- "The stealth field generator bends light around its wearer so he can't be seen. Handy for escaping boring conversations, but there are limits."
- ―Trymbo
Stealth field generators, alternatively known as personal stealth fields and personal cloaking devices,[5] were small devices worn at the belt that hid the wearer in a manner similar to the larger cloaking device.[3]
Characteristics[]
During the Old Republic era stealth field generators were typically small and unobtrusive devices worn on the belt, consisting of emitters and a standard power pack that could power the device for roughly five minutes.[3] Using technology similar to personal energy shields, stealth field generators emitted a sound-dampening field as well as bent light around the wearer; this made the wearer incredibly difficult to detect aurally and visually, though didn't grant total invisibility.[3]
By the time of the Rebellion era, stealth field generators were a relic of an age long-past, and those that remained were considered antiques.[4] Despite this, several contemporary efforts were made by various military organizations and stealth technology companies to recreate field generators with modern technology.[4] These modern recreations had much longer battery life, and used a combination of optical camouflage, low-output electromagnetic dampers, electronic acoustic bafflers, and thermal shielding to make a user virtually invisible to the naked eye and nearly all sensors and scanners.[2] Despite their advances, however, these systems were not perfect, and did not offer total invisibility.[2]
Limitations[]
Regardless of the era they were produced in, both antique and recreation stealth field generators were notoriously sensitive, with the camouflage fields prone to collapse under stress.[2][3] This flaw was theorized by scientists to be an inherent limitation of the miniaturization of technology originally used in starships, among other design flaws.[4]
Ultimately this limited stealth fields in a variety of ways; quick movements tended to destabilize the field easily, and most users could only move at a fast walk for fear of the field collapsing,[2] with it requiring skill and training to move anywhere close to a run.[1] Actions involving sudden outward movement, such as engaging in combat, and weapons fire across a broad spectrum of energy types was disruptive to the stealth field - taking damage or delivering it was often enough to cause a collapse.[3][1]
Further, the camouflage that stealth fields offered wasn't perfect, with many field generators creating a visual distortion or phantasmal silhouette that, while near-to impossible to see, could still be detected if the user wasn't well trained in their use.[1][2] Because of this, users of stealth fields could not move with impunity and had to be mindful of detection, often using shadows and cover to their advantage.[2]
History[]
- "Stealth fields don't fool thermal detonators."
- ―Torian Cadera
Stealth fields became prominent during and after the Jedi Civil War, where they were a novel technology.[1] During this time they were widely used by Sith Assassins and Mandalorian scouts, as well as criminal elements such as the GenoHaradan and the Exchange. Under Darth Malak's Sith Empire, a group of researchers on Korriban developed a special sound dampening stealth field generator[1]
By the time of the Rebellion, stealth field technology had become vanishingly rare - to the point that most governments didn't even bother to place restrictions on the technology's use.[4] Certain governments and intelligence organizations still made use of the technology, however, most notably Bothans from the Bothan Spynet,[7] Shadowtroopers from the Empire Reborn,[8] and Imperial Saboteurs.[9]
Despite the decline in their use, several stealth technology companies, primarily Fabritech and Kerner Corp., attempted to recreate the technology through contemporary technology.[2] These modern recreations were more advanced and power efficient than their antique counterparts, and were available for sale as restricted items.[2]
Behind the scenes[]
The stealth field generator was specifically designed for the Knights of the Old Republic video game duology, although it made it first appearance in the 2002 game Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast, with stealth fields going on to appear in numerous Star Wars video games before being introduced into the wider canon. Within games they are typically portrayed by using a frame buffer effect to show the stealthed individual as a three-dimensional transparent distortion in the air.
Appearances[]
- Star Wars: Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast (First appearance)
- X-Wing: Wraith Squadron (First mentioned)
- Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
- Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
- Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
- Star Wars: The Old Republic
- Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire
- Star Wars: Battlefront II
- Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption
- Operation: Shadowpoint (Mentioned only)
Sources[]
- Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords: Prima Official Game Guide
- Knights of the Old Republic Campaign Guide
- Star Wars: The Old Republic Explorer's Guide
- Star Wars: The Old Republic Encyclopedia
- Star Wars: Edge of the Empire Core Rulebook
- The History of Mandalorian Armor on StarWars.com (article) (content now obsolete; backup link)
- Star Wars: Age of Rebellion Core Rulebook
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 Cyphers and Masks
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Knights of the Old Republic Campaign Guide
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Star Wars: Edge of the Empire Core Rulebook
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 X-Wing: Wraith Squadron
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Star Wars: The Old Republic
- ↑ Star Wars: Battlefront II
- ↑ Star Wars: Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast
- ↑ Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy