Star Wars Figures

[DarthRondoudou]

I don't mind the Phasma even though her character wasn't utilized properly, but the kylo, never. One, his weapon is ridiculous. I hate crossgards lightsabers. Two, I love the actor, and I am so mad that they botched so many characters. Like his.

[Darth Logos]

I don't mind the Phasma even though her character wasn't utilized properly, but the kylo, never. One, his weapon is ridiculous. I hate crossgards lightsabers. Two, I love the actor, and I am so mad that they botched so many characters. Like his.

If I'm not mistaken, Gwendoline Christie griped sideways that she had a grand total of 3 minutes and change worth of screentime in 2 movies.

[Darth Tepes]

I don't mind the Phasma even though her character wasn't utilized properly, but the kylo, never. One, his weapon is ridiculous. I hate crossgards lightsabers. Two, I love the actor, and I am so mad that they botched so many characters. Like his.

What's wrong with the Crossguard?  It makes sense within the story...plus as a HEMA guy it was a design I always wanted to see done.


But yea..Phasma got the shaft bas.  Originally the Chrome Trooper was Kylo Ren's armor but the decided to go "Sith Chic" but didn't want to discard such a cool design.  So she was a last minute creation and they got Gwendoline Christie to be in it but again didn't utilize the actress or the character.  In TFA I got the clear picture Kylo, Phasma and Hux were all vying for top position in the FO and I was hoping for an internal war between the 3 and their parts of the FO.  Hux with his Officers and personal guards, Phasma with the Troopers and Kylo with the Knights of Ren.  But of course that would have made an interesting story so they didn't do it.    Speaking of...did they ever explain Rey's vision of Kylo and the Knights from TFA...I still haven't seen ROS.

[DarthRondoudou]

What's wrong with the Crossguard?  It makes sense within the story...plus as a HEMA guy it was a design I always wanted to see done.

It's ugly and looks stupid. And yeah, if you buy into the bleeding thing, it adds to show he's unfit for being a sith. But I don't. This thing with crystals isn't canon to me and never will be.

[Darth Tepes]

It's ugly and looks stupid. And yeah, if you buy into the bleeding thing, it adds to show he's unfit for being a sith. But I don't. This thing with crystals isn't canon to me and never will be.

Looks fine to me..in fact its design allowed for actual sword techniques to be used and I do like the bleeding "thing" .         Logos and I have gone back and forth on this because I like the more mystical approach to Lightsabers.  Doesn't mean I think it 100% great explanation but it was at least an attempt I can support. Of course this is all IMO. 

  He wasn't a Sith...neither was Snoke.  They said that from the beginning that they were something new...but of course Ruin dropped the ball and all that went out the window. 

[PsychoSith]

It's ugly and looks stupid. And yeah, if you buy into the bleeding thing, it adds to show he's unfit for being a sith. But I don't. This thing with crystals isn't canon to me and never will be.

I don't mind the Phasma even though her character wasn't utilized properly, but the kylo, never. One, his weapon is ridiculous. I hate crossgards lightsabers. Two, I love the actor, and I am so mad that they botched so many characters. Like his.

'Fraid were pretty opposite there. Im pretty positive on the sequels, and as someone who appreciates unique/functional weapons design, Kylo actually has my favorite saber design from the franchise as it actually attempts to do *something* to mitigate dismemberment. I've got quite a few x-guard designs on my own over in my "Saber doodle" thread, all of which try to tackle real-life swordplay tactics in lightsaber form. I do agree Phasma was critically underused and the internal conflict within the FO would have been a cool story to explore. I like what we got though.

[DarthRondoudou]

Looks fine to me..in fact its design allowed for actual sword techniques to be used and I do like the bleeding "thing" .         Logos and I have gone back and forth on this because I like the more mystical approach to Lightsabers.  Doesn't mean I think it 100% great explanation but it was at least an attempt I can support. Of course this is all IMO. 

  He wasn't a Sith...neither was Snoke.  They said that from the beginning that they were something new...but of course Ruin dropped the ball and all that went out the window. 

Most of crossguards aren't meant to be dangerous for the user...

[DarthRondoudou]

'Fraid were pretty opposite there. Im pretty positive on the sequels, and as someone who appreciates unique/functional weapons design, Kylo actually has my favorite saber design from the franchise as it actually attempts to do *something* to mitigate dismemberment. I've got quite a few x-guard designs on my own over in my "Saber doodle" thread, all of which try to tackle real-life swordplay tactics in lightsaber form. I do agree Phasma was critically underused and the internal conflict within the FO would have been a cool story to explore. I like what we got though.

Some jedi did lose hands in combat. Though that's not what they are here for according to them...
I don't understand how this saber (which was there to try and reproduce the hype with Maul's lightsaber from ep1) can appeal to anyone. But you have every right to like it. I don't. And never will. So I won't buy any Kylo figure.
And that's a shame. I like Adam Driver.

[Darth Logos]

I didn't have an issue with the design incorporating vents to accommodate a faulty crystal. I actually thought that was a good idea. My beef is the why it was cracked.

And per usual, each trilogy had its own OMG with sabers:

OT - lightsaber. Wow enough
PT - Saber staff. HFS that thing has 2 blades
ST - Crossguard saber. Hmmm that's different.

Personally I had higher hopes for its functionality, but the ST failed to excite me on almost every level.

As for the use of varied sword techniques, they didn't need a new saber design to achieve this. If I'm not mistaken, didn't Qui Gon fight with a broadsword-like style?

I wanted a less idiot-direct approach to the mysticism: color change came from exposure of the wielder. I would have loved it if they would have re-edited ROTS so that Vader-kin's saber started going purple-fuchsia after the attack on the temple. And by the time he fights Obi Wan, it is already fully red.

[Darth Tepes]

Most of crossguards aren't meant to be dangerous for the user...

Nor is the Cross Hilt Saber.  The last time I hit myself with a crossguard was the first time I picked up a longsword 30 years ago.  If real practitioners using crosshilted swords don't hit themselves why would a Force User.  It was funny how the fandom got a new split when the Crossguard came into play...with fans who were trained in Longsword loving it and explaining how it could work.  I'm not saying you should like it....but that is on of the reasons some of us do.

As for the use of varied sword techniques, they didn't need a new saber design to achieve this. If I'm not mistaken, didn't Qui Gon fight with a broadsword-like style?

Depends on how your defining "Broadsword"......   But Qui-Gon's style what almost completely inspired by Japanese swordsmanship.  His opening stance is a very classic Kenjustu stance.


 

color change came from exposure of the wielder. I would have loved it if they would have re-edited ROTS so that Vader-kin's saber started going purple-fuchsia after the attack on the temple. And by the time he fights Obi Wan, it is already fully red.

I'd be ok with that.

[Darth Logos]

Depends on how your defining "Broadsword"......   But Qui-Gon's style what almost completely inspired by Japanese swordsmanship.  His opening stance is a very classic Kenjustu stance.

I thought his style lacked a lot of flourish, and pretty much whenever his blade was on, both hands were on the hilt.

I'd be ok with that.

This also would have done more to explain the "Force connection" between wielder and crystal. But at the same time would have debunked the hippy dippy "only Jedi get crystals" bull$#!%.

[Darth Tepes]

I thought his style lacked a lot of flourish, and pretty much whenever his blade was on, both hands were on the hilt.
This also would have done more to explain the "Force connection" between wielder and crystal. But at the same time would have debunked the hippy dippy "only Jedi get crystals" bull$#!%.

Japanese Swordsmanship is almost devoid of flourish and other than a few rare styles keeps both hands on the hilt.  Wushu (Chinese Origin) has a lot of flourish in it and that is what Ray Park is trained in.  Nick Gillard, the stunt choreographer and basically the creator of the 7 Lightsaber styles, mixed Kendo, Wushu and Olympic Fencing to get his desired result.     What most people call a "broadsword" is actually a Longsword.  Broadsword is a bit of a source of contention in many HEMA circles.   They mixed in some longsword moves to Kylo's fighting..which made me excited for more...didn't deliver.  Here is an example of a choreographed longsword fight using real techniques, if only Hollywood would hire Experts in the specific style they want on screen.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cn36Pb8z3yI" target="_blank" class="aeva_link bbc_link new_win">www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cn36Pb8z3yI</a>

[PsychoSith]

Japanese Swordsmanship is almost devoid of flourish and other than a few rare styles keeps both hands on the hilt.  Wushu (Chinese Origin) has a lot of flourish in it and that is what Ray Park is trained in.  Nick Gillard, the stunt choreographer and basically the creator of the 7 Lightsaber styles, mixed Kendo, Wushu and Olympic Fencing to get his desired result.     What most people call a "broadsword" is actually a Longsword.  Broadsword is a bit of a source of contention in many HEMA circles.   They mixed in some longsword moves to Kylo's fighting..which made me excited for more...didn't deliver.  Here is an example of a choreographed longsword fight using real techniques, if only Hollywood would hire Experts in the specific style they want on screen.


www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cn36Pb8z3yI

This is a great explanation! I had the opportunity to take a couple Kendo classes and I can attest that there is no flourish or fanciness, it is a very utilitarian and every component has an important use. Qui-Gon's style is quite reminiscent of this. And I agree that Kylo's style of fighting incorporated more Western swordplay - including a lot of the physicality to those techniques.

[Darth Tepes]

Lightsabers are interesting even outside of their coolness.  Beyond the discussions on how they work...how they are used is an even more interesting one.  It's supposed to be a sword...but there is a lot of things swords have it doesn't.  For one Saber's are curved swords...but I guess Lightrapier didn't have the ring Lucas wanted.  Swords have edges that require proper alignment and friction to cut...lightsabers do not.  Right there a ton of techniques become unnecessary.  It will always cut.  Then the hilt...its rounded, Sword Hilts are always oval or even slightly rectangle because it provides better hold and allows you to know where the edge is without looking.  Again, unnecessary for a Lightsaber.  So in terms of real world combat Rapier and Jian styles would probably fit best in terms of swords.  But I think Escrima would be a better fit and I don't think anyone has done this yet.

[Darth Logos]

Japanese Swordsmanship is almost devoid of flourish and other than a few rare styles keeps both hands on the hilt.  Wushu (Chinese Origin) has a lot of flourish in it and that is what Ray Park is trained in.  Nick Gillard, the stunt choreographer and basically the creator of the 7 Lightsaber styles, mixed Kendo, Wushu and Olympic Fencing to get his desired result.     What most people call a "broadsword" is actually a Longsword.  Broadsword is a bit of a source of contention in many HEMA circles.   They mixed in some longsword moves to Kylo's fighting..which made me excited for more...didn't deliver.  Here is an example of a choreographed longsword fight using real techniques, if only Hollywood would hire Experts in the specific style they want on screen.


www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cn36Pb8z3yI

The first fight, Kenobi v Vader was very Kendo-esque. I will agree that QG's style does not reflect what you showed.