Yeah please allow me to add a lil something to the lightsaber conversation. When I first started RP'ing, I played with one of the best Jedi RP'ers ever. And eventually he asked me to help build a site for guidelines to Jedi RP. And I was tasked with helping to write the pages for lightsabers. ANYwho...
Anyone can use a lightsaber. It's not a matter of being Force sensitive or anything. Anyone can use a lightsaber, but only Jedi can use it well. As stated, the blade has no mass. The center of gravity is in the hilt, which makes it awkward. It's hard to tell where the blade is by the 'feel' of the handle. So most that try to use one in combat end up lopping off one of their own arms or other limbs.
Im gonna go see Spidey now, but when I get back we'll cobble together an application for you guys. Note I said application, not CS. We're only looking for 4-6 more people (at this moment, could change). So not everyone will get in. As stated, we want this to be long term. This is going to be the journey of their lives, not just an episode or so. I'l have you PM me your application and we'll make decisions then. If you're not chosen.. please do not feel bad. We want this RP to be special for everyone, not just a random RP you joined that week. Takun Apygoos is the captain, so he'll have input in this. So please be patient. Oh, and it's not gonna be a matter of who turns in an Application first. It won't be first come first serve. So don't feel the need to rush. You can't do your best if you're feeling rushed, okay?
See ya'll later!
~Ash
Slight addendum I feel I should point out: TECHNICALLY, non-force users have, in the canon, used lightsabers to a degree I would classify as 'well', but they were definitely atypical cases. The two most prominent I'm aware of are Grievous, who was aided by the fact that he was basically entirely cybernetics, and had various enhancements that made him deadly with his lightsabers without requiring the force. Someone with his level of cybernetic replacements is extremely rare, however, and it was considered extreme by... basically everyone else in the Star Wars universe. I don't think even Darth Vader's level of cybernetics came close to rivaling Grievous'.
The other was Pre Visla, who was an elite Mandalorian with presumably a lifetime of combat training. One can only assume he trained night and day to because as proficient with the lightsaber as he did, and even then, if you really watch him... while he was certainly GOOD, he was not much more deadly with it than he could have been if he'd just stuck with a vibroblade for instance.
I swear I'm not trying to be... ya know... that one Star Wars nerd who points out all the random obscure Star Wars facts xD And again, I'm not disagreeing with you, just pointing out that exceptions to the rule DO exist. That said... I'd have to be personally against player characters in this being among those exceptions. And, ICly, if my character is accepted, she'd probably slap a non-Jedi trying to use a lightsaber, "While you're playing around, trying not to lop your own leg off with that damn thing, you could be mastering a weapon you'd actually be good at."
Personally, I think unless you're setting something during the Old Republic era, or during the New Republic, a story or rp typically feels more true to the Star Wars 'feel' if lightsabers remain rare. In the Dark Times and Rebellion eras, I feel like a lightsaber should be something that when another character sees it, its a 'holy shit, you're a JEDI!?' moment xD
