Saber Venting

[Obese Wan Kenobese]

If the energy recycles, how is it vented? If it's vented, how is it recycled? I really read it as excess energy the crystal can't handle. It seems like it would be plasma, but no field. The field makes the blades impact. The plasma burns. I don't think it was fully thought through. I think it's just cracked, like Kylo's mind.

[Darth Logos]

If the energy recycles, how is it vented? If it's vented, how is it recycled? I really read it as excess energy the crystal can't handle. It seems like it would be plasma, but no field. The field makes the blades impact. The plasma burns. I don't think it was fully thought through. I think it's just cracked, like Kylo's mind.

<sighs> According to my OC research, assembling a saber was something only a Force sensitive could do. The crystals had to be perfectly aligned, otherwise the beam would not be focused through the emitter, and the saber would explode. This was the case even for sabers using good natural crystals from Illum. As has already been accepted cracked nature of Ren's crystal, the vents prevent the misdirected energy from destroying the hilt. Think of them as pressure release valves. They relieve just enough excess for the device to function.

The "plasma" is generated by the crystal. The field is generated by the emitter. The field deflects energy. That's why saber blades don't pass through one another or force fields and deflect blaster bolts and lightning, but do pass through pretty much anything else. The way I figure it, a physical object breaks the path of the field, allowing the plasma to burn whatever it contacts.



Once the obstruction to the field has been melted/burned/destroyed the field reestablishes the blade nigh light speed. According to Wookieepedia saber blades do not emit heat. But as shown, they can melt and cauterize. This is the best explanation I have. Hope it works for you.

[Obese Wan Kenobese]

I've already read that and more. I wanted an official source, if anyone knew of one, that would answer if there is or is not an emitter/field on the vents/quillons. If there isn't a source, that's fine. It's just a discussion. I'm not jumping to the same conclusions others might, nor am I attacking anyone.

If you're frustrated, simply walk away from the discussion.

What I read said the energy is recycled through the crystal. I've already suggested that 3 blades might disperse energy, but the recycling won't really vent much. Disney is arranging this as a vent, not just another blade. Disney-canon is not the first to have extra blades, but they are doing it in a different way and for a different reason than legend-canon. I started with a curiosity of which way they were going. We've each had our way of looking at what information we have.

[Rapine]

I'm just throwing this out there, as I have very limited knowledge of such things, but does the fact that the vents appear stressed due to heat make any difference?

[Obese Wan Kenobese]

I'm just throwing this out there, as I have very limited knowledge of such things, but does the fact that the vents appear stressed due to heat make any difference?

Good point. I'd interpret that as meaning there isn't a field there. The shrouds keep the energy away from the hands, as the quillons and vents are hot, unlike the blade, which sources say would be contained in a field and not hot until pushed into something.

[Rapine]

Cool. I was watching for that reply.

[ithekro]

Or it is unstable, like the blade, that lets off some of its energy.

[Obese Wan Kenobese]

The system is unstable due to the cracked crystal. It's stated that's the purpose of the vents. If the emitter fields themselves are unstable, even on the main blade, the blade length may change, not just the beam flux we see. The quillons are vents for the unstable energy of the blade. If the emitter field is failing, I suppose Kylo's blade could be letting off heat, unlike others. If that's the case, that's not just a damaged crystal requiring vents and an ancient design. That's just a failure on Kylo's part.

[ithekro]

Failure at his level of training is entirely possible.  Just not a total failure, or a failure that turned into an opportunity.

[Darth Tepes]

Here is my theory.  We know the design is ancient and comes from the Scourge of Malachor.  So, sometime in Kylo's training he was on Malachor, maybe he and Luke went there or that is where Snoke is.  Canon wise we know the early Saber's were flat blades (DarkSaber) and at some point the Force Users moved on to beam-like blades.  We got to see a cross hilt in Rebels.  I think when the Lightsaber was being developed the process was (of course) imperfect and perhaps resulted in the Jedi/Sith cracking the crystals which necessitated the vents.  Now eventually they refined their technique of course and we get the classic Lightsaber design.  So, Kylo may have done the same thing, perhaps Luke never taught him to make a Lightsaber (yet) or all Kylo had was a cracked Crystal and had to use the cross design. 

[Darth Logos]

If you're frustrated, simply walk away from the discussion.

If I were frustrated, I wouldn't have responded. The merely denoted that I was preparing for a somewhat lengthy explanation. I love talking turkey about the principles behind sci-fi science.

Here is my theory.  We know the design is ancient and comes from the Scourge of Malachor.  So, sometime in Kylo's training he was on Malachor, maybe he and Luke went there or that is where Snoke is.  Canon wise we know the early Saber's were flat blades (DarkSaber) and at some point the Force Users moved on to beam-like blades.  We got to see a cross hilt in Rebels.  I think when the Lightsaber was being developed the process was (of course) imperfect and perhaps resulted in the Jedi/Sith cracking the crystals which necessitated the vents.  Now eventually they refined their technique of course and we get the classic Lightsaber design.  So, Kylo may have done the same thing, perhaps Luke never taught him to make a Lightsaber (yet) or all Kylo had was a cracked Crystal and had to use the cross design. 

Not necessarily. Malachor was a Sith site. The Jedi sabers were brought by their owners from elsewhere. NTM, the sabers being referenced from the S2 finale of SWR did not have unstable blades. Also, that abomination that you referenced is the only flat blade ever run across. (Sorry for the mild vent.) A flat blade would actually require advanced technology in order to shape the light.

I'd like to know, if Ben was being trained by Luke, and Luke knows how to make a real lightsaber, then why does Ren's look like it was made by a half-retarded initiate?



Don't get me wrong. I am legitimately trying to like this saber. But I refuse to choke down the "canon" just cuz Disney said it is this way.

[Benji]

The system is unstable due to the cracked crystal. It's stated that's the purpose of the vents. If the emitter fields themselves are unstable, even on the main blade, the blade length may change, not just the beam flux we see. The quillons are vents for the unstable energy of the blade. If the emitter field is failing, I suppose Kylo's blade could be letting off heat, unlike others. If that's the case, that's not just a damaged crystal requiring vents and an ancient design. That's just a failure on Kylo's part.

Part of me wonders if we will even see this saber in future movies. It was destroyed at the end of Ep. 7. So unless he salvaged the crystal from it or got another cracked crystal then there would be no need for the vents.

[Obese Wan Kenobese]

I wondered why he was using a cracked crystal. If it was all available or he broke it. I also considered that if it is Vader's old saber, the crystal may have been broken before Kylo got it. He wants Anakin's saber, because he believes it will give him some stronger connection to his grandfather. He knows his cracked crystal is a problem, so he wants the other crystal that belonged to Anakin/Vader. In D-canon Aftermath Life Debt, Vader's saber is revealed to still exist. This could mean the cracked crystal in Kylo's 'ancient design' is Vader's. Though, there's nothing confirming that. Only that both Anakin's saber survived, and Kylo want's Anakin's saber.

[Darth Tepes]

I wondered why he was using a cracked crystal. If it was all available or he broke it. I also considered that if it is Vader's old saber, the crystal may have been broken before Kylo got it. He wants Anakin's saber, because he believes it will give him some stronger connection to his grandfather. He knows his cracked crystal is a problem, so he wants the other crystal that belonged to Anakin/Vader. In D-canon Aftermath Life Debt, Vader's saber is revealed to still exist. This could mean the cracked crystal in Kylo's 'ancient design' is Vader's. Though, there's nothing confirming that. Only that both Anakin's saber survived, and Kylo want's Anakin's saber.

It was never confirmed as Vader's Saber..just a Red Bladed Saber..both Aftermath books have seen the Vader Cult get 2 different red lightsabers they WANT to believe is Vaders.  No way Vader's survived the Death Star.

Not necessarily. Malachor was a Sith site. The Jedi sabers were brought by their owners from elsewhere. NTM, the sabers being referenced from the S2 finale of SWR did not have unstable blades. Also, that abomination that you referenced is the only flat blade ever run across. (Sorry for the mild vent.) A flat blade would actually require advanced technology in order to shape the light.

I'd like to know, if Ben was being trained by Luke, and Luke knows how to make a real lightsaber, then why does Ren's look like it was made by a half-retarded initiate?



Don't get me wrong. I am legitimately trying to like this saber. But I refuse to choke down the "canon" just cuz Disney said it is this way.

Never said it wasn't Sith site, I don't know what point you were trying to make there.  As to the Rebels saber having stable blades I chalk that up to the animation.  As to why Kylo's saber is obviously cobbled together, as I said maybe Luke had not taught Ben to make one...Maybe Luke was trying to steer away from violence or maybe it is all Kylo had.  I'm sure we will get more info as it progresses.    The flat blade design is also seen in the concept for Darth Bane in clone wars, from that it is obvious they are meant to be the early sabers.  As to the tech being more or less advanced than beam sabers...not something that I nitpick.  Canon is Canon.  Had to accept it under Lucas and it is no different now.

[Benji]

It was never confirmed as Vader's Saber..just a Red Bladed Saber..both Aftermath books have seen the Vader Cult get 2 different red lightsabers they WANT to believe is Vaders.  No way Vader's survived the Death Star.

Actually, since Luke carried Vader's body out of the Death Star unless his saber dropped down that hole with the Emperor then there's a high probablility that Luke recovered Vader's saber also.

I'd like to know, if Ben was being trained by Luke, and Luke knows how to make a real lightsaber, then why does Ren's look like it was made by a half-retarded initiate?

Don't get me wrong. I am legitimately trying to like this saber. But I refuse to choke down the "canon" just cuz Disney said it is this way.

Usually teaching the padawans to make their own saber was one of the last things taught traditionally. My theory is that Ben went rogue before this lesson was completed. But the question then becomes why wouldn't Snoke provide him with adequate knowledge to make a decent lightsaber?