A question on Force lightning

[Mark S]

It seemed that in AOTC a lightsabre acted as sort of a lightning rod for Force lightning. Would a blaster bolt be able to attract Force lightning in any way? Slightly divert it from its path?

[Master of Ossus]

It seemed that in AOTC a lightsabre acted as sort of a lightning rod for Force lightning. Would a blaster bolt be able to attract Force lightning in any way? Slightly divert it from its path?

Almost certainly not. HttE describes what was actually going on when Mara uses a lightsaber to stop a Force-lightning attack. She was actually using the Force to re-direct the lightning to the lightsaber, which was then capable of stopping the attack. This is a conclusion that is not inconsistent with AotC, when Yoda uses the Force to repel a Force-lightning attack on him by Count Dooku. It seems that Dooku was surprised by Obi-Wan's power in that he was able to re-direct the attack, shielding himself. Also, blaster bolts are gone too quickly to attract Force-lightning for a significant amount of time, anyway. It is unlikely that a blaster would be an adequate defense.

[Mark S]

Never read Heir to the Empire. Makes sense.