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Look carefully in the background during the sequence before Obi-Wan departs for Utapau... Walking along is a two legged forklift/cargo walker!
Why did you have to go and do that ILM? WHY?

Umm ... why should this bother you, when SW is already full of mecha? There are walkers in four out of six films.

We see AT-PTs (at least, I think that's what they are) on the psychadelic mushroom planet. Why are mechas in SW a problem, exactly? I seem to recall it having one or two...

What planet is that?

I don't know the name. It's where a female Jedi (Depa Billaba or Adi Gallia?) is shot on the ground.

Star Wars can get away with having Mechs because with their level of technology and industry they can make mechs which are shown to actually be combat effective and strong. Plus they also still use tanks, both tracked and hover, and many other various armed vehicles in combined arms without completely relying on mech style forces, unlike other universes that tend to wankify mechs and make them the primary and sometimes only armored weapons.

I don't have a problem with most of the mecha - but when you see this one you will understand. Most of the ones that have been in there already are at least SOMEWHAT functional, or have a specific goal that a non-walker would be hard pressed to achieve (like intimidation in the case of an AT-AT).

This one stands vertically, looks like a barrel with 2 human type legs coming out the bottom and carries cargo out infront of it. It shouldn't even be able to balance with a load being carried!

weemadando wrote:I don't have a problem with most of the mecha - but when you see this one you will understand. Most of the ones that have been in there already are at least SOMEWHAT functional, or have a specific goal that a non-walker would be hard pressed to achieve (like intimidation in the case of an AT-AT).

This one stands vertically, looks like a barrel with 2 human type legs coming out the bottom and carries cargo out infront of it. It shouldn't even be able to balance with a load being carried!

Perhaps it's weighted so it doesn't tip over? Besides, what's wrong with walking cargo carriers?

weemadando wrote:I don't have a problem with most of the mecha - but when you see this one you will understand. Most of the ones that have been in there already are at least SOMEWHAT functional, or have a specific goal that a non-walker would be hard pressed to achieve (like intimidation in the case of an AT-AT).

This one stands vertically, looks like a barrel with 2 human type legs coming out the bottom and carries cargo out infront of it. It shouldn't even be able to balance with a load being carried!

I believe what you refering to is a munitions-carrying cousin of the Binary Loadlifter of ANH fame. It employs legs so it can easily splay its supports to pick up heavy loads and manuver to load fragile (and explosive) cargo. Its huge foot pads help disperse the weight it carries. This information comes from one of the newer SW Insiders.

Dude, whats with all the wineing? Theres a big differance between a Walker and a generic 'Mech' Have we ever see na Humanoidish shaped robot with arms and legs in SW? No? Then who cares.

Crossroads Inc. wrote:Dude, whats with all the wineing? Theres a big differance between a Walker and a generic 'Mech' Have we ever see na Humanoidish shaped robot with arms and legs in SW? No? Then who cares.

Err...what would you call this?

Vicious wrote:Err...what would you call this?

I think by "robot" he means things like Transformers and Gundams, not Threepio, whose appearance we know is purely for aesthetic purposes.

Vicious wrote:

Crossroads Inc. wrote:Dude, whats with all the wineing? Theres a big differance between a Walker and a generic 'Mech' Have we ever see na Humanoidish shaped robot with arms and legs in SW? No? Then who cares.

Err...what would you call this?

An Android. A humonoid robot. Does it have a human pilot?

Darth Garden Gnome wrote:

Vicious wrote:Err...what would you call this?

I think by "robot" he means things like Transformers and Gundams, not Threepio, whose appearance we know is purely for aesthetic purposes.

Ah, so a piloted, humanoid vehicle. Gotcha. What about the Darktrooper Phase III, which was mannable? Or does that still count more as a droid than a vehicle?

Vicious wrote:

Darth Garden Gnome wrote:

Vicious wrote:Err...what would you call this?

I think by "robot" he means things like Transformers and Gundams, not Threepio, whose appearance we know is purely for aesthetic purposes.

Ah, so a piloted, humanoid vehicle. Gotcha. What about the Darktrooper Phase III, which was mannable? Or does that still count more as a droid than a vehicle?

Its more of a power armor

Vicious wrote: Ah, so a piloted, humanoid vehicle. Gotcha. What about the Darktrooper Phase III, which was mannable? Or does that still count more as a droid than a vehicle?

It's more of like an "exoskeleton" I think, to take the pilot and enhance all of his abilities in a heavily armed and armored mechanical suit (though I understand that it can be operated without one).

Darth Garden Gnome wrote:

Vicious wrote: Ah, so a piloted, humanoid vehicle. Gotcha. What about the Darktrooper Phase III, which was mannable? Or does that still count more as a droid than a vehicle?

It's more of like an "exoskeleton" I think, to take the pilot and enhance all of his abilities in a heavily armed and armored mechanical suit (though I understand that it can be operated without one).

Power Armor is probably more accurate. It does have an autonamous mode as well.

Vicious wrote:Power Armor is probably more accurate. It does have an autonamous mode as well.

That would be the phrase I was looking for.

Pure Sabacc wrote:

weemadando wrote:I don't have a problem with most of the mecha - but when you see this one you will understand. Most of the ones that have been in there already are at least SOMEWHAT functional, or have a specific goal that a non-walker would be hard pressed to achieve (like intimidation in the case of an AT-AT).

This one stands vertically, looks like a barrel with 2 human type legs coming out the bottom and carries cargo out infront of it. It shouldn't even be able to balance with a load being carried!

I believe what you refering to is a munitions-carrying cousin of the Binary Loadlifter of ANH fame. It employs legs so it can easily splay its supports to pick up heavy loads and manuver to load fragile (and explosive) cargo. Its huge foot pads help disperse the weight it carries. This information comes from one of the newer SW Insiders.

Yeah, I remember spotting that thing on Coruscant walking up alongside a starship last time I was watching the film. First thing that came to mind was that is was a variety of loadlifter, of which I was glad to see because they've received references and yet have so visual examples.

*Laughs as the children throw themselves at windmills again*

Except for not having arms, AT-ST fits the 'Mech definition fairly well (it fits as well as the Phalanx from Macross...bipedal, no arms, otherwise somewhat humanoid).

Vicious wrote:We see AT-PTs (at least, I think that's what they are) on the psychadelic mushroom planet. Why are mechas in SW a problem, exactly? I seem to recall it having one or two...

The planet you're talking about is Felucia. Those mechanized walkers you see are AT-APs (All Terrain Attack Pods), which I guess are larger and more heavily armed AT-PTs (which are ALSO used during the Clone Wars). Frankly I don't think why Lucas had to invent yet another new class of walker, AT-PTs would have worked fine.

Vicious wrote:I don't know the name. It's where a female Jedi (Depa Billaba or Adi Gallia?) is shot on the ground.

That female Jedi is Aayla Secura, a Twi'lek. Depa Billaba is in a comatose state and Adi Gallia completely disappeared from the entire SW universe, inexplicably replaced by a very similar looking Master Stass Allie.

Order 66 wrote:Adi Gallia completely disappeared from the entire SW universe, inexplicably replaced by a very similar looking Master Stass Allie.

She's been hanging around with pirates off and on. She died on Boz Pity in Obsession #5-- killed by Grievous.

gladius wrote:She's been hanging around with pirates off and on. She died on Boz Pity in Obsession #5-- killed by Grievous.

Oh really? Well its good to know Adi didn't disappear completely off the face of the planet. I always thought she was great in the game Jedi Starfighter. "Hanging with pirates" huh? One of those pirates must be Nym.

Order 66 wrote:

Vicious wrote:We see AT-PTs (at least, I think that's what they are) on the psychadelic mushroom planet. Why are mechas in SW a problem, exactly? I seem to recall it having one or two...

The planet you're talking about is Felucia. Those mechanized walkers you see are AT-APs (All Terrain Attack Pods), which I guess are larger and more heavily armed AT-PTs (which are ALSO used during the Clone Wars). Frankly I don't think why Lucas had to invent yet another new class of walker, AT-PTs would have worked fine.

Vicious wrote:I don't know the name. It's where a female Jedi (Depa Billaba or Adi Gallia?) is shot on the ground.

That female Jedi is Aayla Secura, a Twi'lek. Depa Billaba is in a comatose state and Adi Gallia completely disappeared from the entire SW universe, inexplicably replaced by a very similar looking Master Stass Allie.

Cool, thanks. I've read like four PT books, so I'm not current on worlds and people. I need to hit my local library and start cracking.

Order 66 wrote: The planet you're talking about is Felucia. Those mechanized walkers you see are AT-APs (All Terrain Attack Pods), which I guess are larger and more heavily armed AT-PTs (which are ALSO used during the Clone Wars). Frankly I don't think why Lucas had to invent yet another new class of walker, AT-PTs would have worked fine.

Because it's not reasonable for a highly-mechanized army to field less than half a dozen armored ground vehicles during a three-year war. AT-PTs are personal transports, AT-APs are mobile artillery.