Strength of Star Wars Cloth...

[Ghost Rider]

Recalling from memory.

I'm not implying that Vader must have a person shield in use to explain the deflection, but the examples do show different bolt behavior. Other than those examples, we have shielded vehicles (and the AT-AT's if you consider them shielded or some kind of 'activated' armor, since they do call it armor in dialouge) simply "absorbing" bolts (simply whiteing out, or the so-called "flak burst effect").

Some scenes to double check...

Falcon at Docking Bay 94

Falcon on Bespin platform

------ Could be wrong about those though. This one I'm more sure of:

Greedo's shot in the Cantina.

Another scene I'd like to re-check would be the shoot outs in the Naboo palace.


Btw, I was noticing the scenes where the Tusken Raiders are shooting at the Pod Racers in TPM, I didn't realize you can actually see blaster bolts (for the longest time I assumed they were using slug throwers in that scene!). Something a bit odd about that scene, I'll have to check it again, but I'm too tired atm.

Yet, it's given with both EU and canon that CLOTH does not DEFLECT shots.

So are you going to go the obvious studpity of "Bolts have been shown to be deflected"...no really dumbass?

The contention of Cal is it's the fucking GLOVE...sorry, you wanting to provide something other then your blithering of the fucking obvious?

[nightmare]

I figured it is worth mentioning that Vader's right hand is still human from what we see in ROTJ.

Um, no it isn't. Doesn't make much sense to have an organic hand attached to a cybernetic wrist...

EDIT: Okay, I seen the mention and images of bone-glow on SWTC, but I think that can be rationalised with our knowedge from AotC and RotS as still being mechanical in nature (although maybe not absolutely metallic), but perhaps resembling bone under such circumstances.

Yeah, I know it doesn't quite fit in anymore. I was thinking maybe he got a cloned part because it could be done or something. Or perhaps it's simply a different cybernetic, more made like a real hand. Who knows.

[Stofsk]

Why does Vader raise his hand to deflect the bolts, if the same material in his glove is weaved into his entire armour? That makes no sense, he could have simply stood still and the bolts would have bounced off his head or torso section. Why isn't this material found in stormtrooper armour?

Why does every single bolt get 'caught' for lack of a better term in Vader's palms? Vader's arm remains rigid those first few blasts. He doesn't 'shake' from being struck by these bolts... even if the glove is immune to blaster fire, shouldn't he have been jostled a bit? The way how someone wearing a flak jacket will still go down after being hit by a bullet, even if the bullet doesn't kill him?

Why didn't Han aim for somewhere beside the palm? Or did Han Solo... quickdraw and scoundrel... guy who can make headshots against stormies... think that shooting the Dark Lord's hands off would kill him quickly?

[Steven Snyder]

Just to speculate...

Couldn't Vader's Armor be "magnetically sealed" like the trash compactor in the Death Star?

[Spacebeard]

Just to speculate...

Couldn't Vader's Armor be "magnetically sealed" like the trash compactor in the Death Star?

If they were able to do that, why wouldn't, say, stormtrooper armor be magnetically sealed, or Boba Fett's armor?

[Steven Snyder]

It could be extremely expensive for one...

[Ghost Rider]

It could be extremely expensive for one...

And why make an explaination that is not supported when the Force explaination is?

The movies have shown Jedi redirect energy, the novels have said that Jedi are able to redirect very little blaster fire.

Coming up with "Magnetically sealed Suit" is just coming up with the answer before looking at that the evidence of other is already there.

[Spice Runner]

Why does Vader raise his hand to deflect the bolts, if the same material in his glove is weaved into his entire armour? That makes no sense, he could have simply stood still and the bolts would have bounced off his head or torso section.

I believe that can be answered by precog, Vader knew where the bolt was going and he raised his hand to block it. And as to your point why Vader raised his hands in the first place, it is probably the same reason as why he raises his hand when force choking others and the same reason other Sith raise their hands to shoot force lightning. It is a gesture of power.

Why didn't Han aim for somewhere beside the palm? Or did Han Solo... quickdraw and scoundrel... guy who can make headshots against stormies... think that shooting the Dark Lord's hands off would kill him quickly?

Han was aiming for two points on Vader. In the ESB clip Han fires two shots at Vaders center which Vader blocks with his right hand, and a third shot towards Vaders side, which Vader promptly blocks with the left hand.

[GeneralTacticus]

It could be extremely expensive for one...

Which would raise the question of why they bothered doing it to a garbage compactor.

[Spanky The Dolphin]

Why does Vader raise his hand to deflect the bolts, if the same material in his glove is weaved into his entire armour?

You've got something confused. It's not Vader. Dooku's cape is made of an armour weave that provides some degree of additional protection.

[Connor MacLeod]

I'm still waiting for someone to explain to me how you are supposed to cremate someone if they're wearing blaster-resistant armor....

[Kurgan]

I'm still waiting for someone to explain to me how you are supposed to cremate someone if they're wearing blaster-resistant armor....

Ask Dave? http://www.baetzler.de/humor/litegrill.html

[Kurgan]

Okay, probably nobody cares anymore, but I finally got my hands on a copy of the AOTC VD, and here's the quote from the picture of Christopher Lee in full getup on page 48 ("Count Dooku"):

(line pointing to his cape)

Underlayer made of costly,
fine-grade armorweave fabric,
which drapes like silk and helps
dissipate blast or lightsaber energy

Cape enlarges Count's
silhouette to intimidating effect

Cape is emblem of
Count of Serenno

That's it! So Spanky, you were right, but I didn't understand you. I did a quick check on google and apparently "armorweave" is the actual name of this technobabblish fabric (most of the pages are referencing it in regards to SWG and KOTOR, so it appears to be a game mechanic (that has now become C-Level canon due to its inclusion here)? Then again those games came out about the same time as the VD, so that's just a guess). Interesting stuff. So apparently it's not really blaster proof, it just "helps dissipate" that energy, somehow. So maybe it wouldn't even protect him, it would just not necessarily ruin his pretty outfit so much in a battle if it got nicked... or avoid his cape catching on fire!

Heh, I like the in-joke about his "immobilizing gaze", a reference to Lee's famous portrayal of Count Dracula, no doubt!

Well, moving on...

So how does "armorweave" work in the games? I assume it's not like Cortosis, and it's not like a mag-sealed surface, I'm guessing it just reduces damage or something, right? Again, if anyone knows or cares...

[GeneralTacticus]

The only game I've played that contains Armourweave is Kotor II - in that, it's an underlay that can be applied to certain kinds of armour and clothing, and reduces 'Energy' (i.e. blaster and lightsabre) damage by a percentage that depends on the quality.