let me just start this of by saying I know that the 7 forms have very little real life applications or practicalities. We are essentially talking about magic space wizards using deadly glowsticks to go all slicey slicey on each other whilst shooting lightening out of their hands like some magic the gathering spell card. However, This is the star wars universe where the concept of reality has its book firmly shut and thrown out the window (and stomped a couple of times for good measure.)
So with that in mind what style provides the best defence? single blade like obi wan? duel weild or saberstaff like daeth zannah? When it comes to Soresu i think dual weilding sabers might provide the best defence. I think i read or watched somewhere that having the saber in the non dominant hand in the reverse grib and the other in the normal grip provides a full 360 degree coverage because you cover one half of your body with one and the other half with the other.
why Soresu? Its just my favourite of them all.
what do you all think?
Hey Appius, we spoke over on Reddit. Just figured I'd chime in here and help out as best I can. Let's look at this from several points of view
From the point of view of real combat, it's going to greatly depend on your weapon training and experience. Most people are aware that dual wielding effectively in real life is extremely difficult, and typically requires a good deal of training to properly coordinate two separate weapons. The saberstaff in this context is very limited, and in terms of real combat is more of a hindrance than benefit. Single saber is a reliable standard, allowing for either one handed or two handed usage for defensive measures in a variety of scenarios. In terms of flexibility, I would say that's the best bet in this context (although we could easily open up the definition of "defense" to include counterattacks and the like, which brings in new things to consider!)
From a lore point of view, with the limited information available on the actual specifics of the Forms, I'm going to look at the users of these Forms. Obi-Wan is certainly the most famous, using a single saber. Beyond that, you have characters like Luminara Unduli, Kanan Jarrus, and likely many other Jedi (as Soresu is strongly aligned with their Code). All these Jedi use a single lightsaber, which is hardly surprising considering the rarity of two weapon usage in Star Wars canon. If you look at the Dark Side, you essentially only have Darth Zannah to go on, who uses a saberstaff. IMO, the use of the Force to anticipate attacks would likely lend some practicality to the saberstaff and dual wield options. With two blades to use in defense, and precognition, a Force User would potentially be more equipped to protect their target areas.
Finally, if you're looking for a storytelling point of view (for something like Role Playing or Choreography), the difference between the three options becomes contingent on character, as well as the era being explored. In the films, set within a period of roughly a century, the use of a saberstaff or two weapons is VERY rarely seen. Notable examples I can think of are Asajj Ventress, Darth Maul, Darth Sidious, Savage Oppress, Pong Krell, and Jedi Temple Guards (with some situational dual wielding from various characters in the Clone Wars). Notice the fact that most all the aforementioned characters are Dark Siders - these northodox weapons are a nod to the individualistic nature of the villains, whereas the Jedi Order is known for its standardization of weapons and attire. The saberstaff in this era is strongly associated with Dark Siders, likely because of the potential aggressive applications of the weapon. For this reason, from a character point of view, I would rule that option out.
Overall, if you start to delve back into the really old school days of the Republic, your options open up. Within canon, you're likely somewhat limited. One last note I'll make is that your character's interests will also move you toward a certain weapon setup. I consider the saberstaff and duel wield to be advanced methods that would be more likely studied by those skilled in lightsaber dueling. For someone more like a Consular, whose interests are more academic and diplomatic, it's unlikely that this level of advanced combat training would be interesting or useful. Just keep that in mind!
