Beskar[edit]

Beskar is also known as Mandalorian iron. It is a very rare metal that only armoursmiths know how to shape. It is fairly useless when mined, but when it is shaped by the secrets of the Mandalorians, it becomes a very hard metal, capable of absorbing many hits from blasters and even . The Mandalorians make their armour and swords out of it, and in the recent "Legacy of " series, have made fighters and gunships out of the rare metal.

Cortosis is a rare mineral from the Expanded Universe. It is a somewhat fragile light grey, chalky rock that has the strange property of being impervious to both heat and energy. It is highly resistant to bolts, and cortosis alloys are capable of resisting or even deactivating lightsabers, the only mineral to do so other than phrik and beskar. The process of mining cortosis requires the use of hydraulic jacks, since its properties render plasma torches useless.[1]

Cortosis is first mentioned in the Timothy Zahn's The Hand of Thrawn duology, and gradually adopted into the EU canon in later works.

In The Hand of Thrawn duology, Cortosis is described as causing a feedback loop with a by "shorting out" the blade, requiring it to be reactivated (but not damaging it permanently). In the duology, and Mara Jade are in fact able to cut their way through an outcropping of cortosis by hours of repeated lightsaber strokes and reactivations. Later they encounter guard droids with an armor made up of alternating layers of cortosis and blaster-proof armor. Many fans dispute the true nature of cortosis as both definitions have been included in established canon literature. The sources that describe it as "shorting out" the lightsaber blade also describe it as a brittle mineral; bladed weapons used a cortosis alloy to incorporate the mineral's lightsaber-blocking capabilities without its fragility.

In the novel Darth Bane: Path of Destruction Darth Bane was born on the world of Apatros, the planet on which Cortosis is mined.

Cortosis is common in weaponry in the Star Wars universe. Many melee weapons are made with a "weave" of cortosis to fight lightsaber bearing enemies. In the ancient times of the Old Republic, during times of war with the , it was common for fighters to carry cortosis-weave vibroblades and vibroswords, which could be used to fight and Dark Jedi in close-range combat. Sith in ancient times commonly carried a vibrosword rather than a lightsaber for two reasons, firstly, vibroblades would wound opponents in a more painful manner, due to the dicing way the vibroblades cut, secondly, vibriblade wounds are more prone to bleed-out, as the intense heat from lightsabers cauterizes any wound they make.

In the game Jedi Outcast, Galak Fyyar processes cortosis ore into a black armor that is used by his Shadowtroopers. He also builds a suit of power armor that he uses himself. It is unknown whether all cortosis ore deposits are capable of such processing; the ore Fyyar used was smuggled from Cloud City.

I'll go you one better. . .

Lightsabers

The weapons of the Jedi, Sith, and other Force traditions, the lightsaber is a symbol for nearly every being in the galaxy. . . though a symbol of what varies wildly form individual to individual. Jedi, Sith, and others have come up with many ways of modifying their lightsabers over the centuries.

Crystals

A lightsaber can have up to three focusing crystals in it, each one affecting aspects of the blade. Usually, a lightsaber will have a single crystal. . . allowing the blade to spring into existence and determining its color. However, some lightsabers, such as the dual-phase lightsaber, require additional crystals to be rotated at varying degrees to alter the blade’s length. Other lightsabers will focus the energy through more then one crystal, affecting the blade’s properties.

Adding more then one crystal to a single lightsaber increases the Use the Force check for lightsaber construction by five for each additional crystal. So, a lightsaber with two crystals requires a DC 25 Use the Force check, while one with three requires a DC 35. A Force Point must also be spent on each crystal to be used in the lightsaber. A lightsaber must mount one basic focusing crystal, and may only mount one such crystal. Basic Focusing Crystals

Adegan: The typical crystal used for lightsaber construction, Adegan crystals from the Illum system were nearly the only type of crystal Jedi used before and during the . While still relatively common in the New Jedi Order, many younger Jedi Knights use synthetic crystals in their lightsabers. Adegan crystals from Illum could only produce colors of blue or green, while synthetic Adegan gems can produce blades of nearly any color imaginable, leading to Jedi with orange, yellow, silver, bronze, purple, or nearly any color of lightsaber blade.

Adegan, Kathracite: Kathracite was the weakest of the Adegan gems, and so rarely used in lightsabers. Lightsabers made with Kathracite gems deal one less die type of damage. (So, a Medium-sized lightsaber deals only 2d6 damage, instead of 2d8.)

Adegan, Mephite: Mephite crystals are the most common Adegan gem used in lightsabers, providing no special benefit or penalty.

Adegan, Pontite: Pontite is the rarest and most powerful of the Adegan gems. A lightsaber made with Pontite crystals deals one more die type of damage (so, a Medium-sized lightsaber made with Pontite crystals deals 2d10 damage, instead of 2d8.)

Corusca Gem: Rare enough to buy several Twi’lek slave girls, Corusca Gems also make fine focusing crystals for lightsabers, behaving similarly to Adegan Mephite. Corusca Gems can, like synthetic Adegan, create any color lightsaber blade, depending on how the individual crystal is shaped and how it is situated in the lightsaber. Corusca Gems are also required to install Cortosis Emitters.

Durindfire: Rare gems from , Durindfire gems lend a silver sheen to a lightsaber blade. They are otherwise equal to Adegan Mephite, save that Durindfire gems are the only focusing crystal that can be used with other focusing crystals in a lightsaber, making them ideal for inclusion in dual- phase lightsabers.

Heart of the Guardian: This unique crystal produces a yellowish-bronze blade. Said to have been used by the ancient Jedi , this crystal is thought lost or destroyed somewhere deep in the Outer Rim. The crystal itself has no direct effect on the lightsaber blade beyond color, however, it interacts with any other crystals in the lightsaber, improving, or perhaps completely altering, their effects. No one is sure exactly how it affects any given crystal, and some say its effects are not static, but rather based on the personality and fighting style of the Jedi who attunes it. Hurrikaine: Similar to Adegan Mephite, Hurrikaine crystals are grown on the bodies of sapient, rocklike natives of the planet Hurikane. These crystals produce blades of deep blue to violet.

Lambent: Lambent crystals are the fruits of Yuuzhan Vong plants. These crystals are alive, remaining so even after being harvested from the plant that bore them. Telepathic like some other Yuuzhan Vong creations, lambents emit light according to the thoughts of whoever holds one, functioning as portable light sources for the Yuuzhan Vong. They can also be integrated into larger shapings as glowing indicators or controls. If a Jedi can attune it in the way of other lightsaber crystals (a difficult task, as the crystal appears to not exist in the Force) a lambent makes a fine focusing crystal for a lightsaber, equivalent to Adegan Mephite. The lambent crystal will create a blade of nearly any color, responding to it’s owner’s personality. The crystal may even change colors over time, as its owner’s personality changes. Lambent crystals also provide a new benefit to the Jedi who attunes them. . . they allow him to sense, dimly, the Yuuzhan Vong and their technology. The character may use sense-based Force powers and talents against the Yuuzhan Vong, although at a –5 penalty.

Lava Crystal: Formed from volcanic obsidian, lava crystals are quite rare, since they can only be found on volcanic worlds, such as , that have high concentrations of certain minerals. Rumored to take centuries to crystallize, these crystals focus a lightsaber’s beam into an orange, lavalike blade. Some of these crystals, such as the ones mined on the Tomat homeworld of Thadius, produced black blades. They are the equivalent of Adegan Pontite.

Mantle of the Force: Another unique crystal, the Mantle of the Force is also said to have been possessed by the ancient Jedi Revan, creating a turquoise blade. Like the Heart of the Guardian, it affects the properties of other crystals in the lightsaber, though it seems to always enhance the user’s Force abilities.

Rainbow Gem: Actually living creatures, rainbow gems are fantastically expensive. . . one can fetch a price equivalent to a Mon Calamari Star Cruiser. They take thousands to mature, generating an inner light in manner not dissimilar from a Yuuzhan Vong lambent. Rainbow crystals can be used in lightsabers, generating a blade of any color, and are the equivalent of Adegan Pontite.

Sith-Infused Synthetic Crystals: Made using techniques steeped in the Dark Side, Sith-Infused Synthetic Lightsaber Crystals, also called Synth-Crystals or Bloodshine Gems/Bloodshine Blades are exclusively red in color, and are the equivalent of Adegan Pontite. If a character using such a crystal scores a critical hit, and his attack is negated using the Block talent, the opponent’s lightsaber shuts down, and must be reactivated, taking a standard action instead of a swift action.

Viridian Crystal: Rare the point of unique, these crystals naturally produce a silvery-green lightsaber blade.

Additional Crystals

Barab Ore Ingot: Crystals from the surface of Barab I, these gems absorb and concentrate radiation. When used in a lightsaber, they excite the blade’s energy almost the point of losing its cohesion, but increase the heat of the blade dramatically. A lightsaber with a Barab Ore Ingot gains a +2 Crystal bonus to damage.

Bondar Crystal: Found on asteroids around , Bondar crystals retune part of a lightsaber blade’s energy into something akin to the common stun baton. A lightsaber with a Bondar crystal deals stun damage in addition to its normal damage type.

Damind: Found on the planet Daminia, Damind crystals can increase a blade’s length, granting the wielder a small but significant increase in reach. A lightsaber with a Damind crystal provides a +1 equipment bonus to Reflex defense.

Dragite: Dragite crystals, found in the D’olop Mountain Range on M’haeli, reverberate sonic energy. When used in a lightsaber, they increase the blade’s hum drastically. If an attack roll with such a lightsaber beats both the target’s Reflex and Fortitude Defense, the victim is deafened for 1d4 rounds.

Eralam: From a planet long ago reduced to rubble by Sith bombardment, Eralam gems are almost unheard of in the modern galaxy. If they can be found, Eralam gems become some of the most powerful to be used in any lightsaber. Eralam gems provide a lightsaber with +1 Crystal bonuses to attack and damage rolls.

Firkrann: Mind on the planet Rafa IV, Firkrann crystals are denser and heavier then most. Like Adegan crystals, they respond to energy, but unlike Adegan, Firkrann crystals emit not light, but electricity. When used in a lightsaber blade, they add an electrical charge to the blade’s energy field. A lightsaber equipped with a Firkrann crystal deals ion damage in addition to its normal damage.

Jenraux: Jenraux crystals, refined versions of Opila crystals, alter a blade’s properties for more favorable blaster bolt deflection. A lightsaber with a Jenraux crystal provides a +2 Crystal bonus to Use the Force checks made for the Deflect talent.

Kaiburr: Shards of the legendary Kaiburr crystal can be used in lightsabers. When included in a lightsaber, a Kaiburr crystal shard provides a +2 Crystal bonus to Use the Force checks, and allows the user to return any used Force power to his Force suite once per encounter.

Kasha: Found only on Cerea, Cerans etch designs into kasha crystals to turn them into focuses for meditative excercises. Such cut and etched stones can also be used in a lightsaber, providing a +2 Crystal bonus on Use the Force checks made for the Farseeing Force Power.

Krayt Dragon Pearl: Ordinary stones from the surface of Tatooine, swallowed by gigantic Krayt dragons to aid in their digestion. Like many lizardlike creatures, the Krayt dragon will swallow stones and store them in its gizzards, using them to help it crush and grind food for digestion. Unlike many lizards, however, Krayt dragons never regurgitate the rocks they swallow, which eventually are worn to perfect spheres of a lustrous chine. Krayt dragon pearls are very rare, since the only way to obtain them is to kill a Krayt dragon (a daunting prospect at best) and the cut it open and remove the stones from its gizzard (substantially easier, but significantly less pleasant, the killing creature in the first place.) These stones can fetch thousands of credits on the open market, and it is even said that brandishing one will grant you favor with the Sand People. . . though no one has ever saw fit to prove the claim. They can also be used in lightsabers, providing a +2 Crystal bonus to damage.

Lorrdian: Lorrdian crystals are imbued with the Lorrdian’s abilities to read body language, something they developed during their enslavement by the Argazdan. When used in a lightsaber, these crystals provide a +2 Crystal bonus to Initiative checks.

Luxum: Formed from the Dark Side tainted waters of Lake Natth, these crystals provide a +2 Crystal bonus to Use the Force checks made for any Force power with the Dark Side descriptor. It also provides a +2 Crystal bonus to defense against any Force power with the Dark Side descriptor.

Nextor: Also mined in the mountains of M’haeli, Nextor crystals provide a +1 Crystal bonus to damage, and deal an extra 2 points of damage on a critical hit.

Opila: Opila crystals that have not been refined into Jenraux crystals are also usable in lightsabers. A lightsaber with an Opila crystal deals an additional 1d4 points of damage on a critical hit. Phond: These crystals are the accidental result of impurities in alloy manufacture. The crystals are capable of channeling extraordinary heat, resulting in a lightsaber blade that actually sets the air around it on fire. When such a lightsaber strikes its target, the target is set on fire (assuming the target wears anything flammable, or is flammable itself) if the damage from the attack exceeds the target’s damage threshold. The fire deals 1d6 points of damage per turn, and may be extinguished by the target dropping prone as a full round action.

Qixoni: Only usable by those with tremendous strength in the Dark Side, the Qixoni crystals were created millennia ago when a planet was engulfed by its own sun’s supernova. A character may only attune a Qixoni crystal if his Dark Side Score equals or exceeds half his Wisdom score, and attuning the crystal increases his Dark Side Score by one. The crystal grants a +2 Dark Side bonus to the Use the Force skill.

Rubat: Rubat crystals, mined exclusively on the planet Phemis, allow more precise control over a lightsaber blade. While equipped with a Rubat crystal, a lightsaber gains a +1 Crystal bonus to attack rolls.

Ruusan: Ruusan crystals are found on the planet of the same name. These crystals are exceptionally strong in the force, perhaps owing to the presence of the Valley of the Jedi, or some other factor. The character who attuned the gem may use his lightsaber as a meditation focus for one full round, becoming helpless. At the start of his initiative next round, he regains all Force powers spent so far in the encounter.

Sapith: Excreted from the now-extinct Volice worm of Lwhekk once every eleven standard years, these crystals are exceedingly rare. They are quite usable in lightsabers, however, providing a +2 Crystal bonus to Initiative.

Sigil: Mined in the Sigil system, these crystals are costly but worthy additions to a lightsaber’s blade. Sigil crystals grant the lightsaber a +2 Crystal bonus to damage.

Solari: Strongly attuned to the Light Side of the Force, the Solari crystal (and the lightsaber it is placed in) will cease to function if its owner accumulates a Dark Side Score of one or higher, and it can only be attuned by a character who’s Dark Side Score has never been higher then zero. While placed within a lightsaber, it grants a +2 Light Side bonus to the Use the Force skill.

Stygium Crystals: While most famous for their use in cloaking technology, Stygium crystals are useful lightsaber crystals. A character with an attuned Stygium crystal in his lightsaber may use the Stealth skill regardless of cover or concealment and a +3 bonus to Stealth rolls. Upari: Typically found scattered in orbit around heavily forested worlds, Upari crystals are brittle but versatile. They provide no special benefit unless attuned by a character with at least one level in the Jedi Master or Sith Lord prestige class. A character with such a level may, when attuning the crystal, choose to give it a +2 Crystal bonus to any one of the following: attack rolls, damage rolls, any one defense, or any one skill check.

Ultima Pearl: Found on Mon Calamari, these silvery, lustrous pearls are exceptional lightsaber gems, though installing one is greatly difficult. Installing an Ultima Pearl adds an additional +5 to the DC of the Use the Force check to construct a lightsaber, but the Pearl provides a +2 Crystal bonus to both attack rolls and damage.

Velmorite: These crystals produce a blade perfect for dueling purposes, granting a +2 Crystal bonus on Use the Force checks made for the Block talent.

Here's what I did for crystal conversion to Saga. Let me know what you all think. . . I tried to make each crystal uniquely useful, but it was really hard, given the KotoR stats, not to have some overlap. These are also in my updated Technological Terrors document, below: