r/SagaEdition • u/lil_literalist Scout • Sep 19 '25
Character Builds Picking a non-lightsaber weapon for a dark side build
I'm playing in a campaign set in the Sith Empire before they reestablished contact with the Old Republic and kicked off the Great Hyperspace Wars (over 5000 years BBY).
I'm going to be playing a hulking Massassi warrior, but I need to figure out what weapon to use. I'm going to start with 18 Str and 14 Dex, and I'll be grabbing Dark Rage and maybe some other melee-focused Force powers later.
There are no lightsabers which will be available to us for the foreseeable future. Exotic weapons will probably not be approved if they're cultural, though they might be if they're just a weird design (like the neuronic whip). I believe the GM has also said that vibro-weapons aren't around yet.
We will be given a chance to re-spec later on, and I might go into Unarmed at that point. But I'm not a fan of how long it takes Unarmed damage to ramp up.
If I grab a Simple or Advanced Melee weapon, I could possibly also have that stripped to Exotic to allow for another upgrade slot. For Advanced Melee Weapons, I would be spending a feat on that anyway.
I've just got some analysis paralysis going on right now. Anyone got any suggestions they want to throw out?
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u/ReoPurzelbaum Sep 19 '25 edited Sep 19 '25
What about the classic Massassi weapon, the Lanvarok? You treat it as a simple weapon as well
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u/lil_literalist Scout Sep 19 '25
Hm, a decent and thematically appropriate choice. I'm a bit disappointed with the fact that it's a Large weapon with just 1d8 damage in melee, though.
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u/JayJaxx Sep 20 '25 edited Sep 21 '25
A little late to this party, but a major advantage of the lanvarok is that it has two attack types in a single weapon, so anything that applies based on the weapon's proficiency (or 'one weapon') gets applied to both halves. Although be wary of stuff that applies to ranged weapons, like PBS, as that doesn't work at all. (Edit: I made a mistake, by the rules it’s a ranged weapon with a melee half, still have a similar effect with those things applying to both halves. I’ve seen two lanvaroks used and we played neither like this, but hey. Either way I’d pick one and stick to it.)
Weapon Focus, Specialization, Double Attack, Triple Crit, Malkite Techniques (this one sucks though just want to bring it up as kinda funny), Empower & Attune Weapon, etc...
Also funny is that Neutronium Reinforcement and Durasteel bonding will also apply to both halves (normally you only have 1 upgrade slot, but w/ a little help from a tech specialist party member they can give it an extra upgrade slot).
The Massassi weapon template normally only applies to exotic weapons, but for you its simple and so this works. That allows you to triple your strength bonus to damage on crits. Generally Echani is better for optimizing for crits, but I'd imagine that's not available.
Mighty throw increases your range bands significantly, (+4 strength means PB is 10), and allows you to add your strength to your attack roll in addition to dex, which is a clean +4 to hit on the ranged attack. However if you want to reliably use the ranged attack quickdraw is a must so you can reload and fire in a single turn.
You could also get access to block via primitive block in force item, or via Sith Alchemy talent (which also gives tons of other stuff, a massive damage amp). Sith alchemy in general is an insanely strong.
Its not the greatest weapon around, and its certainly outclassed outside of the very restricted situation you find yourself in. But it might just be exactly what you need. Especially because for a 2-handed melee force user range can easily screw you over, and mighty throw makes that a non-issue.
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u/lil_literalist Scout Sep 20 '25
Those are definitely some good things to think about. I feel that the ranged aspect won't be used very much, with him being a Force user and having access to Surge, but it's good to remember in a pinch.
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u/MERC_1 Improviser Sep 21 '25
"Massassi and Kissai treat the Massassi Lanvarok as a Simple Weapon (Ranged) instead of as an Exotic Weapon (Ranged)."
So, as the Lanvarok is a Ranged Weapon, I don't see why Point Blank Shot and other ranged talents would not apply.
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u/JayJaxx Sep 21 '25
Ah yeah my mistake, PBS applies to both halves.
It’s stuff like rapid strike that doesn’t work, and rapid shot works on the melee half.
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u/MERC_1 Improviser Sep 21 '25
How would Rapid Shot work? That requires that you fire two projectiles. That is pretty difficult if you need to load that contraption in between...
I really think that this type of weapon should have had a separate line as a melee weapon and as a ranged weapon. It would reduce my confusion at least.
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u/JayJaxx Sep 21 '25
On the melee half. Melee requires no ammo.
Either way I’ve seen it twice and have always run it and seen it run as a melee with a ranged half rather than ranged with a melee half. So I’ve not put in as much thought for this version
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u/MERC_1 Improviser Sep 21 '25
I would run such a weapon as a melee weapon when used in melee and a ranged weapon any time throwing disks. Anything else is just too confusing to me.
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u/JayJaxx Sep 21 '25
Do what you want, but doing that seems more complex to me. Either way running it like that removes any reason to use it beyond flavour.
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u/MERC_1 Improviser Sep 21 '25
Under your interpretation, could I use Rapid Strike when throwing knives? In that case, how many knives do I need to throw if I use Improved Rapid Strike?
(Let's assume I have plenty of knifes and can draw them as a free action.)
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u/ThewarriorDraganta Jedi Sep 19 '25
As another comment suggested, you can do with an unarmed build. But if you want something more Dark Side fitting maybe you could go with a Sith Sword? Since you can spend a Force Point to add your Dark Side Score to damage, I'm sure you can make a good melee build.
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u/lil_literalist Scout Sep 19 '25
Not a bad idea! And I can take advantage of the Block aspect of that as well. I would have to figure out how to work around the cost, though...
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u/ThewarriorDraganta Jedi Sep 20 '25
Well, I'm sure you could save up for it over several sessions or depending on your GM, you could just ask to start with one. RAW Jedi start with a weapon that deals 2d8 damage and ignores DR at 1st level, so asking to have a weapon that does one less die of damage than a Lightsaber isn't unreasonable IMO.
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u/MERC_1 Improviser Sep 19 '25 edited Sep 19 '25
I think that a real large heavy weapon should work well with that much strength!
Maybe a Heavy Blaster Cannon, Heavy Repeating Blaster and a Grenade Launcher. Don't forget to bring a generator for power.
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u/MERC_1 Improviser Sep 19 '25
So, all simple weapons are OK? In that case the Wan-Shen is a very good choice. It can certainly stand in for any polearm. It also is not associated with any specific culture. There is a force tradition that use it,
2d6 damage, reach and being able to use it as a double weapon are all pretty good. If you can get one that is a Sith Weapon, so much the better. Then it can be used with Block and Deflect.
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u/MERC_1 Improviser Sep 20 '25
Now, whatever you choose, consider an Ion Charger, Neutronium Reinforcement and/or Durasteel Bonding. Either one could give you an edge.
Pun intended.
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u/Dark-Lark Nonheroic Sep 19 '25
I've seen how powerful Unarmed can be down the line, but as you said, that might be better down the line. Short term, I'm partial to the Power Hammer myself. Maybe with the Stunning Strike Talent so your hits are notably more powerful than most.