a fencer, I can attest to this. In combat, economy of motion is key. It is much easier to simply poke at someone than to try to swing something into them. It's why spears and the like were always much more effective than other weapons. length aside, it's easier to stab someone than to cut them, and more often fatal.

Of course, it does look much more impressive on screen to have two blokes swinging glowing light sticks around at each other than have them engage in classical fencing style combat.

Though as KC said certain weapons (Claymores and heavy weapons) are better suited to hacking rather than stabbing...
But i stand by what my dad taught me. Point beats edge...


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 02:14:46


Post by: Slarg232


Yes Purpse, we get your point.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 02:15:40


Post by: purplefood


Slarg232 wrote:Yes Purpse, we get your point.

So you say my scaly aquatic friend...


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 02:15:56


Post by: KingCracker


A ya.Firearms proves your point perfectly.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 02:28:02


Post by: Melissia


purplefood wrote:But i stand by what my dad taught me. Point beats edge...
I bring up another concept-- the naginata. Designed for wide sweeping attacks, it's meant to keep enemies at a distance. A naginata master would not let a rapier user get within thrusting distance to begin with, through maneuvering and the reach of their weapon.

Not everything is the clash of blade vs blade, a lot of it is footwork.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 02:29:50


Post by: Slarg232


purplefood wrote:
Slarg232 wrote:Yes Purpse, we get your point.

So you say my scaly aquatic friend...


Ya love me, ya need me, I'M OL' SLARGG!


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Melissia wrote:
purplefood wrote:But i stand by what my dad taught me. Point beats edge...
I bring up another concept-- the naginata. Designed for wide sweeping attacks, it's meant to keep enemies at a distance. A naginata master would not let a rapier user get within thrusting distance to begin with, through maneuvering and the reach of their weapon.

Not everything is the clash of blade vs blade, a lot of it is footwork.


While true, I would assume that a Zwei-hander would be able to get past a Naginata, just because someone with the strength to use one would be able just to smash it to the side.

Would I be correct in that assumption, do you think?


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 02:35:10


Post by: sebster


Really, the way people wield light sabres makes no sense. They swing the things around in great arcs, bringing them down onto their targets with great force behind them. Given the blades of these things can effortlessly slice through armour, let along human flesh, there's no need to get any force behind the swing. And more so, the weapon is basically weightless, so you can change the angle and nature of the swing almost instantly, and yet instead they swing in these great arcs.

Basically all this is because, like the first reply said, it looks better on camera to have these massive swinging glowsticks.



Melissia wrote:Actually there is a style designed on fencing.


And is actually the only form of fencing where you can score a point with the edge of the blade in addition to the tip.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 02:37:30


Post by: purplefood


I think a problem with the naginata would be if you swung to far...
It'd allow a swordsman to step in and gut you before you could prepare another swing...
That and you'd tire fairly quickly swinging it to keep the swodsman back...
If you didn't end the fight quickly a competant swordsman could outlast a naginata user of similar skill...


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 02:38:37


Post by: sebster


prime12357 wrote:As a fencer, I can attest to this. In combat, economy of motion is key. It is much easier to simply poke at someone than to try to swing something into them. It's why spears and the like were always much more effective than other weapons. length aside, it's easier to stab someone than to cut them, and more often fatal.

Of course, it does look much more impressive on screen to have two blokes swinging glowing light sticks around at each other than have them engage in classical fencing style combat.


Pretty much, fencing is a very skillful, and fascinating sport when you know what's going on, but to the layman it's not really a visual feast.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 02:42:25


Post by: Melissia


purplefood wrote:I think a problem with the naginata would be if you swung to far...
A newbie mistake.

It's like saying "if you thrust too hard and the opponent dodges you're open for attack". Or that "if you have to reload with a firearm you're at a disadvantage".

Of course you are. Duh.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 02:45:30


Post by: Amaya


Nothing in Star Wars is logical, it's all done for the sake of looking "cool."

I don't think fencing would perform very well outside of duels. Sweeping strikes against multiple opponents would seem superior and the majority of a Jedi or Sith's fighting would be against individuals who couldn't defend against a lightsaber.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 03:15:14


Post by: Melissia


Actually the greatest swordsmen of the jedi often switched between styles as necessary.

Because I'm a nerd, I'll give a summary of the styles:

Form 1: Shii-Cho, the Way of the Sarlaac
A simplistic form, similar to basic kendo in a sense. It is focused on endurance and adaptation more than style, and has very effective blast deflection ability because of this. It is not designed for lightsaber to lightsaber combat, however. Its most famous moves were a wide sweeping attack and a disarming maneuver. All Jedi usually knew this.

Form 2: Makashi, the Way of the Ysalamiri
A more complex usually one-handed form, for dueling. It is focused on footwork, swift strikes and thrusts, and deft maneuverability and economy of motion as opposed to raw power. It is designed specifically for lightsaber on lightsaber combat and has a bit of a disadvantage against massed lightsaber fire, and didn't have the raw strength to hold out against a skilled opponent of a more aggressive style. Its most famous moves were riposte style moves. Count Dooku was the premier practitioner.

Form 3: Soresu, the Way of the Mynock
A highly defensive style which had even more focus on economy of motion, keeping the blade close to the body with swift motions to deflect both lightsabers and blaster shots. It was a perfect defense, which wore the enemy down waiting for them to leave themselves open to counter-attack-- but had almost no focus on offense, so those who wanted to go on the offense after wearing one's opponent down went to a different form, usually two or four. Obi-Wan Kenobi was the premier practitioner.

Form 4: Ataru, the Way of the Hawk-Bat
A highly acrobatic style which made swift use of force powers and force enhancement to make the user move faster and move unpredictably. It was highly effective against single opponents and had a very rapid movement style. It had weaknesses against multiple opponents and wasn't as focused on blaster defense (defense was focused on mobility) as forms 1 or 3. Master Yoda was the premier practitioner.

Form 5: Shien / Djem So, the Way of the Krayt Dragon
A form almost like a combination of forms 2 and 3, focused on parrying and counterstriking, as well as power attacks to knock an opponent off guard. It was derived from form 3 practitioners who wanted a more offensive style. It was effective against multiple opponents, but somewhat weak in a duel. The Djem So variant was known for its lack of mobiltiy, bringing it as a direct contrast to form 4. Aayla Secura was probably the most well known of form 4's practitioners, although Darth Vader also used a far more aggressive form of it.

Form 6: Niman, the way of the Rancor
A moderate form, taking in the styles of all the previous forms and melding them together. Described as a style with no weaknesses or strengths, and a style that is fairly easy to maintain, thus earning its second name, the diplomat's form. It covered a lot of basic moves and did not leave its practitioners open like the more aggressive styles of forms 2 and 4, but was more offensive than forms 3 and 5. To make up for its lack of specializations, its practitioners often made heavy use of force powers in combat, as the style was simple and thus allowed greater concentration. A lot of Jedi were practitioners during the clone wars (And it was all but wiped out during it even compared to the other style).

Form 7: Juyo / Vapaad, the Way of the Vornskr
The final form(s), these were as much spiritual as they were styles. Highly aggressive, they involved letting oneself enjoy the combat, slipping in to the penumbra between the light and dark sides of the force. Its force-enhanced power was able to overwhelm most other styles, and the body acted faster than the mind could think, so that its strokes were lightning fast. It's essentially the ultimate Jedi fighting form, but most of its users ended up falling to the dark side completely, which weakens the form. Its premier practitioners were Mace Windu and Darth Maul. Mace Windu was the only one who truly mastered this.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 03:21:51


Post by: LordofHats


Um, generally Forms 1 and 2 are no longer in use, having been completely supplanted by Form 3. Niman is general not favored by Jedi and seen as a Sith form by most while Juyo is considered very dangerous for Jedi and not very commonly used by the Sith.

Almost all Jedi/Sith practice Form 3 or Form 5.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/10 09:03:10


Post by: Melissia


Yes, in the modern era.

Form 1 is actually used quite often though, because it is an excellent way to train those who haven't ever wielded a lightsabe. Niman is most assuredly NOT seen as a sith form-- you're thinking of Juyo/Vapaad.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 03:38:51


Post by: Amaya


I was reading that page on wookiepedia...

/shamed

Anyways, now that I think about it, it's really impossible to compare a near weightless weapon with 1-2 metres of "sharp" edges to a slightly heavier weapon that can only damage with the point.

I just can't picture a lightaber duel done fencing, even after watching fencing videos.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 03:56:05


Post by: Melissia


It could be done, but it would be different from any fencing style known to modern times.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 03:58:21


Post by: chromedog


MrMerlin wrote:Been thinking about lightsabres lately. When you see someone fight with them, they're alway dealing blows from the side or top, as if they were using a healy broad sword or a cleaver. Not an extremely light-weight weapon. Wouldnt it be much more effectice to fence with them, poking at your enemy?
I'm not a sword fighting expert, and there are soooo many unlogical things in Star wars that this really shouldnt matter, but I cant whatch starwars anymore without thinking about that. Argh!

What do you think?


It'd called a light SABRE not a light FOIL.

Hacking is what one does with a sabre. Although stabbing also works. Emokin does it often enough.

It's also ILLOGICAL not "un"logical.



Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 03:58:49


Post by: Slarg232


Going slightly off topic, but if there is anything I would love to learn, it would be Fencing or Kendo. Either one would work for me, honestly.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 03:59:22


Post by: Melissia


Actually there is such a thing as a lightfoil. It's often used with form 2 Makashi practitioners.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 04:07:39


Post by: Shrike325


Problem is damage per hit. Yeah, it would be light and therefore easy to stab, however there are few stab wounds that are immediately fatal or debilitating, especially with a weapon that would theoretically instantly cauterize whatever wound it would make. If you're thrusting, then head/neck/small areas of the chest are really your only targets for quick kills or disables. When you slash, you can take off an arm, leg, whathaveyou and have more options for attack.

Furthermore, I've always assumed it's a bit more like a martial-art where the movements are ritualized and fluid than a sword fighting technique. This is only because of it being used to reflect blaster shots and the muscle memory required to be able to react that quickly and reflect shots well.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 04:13:18


Post by: Slarg232


Shrike325 wrote:Furthermore, I've always assumed it's a bit more like a martial-art where the movements are ritualized and fluid than a sword fighting technique. This is only because of it being used to reflect blaster shots and the muscle memory required to be able to react that quickly and reflect shots well.


Not necessarily.

There is an old beleif amongst the Samuri that a truely skilled warrior can feel the battlefeild "Before it happens", and act accordingly, seeing incoming blows before they are even "launched", so to speak.

Lucas based the Jedi off of the Samuri, so he could have incorperated this sort of dealio into it.



Kind of like this (Yes, I know it's a movie, and a so-so one at that, but it's still a good example):




Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 04:15:02


Post by: Melissia


It IS also a matter of reaction time. Jedi have very fast reaction times.

But it's not just that. The ones in tune with the force can let th force guide them to block such shots similar to how it was described above.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 04:21:16


Post by: Slarg232


Melissia wrote:It IS also a matter of reaction time. Jedi have very fast reaction times.

But it's not just that. The ones in tune with the force can let th force guide them to block such shots similar to how it was described above.


So Luke was just THAT in tune with the force that he could deflect the blaster shots without being able to see them? (On the ship, when Obi Wan was training him).


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 04:27:02


Post by: Melissia


Luke was supposedly a prodigy, yes.

Normally that kind of tuning would take years to perfect.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 04:44:16


Post by: LordofHats


The phenomena isn't just a Samurai tradition. Its a side effect of experience that has been noted. Once you've been in enough fights, training or otherwise, you start to get a feel for how things will go and can predict what happens before it happens.

Commonly its called intuition


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 05:30:48


Post by: sebster


Amaya wrote:Nothing in Star Wars is logical, it's all done for the sake of looking "cool."


True.

I don't think fencing would perform very well outside of duels. Sweeping strikes against multiple opponents would seem superior and the majority of a Jedi or Sith's fighting would be against individuals who couldn't defend against a lightsaber.


In a greater combat lunges and thrusts are still essential, and that'd only be more so if you have something as lethal as a lightsabre. Instead of a great sweeping swing to cut a droid in half, just a quick thrust direct at the heart, and you move on to the next target in a fraction of the time.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 05:32:16


Post by: Melissia


However, a great sweeping swing could cut several droids in half.


Lightsabres @ 2034/01/03 05:51:40


Post by: sebster


chromedog wrote:It'd called a light SABRE not a light FOIL.

Hacking is what one does with a sabre.


Some sabres were purely hacking and slashing weapons, but many, especially later sabres, had pointed edges as well.

In fencing the sabre allows points to be scored either with the tip or the blade.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 06:23:31


Post by: LordofHats


Wait, different weapons are used in fencing? Can one person use a saber while his opponent uses a foil?


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 06:45:22


Post by: Doctadeth


Lightsabres in the canon sense were shown to have gyroscopic movement, that is, the stylized movement of the sabre would be used in accordance with the balance of the weapon. Thus you could chain attacks into defense and essentially block shots.

So instead of just staying stationary, a lightsaber would be naturally unbalanced, moving when put on the floor or a table. I believe you do see some thrusting in the clone wars cartoons. However, this would be counter-intuitive.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 07:02:04


Post by: Flachzange


Doctadeth wrote:I believe you do see some thrusting in the clone wars cartoons. However, this would be counter-intuitive.


Theres some in the movies as well.

EP1 - Maul thrusts through Qui-Gon
AotC - Dooku pokes Obi-Wan in the leg.

Also, hats off to Melissia. so much SW-nerdage is much appreciated!


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 07:06:58


Post by: sebster


Shrike325 wrote:Problem is damage per hit. Yeah, it would be light and therefore easy to stab, however there are few stab wounds that are immediately fatal or debilitating, especially with a weapon that would theoretically instantly cauterize whatever wound it would make. If you're thrusting, then head/neck/small areas of the chest are really your only targets for quick kills or disables. When you slash, you can take off an arm, leg, whathaveyou and have more options for attack..


Except the blade of a lightsabre is pretty damn thick. Push that thing into someone's chest and you're going to go through a couple of organs, shove it into a limb and that limb is gone forever.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
LordofHats wrote:Wait, different weapons are used in fencing? Can one person use a saber while his opponent uses a foil?


There's three different fencing styles. Foil, sabre and epee.

Foil is about lunging, hitting the opponent's centre torso. Sabre allows scoring with the edge as well as the point, and you can score by striking anywhere above the waist. Epee is like the foil in that only strikes with the tip count, but the whole body can be targetted, and it doesn't worry about who has right of way in the event of both combatants striking simultaneously, they both get a point.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Melissia wrote:However, a great sweeping swing could cut several droids in half.


As long at the drods happen to all stand next to each other. Even when Star Wars contrives to have this happen you only get two droids next to each other, because anymore would be farcical.

Meanwhile, most of the time they're just using those big swinging arcs to dispatch a single opponent, when a quick thrust would do the job. Which is because, as everyone has pretty much agreed,


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 07:33:39


Post by: Dreadwinter


The thing with lightsabres is, any part of the blade is deadly. So really, whatever style makes you hit them more with the blade, is the best style for fighting with. (Not just the tip)

Also, as far as just stabbing a droid goes. The problem with that is, you might not hit the right spot to completely deactivate them and if you just stab in to them, you have to pull it back out or make another silly motion to get the blade out.

Or.

You could just make one swing at them, cut clean through them and move on.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 07:53:34


Post by: sebster


Dreadwinter wrote:The thing with lightsabres is, any part of the blade is deadly. So really, whatever style makes you hit them more with the blade, is the best style for fighting with. (Not just the tip)


No-one has argued the tip is best to attack with because it is more killy. The point is more that it's on the end of the weapon, and so attacking with it gives you greater reach. Also thrusting is quicker than the kinds of swings Jedi attempt.

Also, as far as just stabbing a droid goes. The problem with that is, you might not hit the right spot to completely deactivate them and if you just stab in to them, you have to pull it back out or make another silly motion to get the blade out.

Or.

You could just make one swing at them, cut clean through them and move on.


But that's where I think people just aren't getting how a lightsabre would actually operate. The reason to have a big swing because it allows you to build up momentum, so that you could slice through a target. But we're not talking about a big, two handed sword here, we're talking about a weightless blade of energy. That droid isn't cut in half because momentum carries the attack through the target, but because the weapon just slices through.

As such, a quick thrust to kill a droid could be resolved by drawing the weapon out in order you wanted, including swiping it through in follow up exactly like tat big sweeping attack.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 08:04:28


Post by: 4oursword


General Grievous is capable of wielding a lightsabre, but one thing that is clear is that a lightsabre requires the force to operate. So, did Grievous have The Force?


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 08:22:56


Post by: chromedog


LordofHats wrote:Wait, different weapons are used in fencing? Can one person use a saber while his opponent uses a foil?

You could, but it's considered unsporting, and you'd get skewered by the foil (sabre tends to telegraph its moves).

Different styles use different swords.

There is foil, epee, sabre, etc. Practitioners of the Sabre are better called "sabreurs" than fencers - and it is ALL about "loony charges" at each other with the intent to cleft one in twain.
I have dabbled with foil (uni fencing club). Epee requires a finesse and fluidity of wrist that I cannot do. I also found Sabre to be amusing to watch.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 08:57:50


Post by: MrMerlin


Wtf? I start a thread, go to bed, and when I wake up its at page three?

chromedog wrote:
MrMerlin wrote:Been thinking about lightsabres lately. When you see someone fight with them, they're alway dealing blows from the side or top, as if they were using a healy broad sword or a cleaver. Not an extremely light-weight weapon. Wouldnt it be much more effectice to fence with them, poking at your enemy?
I'm not a sword fighting expert, and there are soooo many unlogical things in Star wars that this really shouldnt matter, but I cant whatch starwars anymore without thinking about that. Argh!

What do you think?


It'd called a light SABRE not a light FOIL.

Hacking is what one does with a sabre. Although stabbing also works. Emokin does it often enough.

It's also ILLOGICAL not "un"logical.



1. A sabre can be used for poking as well

2. Just because its called "sabre" doesnt mean you have to use it as such. If you called your gun "toaster" and followed the above logic, shooting the gun would be "wrong"

3. Yeah, thanks for pointing it out. I'll fix it.....


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 13:31:49


Post by: Melissia


4oursword wrote:General Grievous is capable of wielding a lightsabre, but one thing that is clear is that a lightsabre requires the force to operate. So, did Grievous have The Force?
General Grievous had technical skill, rather than inspiration from the Force. All things have a connection to the force (barring the Jedi Exile and her force-severing shenanigans), though.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 14:06:36


Post by: Easy E


Melissia- thanks for posting the different Lightsabre combat styles. Wow, the names of the Ways are so self-referential it is painful.

In other news, I think in a New Hope Darth and Obi's battle is more fencing-esque then the other battles.

Whenever you see Luke fight, he doesn;t really know what he is doing, so his attack sand defenses are less refined, hence more slashing and hacking. In response, Vadar seems to be much more refined with his movements.

Then, the Prequels come along, and everyhting Jedi has to be turned up to 11.



Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 14:46:26


Post by: Doctadeth


The difference between a lightsaber and a sword is that a lightsaber is made of energy, a sword needs substancial force imparted to it to part flesh. A lightsaber will go through almost anything with little to no effort.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 14:58:12


Post by: Melissia


It can't cut through everything and not everything can be cut through at the same speed.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 15:49:53


Post by: Grakmar


Lightsabres never made any sense. The combat styles are ridiculous. You have people swinging a sword in giant, telegraphed moves for no purpose. Darth Maul is wielding what can only be described as a quarterstaff where if you grab anything but the small middle section, you lose your hand. It seems that spinning in circles and constantly exposing your back to your opponent is a valid form of combat. And, Lightsabres aren't capable of stopping fast projectiles like bullets (as opposed to the incredibly slow moving blaster shots). And, even if you did manage to get the lightsabre in front of a bullet, you'd just melt it and then you'd have molten metal flying at you, which isn't much of an improvement.

But, they look really awesome. And, swordfighting in movies is always about what looks cool and not what is practical. So, sit back, employ your Willing Suspension of Disbelief, and enjoy the cool lightshow.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 15:51:33


Post by: Melissia


They make sense if you understand the force as a spiritual aspect.

If you only use real-world thinking sure, they don't make any sense. But having one's back turned doesn't really hurt much when you can sense exactly where the opponent is using the force.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 16:50:28


Post by: 4oursword


Melissia wrote:
4oursword wrote:General Grievous is capable of wielding a lightsabre, but one thing that is clear is that a lightsabre requires the force to operate. So, did Grievous have The Force?
General Grievous had technical skill, rather than inspiration from the Force. All things have a connection to the force (barring the Jedi Exile and her force-severing shenanigans), though.


This makes sense, but I'm sure I read somewhere that a lightsabre can detonate if activated by someone other than the creator. Of course, Anakin took Dooku's blade and Grievous had four as trophies.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 16:57:04


Post by: Melissia


I imagine it could if it was designed to do so.

there are a wide variety of lightsabers. Even polearm styles.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 17:28:24


Post by: Frazzled


Actually pinwheeling / slashing is easier with a weapon with deminimis weight and an extremely favorable center of gravity.

You'll also note when "the masters" go at it in Star Wars, there's much less of the flashy business. but yea, its all about rule of cool.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 18:46:38


Post by: Melissia


Except for Yoda, but even Yoda does it because he wants his swift movements to throw off his opponent.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 20:17:16


Post by: Vulcan


I keep seeing people say 'weightless' with relation to lightsabers, and that is only partially true. While the blade of the lightsaber is, indeed, weightless; the lightsaber itself is pretty darn heavy. There's a good hefty power pack in there!

I think of it as a maglight (the big hefty police version) with a styrofoam blade... except the stryofoam blade is something like 2000 degrees Farenheit or so. It is hella awkward to handle.

If you are familiar with fencing... get a big maglight, put the batteries, and try and do fencing maneuvers with it. Fair warning, it will be harder than it looks.

What I've always wondered is why do Jedi use the darned things two-handed? If you use it one-handed like a scimitar, it actually rolls fairly well into those cutting sweeps pretty naturally, as opposed to the 'kendo' style which becomes quite clumsy without the weight of the blade to balance things out.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 21:12:24


Post by: Frazzled


Vulcan wrote:
What I've always wondered is why do Jedi use the darned things two-handed? If you use it one-handed like a scimitar, it actually rolls fairly well into those cutting sweeps pretty naturally, as opposed to the 'kendo' style which becomes quite clumsy without the weight of the blade to balance things out.


Its integral in making the all important "wa wa sps wa heh heh heh you are not a Jedi yet..." sound they have to make when fighting.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 21:22:20


Post by: Melissia


A lot of jedi DO fight one handed. The two-handed grip comes mostly when parrying for many jedi.


Here's a soresu stance, for example:


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/09 22:38:31


Post by: FabricatorGeneralMike



Wow and I thought I was a star wars nerd because my brother and I used to play the decipher game and whenever a pic came up they used for a card name we would name it, I give a to all the star wars lovers in this thread.

Great thread, I just always wrote it off to 'rule of cool' as long as there is something to give suspension of disbelief I can dig it.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/11 06:42:10


Post by: LunaHound


LunaHound wrote:
MrMerlin wrote:
LunaHound wrote:
Howard A Treesong wrote:Why do they even need to hold the lightsabres?


I dont know, I always thought a master Jedi could use force to hold like 100 light sabers simultaneously


but that would be too overkill. It wouldnt look cool anymore

but it would make sense.....

xD

Luna, you know perfectly well that posting a smiley face and an image is considered spam.


Oh for GODS SAKE I got banned again, for that post.
This is getting frustrating -.-

Anyways I always enjoyed the concept of a being with full released potential ( like Neo in matrix)
I imagine a Jedi master with maximum potential would be like beautiful art to behold and choreograph ( or can just have it obliterate a whole army alone )
Force Unleash is a good start to thinking outside the box, lets have MORE


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/11 15:53:07


Post by: KingCracker


Grakmar wrote:Lightsabres never made any sense. The combat styles are ridiculous. You have people swinging a sword in giant, telegraphed moves for no purpose. Darth Maul is wielding what can only be described as a quarterstaff where if you grab anything but the small middle section, you lose your hand. It seems that spinning in circles and constantly exposing your back to your opponent is a valid form of combat. And, Lightsabres aren't capable of stopping fast projectiles like bullets (as opposed to the incredibly slow moving blaster shots). And, even if you did manage to get the lightsabre in front of a bullet, you'd just melt it and then you'd have molten metal flying at you, which isn't much of an improvement.

But, they look really awesome. And, swordfighting in movies is always about what looks cool and not what is practical. So, sit back, employ your Willing Suspension of Disbelief, and enjoy the cool lightshow.




Yea, to you and me, normal people, if we tried all that we would die very fast, someone would figure out to just stab us in the backs when we spin. But they are very skilled in the force, which allows them to be Uberhumans/aliens. They can sense pretty much everything around them, and have reflexes that border on pre cognition. So if you had THAT ability, then you you would be able to do similar stunts as well. And to be honest, that would be friggin fun as all get out.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/12 13:01:30


Post by: Frazzled


KingCracker wrote:
Grakmar wrote:Lightsabres never made any sense. The combat styles are ridiculous. You have people swinging a sword in giant, telegraphed moves for no purpose. Darth Maul is wielding what can only be described as a quarterstaff where if you grab anything but the small middle section, you lose your hand. It seems that spinning in circles and constantly exposing your back to your opponent is a valid form of combat. And, Lightsabres aren't capable of stopping fast projectiles like bullets (as opposed to the incredibly slow moving blaster shots). And, even if you did manage to get the lightsabre in front of a bullet, you'd just melt it and then you'd have molten metal flying at you, which isn't much of an improvement.

But, they look really awesome. And, swordfighting in movies is always about what looks cool and not what is practical. So, sit back, employ your Willing Suspension of Disbelief, and enjoy the cool lightshow.




Yea, to you and me, normal people, if we tried all that we would die very fast, someone would figure out to just stab us in the backs when we spin. But they are very skilled in the force, which allows them to be Uberhumans/aliens. They can sense pretty much everything around them, and have reflexes that border on pre cognition. So if you had THAT ability, then you you would be able to do similar stunts as well. And to be honest, that would be friggin fun as all get out.


PLus in a galaxy a long time ago, they never invented shotguns.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/13 02:16:05


Post by: KingCracker


I dunno..... Those weird flying bug things in Episode 2 seemed close to shotguns. Granted, shotguns that blasted rings of weird gak, but close enough anyways


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/13 02:22:43


Post by: Frazzled


KingCracker wrote:I dunno..... Those weird flying bug things in Episode 2 seemed close to shotguns. Granted, shotguns that blasted rings of weird gak, but close enough anyways

The problem with shotguns (for Jedi) is that you can't block all the shot with your fancy toothpick.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/13 10:35:37


Post by: FabricatorGeneralMike


Frazzled wrote:
KingCracker wrote:I dunno..... Those weird flying bug things in Episode 2 seemed close to shotguns. Granted, shotguns that blasted rings of weird gak, but close enough anyways

The problem with shotguns (for Jedi) is that you can't block all the shot with your fancy toothpick.


Why not use the force to block them, if you can control light sabers with your mind and pick up huge machinery with your mind why can't you block a few buckshot pellets.

Use the Force, worked for the 3 piles of gak lucas made


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/13 11:12:50


Post by: Frazzled


FabricatorGeneralMike wrote:
Frazzled wrote:
KingCracker wrote:I dunno..... Those weird flying bug things in Episode 2 seemed close to shotguns. Granted, shotguns that blasted rings of weird gak, but close enough anyways

The problem with shotguns (for Jedi) is that you can't block all the shot with your fancy toothpick.


Why not use the force to block them, if you can control light sabers with your mind and pick up huge machinery with your mind why can't you block a few buckshot pellets.

Use the Force, worked for the 3 piles of gak lucas made


In all the movies I've not seen them make actual psycho kinetic walls. if they could, why would they need their laser toothpicks in the first place.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/13 11:39:46


Post by: MrMerlin


They should actually be able to stop the bullets with the force.....

oh and why would they bother swinging a lightsabre (even using the force)? when they could just kill you directly (make your head fly away, rip out your brain/heart)?


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/13 17:19:24


Post by: Vulcan


That's using the Force directly to harm a living thing, which is apparently Dark Side. As opposed to just turning them into hamburger with a lightsaber, which seems to be okay. Go fig.

I had a real issue with the morality of the Jedi. Killing people is okay... so long as you aren't angry when you do it. Oh, doing it in cold blood makes it all better! The real dealbreaker for me was in a RPG; there was a force power that allowed you to drain the energy from a power cell... but using it makes you Dark Side, even if you're using it to empty the power cell of a blaster being aimed at a hostage. What. Ever.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/13 18:12:49


Post by: Melissia


THe morality of using force powers depends on the era. During the prequel era, "dark" powers were considered evil always no matter what; following Luke's rebellion thing, and his revived Jedi order, Luke decided that "dark" powers were okay as long as they were used in a just manner.

Some light-side Jedi actually used force lightning and force choke, for example, in Luke's era.

And Mace Windu was the one that held the true secret of lightsaber fighting-- he allowed himself to give in to his enjoyment of the fight while never letting it gain control over who he was. A pity they had to make him die in such a scrub way.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/13 21:45:21


Post by: 4oursword


I had a lightsabre duel in the middle of a shopping centre food court. We saw some stormtroopers, so we went to WHSmith and brought some cheap sabres... It went well. Everyone lol'd, but there were more gasps than expected when we stabbed each other simultaneously in the stomach...


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/13 21:54:00


Post by: Corpsesarefun


My fondest memory of Gamescom 2010 was sitting in the second floor cafe looking out across the main corridor to this little room on the far side where a man dressed as darth vader was standing talking to a storm trooper, after a few moments of heated discussion like 7 little kids dressed as jedi's stormed the room


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/13 22:06:55


Post by: MrMerlin


^^WTF! I looked at that 10 minutes ago and asked myself: "sould I post this in my lightsabre thread along with a stupid statemen"?

LOL!

I decided not to....


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/14 16:43:19


Post by: 4oursword


Call it fate. Anyone else had a public duel?


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/14 17:01:50


Post by: Frazzled


4oursword wrote:Call it fate. Anyone else had a public duel?


On a rainy morning, I opened the door and told the old wiener dog to go outside. I insisted. Instead he came over looked up and peed on my foot. Does that count?


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/14 22:16:17


Post by: 4oursword


I'll count that.


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/14 23:07:03


Post by: Samus_aran115


Always wondered the same thing. I'm guessing it's just more dramatic, although maybe stabbing and short blows aren't kosher with the Jedi?


Lightsabres @ 2012/03/16 11:23:05


Post by: KingCracker


Melissia wrote:THe morality of using force powers depends on the era. During the prequel era, "dark" powers were considered evil always no matter what; following Luke's rebellion thing, and his revived Jedi order, Luke decided that "dark" powers were okay as long as they were used in a just manner.

Some light-side Jedi actually used force lightning and force choke, for example, in Luke's era.

And Mace Windu was the one that held the true secret of lightsaber fighting-- he allowed himself to give in to his enjoyment of the fight while never letting it gain control over who he was. A pity they had to make him die in such a scrub way.





Agreed there for sure. Out of the movies, and what little starwars fluff I know, Darth Maul and Windu were my faves by far. And naturally, Lucas goes and makes them die, in the most incredibly STUPID fething ways possible. Anyone that reads my replies on the matter knows how I feel about Mauls death, but Windu"s is equally just as fething stupid.

Hey whats up Sith Lord, yea I know you can beat Yoda in a brawl, but I just fethed you up 2 ways of Sunday buddy! Time to eat WAIT NO!
*UBER CRYING SISSY BABY* IM CONFUSED!
*slices off Windus arm*
POWER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*Windu flies out a window*

*bald black guy seemed appropriate for a Windu reference anyways*