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29-04-2023, 10:20 PM
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Required rank to access file: -
Filed by: Avestia Qimtash
Subject: Evaluation of lightsaber forms
Location: The Qimtash archives on Dromund Kaas.
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Disclaimer: This file has been composed by an Acolyte, even if it is the daughter of the House leader herself. Information is thus written with lack of personal experience in encountering and utilizing the forms past the first (Shii-Cho).
Shii-Cho:
This form is as simple as it is deceptive. Why, you might ask? While this form is indeed the very foundation of all other forms, that is one statement which will cause you to underestimate this form. It is the first form any initiate learns when one takes into account the Jedi order and the Sith. This form was created when the first transitions were made from actual swords to lightsabers and is thus used to educate about the targeting zones. While Jedi originally used this form in attempts to disarm their opponent, this form could be a double-sided blade. In the fever pitch of battle they could easily lose their supposed calm.
Where this form excels is in its ability to effectively control crowds, and to control areas. Its signature moves are sweeping motions, and attacks aimed directly at the blade in attempts to tear the opposing blade out of their grasp. While I am certainly no master of this form (or any form described here, to clarify), these signature moves are not the movements a master of this form will rely on. I dare not even predict what a master of it will rely on as the form becomes the very definition of unpredictability itself.
Its strengths are against multiple foes in large areas. Its weaknesses are its inability to efficiently duel one opponent (where the second form excels), or combating in smaller areas.
While the skill required to perform decently with this form is not as high as others, its skill ceiling is deceptively high, as high as other forms if not higher.
Makashi:
The second form is centered around efficiency. Efficiency of movement, efficiency of attacking and defensive movement, outmaneuvering the opponent with tight footwork and a constant barrage of attacks. While leaning towards offense it is able to defend, though it wants to be on the offense to fully show its capabilities.
The cause of the creation of this form was that blade weapons became more and more popular. Be it the ever accessible vibroknife and vibrosword or the more traditionalist favored lightsaber, this form is oriented around acting around them. Small movements of the blade are accompanied by the ever-pressing footwork which allows the user to advance on their opponent if the situation allows them to.
This form is dueling oriented, so when a sudden increase of blaster availability happened in the galaxy this diminished the effectiveness of this form as duelists were rarely seen anymore.
Its weaknesses are ranged opponents and multiple opponents, the very last thing you want to do against a Makashi practitioner is head face first into a one on one.
Soresu:
The third lightsaber form is without a doubt the most defensive of all, and thus the least favored of all in the ranks of the Sith. Where the Sith draw off emotions for their strength this strength cannot manifest as well in this form as it can in the others. In fact, the third form is despised in certain circles of Sith to the extent that any of the knowledge on it has been deliberately removed from the archives as it is considered to be unlike the nature of the Sith.
If one were to look at the definition of a war of attrition, I swear this lightsaber form could be found as one of the definitions. It means to outlast the opponent through solely defensive movements of the blade, its movements carrying enough efficiency to outlast the movements of other forms which if taken into comparison are exhausting. So while other forms intend to outmaneuver their opposition in certain fashion depending on the form in question, this one will always work off patience.
A weakness of this form is that it lacks the offensive capability of pushing the foe into a corner where they are forced into mistakes, the initiative will always lie in the hands of the one a third form user as this form is not meant to be on the offense till the enemy is unable to fight anymore due to lack of energy. Though do not mistake this form for a passive one, as no lightsaber form can be considered passive, even if the one in question lacks means of offense. The correct terms are reactive and responsive. If a user of this form is toppled by overwhelming bursts of assault they will lose and the opposite is true for it to be the other way around, if a user of this form can outlast the most aggressive of forms patterns of burst the victory will surely fall in the hands of the Soresu user.
Ataru:
Ataru, the fourth form, is an offensive one, much like its sibling, the seventh form. It is movement reliant, or momentum to specify. Akin to the second form this lightsaber form wishes to be on the offensive yet unlike Makashi, it does not have the capability of defense.
With its acrobatic movements and attacks any user of this form will rely on overwhelming attacks, drawing upon the force heavily to assist their jumps and leaps, though the way it overwhelms is not one through sheer power. It is the number and unrelenting assault which allows an Ataru user to overcome their foe, in fact the form lacks strength behind its attacks with the constant movement.
There are a few major flaws in the battleplan of this form. While its attacks are vicious like a snake and have the possibility to come from any if not all angles, the constant leaping, twisting and turning requires copious amounts of space. Confinement of a practitioner of this form will inconvenience them as if they are unable to use a limb.
On top of needing space there is the fact that such extensive movements and drawing upon the Force is exhausting on the individual who chooses to wield this form. Its attacks will grow slow and movements will become sloppy as the body starts to give in under the pressure even if the foe is purely on the defensive.
Being detained or outlasted is tantamount to death.
Shien:
This form is a bit more complicated to explain than the previous ones, yet this is not because the form is more complex. The form consists of two separate versions, with different purposes yet the same means of going about their goals. They do not carry the same history or reason of creation, and such I will go over both one by one. The common ground they share is that the form is favored by users of great natural strength, without the aid of the Force to augment them. As the third form waited for opportunities to arise through exhaustion, the fifth form is meant to create and force openings, utterly dominating the opponent. To my knowledge the characteristics of the fifth form are its power attacks and being solid defensively before following with immediate retaliation.
Shien:
One can see the resemblance of Shii-Cho in this version, even if it is based off the third form. Shii-Cho is capable of warding off multiple opponents whether they are melee or ranged foes, same goes for Soresu. Shien takes this to new heights when it comes to blaster wielding enemies, now pay close attention as the terms are rather similar. Neither first nor third form struggle to deflect blaster bolts, but the Shien adaptation of the fifth aims to reflect instead. Where lightsabers which are wielded with an amount of skill are effective enough to keep the user out of the way of harm, this form effectively turns the blaster bolts against the ones who think they have an advantage due to their range.
Shien excels at combatting more than one individual without influencing own counterattack ability.
Djem-so:
The Djem-so version of the 5th form requires and uses great physical strength like the Shien adaptation. Where Ataru has its overwhelming amount of attacks, Shien does not. It is sheer physical strength that pushes this form to victory, overpowering its foe with force equal to a house landing on the opponent in every single strike. The ability to defend without flinching to then retaliate with natural great strength and augmented strength through the Force means these attacks are not to be underestimated.
These counterattacks turn the tide on the offender, as their force is used against them alongside the already prominent offensive strength of the fifth form. In fact, it presses assault after these counterattacks, combining the aid of the Force with strong blade movements to turn the battle into a one-sided slaughter.
Djem-so dominates the battle in offense and in defense. While Shien has a weakness against a single foe, Djem-so has a lack of agility and mobility.
Niman:
To give a valid explanation on this form I have to look at the ones who created this form. Why is the form called the diplomats form? Its origin lies with the Jedi and those amongst the Jedi who chose to act as diplomats and negotiators rather than the ones who have their lives on the front lines of a war. These diplomats are no experts in the art of the lightsaber yet this does not mean they are able to go on without way to defend themselves from harm nor the possibility to nullify an offensive if given opportunity.
Carrying similarities to Shii-Cho like every other form, this form has two things that allow one to consider it unique in its own right. The similarity lies in its balance between offense and defense, and it does not excel at either area. In fact, this form is considered the weakest when it comes to offense and defense if the subject is solely lightsaber against lightsaber.
Where other forms are able to draw on the Force in their combat it will seem clunky and unnatural. These diplomats I have mentioned above? Their calling in offense and defense lies in the Force itself if anywhere, and this form integrates that knowledge. Facing a Niman user one needs to be prepared to deal with the attacks through the Force that will undoubtedly come.
The simplicity of the form is its second trait. Niman is considered simple to pick upon much like Shii-Cho is, but a Niman practitioner is not necessarily in need of heightening their skills at wielding a lightsaber if their Force usage can make up for it.
Third and last for its traits is the fluidity of the form. There are little to no guidelines to accompany this form, as it allows one to weave the Force in between the simple bladework. An example is a force push followed with a slash to the pushed target.
As this form itself does not excel in offense or defense, the result of combat against a foe utilizing this form is determined by how well the attacker is able to deal with the Force itself and the fluidity that the form brings to the field.
Juyo:
In comparison to the sixth form this final form is the complete opposite. Juyo is aggression in a lightsaber form, yet it goes further beyond a simple lightsaber form. The lightsaber is merely a tool and not the complete weapon as the entire body is meant to act as weapon for a practitioner of this form. Seeking to flood the opponent with an ocean of attacks there is not a single opportunity for the defending party to retaliate under the unending barrage if the form is acted out as it is meant to be.
This form however does put enormous strain on the user through its momentum fueled movements, much like Ataru. If the wielder does not have their body under picture perfect control to the point where it will obey their very whim this form is likely to lash back at its user either in the way of losing momentum and thus everything it relies in, or in the form of physical harm due to misstep and poor choice.
Combating this form, one must be aware of the lightsaber merely being an extension of the body, even if it is a deadly one. The other incoming attacks are just as deadly if not more, as the overwhelming factor of getting hit by one will likely result in another hit or loss of balance. Watch out for the body as a whole and attempt to disrupt the flow of their battle.
Forms required to be knowledgeable (or mastered) for the forms:
Shii-Cho: -Makashi: Shii-Cho.Soresu: Shii-Cho.Ataru: Shii-Cho.Shien/Djem-So: Shii-Cho, Soresu.Niman: Shii-Cho, Makashi, Soresu.Juyo: Shii-Cho, Makashi, Ataru, Djem-So.
Required rank to access file: -
Filed by: Avestia Qimtash
Subject: Evaluation of lightsaber forms
Location: The Qimtash archives on Dromund Kaas.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer: This file has been composed by an Acolyte, even if it is the daughter of the House leader herself. Information is thus written with lack of personal experience in encountering and utilizing the forms past the first (Shii-Cho).
Shii-Cho:
This form is as simple as it is deceptive. Why, you might ask? While this form is indeed the very foundation of all other forms, that is one statement which will cause you to underestimate this form. It is the first form any initiate learns when one takes into account the Jedi order and the Sith. This form was created when the first transitions were made from actual swords to lightsabers and is thus used to educate about the targeting zones. While Jedi originally used this form in attempts to disarm their opponent, this form could be a double-sided blade. In the fever pitch of battle they could easily lose their supposed calm.
Where this form excels is in its ability to effectively control crowds, and to control areas. Its signature moves are sweeping motions, and attacks aimed directly at the blade in attempts to tear the opposing blade out of their grasp. While I am certainly no master of this form (or any form described here, to clarify), these signature moves are not the movements a master of this form will rely on. I dare not even predict what a master of it will rely on as the form becomes the very definition of unpredictability itself.
Its strengths are against multiple foes in large areas. Its weaknesses are its inability to efficiently duel one opponent (where the second form excels), or combating in smaller areas.
While the skill required to perform decently with this form is not as high as others, its skill ceiling is deceptively high, as high as other forms if not higher.
Makashi:
The second form is centered around efficiency. Efficiency of movement, efficiency of attacking and defensive movement, outmaneuvering the opponent with tight footwork and a constant barrage of attacks. While leaning towards offense it is able to defend, though it wants to be on the offense to fully show its capabilities.
The cause of the creation of this form was that blade weapons became more and more popular. Be it the ever accessible vibroknife and vibrosword or the more traditionalist favored lightsaber, this form is oriented around acting around them. Small movements of the blade are accompanied by the ever-pressing footwork which allows the user to advance on their opponent if the situation allows them to.
This form is dueling oriented, so when a sudden increase of blaster availability happened in the galaxy this diminished the effectiveness of this form as duelists were rarely seen anymore.
Its weaknesses are ranged opponents and multiple opponents, the very last thing you want to do against a Makashi practitioner is head face first into a one on one.
Soresu:
The third lightsaber form is without a doubt the most defensive of all, and thus the least favored of all in the ranks of the Sith. Where the Sith draw off emotions for their strength this strength cannot manifest as well in this form as it can in the others. In fact, the third form is despised in certain circles of Sith to the extent that any of the knowledge on it has been deliberately removed from the archives as it is considered to be unlike the nature of the Sith.
If one were to look at the definition of a war of attrition, I swear this lightsaber form could be found as one of the definitions. It means to outlast the opponent through solely defensive movements of the blade, its movements carrying enough efficiency to outlast the movements of other forms which if taken into comparison are exhausting. So while other forms intend to outmaneuver their opposition in certain fashion depending on the form in question, this one will always work off patience.
A weakness of this form is that it lacks the offensive capability of pushing the foe into a corner where they are forced into mistakes, the initiative will always lie in the hands of the one a third form user as this form is not meant to be on the offense till the enemy is unable to fight anymore due to lack of energy. Though do not mistake this form for a passive one, as no lightsaber form can be considered passive, even if the one in question lacks means of offense. The correct terms are reactive and responsive. If a user of this form is toppled by overwhelming bursts of assault they will lose and the opposite is true for it to be the other way around, if a user of this form can outlast the most aggressive of forms patterns of burst the victory will surely fall in the hands of the Soresu user.
Ataru:
Ataru, the fourth form, is an offensive one, much like its sibling, the seventh form. It is movement reliant, or momentum to specify. Akin to the second form this lightsaber form wishes to be on the offensive yet unlike Makashi, it does not have the capability of defense.
With its acrobatic movements and attacks any user of this form will rely on overwhelming attacks, drawing upon the force heavily to assist their jumps and leaps, though the way it overwhelms is not one through sheer power. It is the number and unrelenting assault which allows an Ataru user to overcome their foe, in fact the form lacks strength behind its attacks with the constant movement.
There are a few major flaws in the battleplan of this form. While its attacks are vicious like a snake and have the possibility to come from any if not all angles, the constant leaping, twisting and turning requires copious amounts of space. Confinement of a practitioner of this form will inconvenience them as if they are unable to use a limb.
On top of needing space there is the fact that such extensive movements and drawing upon the Force is exhausting on the individual who chooses to wield this form. Its attacks will grow slow and movements will become sloppy as the body starts to give in under the pressure even if the foe is purely on the defensive.
Being detained or outlasted is tantamount to death.
Shien:
This form is a bit more complicated to explain than the previous ones, yet this is not because the form is more complex. The form consists of two separate versions, with different purposes yet the same means of going about their goals. They do not carry the same history or reason of creation, and such I will go over both one by one. The common ground they share is that the form is favored by users of great natural strength, without the aid of the Force to augment them. As the third form waited for opportunities to arise through exhaustion, the fifth form is meant to create and force openings, utterly dominating the opponent. To my knowledge the characteristics of the fifth form are its power attacks and being solid defensively before following with immediate retaliation.
Shien:
One can see the resemblance of Shii-Cho in this version, even if it is based off the third form. Shii-Cho is capable of warding off multiple opponents whether they are melee or ranged foes, same goes for Soresu. Shien takes this to new heights when it comes to blaster wielding enemies, now pay close attention as the terms are rather similar. Neither first nor third form struggle to deflect blaster bolts, but the Shien adaptation of the fifth aims to reflect instead. Where lightsabers which are wielded with an amount of skill are effective enough to keep the user out of the way of harm, this form effectively turns the blaster bolts against the ones who think they have an advantage due to their range.
Shien excels at combatting more than one individual without influencing own counterattack ability.
Djem-so:
The Djem-so version of the 5th form requires and uses great physical strength like the Shien adaptation. Where Ataru has its overwhelming amount of attacks, Shien does not. It is sheer physical strength that pushes this form to victory, overpowering its foe with force equal to a house landing on the opponent in every single strike. The ability to defend without flinching to then retaliate with natural great strength and augmented strength through the Force means these attacks are not to be underestimated.
These counterattacks turn the tide on the offender, as their force is used against them alongside the already prominent offensive strength of the fifth form. In fact, it presses assault after these counterattacks, combining the aid of the Force with strong blade movements to turn the battle into a one-sided slaughter.
Djem-so dominates the battle in offense and in defense. While Shien has a weakness against a single foe, Djem-so has a lack of agility and mobility.
Niman:
To give a valid explanation on this form I have to look at the ones who created this form. Why is the form called the diplomats form? Its origin lies with the Jedi and those amongst the Jedi who chose to act as diplomats and negotiators rather than the ones who have their lives on the front lines of a war. These diplomats are no experts in the art of the lightsaber yet this does not mean they are able to go on without way to defend themselves from harm nor the possibility to nullify an offensive if given opportunity.
Carrying similarities to Shii-Cho like every other form, this form has two things that allow one to consider it unique in its own right. The similarity lies in its balance between offense and defense, and it does not excel at either area. In fact, this form is considered the weakest when it comes to offense and defense if the subject is solely lightsaber against lightsaber.
Where other forms are able to draw on the Force in their combat it will seem clunky and unnatural. These diplomats I have mentioned above? Their calling in offense and defense lies in the Force itself if anywhere, and this form integrates that knowledge. Facing a Niman user one needs to be prepared to deal with the attacks through the Force that will undoubtedly come.
The simplicity of the form is its second trait. Niman is considered simple to pick upon much like Shii-Cho is, but a Niman practitioner is not necessarily in need of heightening their skills at wielding a lightsaber if their Force usage can make up for it.
Third and last for its traits is the fluidity of the form. There are little to no guidelines to accompany this form, as it allows one to weave the Force in between the simple bladework. An example is a force push followed with a slash to the pushed target.
As this form itself does not excel in offense or defense, the result of combat against a foe utilizing this form is determined by how well the attacker is able to deal with the Force itself and the fluidity that the form brings to the field.
Juyo:
In comparison to the sixth form this final form is the complete opposite. Juyo is aggression in a lightsaber form, yet it goes further beyond a simple lightsaber form. The lightsaber is merely a tool and not the complete weapon as the entire body is meant to act as weapon for a practitioner of this form. Seeking to flood the opponent with an ocean of attacks there is not a single opportunity for the defending party to retaliate under the unending barrage if the form is acted out as it is meant to be.
This form however does put enormous strain on the user through its momentum fueled movements, much like Ataru. If the wielder does not have their body under picture perfect control to the point where it will obey their very whim this form is likely to lash back at its user either in the way of losing momentum and thus everything it relies in, or in the form of physical harm due to misstep and poor choice.
Combating this form, one must be aware of the lightsaber merely being an extension of the body, even if it is a deadly one. The other incoming attacks are just as deadly if not more, as the overwhelming factor of getting hit by one will likely result in another hit or loss of balance. Watch out for the body as a whole and attempt to disrupt the flow of their battle.
Forms required to be knowledgeable (or mastered) for the forms:
Shii-Cho: -Makashi: Shii-Cho.Soresu: Shii-Cho.Ataru: Shii-Cho.Shien/Djem-So: Shii-Cho, Soresu.Niman: Shii-Cho, Makashi, Soresu.Juyo: Shii-Cho, Makashi, Ataru, Djem-So.
Discord:
lord_saltaeon
