Ep III and the vs debate (minor spoiler)

Post by **Vympel** » 2004-06-12 04:37am

After Episode III, is it possible that we'll see a realignment of the debate, or perhaps a full sub-genre of the debate where the late Republic/ early Empire forces are seen as a more interesting fight against the Federation, simply because of the novelty? Or do you think the classic Empire will still be the most popular?

Part of the reason I ask is that while the OT captures my imagination more than any other, I do have a tendency to latch onto the coolest thing I've ever seen, and there's little doubt that while the Battle of Hoth & Battle of Endor kick arse and will always be my favorites for reason of plot/sound track/nostalgia, there can be no serious argument that the Battle of Geonosis and the upcoming Battle of Coruscant (that's the minor spoiler) do and will blow the last two away in terms of visualizing what we always knew the Galactic Empire would unleash on the Federation.

This is kind of a ramble, but basically, do you visualize legions of Stormtroopers pulling what the Clonetroopers did at Geonosis, or would you rather picture the Clonetroopers doing it themselves? Because I'm starting to find the latter image very attractive to my mind's eye (come on, the LAATs and AT-TEs are kick ass).

VT-16 · Post by **VT-16** » 2004-06-12 07:31am

I´m just curious, how many old Republic units from AOTC do we know are still in use by the Empire during the OT-period? Since I love the LAATs and AT-TEs it would be nice to know wether the Empire still uses them in addition to the vehicles we already know and love. Thus bolstering the Imperial forces against any Federation attack.

EDIT. Once saw a painting of three Acclamators participating in a parade with several Imperial craft (Sentinel landing crafts, TIE Fighters & Interceptors etc...), it was taken from "Coruscant and the Core Worlds" book. Chances are the units associated with the transport might still be used in several places...

Post by **Vympel** » 2004-06-12 08:39am

VT-16 wrote:I´m just curious, how many old Republic units from AOTC do we know are still in use by the Empire during the OT-period? Since I love the LAATs and AT-TEs it would be nice to know wether the Empire still uses them in addition to the vehicles we already know and love. Thus bolstering the Imperial forces against any Federation attack.

EDIT. Once saw a painting of three Acclamators participating in a parade with several Imperial craft (Sentinel landing crafts, TIE Fighters & Interceptors etc...), it was taken from "Coruscant and the Core Worlds" book. Chances are the units associated with the transport might still be used in several places...

IIRC (and this is from an old post I made a few months ago in PSW) the AT-TE was definitely still in Imperial service by the Original Trilogy period. The AT-AT itself is also a Galactic Republic machine, being first used in a battle in the Clone Wars (that's from the SW.com databank about the Clone Wars).

Jabiim is a world deluged by torrential rains. It experiences less than five days per standard year without precipitation. Its muddy surface is constantly shifting from the weight of the rains. The battlefields of Jabiim were arduous, and combatants would have to contend with the inclement conditions. The Republic could not count on air support due to electrically charged atmospheric disturbances. They instead relied on AT-XT, AT-TE and AT-AT walkers as the bulk of their mechanized assault.

I'm not so sure about the Acclamator or LAAT. Does anyone remember?

VT-16 · Post by **VT-16** » 2004-06-12 08:57am

Here´s three Acclamators at an Imperial parade at Anaxes:

http://www.wizards.com/starwars/images/ccw/48929_CN.jpg

I´ve only looked at the preview for the Imperial issue where the AT-TE makes it´s appearance, from the looks of it, it was just a modified version used for transporting materials to build an outpost. Is this it, or was it explicitly said somewhere that they´re still used in combat?

Post by **Vympel** » 2004-06-12 09:09am

Erm- it may have been, but I'm unsure.

Post by **NecronLord** » 2004-06-12 10:10am

VT-16 wrote:Here´s three Acclamators at an Imperial parade at Anaxes:

http://www.wizards.com/starwars/images/ccw/48929_CN.jpg

Cool.

Solauren · Post by **Solauren** » 2004-06-12 10:22am

Give the troop transport and landing capacity of Accumulators, I'd have to say that they are still in wide spread use.

I mean, 15,000 troops + support vechiles and landing capacity vs the standard complement of a Star Destroyer does have it's advantages.

Use Acclamators to land the troops, then bring the garrison down from the Star Destroyer

beyond hope · Post by **beyond hope** » 2004-06-12 01:18pm

There's a psychological advantage, too: since Acclamators can actually land on a planet, they'd be a more visible symbol of Imperial strength.

FTeik · Post by **FTeik** » 2004-06-12 02:57pm

VT-16 wrote:Here´s three Acclamators at an Imperial parade at Anaxes:

http://www.wizards.com/starwars/images/ccw/48929_CN.jpg

I thought the ship seen in the center is supposed to be the SSD Whelm and wondered, if that is just a badly drawn Executor or a new or modified class of Commandship.

VT-16 · Post by **VT-16** » 2004-06-12 03:45pm

Even if the center ship is a badly drawn commandship, the tail-fin in the upper left corner definitely belongs to an Acclamator or Acclamator-like vessel. Besides all three appear to be too close to the ground to be in outer space...

Praxis · Post by **Praxis** » 2004-06-12 03:48pm

I want to see a Victory class Star Destroyer flying in atmosphere.

VSD's were always supposed to have been made during the Clone Wars and were still in service during classic trilogy period...

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2004-06-12 07:16pm

FTeik wrote:
VT-16 wrote:Here´s three Acclamators at an Imperial parade at Anaxes:

http://www.wizards.com/starwars/images/ccw/48929_CN.jpg

I thought the ship seen in the center is supposed to be the SSD Whelm and wondered, if that is just a badly drawn Executor or a new or modified class of Commandship.

It is most certainly an Acclamator.

starfury · Post by **starfury** » 2004-06-12 08:53pm

I want to see swarms of needle like X-wings or Z-95 coming from the out the bays of the victory star destoryers.

Sarevok · Post by **Sarevok** » 2004-06-13 12:52am

beyond hope wrote:There's a psychological advantage, too: since Acclamators can actually land on a planet, they'd be a more visible symbol of Imperial strength.

Well Victory class Star Destroyers can also do the same. And since they are larger than Accamalators they appear more fearsome.

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2004-06-13 01:52am

Victories can fly through the atmosphere, but I do not believe they can land.

Icehawk · Post by **Icehawk** » 2004-06-13 03:07am

VT-16 wrote:Here´s three Acclamators at an Imperial parade at Anaxes:

http://www.wizards.com/starwars/images/ccw/48929_CN.jpg

Is that an official image or is it just fan art?

VT-16 · Post by **VT-16** » 2004-06-13 05:50am

It´s from the Wizards of the Coast site, and one of many illustrations from the Coruscant and the Core Worlds roleplaying book. So I guess that makes it official.

FTeik · Post by **FTeik** » 2004-06-13 08:12am

Howedar wrote:Victories can fly through the atmosphere, but I do not believe they can land.

IIRC, according to The New Rebellion, they can.

And i don´t doubt, that the ship in the centre looks more like an Acclamator, but from what i´ve heard, according to the text, it is an SSD.

VT-16 · Post by **VT-16** » 2004-06-13 09:42am

Even if the centre ship is a SSD, the ones at the top left and right corner appear to be Acclamators close to the surface.

And if the centre ship is noted as a SSD, then it´s either a case of bad drawing or bad writing.

Post by **Vympel** » 2004-06-13 10:01am

Just a note- getting off-topic, here.

Post by **Gandalf** » 2004-06-13 10:18am

I think a few vs debates will spring up relating to the OR/Feds, but the ESB era will still remain the most popular.

Though I'd like to think we'll see some good force-subs. Like the Geonosis army on Hoth for example.

IRG CommandoJoe · Post by **IRG CommandoJoe** » 2004-06-13 11:48pm

I'd like to see a nice blend of OT Imperial-era equipment with PT Republic-era equipment. Maybe Stormtroopers using clonetrooper weapons, AT-STs working with AT-TEs, Stormtroopers riding in LAATs, TIE Fighters escorting LAATs, etc. But then again they won't be "real" Stormtroopers. Their armor is different.

Sarevok · Post by **Sarevok** » 2004-06-14 12:22am

Well it would be great to see some of the Clonetrooper equipment used by the Imperials. I would personaly like to see the Stormtroopers use LAATs and the DC-15 rifle.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2004-06-14 10:16am

Howedar wrote:Victories can fly through the atmosphere, but I do not believe they can land.

Tarkin squished a bunch of protestors on a landing field, so yes, they can

FTeik · Post by **FTeik** » 2004-06-14 02:14pm

Wasn´t that a Carrack-Cruiser Tarkin used to come down on a few protestors?