Anyway... there's nothing in my mind that suggests Caedus is any higher than a tier 8 swordsman. Maul level is fine, but he might not even be there. Caedus functions best as an all rounder. That means he doesn't rely on any single art to meet his ends in combat. For example, he would have been dispatched quicker than Lumiya against Luke if he :
1) wasn't already circumstantially amped
2) didn't use TK to retreat from the fight and poison Luke with a Vong entrapment.
Given that we have every reasonable reason to believe Plagueis is more powerful than Jacen, the subjectivity of novel blurbs withstanding, He should win a lightsaber fight.
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“We defeated the wrong enemy” - General George S. Patton, Berlin 1945
Registered: Jun 2016
Location: The Throne of the Sheevites
Sheev never presumably trained on his own as he wasn't interested in lightsaber combat, which would be consistent with his character after TPM when he only focused on the Force and didn't care for lightsabers at all, so we can conclude all he knew from lightsaber combat came from sparring with Plagueis. Sidious and Plagueis also talked about how the latter had bested the former in spars around the timeframe of TPM. There's also James Luceno (I don't personally care for authorial intent but for those who do, I'll drop this here) stating Plagueis would have beaten Palpatine in a duel during TPM.
Given how Sheev handled the B-team vs Caedus having problems with Katarn and co., I don't think the latter stacks up very favorably against Plagueis here. The winner is quite clear in my mind.
Going by feats and implied power alone, Caedus is the superior physical specimen and precognitive user, via knowing, and mastering - arcane techniques such as Fighting Sight, both being the cream of the crop in regards to lightsaber battles. Plagueis maybe the more powerful Force user, but I don't know if that's enough to circumvent Jacen's named advantages above.
The dude was capable of besting Jaina Solo while sporting a lightsaber wound in his gut and the loss of a ****ing limb. Obviously, Plagueis lacks showings as a pure fencer, so this battle is a little silly from the get-go.
Registered: Jun 2016
Location: The Throne of the Sheevites
I disagree. Sidious has been stated to be "the most powerful Sith Master who ever lived" as of TPM and "possessed all of Plagueis' secrets" at that time, while additionally not lacking talent in any particular area e.g. Sith Sorcery like Plagueis does. Plagueis could hardly have beaten Sidious for a majority if lightsaber skill wasn't relevant.
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Last edited by Azronger on Oct 1st, 2017 at 08:03 AM
Registered: Jun 2016
Location: The Throne of the Sheevites
"You have made him fearsome," Plagueis remarked without turning from the recording, as the athletic Zabrak cleaved a Collicoid Eradicator droid down the middle and whirled to cut two other in half. The yellow-eyed humanoid's hairless head bore a crown of small horns and geometrical patterns of black and red markings.
"Fearless, as well," Sidious said. "Still, they are only droids. He's even more formidable against living beings."
Plagueis looked over his should, his eyes narrowed in question. "You've fought him in a serious way?" Reconstructed vocal chords and trachea imparted a metallic quality to his voice, as if he were speaking through an enunciator.
"I stranded him on Hypori for a month without food and with only a horde of assassin droids for company. Then I returned to goad and challenge him. All things considered, he fought well, even after I deprived him of his lightsaber. He wanted to kill me, but was prepared to die by my hand."
Plagueis turned fully to face him. "Rather than punish him for disobedience, you praise his resolve."
"He was already humbled. I chose to leave his honor intact. I proclaimed him my myrmidon; the embodiment of the violent half of our partnership."
"Parthership?" Plagueis repeated harshly.
"His and mine; not ours."
"Regardless, you allowed him to believe that he is more skilled than he actually is."
"Did you not do the same for me?"
Plagueis' eyes reflected in disappointment. "Never, Sidious. I have always been truthful with you."
Interesting, never picked up on that. Yeah, that's a strong indication of where Sidious' skill really comes from, and how well Plagueis can perform against him.
Not that there's much doubt Plagueis is a great duelist to begin with, but for the nay-sayers...
__________________ “The galaxy must experience the pain of death and the rapture of rebirth as I have. I will bring chaos. It is time for war.”
Registered: Jun 2016
Location: The Throne of the Sheevites
You know what else makes you think? That Tenebrous hadn't "actually trained" Plagueis in virtually anything, yet we know that Plagueis is just as skilled as Sidious with a lightsaber... It's quite curious to think about what that implies for Tenebrous.