Saxton's TF.net Interview

[Illuminatus Primus]

Saxton Interview

We considered showing some of the big war droids in action on Geonosis, and I began detailing their technicalities and histories. However we ran out of time and there was little prospect of receiving detailed visual reference photos within our publication schedule. So my editor said he'd rather reserve that topic for future developments. In hindsight, I think that the quality and diversity of designs in the Battle of Geonosis could fill an entire book by itself.

The clones also used some self-propelled artillery pieces alongside the AT-TE, which we called SPHA/T = Self Propelled Heavy Artillery / Turbolaser (and equivalently SPHA/I = ion cannon). However we didn't have time to include those either.

The clone pilots and gunnery crew were going to have a practical uniform; they were going to be analogous to the AT-AT crew in TESB. That idea became caught in an editorial limbo, so we had to say that the armourers on Rothana were still developing the ergonomically appropriate gear, and it wasn't available for the Battle of Geonosis.

I hoped to explore the motivations of the Separatists, the methodologies of the corporate powers and the consequences of the increasingly disfunctional nature of the Galactic Republic (eg. remote worlds left in isolation; crop worlds left to rot due to tariff escalation; city planets plunged into famine and cannibalism due to terminated imports). I was also interested to portray the Naboo people multi-dimensionally, especially their defensive reaction to the trauma of mass internment and starvation in TPM. However it was only possible to connect a few of these ideas directly to the vehicles, and I conceded that the rest was outside the scope of the present book.

Might some of this we have to look forward to in "Worlds of Attack of the Clones" that Saxton's working on?

And a fascinating fix for some of WEG scale issues...

Regional variation" answers most questions of this kind.

The big military hardware came from a very secure industrial world named Rothana. I understand that Lucas named that world himself. I think I proposed that the natives are furry, hippo-sized lobster-like intelligent creatures. Anyhow, they are a regional subsidiary of Kuat Drive Yards, which has good reasons for supporting the galactic government and staying apart from the other major separatist/corporate powers.

Like a handful of wealthy sectors, Kuat Sector is able to manufacture and maintain sectorial defense fleets which are supposed to be comparable in size and power to the ships of the Imperial Starfleet found more widely in the classic trilogy. However because of frustrating trade limitations imposed by the Trade Federation, little of this equipment can be sold elsewhere in the galaxy, and they mostly have short-range hyperdrives. Outer Rim sectors make do with a diminutive scale of "dreadnaughts" which are so ubiquitous in the old West End Games sourcebooks. They're hundreds of metres long instead of kilometres long.

And a blurb on the formation of the Republic/Jedi...

The meaning of the "cog" logo of the Galactic Republic, and some other pre-Republic history which could not be printed: concerning the Bendu Monks who evolved into the Jedi and the Unification Wars that formed the Republic.

[meNNis]

the Kuat & Jedi info is very intersting

[Stravo]

I find it interesting to note that GL likes the single world idea for many things - a single world providing the clones, a single world acting as armourers for the clones. Yet many EU folks are repelled by the idea that a single world can have importance in the Galactic scheme of things. I say this because of the sacthing commentray given about an idea in the Galactic Battlegrounds game that one world provided 80% of the core worlds' energy needs. This seems to fit into GL's pattern. SO what's really wrong with it? Obviously Dr. Saxton finds nothing wrong with it.

[Darth Servo]

I find it interesting to note that GL likes the single world idea for many things - a single world providing the clones, a single world acting as armourers for the clones. Yet many EU folks are repelled by the idea that a single world can have importance in the Galactic scheme of things. I say this because of the sacthing commentray given about an idea in the Galactic Battlegrounds game that one world provided 80% of the core worlds' energy needs. This seems to fit into GL's pattern. SO what's really wrong with it?

Whats wrong with it is that in a Galactic Empire consisting of Millions of systems, having only one world produce a particular good is unnecessary. In real life, its called a monopoly and I don't think you want to turn this into an economics discussion.

[neoolong]

Whats wrong with it is that in a Galactic Empire consisting of Millions of systems, having only one world produce a particular good is unnecessary. In real life, its called a monopoly and I don't think you want to turn this into an economics discussion.

Well, it can also be extremely efficient comparative advantage and division of labor. But that's enough about economics.

[Illuminatus Primus]

I find it interesting to note that GL likes the single world idea for many things - a single world providing the clones, a single world acting as armourers for the clones.

Nice observation. It's still exceedingly stupid. There were subcontractors for Rothana, and it is just the company based on that planet. Not that the planet itself is the whole deal. You don't think the Kaminoans and Geonosians had colonies/support worlds/etc. You don't think the Kaminoans had a quiet terraformed planet or two for the clones to have live fire exercises? Or to grow their food? What about Geonosian mines?

Leap in logic fallacy.

You assume it is just one world and the facilities contained therein which supply the aforementioned, despite how unreasonable that is considering scale involved.

Yet many EU folks are repelled by the idea that a single world can have importance in the Galactic scheme of things.

Appeal to Authority: GL doing it does not mean it is not stupid. In fact, considering some things he's done and said, its quite the contrary.

Hasty Generalization: "EU folks" are repelled? Justify this now Stravo.

I say this because of the sacthing commentray given about an idea in the Galactic Battlegrounds game that one world provided 80% of the core worlds' energy needs.

If you read by complaint about this, it is because they claim Serapin generates energy via fucking geothermal systems.

The only known devices that supply SW level energy are exotic stellar corpses.

The idea geothermal sources supply 80% of the Core World's energy use is laughable.

My fix is Serapin just happens to be a volcanic world, and there are hypermatter refineries there that process 80% of the Core Worlds' supply.

This seems to fit into GL's pattern. SO what's really wrong with it? Obviously Dr. Saxton finds nothing wrong with it.

Scale is wrong with it.

Billions of planets are needed in one galactic arm by the Mining Guild for just resource gathering.

[Master of Ossus]

I find it interesting to note that GL likes the single world idea for many things - a single world providing the clones, a single world acting as armourers for the clones. Yet many EU folks are repelled by the idea that a single world can have importance in the Galactic scheme of things. I say this because of the sacthing commentray given about an idea in the Galactic Battlegrounds game that one world provided 80% of the core worlds' energy needs. This seems to fit into GL's pattern. SO what's really wrong with it? Obviously Dr. Saxton finds nothing wrong with it.

While it makes sense for individual countries (or, in SW, worlds) to be manufacturing a particular class of item (ie. electronics in Japan, heavy equipment on Rothona, etc.), such specialization has its limits. It is impossible for a single planet to produce 80% of just about anything other than HIGHLY specialized goods (ie. Stokhli spray sticks, certain jewelry, etc.). Something as ubiquitous as energy would need to be produced in a VERY wide range of worlds, and probably would be predominantly controlled by individual monopolies on each world, or at least by system-sized corporations. The VERY high entry costs in power almost necessitate monopolies based on individual planets, and it would be astonishing if a single planet were able to even control, much less produce, 80% of the energy used over such a huge area.

I suppose that since we do not fully understand the properties of hypermatter, it would be possible, but frankly it would still be highly unlikely. Even corporations like KDY (M-O-U-S-E ) do not control 80% of starship, or even combat starship manufacturing. Smaller worlds like Sluis Van are smaller, but still possess some market share, and important places like Duro, Fondor, and later Mon Calamari become major industrial centers. For a single planet to control 80% of an important commodity without anyone giving a damn about the outrageous monopoly power of a Galactic entity would be VERY surprising. Frankly, I'm even bothered by the Thyferran control of Bacta, though in their case they tried their damndest to make it seem MARGINALLY plausible.

[Sea Skimmer]

This has been posted and discussed before

[Stravo]

I find it interesting to note that GL likes the single world idea for many things - a single world providing the clones, a single world acting as armourers for the clones.

Nice observation. It's still exceedingly stupid.

Mind you not my idea there, Illumniatus, this is GL's. I was merely noting his propensity for this...after all he did mention the droid foundries of Geonosis, implying that the army was being built there. I'm not saying anything else other than noting that the people who argue for a wide ranging galactic spanning infrastructure are continously undermined by GL. In other words SUPPORTING the EU folks because it makes sense otherwise. There were subcontractors for Rothana, and it is just the company based on that planet. Not that the planet itself is the whole deal. You don't think the Kaminoans and Geonosians had colonies/support worlds/etc. You don't think the Kaminoans had a quiet terraformed planet or two for the clones to have live fire exercises? Or to grow their food? What about Geonosian mines? Does GL worry about this when he writes his stories?? I doubt it..

Leap in logic fallacy.

You assume it is just one world and the facilities contained therein which supply the aforementioned, despite how unreasonable that is considering scale involved.

I am relying on what I see. WHERE in the movie does it say other cloning facilties? Hell where in the movie do they even talk about where the hell the ships and tanks came from?

Sere, I'm an example of someone that doesn't read the EU and accepts what he sees on the screen as most viewers do. I see one world cloning the army. I don't even hear about any other worlds nor is it suggested. By virtue of the EU perhpas...but isn't there an attack on Kamino comic? Does that spell out that Kamino is the sole cloning facilty? In fact since you're asking me...wher in the EU does it say that Kamino is NOT the sole facility?..

Yet many EU folks are repelled by the idea that a single world can have importance in the Galactic scheme of things.

Appeal to Authority: GL doing it does not mean it is not stupid. In fact, considering some things he's done and said, its quite the contrary.

So the guy that invents it and brings it to life is not entitled to go against common sense? It's his work, why should he give a shit whether the one planet thing makes no sense...you and I are still going to buy tickets and read books.? Is it an appeal to authority to ask Shakespeare about Hamlet? To ask Stephen King about a nonsensical plot point from one of his novels?


Hasty Generalization: "EU folks" are repelled? Justify this now Stravo.

My justification comes from the Serapin thread right below here V quoted by you. People were laughing about how ridiculous it was and I do believe you said you would simply ignore it.

I say this because of the sacthing commentray given about an idea in the Galactic Battlegrounds game that one world provided 80% of the core worlds' energy needs.

If you read by complaint about this, it is because they claim Serapin generates energy via fucking geothermal systems.

The only known devices that supply SW level energy are exotic stellar corpses.

The idea geothermal sources supply 80% of the Core World's energy use is laughable.

Yet there it is....Greedo shooting first is absolutely disgusting but its canon. What can we do? It's his world, he makes that very clear when he goes and contradicts things without thinking....

My fix is Serapin just happens to be a volcanic world, and there are hypermatter refineries there that process 80% of the Core Worlds' supply.

This seems to fit into GL's pattern. SO what's really wrong with it? Obviously Dr. Saxton finds nothing wrong with it.

Scale is wrong with it.

BTW in case you didn't know I AGREE...Oh and I just have to add that why is Saxton's commentary and thoughts usually accepted but other points ignored? If he truly is the SW guru and actually involved in the film making process, I think that he's got a closer line to god as we say than you or I...
[/quote]

Billions of planets are needed in one galactic arm by the Mining Guild for just resource gathering.

[/quote]

You know something Illuminatus, we always end up arguing on points that we agree about. thats what I like about this place, even when you agree there's a debate.

[Darth Wong]

There is a difference between saying that one company supplies all of the world's F-15 fighter planes and saying that one company supplies all of the world's aircraft. GL sets up his universe so we often see the former. It is poor logic which leads some EU authors to assume the latter.

[Illuminatus Primus]

Yes....but Geothermal power! Supplying 80% of the Core's needs?

My God...

[Slartibartfast]

Yet many EU folks are repelled by the idea that a single world can have importance in the Galactic scheme of things.

Hasty Generalization: "EU folks" are repelled? Justify this now Stravo.

[nitpick]"Many EU folks" isn't a hasty generalization. "Most EU folks" would be. "Many" could be 3, 10, or 100 (from millions).[/nitpick]

[Illuminatus Primus]

Thank you for adding so much to this thread.