Regarding Starkiller's Lightsaber Style

[Ryazan]

The way he holds his lightsaber is known as reverse grip. It's surprisingly common in many armed physical combat styles in the real world. The explanation for Starkiller using reverse grip is simply that he prefers this style. Ahsoka Tano held her lightsaber in a similar way before she became Anakin Skywalker's Padawan. He most likely holds it this way to block blaster fire directed behind him, and he can vary easily flip it around to standard grip for combat (which he will actually do any time you attack with his saber in the game). I just thought I'd clear that up so that people can stop being pissed off/confused about his lightsaber style.

[heartless]

Reverse grip works best with short swords and knives. Longer swords, close to the size of a standard lightsaber would be harder to wield in a reverse grip. However, since these are lightsabers we're talking about, and they have a difference center of balance and different weight simply because only the hilt has weight, it might not make a difference.

 

The only downside of a reverse grip in this situation is that he is leaving his front undefended. Then again, he is a Force user.

 

Anyway, before we discuss his semi-realistic application of the reverse grip, we must first discuss Maris Brood who is using lightsaber tonfas. Anyone who has ever practiced with tonfas before will tell you that she will dismember herself within the first few seconds.

 

Basically, my point is that it's a game about people with magical powers, it's not meant to be realistic.

[Juno Eclipse]

The reverse grip style (Form VI) allows Jedi/Sith to more easily use Force powers

[Prime]

It's a gimic.

[Jacob Nion]

Why do you think it is a gimic? Just wondering.

[Da_Man_2423]

Why do you think it is a gimic? Just wondering.

 

It's purely aesthetic.

[Jacob Nion]

gotcha thanks.

[Ryazan]

Da_Man, it's not "purely aesthetic". He will always flip it around to fight with it, but he holds it like that to defend his rear and so that he can concentrate more on his Force powers.

 

Juno, Form VI is Niman. That's not a reverse grip style.

 

And Maris Brood is the same case as Darth Maul-she uses a style that can be extremely dangerous to untrained wielders, but she has mastered it enough to avoid this danger easily.

[Ctrl Alt Del]

Da_Man, it's not "purely aesthetic". He will always flip it around to fight with it, but he holds it like that to defend his rear and so that he can concentrate more on his Force powers.

That's not his point. It was meant to be this way because it looks cool. Some explanations to justify it, may be acceptable, nevertheless it was an aesthetic choice of the concept artists to begin with.

 

It's surprisingly common in many armed physical combat styles in the real world

Yep, but on those fights the foe isn't normally armed with ranged weapons.

[Ryazan]

I said PHYSICAL. Meaning MELEE. Meaning NOT RANGED.

[Ctrl Alt Del]

I said PHYSICAL. Meaning MELEE. Meaning NOT RANGED.

 

I got that much. On TFU, though, the stormtroopers are armed with ranged, if you didn't noticed.

[Ryazan]

Who ever said you cant use melee combat against an opponent with ranged weapons?

 

*coughwinduvsfettcough*

 

Especially since lightsabers can deflect many ranged attacks.

[heartless]

Da_Man, it's not "purely aesthetic". He will always flip it around to fight with it, but he holds it like that to defend his rear and so that he can concentrate more on his Force powers.

 

Juno, Form VI is Niman. That's not a reverse grip style.

 

And Maris Brood is the same case as Darth Maul-she uses a style that can be extremely dangerous to untrained wielders, but she has mastered it enough to avoid this danger easily.

 

That type of a weapon would require the arms to brace the long end, where the actual lightsaber blade is, after the swing. Moreover, a lot of strikes with that type of a weapon would be done with the "butt" end of the weapon, not the blade end. Moreover, the rest of the strikes and the recovery from strikes would dismember her.

 

Basically, where as a double bladed lightsaber can be used to confuse your opponents and attack from unexpected sides and angles, kind of like a bo staff, a tonfa lightsaber will be very awkward to use and will be more of a hinderance than an advantage. That's my point. No advantage, plenty of disadvantages.

 

But again, these are people with magical powers we're talking about so all realism flies out of the window.

 

I do agree, however, that the reverse grip was used mainly for the coolness factor to make the character look more like a badass ninja and not because he's "guarding his back". How many jedi or sith used the reverse grip? How many have been shot in the back because of it? I've read the extended universe extensively and off the top of my head, I can't think of any. These people use the force to "feel" and predict where the attacks will be coming from. Getting shot in the back won't happen because they will feel it coming and move or use the lightsaber to deflect.

 

What would've been really cool, however, is if they would've allowed to change the stance depending on the situation.

[Ryazan]

For the hundredth time, he DOES change back to normal stance whenever you do anything with the saber except block. And since it's a game and he can use the Force, he can do this extremely quickly. So quickly, in fact, that he may as well have been holding the saber normally.

[heartless]

For the hundredth time, he DOES change back to normal stance whenever you do anything with the saber except block. And since it's a game and he can use the Force, he can do this extremely quickly. So quickly, in fact, that he may as well have been holding the saber normally.

 

Which basically proves the point that the developers were trying to make him look more like a super cool ninja than a jedi/sith.

[Jacob Nion]

I like the new way of holding his lightsaber brcause it is something new and fresh.

[Castar]

Which basically proves the point that the developers were trying to make him look more like a super cool ninja than a jedi/sith.

 

I'm confused... since when has the Jedi vs. Sith thing been anything else than a really cool sci-fi version of the samurai vs. ninja thing?

[swphreak]

I'm pretty sure Haden Blackman or someone said in a video that they wanted Starkiller to look cool holding a lightsaber.

[Da_Man_2423]

I'm pretty sure Haden Blackman or someone said in a video that they wanted Starkiller to look cool holding a lightsaber.

 

I think they've said it a number of times...

 

The idea of Starkiller holding the lightsaber backwards was for aesthetic reasons.

[LordOfTheFish]

It's pretty cool. That it also used in samurai katana moves (I know how to do it too )

[RyuuKage]

I'm confused... since when has the Jedi vs. Sith thing been anything else than a really cool sci-fi version of the samurai vs. ninja thing?

 

it's never been that either...it's been essentially samurai/sorcerer vs. samurai/sorcerer (less sorcerer in the OT films, lol) the whole time...

[Ctrl Alt Del]

it's never been that either...it's been essentially samurai/sorcerer vs. samurai/sorcerer (less sorcerer in the OT films, lol) the whole time...

 

I think he meant that Samurai are selfless, while the Ninjas are, uh, selfish.

[LordOfTheFish]

Ha, I get him.

[RyuuKage]

I think he meant that Samurai are selfless, while the Ninjas are, uh, selfish.

 

oh, well that works too...though ninja are working for the will of a lord just like samurai, lolz, they're certainly less...pleasant

[LordSerion]

Oh yeah, and the Apprantice will scream "Force Push Jutsu!"

 

I think he's using Form V, the Shien variation.