First Look: Force Unleashed novel

Post by **Vympel** » 2007-12-08 09:10am

For those that may be wondering, the actor who "plays" the Secret Apprentice in Force Unleashed is Crashdown from Battlestar Galactica.

(He's interviewed on the website - check the "Force Wrecking Ball" documentary).

Actually, if you watch the interviews, you'll see Blackman say "we've had many many conversations with George Lucas about Darth Vader and what is going on in his mind and heart in this time period".

Good stuff.

The Secret Apprentice was also apparently designed on the basis of what Luke would've become had Vader had his way.

Post by **Ghost Rider** » 2007-12-08 10:57am

Vympel wrote:The Secret Apprentice was also apparently designed on the basis of what Luke would've become had Vader had his way.

Hopefully that part will pull through. Seeing what Luke might've been would definitly spark a real interest rather this dull feeling I had and still have a bit of a unknown yaboo that is offed before Episode 4.

Havok · Post by **Havok** » 2007-12-08 12:18pm

Perhaps the apprentice will turn out to be a clone of Anakin?

Boeing 757 · Post by **Boeing 757** » 2007-12-08 12:48pm

Ghost Rider wrote:
Vympel wrote:The Secret Apprentice was also apparently designed on the basis of what Luke would've become had Vader had his way.
Hopefully that part will pull through. Seeing what Luke might've been would definitly spark a real interest rather this dull feeling I had and still have a bit of a unknown yaboo that is offed before Episode 4.

That would be an interesting spin to it, but then it makes me wonder what the point of converting Luke would be when he already has such a powerful apprentice under his grasp. The game seems to be just one huge wankfest to get the kids to spend some money for LucasArts next year.

Honestly I'm very uncomfortable with the situation too. This guy plays around with klick long starships the way a child plays with Lego blocks. Supposing the ISD's captain didn't just stand on the bridge and merely drink his coffee, he'd probably order the helmsmen to rev up the engines to max and break free of the stranglehold on his ship. Isn't ISD acceleration rated at 2,500-5,000 G? If he can drag a superheavy object capable of accelerating like that, I don't think Vader or the Emperor combined for a second can match him in a contest of sheer will. DE Palpatine hasn't even shown telekinesis like that.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2007-12-08 12:59pm

Remember, this is the no-numbers-mafia's work. Haden Blackman wrote the cumstain that was the New Essential Guide to Weapons and Technology. He gave turbolasers hundred-kilometer ranges, if I remember correctly.

Ritterin Sophia · Post by **Ritterin Sophia** » 2007-12-08 01:04pm

Boeing 757 wrote:That would be an interesting spin to it, but then it makes me wonder what the point of converting Luke would be when he already has such a powerful apprentice under his grasp. The game seems to be just one huge wankfest to get the kids to spend some money for LucasArts next year.

A. The Apprentice dies or B. Luke has more potential. I mean it's not like there's a precedent where an insanely powerful Sith just goes missing at the end of a game.

Havok · Post by **Havok** » 2007-12-08 02:36pm

General Schatten wrote:
Boeing 757 wrote:That would be an interesting spin to it, but then it makes me wonder what the point of converting Luke would be when he already has such a powerful apprentice under his grasp. The game seems to be just one huge wankfest to get the kids to spend some money for LucasArts next year.
A. The Apprentice dies or B. Luke has more potential. I mean it's not like there's a precedent where an insanely powerful Sith just goes missing at the end of a game.

I think it is pretty safe to say the apprentice dies or at least is only kept around for a VG sequel.

I would think either Vader or Palpatine will kill him.

Boeing 757 · Post by **Boeing 757** » 2007-12-08 02:40pm

General Schatten wrote:
Boeing 757 wrote:That would be an interesting spin to it, but then it makes me wonder what the point of converting Luke would be when he already has such a powerful apprentice under his grasp. The game seems to be just one huge wankfest to get the kids to spend some money for LucasArts next year.
A. The Apprentice dies or B. Luke has more potential. I mean it's not like there's a precedent where an insanely powerful Sith just goes missing at the end of a game.

A. That's what I hope will happen. But I have a feeling that that is exactly what won't happen. Guess we're gonna have to wait and see....

B. Luke has a LOT of potential then. The greatest feat that I've seen him carry out is smashing an AT-AT purely through telekinetic force at the beginning of Dark Empire. However if you take my meaning, that's a scale of magnitude quite different from that of dragging an entire ISD out of orbit. Hell hath no mercy, with that kind of power you'd be considered a capital ship weapon onto yourself.

Havok · Post by **Havok** » 2007-12-08 02:48pm

Boeing 757 wrote:B. Luke has a LOT of potential then. The greatest feat that I've seen him carry out is smashing an AT-AT purely through telekinetic force at the beginning of Dark Empire. However if you take my meaning, that's a scale of magnitude quite different from that of dragging an entire ISD out of orbit. Hell hath no mercy, with that kind of power you'd be considered a capital ship weapon onto yourself.

IIRC, doesn't DE also say something to the effect that Luke "successfully" crashed a Star Destroyer using the Force?

Darksider · Post by **Darksider** » 2007-12-08 03:13pm

havokeff wrote:
IIRC, doesn't DE also say something to the effect that Luke "successfully" crashed a Star Destroyer using the Force?

It was heavily damaged and already going down. He just used the force to slow it down, and guide it's descent.

Boeing 757 · Post by **Boeing 757** » 2007-12-08 03:15pm

havokeff wrote:
Boeing 757 wrote:B. Luke has a LOT of potential then. The greatest feat that I've seen him carry out is smashing an AT-AT purely through telekinetic force at the beginning of Dark Empire. However if you take my meaning, that's a scale of magnitude quite different from that of dragging an entire ISD out of orbit. Hell hath no mercy, with that kind of power you'd be considered a capital ship weapon onto yourself.
IIRC, doesn't DE also say something to the effect that Luke "successfully" crashed a Star Destroyer using the Force?

It has been a long time, but I can't truthfully recall anyone saying something like that. Unless if it was in Empire's End...I've never read that one.

Havok · Post by **Havok** » 2007-12-08 03:21pm

Darksider wrote:
havokeff wrote:
IIRC, doesn't DE also say something to the effect that Luke "successfully" crashed a Star Destroyer using the Force?
It was heavily damaged and already going down. He just used the force to slow it down, and guide it's descent.

Which is what I said?

Havok · Post by **Havok** » 2007-12-08 03:40pm

Had a thought...

What if, and this is a big what if, the apprentice IS a clone of Anakin, created and planted by the Emperor to challenge Vader and if he can, replace him.
Having Vader train himself from early age would be an interesting concept and perhaps go towards the issues he has in his mind with his own abilities. Vader by training this apprentice learns to overcome his own mind or the apprentice, never hampered by the mental blocks surpasses Vader, and supplants him. Either way, Palpatine has what he wanted from the beginning.

Boeing 757 · Post by **Boeing 757** » 2007-12-08 03:55pm

havokeff wrote:Had a thought...

What if, and this is a big what if, the apprentice IS a clone of Anakin, created and planted by the Emperor to challenge Vader and if he can, replace him.
Having Vader train himself from early age would be an interesting concept and perhaps go towards the issues he has in his mind with his own abilities. Vader by training this apprentice learns to overcome his own mind or the apprentice, never hampered by the mental blocks surpasses Vader, and supplants him. Either way, Palpatine has what he wanted from the beginning.

Seems like quite a complicated notion to pull off though...like, I can see people learning that Vader's apprentice is well...himself, and going, "Eh, what the fuck is going on here? Vader's training himself?" I know I'd be asking that. Plus it begs to ask why Vader would want a clone of himself who probably would be as much of a threat to his position as the Emperor's right hand as to Palpatine himself. I mean, isn't it established that Iron Lung Vader is less powerful than his wholly flesh self?

Havok · Post by **Havok** » 2007-12-08 04:38pm

Boeing 757 wrote:
havokeff wrote:Had a thought...

What if, and this is a big what if, the apprentice IS a clone of Anakin, created and planted by the Emperor to challenge Vader and if he can, replace him.
Having Vader train himself from early age would be an interesting concept and perhaps go towards the issues he has in his mind with his own abilities. Vader by training this apprentice learns to overcome his own mind or the apprentice, never hampered by the mental blocks surpasses Vader, and supplants him. Either way, Palpatine has what he wanted from the beginning.
Seems like quite a complicated notion to pull off though...like, I can see people learning that Vader's apprentice is well...himself, and going, "Eh, what the fuck is going on here? Vader's training himself?" I know I'd be asking that. Plus it begs to ask why Vader would want a clone of himself who probably would be as much of a threat to his position as the Emperor's right hand as to Palpatine himself. I mean, isn't it established that Iron Lung Vader is less powerful than his wholly flesh self?

I might not have made it clear, but Vader wouldn't know that the apprentice is his clone. Palpatine, in Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader basically said that Vader's limitations are in his mind, and his physical limitations are slight and really only effect his ability to use Force Lightning.

Post by **NecronLord** » 2007-12-08 04:52pm

Boeing 757 wrote:I mean, isn't it established that Iron Lung Vader is less powerful than his wholly flesh self?

Yes. But according to Dark Lord, this is largely an issue of self confidence. It might well be in-character for Palpatine to give Vader a clone of himself, and let them duke it out. Either Vader becomes better from the fight, or Palpy gets a new Sith Lord.

I doubt that's the plot, but it's not a terribly bad idea.

Ford Prefect · Post by **Ford Prefect** » 2007-12-08 06:18pm

havokeff wrote:IIRC, doesn't DE also say something to the effect that Luke "successfully" crashed a Star Destroyer using the Force?

As I recall, he smashed up the engine section of some starship using the Force. I don't recall the class of ship, however.

Pelranius · Post by **Pelranius** » 2007-12-09 07:05pm

What if the Apprentice just messed with the minds of the Star Destroyer's crew into crashing the warship?

It stretches credulity a whole lot less.

Androsphinx · Post by **Androsphinx** » 2007-12-09 07:54pm

Wasn't the "clone of existing lead Jedi character to be a better apprentice" done to death about fifteen years ago in Zahn's original trilogy? I really hope the barrel isn't being scraped that low...