The hype train starts to chug along/ Star Wars VII

[RavynousHunter]

At least the Sith being dickheads makes a bit more sense now than it did back when their main theme was just "muahahahaha" and loads of metaphorical mustache twirling.  The head of the Empire has been cut off, sure, but that's sure to lead to a power vacuum.  To take a quote from Dynasty Warriors: "You try to destroy war, but offer nothing to take its place, and so the void is filled with more war."

[Beezlebub]

From Todd in The Shadows

(click to show/hide)

[Art Vandelay]

I just got around to watching the trailer. For the most part, it's just too vague to really comment on. Although while I'm here I may as well stick my dick in the proverbial beehive and say that the lightsabre crossguard is fucking stupid. The whole point of a crossguard is so that when you block an opponent's blade, it means they can't take your fingers off simply by sliding his sword down your blade. However, the "crossguard emitters" or whatever the fuck you'd call them actually jut out of the handle a fair way. As such, if an opponent did try the downy slidey slicey fingery move, they'd not only bypass the actual crossguard beam but also destroy it on the way to your hand. It completely defeats the purpose of having a crossguard in the first place.

[Askold]

Here, this is how the lightsaber crossguard works: http://imgur.com/gallery/cwzey

Get on his level.

EDIT: This fan theory may be wrong but I thought it was amusing:

[Canadian Mojo]

If we're really going to discuss the practicality and physics of a light sabre, how do you account for the shitty weight distribution inherent in these weapons? All the weight should be in the hilt and probably behind the thumb and forefinger (since the blade is a beam of light) which would make for a weapon with little of no momentum to help with speed, striking, and parrying ability.

If nothing else the style of combat should look different than it does.

[Askold]

That weight problem is why only force-sensitive people can use lightsabers. You need to use force to guide your weapon and help with the balance.

...The only exception where the light foils in the old EU that were just thrusting weapons and used by the nobles of Tapani-sector. (Which makes sense since stabbing is something that you could do safely with a lightsaber even without magic powers to help you control the weapon.)

[R. U. Sirius]

I just got around to watching the trailer. For the most part, it's just too vague to really comment on. Although while I'm here I may as well stick my dick in the proverbial beehive and say that the lightsabre crossguard is fucking stupid. The whole point of a crossguard is so that when you block an opponent's blade, it means they can't take your fingers off simply by sliding his sword down your blade. However, the "crossguard emitters" or whatever the fuck you'd call them actually jut out of the handle a fair way. As such, if an opponent did try the downy slidey slicey fingery move, they'd not only bypass the actual crossguard beam but also destroy it on the way to your hand. It completely defeats the purpose of having a crossguard in the first place.

I refer you back to my post earlier in the thread re: lightsaber-resistant materials.

Edit: Also, one fan theory I've heard (mainly to explain EU comics that show Boba Fett using a lightsaber safely) is that the process used to generate the lightsaber blade generates gyroscopic forces that simulate the weight and momentum of a physical blade.

[Sigmaleph]

If you are going to use lightsaber-resistant materials for the crossguard, what is the purpose of the lightsabery beams? Just in case you need to remove a finger real quick?

I do like Colbert's idea that the beam continues inside the "emitters". I also like the idea of saying "fuck it, it's Star Wars, it looks cool, who cares about combat pragmatism?"

[Askold]

This is relevant to the hype train in general as well as the lightsaber controversy in particular:

http://i.imgur.com/SFoR0Zj.webm

[R. U. Sirius]

If you are going to use lightsaber-resistant materials for the crossguard, what is the purpose of the lightsabery beams? Just in case you need to remove a finger real quick?

I do like Colbert's idea that the beam continues inside the "emitters". I also like the idea of saying "fuck it, it's Star Wars, it looks cool, who cares about combat pragmatism?"

The materials that are capable of resisting lightsaber beams are stated to be incredibly rare; it could be that the Sith could only find enough to build the emitter base for his lightsaber.

I, too, though, like the idea of saying, "Fuck it, it's high fantasy IN SPACE!"

[Ultimate Paragon]

This got a few chuckles out of me:

[Second Coming of Madman]

Is it bad if I want to see an actual lightshield?

[R. U. Sirius]

Well, they've already shown handheld forcefield shields in the movies, and it actually would be a good defense against a lightsaber.

[Art Vandelay]

I just want to see a lightmatchlock rifle.

[Second Coming of Madman]

Even better, just remove the middleman from the equation and make a LMG-esque weapon that shoots lightsaber bullets.