why dont jedi use blasters?

[Pendergast]

why dont jedi use blasters?

[Alexrd]

Because it's "so uncivilized"...

[adamqd]

dang beat me too it lol! But yea, the Jedi had been trained for millenia to focus they're martial skills and force powers through swordsmanship. Not saying Jedi haven't used blasters on certain occasions though... Usually because they are under cover, or have been relieved of their lightsaber

[Isaac Clarke]

Because jedi are stupid.

[kotorcommunity]

Jedi are way too cool for that...

[Darth Wraith]

To some a blaster is a means to a quick end in combat, while a saber is mainly a defensive weapon, it can also be better than a blaster. Some Jedi use both, Jaden comes to mind so does Luke.

[Gerevick]

Blasters power cells can be drained, their bolts can be absorbed or deflected by energy shields. Explosives can be deflected or their explosions prevented from affecting the intended target(s).

 

The Jedi understand these theories and use lightsabers instead, because once the distance between them and their enemies is closed, the lightsaber can overpower many forms of offense and defense.

 

Take Jango Fett for example. He fired at Mace Windu in Episode II during the arena battle. Windu deflected all the blaster bolts as he charged him, neutralizing their effectiveness, and then decapitated Fett.

[urluckyday]

The Jedi understand these theories and use lightsabers instead, because once the distance between them and their enemies is closed, the lightsaber can overpower many forms of offense and defense.

 

Take Boba Fett for example. He fired at Mace Windu in Episode II during the arena battle. Windu deflected all the blaster bolts as he charged him, neutralizing their effectiveness, and then decapitated Fett.

 

1) It's Jango Fett

2) Literally 5 minutes before that scene you're talking about, Jango shot and killed a nameless Jedi at very close range

3) That's why he's got a jet-pack.

[Gerevick]

1) It's Jango Fett

2) Literally 5 minutes before that scene you're talking about, Jango shot and killed a nameless Jedi at very close range

3) That's why he's got a jet-pack.

 

Yes, you did well by pointing out my mistake. I shall reference things more carefully in the future. So, distance was key to Windu killing Jango Fett? Was there no way Jango could have compensated by using his jet pack? I thought he would have jumped away from Windu as he charged towards him.

[Alexrd]

The jetpack was malfunctioning due to him being attacked by that Reek. You can see sparks coming out of the jetpack. He did tried to use it, but he couldn't. It was to late when he realized it.

 

Watch the sequence again.

[Liverandbacon]

The real question is why don't Star Wars characters use bullet-based weapons? They have the tech to do all of this:

Eliminate weight concerns and recoil almost entirely.

Create practical caseless rounds.

Scopes that auto-compensate for bullet drop, wind, time-to-target, etc.

And solve most of the problems that modern firearms face.

 

The main advantage of energy weapons is near-instantaneous time-to-target. However, SW blasters clearly don't have that advantage. In fact, we can see from the films that blaster bolts move slowly compared to bullets. The rate of fire of all blasters seen in the films and games is also lower than that of even our current projectile weapons. Also, a blaster shot, if not immediately deadly, would create a far cleaner wound than a bullet, lowering the chances of an opponent dying from blood loss etc. So why don't they use bullets? (SW armor clearly doesn't stop projectiles, see: Ewok spears)

 

The answer is of course that bullets aren't 'space opera' enough, but hey, I love a good nitpick.

[Gerevick]

Blaster bolts are easier to counter than bullets, I think. Reflective materials and force redirection have proven themselves to be simple yet very effective counters to them. Bullets on the other hand travel faster than blaster bolts, so the ability to counter them is physically tougher. I would have thought that energy would not be so easy to defend against, since it is based on greater than normal heat.

[SmootheOperator]

so you are saying that energy based projectiles such as a blaster bolt, a beam of energy, with no physical presence, only as a beam of energy, with no affect by wind, ballistics and physical drag, travel slower than a bullet?

 

A bullet is a physical piece of material, it is affected by gravity to a huge degree, it is affected by every possible environmental variable that exists, from, wind, to humidity, to temperature of the air around it, to the density of the air around it. a bullet is also wieghed down by the fact that it is a physical piece of matter. It can only go so fast before the stress on the projectile become so great, that it rips itself apart.

 

A bullet is not faster than an energy based projectile. Furthermore, as a piece of material, not energy, it is possible for a force user to stop, deflect, or destroy a bullet mid flight using the force alone.

[SmootheOperator]

Eliminate weight concerns and recoil almost entirely.

Create practical caseless rounds.

Scopes that auto-compensate for bullet drop, wind, time-to-target, etc.

 

These have existed in the star wars universe. Wookieepedia the VERPINE SNIPER RIFLE. it is essentially a rail gun, using a line of electro-magnets, firing a magnetic projectile, with not powder or combustion, no recoil, and in the Republic Commando Triple Zero book, there is an adjustable scope.

 

Second Aura Sing uses a auto-compensating scope in her signature Adventurer slugthrower rifle.

[SITH LORD 872]

If they didn't use light sabers then would we call them Jedi?

[Isaac Clarke]

If they didn't use light sabers then would we call them Jedi?

 

Of course, the Jedi are named for the use of the force or something like that. If you took a lightsaber away from a Jedi, then he/she is still a Jedi. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[Liverandbacon]

so you are saying that energy based projectiles such as a blaster bolt, a beam of energy, with no physical presence, only as a beam of energy, with no affect by wind, ballistics and physical drag, travel slower than a bullet?

 

A bullet is a physical piece of material, it is affected by gravity to a huge degree, it is affected by every possible environmental variable that exists, from, wind, to humidity, to temperature of the air around it, to the density of the air around it. a bullet is also wieghed down by the fact that it is a physical piece of matter. It can only go so fast before the stress on the projectile become so great, that it rips itself apart.

 

A bullet is not faster than an energy based projectile. Furthermore, as a piece of material, not energy, it is possible for a force user to stop, deflect, or destroy a bullet mid flight using the force alone.

 

The thing is, Star Wars blasters don't work like a real-world energy weapon would. Like it or not (and in many cases I don't), what you see in the films supersedes any other source canon-wise, and blaster bolts can be seen to move quite slowly. Gravity and other factors do limit the range and speed of projectile weapons, however our current firearms don't even approach what would be possible with SW technology in those regards, and within effective range, tech like auto-compensating sights would render differences moot. As well as what I listed above, they have the tech to eliminate muzzle flash and almost all noise, which coupled with the lack of any visible bolt, would give the user a huge advantage in a firefight, as the enemy would have a much harder time locating the shooter.

 

Even our comparatively primitive modern firearms outstrip the capabilities of Star Wars blasters. I've already addressed rate of fire and the speed of the projectile, so let's look at maximum effective range, the one advantage a blaster might have. Some of the Star Wars weapons only have data saying 'range', so I'm going to be charitable and assume this is maximum effective range, not maximum range. I've attempted to compare weapons that fill the same roles, for fairness' sake.

 

E-11 and A280 Blaster Rifles: 300m -- M4 Carbine 500-600m (it's lighter too!)

E-Web Heavy Repeating Blaster: 500m -- M2 Browning Machine Gun 2000m

X-45 Sniper Rifle (only SW sniper I could find w/ range info) 500m -- M24 variant (not even close to our longest-range sniper, but I wanted to be fair, as for all I know, the X-45 might be a mediocre rifle) 1500m

 

As for Force-users, they make up a tiny percentage of people in the galaxy, and even if they could stop or deflect a bullet, it would be no less effective than a blaster bolt. Even so, even more powerful Force-users have been taken by surprise by blasters, and a far faster, stealthier weapon like a projectile weapon would make surprising them much easier. The depiction of Force-based telekinesis in Star Wars has been wildly inconsistent, but a non-surprised Jedi could likely stop a bullet (if he reacted in time). It would take quite a powerful Jedi to stop multiple bullets in quick succession, however. Seeing as Jedi sense danger in a vague fashion (not a full rundown of the opponent's armament), and have been trained to instinctively block ranged attacks with a lightsaber, it's quite probable that they'd only realize the nature of the projectile too late to stop it with the Force, and would melt one bullet just to be hit by the second (If one had plenty of money, a cortosis bullet shorting out the lightsaber for a follow-up killshot would simplify things further). The greater range of projectile weapons would also make it much harder for a force-user to get within striking distance before the shooter escapes or gets a solid hit.

 

Now excuse me, I have to lift weights, run 5 miles and watch some sports in order to balance out the nerd points I racked up with that post.

 

Edit: I realize that there are projectile weapons in Star Wars, however they seem to be used only by very specialized groups (The Verpine stuff from the RC books, and various, more primitive ones in Shatterpoint). I just don't see why they aren't just as common, if not more so, than blasters. (Understandable in the films because of the lack of space-opera feel, but less so in the generally more grounded EU)

[SmootheOperator]

These have existed in the star wars universe. Wookieepedia the VERPINE SNIPER RIFLE. it is essentially a rail gun, using a line of electro-magnets, firing a magnetic projectile, with not powder or combustion, no recoil, and in the Republic Commando Triple Zero book, there is an adjustable scope.

 

Second Aura Sing uses a auto-compensating scope in her signature Adventurer slugthrower rifle.

 

There are projectile weapons in the Star Wars universe, the ballistics of the Star Wars blasters isn't a well known thing. It would be interesting to know the ins and outs of a blaster, but as far was right now goes, there is no technical data on why the blaster bolts are as slow as they appear to be, instead of the speed of light, which is teoretically how fast an energy projectile weapon should be.

[Klw]

They use blasters because they can hold significantly more rounds than a projectile weapon. Also, blaster bolts move that slow because it makes for a better movie if we can see them. In reality they would be invisible like bullets. Also, I know there would be overheating concerns, but what about continuous fire? That's way better than an automatic weapon, and some of the tanks and artillery in Star Wars already have it. That, if anything, would make energy more effective than a projectile. There's also that whole thing about not having to order giant shipments of ammo. An army armed with energy weapons can reload at an electrical outlet.

 

Also, Jedi use swords because swords are cool and artistic. There is no martial function of the sword, even in close combat, that cannot be improved upon by a projectile weapon. Sure you can argue about blocking bolts, etc., but I don't buy it. If they can do that much with a stick then imagine how much they could do with the Star Wars equivalent of an Uzi in one hand and a variation on a Gungan shield in the other. It would be insane domination.

 

You know what? I'm going to make two exceptions. 1. Swords are good for fighting people with other swords. You can't block an energy sword with your gun stock. 2. Also, swords can dispatch multiple enemies who are in close proximity while guns can only handle one person at a time. But then why would someone who has a gun stand in close proximity to you?

 

P.S. I saw a Samurai master on TV who could cut a bullet in half with the edge of a katana sword, a feat even greater than what we have seen Jedi do, but I don't think he could do it for multiple shots in succession.

[SITH LORD 872]

I disagree Jedi have the ability to dodge laser fire with a saber, So if they all used conventional weapons such as guns then in my opinion Jedi would be boring, Jedi don't rely on the force alone, As all Jedi are recognized by carrying a saber depicting what rank they hold.

 

If you watch Revenge of the Sith when they track down the bounty hunter everyone stops dead in their tracks when Jedi show up!!

[SmootheOperator]

that is kind of a different situation though, in a bar full of normal, "people", people who don't see a lightsaber ever, and all of a sudden one flashes to life across the bar and cuts some gun wielding maniac's(Zam) hand off, everyone is going to take notice, and the music will stop.

 

Its not that the Jedi show up, and everything comes to a grinding halt, it is the lightsaber that got everyone's attention. The only one's that can tell the difference between a force user and a regular person, is another force user. They can sense that another force user is near. Other than than, you could be walking calmy by the Senate building on Coruscant, and pass someone in a beard, and never think twice about it, never knowing that that person was just Obi-Wan, and could mind trick you to throw yourself into oncoming traffic.

[SITH LORD 872]

that is kind of a different situation though, in a bar full of normal, "people", people who don't see a lightsaber ever, and all of a sudden one flashes to life across the bar and cuts some gun wielding maniac's(Zam) hand off, everyone is going to take notice, and the music will stop.

 

Its not that the Jedi show up, and everything comes to a grinding halt, it is the lightsaber that got everyone's attention. The only one's that can tell the difference between a force user and a regular person, is another force user. They can sense that another force user is near. Other than than, you could be walking calmy by the Senate building on Coruscant, and pass someone in a beard, and never think twice about it, never knowing that that person was just Obi-Wan, and could mind trick you to throw yourself into oncoming traffic.

 

That is true also, But i think without a saber they wouldn't be referred to as Jedi!!

[SmootheOperator]

thats why i used the term "force user", because they could be either a Jedi or Sith, which by the way, are just organizations within the force user community. There can be a force user that is neither a Jedi or Sith, and can still be light or dark side force user, and still not be a Jedi or Sith, just a force user.

 

The light saber alone doesn't make a force user a Jedi or Sith, a Jedi does what Jedi do, and Sith do what Sith do. It is possible to exist between the two, and not be a member of either, and still have a lightsaber, as long as you have the knowledge to build a lightsaber, you still do not have to be a Jedi or SIth to have it.

 

General Grievous was neither a Jedi or Sith, but he had an abundance of lightsabers.

[SITH LORD 872]

thats why i used the term "force user", because they could be either a Jedi or Sith, which by the way, are just organizations within the force user community. There can be a force user that is neither a Jedi or Sith, and can still be light or dark side force user, and still not be a Jedi or Sith, just a force user.

 

The light saber alone doesn't make a force user a Jedi or Sith, a Jedi does what Jedi do, and Sith do what Sith do. It is possible to exist between the two, and not be a member of either, and still have a lightsaber, as long as you have the knowledge to build a lightsaber, you still do not have to be a Jedi or SIth to have it.

 

General Grievous was neither a Jedi or Sith, but he had an abundance of lightsabers.

 

I'm curious to know what happened to grievous, Reading online he was human at one time and was a good guy!

[Sabretooth]

I'm not uptodate with my EU, but from what I know, Grievous was not human, he was a warlord of some kind who was probably injured and got himself cyborgified.