In the Workshop/Looking for Niil

[Niil Spaar]

Niil likely didn't need to guess at what Collan was referring to.  "The crystals.  Have you checked in the workshop?  Or asked Master Ch'lana?  If anyone would have them, it would be a Jedi."

[Collan]

Collan shook his head, a sheepish look on his face.

"No...I barely understand how sabers work as it is, let alone how to use one well. If I can build one that'll stand up to a quartz or some other crystal, then I'll ask."

[Niil Spaar]

Niil grinned.  "Yeah, sabers are a whole new kettle of fish.  A lot lighter than something like a virbrosword, but even then, a lightsaber's weight's all in the hilt.  And there's the gyroscopic effect to deal with."  He snorted. "I've practiced the Shii-Cho form before, but I still don't really have a clue how the sabers are built.  I don't think it's anything to be embarrassed of, though; I don't think we're expected to be able to build our own this soon into training.  But hey, when in doubt it can't hurt to ask Master Ch'lana, right?"

[Collan]

Collan faced screwed up in a 'huh' expression.

"Shi cho?"

[Niil Spaar]

Niil nodded.  "There's actually a few different styles of lightsaber combat.  Seven, I think.  From what Master Dhoresh told me, Shii-Cho  - the way of the Sarlaac - is the first style that most Jedi initiates were taught for training purposes to get a feel of how a lightsaber works and handles.  It was actually developed before modern lightsabers were invented, so it's considered to be outdated for actual lightsaber combat."  Niil smiled, and shook his head.  "Although, he said he knew a few Jedi that were good enough to use that form to really nasty effect."

[Collan]

Collan nodded.

"You'll have to show me sometime. Every time I've used the lightsaber, it's fought me somehow. I don't know if it's the saber itself or the Force, but when I try to add effort to my movements with it, it feels like something is pushing the blade...or twisting it...or trying to rip it from my hands."

[Niil Spaar]

Niil laughed.  "Yeah, that's the gyroscopic effect I was telling you about.  It freaked me out the first time I handled a lightsaber.  Let's see, how was it told to me?  Okay, the blade of a lightsaber is plasma that's suspended in a force containment field.  That containment field allows the plasma to project out about three feet, then the field arcs it back into the lightsaber's power cell.  That power loop is where you're getting that wonky feeling from."

[Collan]

"Ahhhhh!" Collan said, the physics of the blade clicking.

"The crystal creates a laser-genersted plasma that the containment keeps flowing. And the containment itself is a monopole. Then depending on how you are moving the inertia can do wierd things."

"I suppose that makes sense. Still, there's definitely a missing element. The system performance maxes out on the training saber but Ch'lana's clearly has greater power output. There has to be some secret knowledge a Jedi has."

[Niil Spaar]

Niil nodded.  "Yeah, I don't think they'd want everyone with the knowledge to make them.  I know the training sabers use different power sources and crystals, but the components are supposed to be common to the training ones and the real deals.  Different quality of components, I guess."

[Collan]

"Let's go find out," Collan seemed eager to try it, "And," Collan pointed to the silver cylinder laying out, "You need to make a quick-release clip yourself."

[Niil Spaar]

Nill nodded, and got out of his seat.  "Time to brush up on my mechanical skills . . ."

[Collan]

Collan said, "Same here. I picked up a little when we had downtime after the ship. And I've picked over the shop here...there's plenty of parts to make our own sabers."

[Niil Spaar]

OOC:  I didn't know if this thread was done, so Niil's gonna make a quick-release for his saber.  Then, he's gonna try his hand at building a training lightsaber for starters.

[GM Craig]

[OOC: The DC starts at around 16 and takes a week. Each extra week you spend on it lowers the DC by 5.]

[Collan]

[ooc: Collan will be doing a training saber of his own as well...and will do it over three weeks ]