About Episode VI and the Endor Holocaust.

[Darth Wong]

Even if shielding protected most of the planet and was capable of withstanding the momentum transfer from the ejecta, the material from the blast would pile up on the shield, unless the shield can actually blast material into space. It would reduce sunlight and eventually cause a serious environmental shift, although short-term effects might be minimal.

Over the long term, if they could keep this hypothetical shield operating 24/7, I suppose fleets of ships could eventually be brought to remove this material from the planet and return its environmental balance to normal.

[Illuminatus Primus]

Even if shielding protected most of the planet and was capable of withstanding the momentum transfer from the ejecta, the material from the blast would pile up on the shield, unless the shield can actually blast material into space. It would reduce sunlight and eventually cause a serious environmental shift, although short-term effects might be minimal.

Over the long term, if they could keep this hypothetical shield operating 24/7, I suppose fleets of ships could eventually be brought to remove this material from the planet and return its environmental balance to normal.

Oh I agree. I think Endor was screwed regardless at least to some degree in the long term. The moon cannot possibly be fully vulnerable in the short term and the events remain consistent with the ending of ROTJ.

[Galvatron]

The Hoth shield wasn't up all the time. And the snow speeders didn't necessarily have to pass through the shield to engage the AT-ATs.

It was raised as soon as the rebels detected Vader's fleet and it was opened only long enough to allow their ships to evacuate. Further, the shield obviously didn't extend all the way to the ground or else the AT-ATs wouldn't have been able to destroy the shield generator.

How do you figure? The rebels were able to fly their speeders under their own theater shield on Hoth.

Not the same as flying through the perimeter from without. AOTC ICS mentions that walkers are favored over repulsorlift vehicles because their grounding shields them against perimeter discharges or interference.

I'm not seeing the difference here. As I understand it, a theater shield is an impenetrable energy "canopy," not some dome that extends all the way to the ground that prevents aircraft and ground vehicles from functioning normally.

See here.

What am I supposed to see there?

That I am not a fan of ROTJ either and have suggested the same.

Welcome to the dark side.

Even if shielding protected most of the planet and was capable of withstanding the momentum transfer from the ejecta, the material from the blast would pile up on the shield, unless the shield can actually blast material into space. It would reduce sunlight and eventually cause a serious environmental shift, although short-term effects might be minimal.

Over the long term, if they could keep this hypothetical shield operating 24/7, I suppose fleets of ships could eventually be brought to remove this material from the planet and return its environmental balance to normal.

Is there any reason to believe that Endor's shield wouldn't remain functioning at all times just as the Death Star's presumably did? Is it reasonable to assume that planetary shields have been designed with asteroid impacts in mind so as to prevent just the kind of scenario you're envisioning?

[Connor MacLeod]

I've started to wonder if, even with shield generators, enough momentum might get transferred via the DS2's explosion to possibly heat the crust up, depending on how the shields are anchored/supported.

For example, might part of the planet's mass (and if so how much/how is it distributed) get accelerated by the momentum transfer. And, if so, might that lead to heating of the surface due to resistance from the rest of the mass?

Just a thought.

[Omeganian]

Even if shielding protected most of the planet and was capable of withstanding the momentum transfer from the ejecta, the material from the blast would pile up on the shield, unless the shield can actually blast material into space. It would reduce sunlight and eventually cause a serious environmental shift, although short-term effects might be minimal.

Over the long term, if they could keep this hypothetical shield operating 24/7, I suppose fleets of ships could eventually be brought to remove this material from the planet and return its environmental balance to normal.

How about somehow inverting the shield over the debris, and then giving them acceleration in a safe direction? Or, for example, expanding the shield to push them away a safe distance, then using the same shield to scoop the pieces and compress them into a nice little moon/mine?

[Darth Yoshi]

Even if shielding protected most of the planet and was capable of withstanding the momentum transfer from the ejecta, the material from the blast would pile up on the shield, unless the shield can actually blast material into space. It would reduce sunlight and eventually cause a serious environmental shift, although short-term effects might be minimal.

Over the long term, if they could keep this hypothetical shield operating 24/7, I suppose fleets of ships could eventually be brought to remove this material from the planet and return its environmental balance to normal.

I'd have to watch the movie again to check, but I remember fireworks in the night sky. Is it possible for at least some of those explosions to be Rebel ships blasting away at the debris, or am I way off?

It was raised as soon as the rebels detected Vader's fleet and it was opened only long enough to allow their ships to evacuate. Further, the shield obviously didn't extend all the way to the ground or else the AT-ATs wouldn't have been able to destroy the shield generator.

Not necessarily. The Gungan shields in TPM allow grounded troops to pass through, while repelling weapons fire and repulsor vehicles. While I understand that most likely the Gungan shield has little in common with the Hoth shield, the AT-AT presence under the shield doesn't necessarily mean aircraft are capable of attacking as well. In all honesty, though, I think the lack of Imperial air support was a consequence of the extreme cold.

[Illuminatus Primus]

It was raised as soon as the rebels detected Vader's fleet and it was opened only long enough to allow their ships to evacuate. Further, the shield obviously didn't extend all the way to the ground or else the AT-ATs wouldn't have been able to destroy the shield generator.

Why not? We know that clonetrooper armor allows them to walk through otherwise personally harmful shielding.

I'm not seeing the difference here. As I understand it, a theater shield is an impenetrable energy "canopy," not some dome that extends all the way to the ground that prevents aircraft and ground vehicles from functioning normally.

AOTC ICS specifies that shields are volumetric; they occupy all the volume defined by the "edge" of the shield. They're not merely some tarp pulled over a span of space. They're more like a flat blob occupying an area of the planet. Apparently crossing the edge of the shield area without proper grounding can cause interference or damage (AOTC ICS; the AT-TE entry specifically).

Is there any reason to believe that Endor's shield wouldn't remain functioning at all times just as the Death Star's presumably did? Is it reasonable to assume that planetary shields have been designed with asteroid impacts in mind so as to prevent just the kind of scenario you're envisioning?

Sources and logic go either way on this one. Coruscant's and Byss's double-shield was constantly up, but then EGtW&T claims that surface based weapon systems exist to delay forces long enough to augment or activate planetary shields. Though of course that provides little defense against ship-to-surface bombardment or hyperramming tactics, so that sounds stupid.

[Galvatron]

AOTC ICS specifies that shields are volumetric; they occupy all the volume defined by the "edge" of the shield. They're not merely some tarp pulled over a span of space. They're more like a flat blob occupying an area of the planet. Apparently crossing the edge of the shield area without proper grounding can cause interference or damage (AOTC ICS; the AT-TE entry specifically).

If such a shield were employed on Hoth, why were the AT-ATs able to fire their blasters at the rebels' power generator? Shouldn't the shield "blob" have prevented this?

[Illuminatus Primus]

AOTC ICS specifies that shields are volumetric; they occupy all the volume defined by the "edge" of the shield. They're not merely some tarp pulled over a span of space. They're more like a flat blob occupying an area of the planet. Apparently crossing the edge of the shield area without proper grounding can cause interference or damage (AOTC ICS; the AT-TE entry specifically).

If such a shield were employed on Hoth, why were the AT-ATs able to fire their blasters at the rebels' power generator? Shouldn't the shield "blob" have prevented this?

Do volumetric shields on vehicles and spacecraft prevent fire originating inside the shield from escaping? The volumetric characteristic of shields is settled canon, so is the fact that grounding prevents damage when crossing the threshold. So there is no arguing with it; my argument handedly takes existing canon and develops a synthesis to adequately explain events. Clearly the shield interacts with or blocks fire being emitted from outside the shield into it.

[Ender]

I've come to the conclusion that the only plausible scenario is that the planet was fucked until some restoration team (there was something like this mentioned in Cloak of Deception) came along and restored the place like they did with Telos a few thousand years before. As for why they would fix Endor but not the other shitholes in the Empire like Tatooine and why they would do it inspite of the economic reasons not to, Endor was the result of the civilization, Tatooine was natural, so their charter probably says they have to clean up after their fuckups or something.

[Galvatron]

Do volumetric shields on vehicles and spacecraft prevent fire originating inside the shield from escaping? The volumetric characteristic of shields is settled canon, so is the fact that grounding prevents damage when crossing the threshold. So there is no arguing with it; my argument handedly takes existing canon and develops a synthesis to adequately explain events. Clearly the shield interacts with or blocks fire being emitted from outside the shield into it.

Will you be surprised when I ignore the ICS books after I conquer the universe and remold Star Wars according to my own vision? Of course, since ROTJ will also be ignored, I guess this whole topic will become moot.

[Omeganian]

I've come to the conclusion that the only plausible scenario is that the planet was fucked until some restoration team (there was something like this mentioned in Cloak of Deception) came along and restored the place like they did with Telos a few thousand years before. As for why they would fix Endor but not the other shitholes in the Empire like Tatooine and why they would do it inspite of the economic reasons not to, Endor was the result of the civilization, Tatooine was natural, so their charter probably says they have to clean up after their fuckups or something.

Well, strictly speaking, Tatooine is also artificial, except no one knows about it. And the ones who should clean up are long dead...

[Illuminatus Primus]

Do volumetric shields on vehicles and spacecraft prevent fire originating inside the shield from escaping? The volumetric characteristic of shields is settled canon, so is the fact that grounding prevents damage when crossing the threshold. So there is no arguing with it; my argument handedly takes existing canon and develops a synthesis to adequately explain events. Clearly the shield interacts with or blocks fire being emitted from outside the shield into it.

Will you be surprised when I ignore the ICS books after I conquer the universe and remold Star Wars according to my own vision? Of course, since ROTJ will also be ignored, I guess this whole topic will become moot.

Cut the trolling. If you're not entering this arguments with sincerity but just fucking around, save your breath.

[Galvatron]

What do you want me to say? I haven't committed the ICS books to memory because, surprise, I don't care if Lucafilm considers them canon. With all due respect to Curtis, I still consider them EU. I'm just basing my theories on what it shows in the films themselves.

And I'm well aware that many people here are EXTREMELY sensitive about what's canon and what isn't, due in so small part (IMO) to so many of them having spent their formative years debating SWvST with nimrods like Darkstar.

As for my trolling, you're so much fun to provoke that it's difficult not to.

[Illuminatus Primus]

What do you want me to say? I haven't committed the ICS books to memory because, surprise, I don't care if Lucafilm considers them canon. With all due respect to Curtis, I still consider them EU. I'm just basing my theories on what it shows in the films themselves.

Yeah, and this was obviously an EU-inclusive discussion. There's a reason why the thread stickeys specify having the canon policy respective to the thread well-defined if it differs from the obvious default (LFL policy). What is the point to replying to people about a subject where they and quite clearly everyone else (Ender, Schatten, et al). Why did you reply to me the first time I cited "EU", hm? No, clearly you just started trolling and bitching about your personal fantasies once you ran out of good retorts. In summary, you're a lying shit. You just want to troll.

Even if you go by strict canon the Hoth shield implicitly prevented the ingress of air or spacecraft (unless you prefer that Vader, Veers, and Piett are just stupid and did not think air cover for their ground columns was important, despite otherwise appearing to grasp combined arms) but permitted the ingress of ground-contact vehicles, and prevented external bombardment while permitting the function of weapons within it's perimeter. Similarly, that we never observe the low-level penetration of limited-area shields by aircraft or spacecraft is a good reason why it is not possible. You have demanded that it is possible, despite, even from your strict film canon perspective, that there is no evidence to suggest it is.

Furthermore, if you had any science education mushed in with your dumb nitpicks of dialogue to justify your personal SW fantasy canon, you might pick up that Saxton's volumetric shield is a naturally reasonable conclusion. As Mike's site discusses at length in its section on force fields, real force fields occupy space and do not have a defined "edge." Therefore, why should shields NOT occupy space, and instead be an invisible magic pane of bullet proof glass, aside from judging things more from reference to bad sci-fi tropes than actual science?

And I'm well aware that many people here are EXTREMELY sensitive about what's canon and what isn't, due in so small part (IMO) to so many of them having spent their formative years debating SWvST with nimrods like Darkstar.

As for my trolling, you're so much fun to provoke that it's difficult not to.

Its called the vendetta rule and you've been breaking it as of late. If you're here for jollies and to just shit in others' cereal, that's trolling and no more justifiable than when even Scooter was a poster and gave up (poor) arguments in favor of just being a shit.

[Terralthra]

Furthermore, if you had any science education mushed in with your dumb nitpicks of dialogue to justify your personal SW fantasy canon, you might pick up that Saxton's volumetric shield is a naturally reasonable conclusion. As Mike's site discusses at length in its section on force fields, real force fields occupy space and do not have a defined "edge." Therefore, why should shields NOT occupy space, and instead be an invisible magic pane of bullet proof glass, aside from judging things more from reference to bad sci-fi tropes than actual science?

Because that's exactly what the Gungan theatre shield (the only theatre shield we actually see in the movies) looked like?

[Galvatron]

Yeah, and this was obviously an EU-inclusive discussion. There's a reason why the thread stickeys specify having the canon policy respective to the thread well-defined if it differs from the obvious default (LFL policy). What is the point to replying to people about a subject where they and quite clearly everyone else (Ender, Schatten, et al).

I suppose it's because I didn't realize that the EU ever covered the topic in such depth. I owned the AOTC:ICS book, but, as I said, I never committed it to memory.

Why did you reply to me the first time I cited "EU", hm?

Because I didn't understand how your EU source differed from my own observations of the films. You'll notice that I asked for clarification first, no?

No, clearly you just started trolling and bitching about your personal fantasies once you ran out of good retorts. In summary, you're a lying shit. You just want to troll.

Or you simply have a hair-trigger and can't tolerate a little good-natured tomfoolery in these discussions. Lighten up.

Even if you go by strict canon the Hoth shield implicitly prevented the ingress of air or spacecraft (unless you prefer that Vader, Veers, and Piett are just stupid and did not think air cover for their ground columns was important, despite otherwise appearing to grasp combined arms) but permitted the ingress of ground-contact vehicles, and prevented external bombardment while permitting the function of weapons within it's perimeter. Similarly, that we never observe the low-level penetration of limited-area shields by aircraft or spacecraft is a good reason why it is not possible. You have demanded that it is possible, despite, even from your strict film canon perspective, that there is no evidence to suggest it is.

Conceded.

Furthermore, if you had any science education mushed in with your dumb nitpicks of dialogue to justify your personal SW fantasy canon, you might pick up that Saxton's volumetric shield is a naturally reasonable conclusion. As Mike's site discusses at length in its section on force fields, real force fields occupy space and do not have a defined "edge." Therefore, why should shields NOT occupy space, and instead be an invisible magic pane of bullet proof glass, aside from judging things more from reference to bad sci-fi tropes than actual science?

Granted, my science education is pathetically limited. I suppose I'm just as susceptible to sci-fi brain bugs as anyone else.

And I'm well aware that many people here are EXTREMELY sensitive about what's canon and what isn't, due in so small part (IMO) to so many of them having spent their formative years debating SWvST with nimrods like Darkstar.

As for my trolling, you're so much fun to provoke that it's difficult not to.

Its called the vendetta rule and you've been breaking it as of late. If you're here for jollies and to just shit in others' cereal, that's trolling and no more justifiable than when even Scooter was a poster and gave up (poor) arguments in favor of just being a shit.

If it bothers you that much, why don't you complain to Mike and try to get me banned?

[Illuminatus Primus]

Furthermore, if you had any science education mushed in with your dumb nitpicks of dialogue to justify your personal SW fantasy canon, you might pick up that Saxton's volumetric shield is a naturally reasonable conclusion. As Mike's site discusses at length in its section on force fields, real force fields occupy space and do not have a defined "edge." Therefore, why should shields NOT occupy space, and instead be an invisible magic pane of bullet proof glass, aside from judging things more from reference to bad sci-fi tropes than actual science?

Because that's exactly what the Gungan theatre shield (the only theatre shield we actually see in the movies) looked like?

It was still volumetric. It caused blaster bolts to bounce off the ground. Besides, the Gungan shields dramatically visually differ from more shields (they seem to interact very distinctly with air and are very similar in appearance and observed mechanics to their air-water shield bubbles in their cities and submarines).

The Gungan shield is actually a great example of my mechanisms at work; the hovering armored vehicles could not penetrate the perimeter (they did not move to engage until after the shield projector had been destroyed), but the walking droids could (they actually visibly nudged through with their side, as if against resistance and as if easier than simply walking front-first through it).

To answer Galvy's remark: because I do find you a useful and interesting contributor, just as of late your personal-canon-stumping has gotten in the way. There's a time and a place. Create a thread on it. It can be a companion to the EU thread in fanfics. (If you notice, I tried to get people to do a re-write of ROTJ, long before you were talking on the board about re-writing the prequels in your head).

[Terralthra]

It was still volumetric. It caused blaster bolts to bounce off the ground.

Have any evidence that the shield caused them to do this, as opposed to simple angle of incidence?

Besides, the Gungan shields dramatically visually differ from more shields (they seem to interact very distinctly with air and are very similar in appearance and observed mechanics to their air-water shield bubbles in their cities and submarines).

Were we watching the same movie? The Gungan shield looked nearly identical to every other shield effect we see in the movie: a purplish or bluish haze projected with a very clear demarcation between the interior and exterior of the shield bubble. The very fact that you can see such a distinct and obvious line when looking at or through the shield, but not when looking around inside the shield belies the claim you and the ICS make that it is volumetric.

The Gungan shield is actually a great example of my mechanisms at work; the hovering armored vehicles could not penetrate the perimeter (they did not move to engage until after the shield projector had been destroyed), but the walking droids could (they actually visibly nudged through with their side, as if against resistance and as if easier than simply walking front-first through it).

I've no qualm with the proposed mechanic that it prevents repulsor vehicles or aircraft while allowing things that touch the ground through. That is supported by the Hoth assault's reliance on AT-ATs with no air cover. What your mechanism does not do is do anything but handwave away the shields as anything other than "it's volumetric, pay no attention to the visuals." If it was a volumetric 'blob' as you describe, then the droids wouldn't just shoulder through it and then walk on as normal; all movement inside the shield would be similarly impaired.

[NecronLord]

He's saying that we don't see later shields, as in the examples of ESB and RotJ. It's possible, of course, that those theatre shields were outside the atmosphere, and thus, no interaction. Or that they were more sophisticated in some way, and wasted less energy as light.

[Molyneux]

He's saying that we don't see later shields, as in the examples of ESB and RotJ. It's possible, of course, that those theatre shields were outside the atmosphere, and thus, no interaction. Or that they were more sophisticated in some way, and wasted less energy as light.

Don't forget those hand-held shields the Gungans had...I don't think we've see any effect like that outside of that one scene.

[Illuminatus Primus]

It was still volumetric. It caused blaster bolts to bounce off the ground.

Have any evidence that the shield caused them to do this, as opposed to simple angle of incidence?

Any reason why a blaster bolt should bounce off the ground? Its not a ping-pong ball.

Were we watching the same movie? The Gungan shield looked nearly identical to every other shield effect we see in the movie: a purplish or bluish haze projected with a very clear demarcation between the interior and exterior of the shield bubble. The very fact that you can see such a distinct and obvious line when looking at or through the shield, but not when looking around inside the shield belies the claim you and the ICS make that it is volumetric.

The ICS claims that the shield is volumetric and has a well-defined surface sometimes visible due to confinement and heating of surrounding air. Still, Anakin's fighter shield was quite tenuous compared to the Gungan tactical shields. However, I'll let the point drop. Still, the ICS stands. I'll also add that the ICS describes the Gungans as possessing their own "bubble shield" technology, implying its somewhat unique or distinct compared to shielding technology varieties commonly used throughout the galaxy.

I've no qualm with the proposed mechanic that it prevents repulsor vehicles or aircraft while allowing things that touch the ground through. That is supported by the Hoth assault's reliance on AT-ATs with no air cover. What your mechanism does not do is do anything but handwave away the shields as anything other than "it's volumetric, pay no attention to the visuals." If it was a volumetric 'blob' as you describe, then the droids wouldn't just shoulder through it and then walk on as normal; all movement inside the shield would be similarly impaired.

No, the difficulty is with transitions; kinematics, weapon systems, etc. all work within the shield, but crossing through the threshold is different. The basic reason why shields ought to be volumetric is that weapon-shield interactions are not seen to occur in the movies on a tightly well-defined surface, but can attenuate and dissipate quite a distance away from the ship or very up close. Presumably the shield nebulously dissipates out with the square of distance, the fact it possesses "a surface" notwithstanding. The ICS, regardless, is the "most well-researched" source outside the films, it was granted both the general imprimatur as canon, and also a -specific- one. Unless you have a compelling reason to regard the ICS as insurmountingly contradictory with the films, it is canon.

I don't have to "handwave away" the shields as volumetric. The fact is they are volumetric, and the ICS is indisputable canon that must be incorporated into any comprehensive explanation or model unless completely impossible. You have hardly made that sell.

[Terralthra]

It was still volumetric. It caused blaster bolts to bounce off the ground.

Have any evidence that the shield caused them to do this, as opposed to simple angle of incidence?

Any reason why a blaster bolt should bounce off the ground? Its not a ping-pong ball.

The nervous Rebel troopers aim their weapons. Suddenly a tremendous blast opens up a hole in the main passageway and a score of fearsome armored spacesuited stormtroopers make their way into the smoke-filled corridor. In a few minutes the entire passageway is ablaze with laserfire. The deadly bolts ricochet in wild random patterns creating huge explosions

Bolts ricocheting is not without precedent.

Were we watching the same movie? The Gungan shield looked nearly identical to every other shield effect we see in the movie: a purplish or bluish haze projected with a very clear demarcation between the interior and exterior of the shield bubble. The very fact that you can see such a distinct and obvious line when looking at or through the shield, but not when looking around inside the shield belies the claim you and the ICS make that it is volumetric.

The ICS claims that the shield is volumetric and has a well-defined surface sometimes visible due to confinement and heating of surrounding air. Still, Anakin's fighter shield was quite tenuous compared to the Gungan tactical shields. However, I'll let the point drop. Still, the ICS stands. I'll also add that the ICS describes the Gungans as possessing their own "bubble shield" technology, implying its somewhat unique or distinct compared to shielding technology varieties commonly used throughout the galaxy.

I've no qualm with the proposed mechanic that it prevents repulsor vehicles or aircraft while allowing things that touch the ground through. That is supported by the Hoth assault's reliance on AT-ATs with no air cover. What your mechanism does not do is do anything but handwave away the shields as anything other than "it's volumetric, pay no attention to the visuals." If it was a volumetric 'blob' as you describe, then the droids wouldn't just shoulder through it and then walk on as normal; all movement inside the shield would be similarly impaired.

No, the difficulty is with transitions; kinematics, weapon systems, etc. all work within the shield, but crossing through the threshold is different. The basic reason why shields ought to be volumetric is that weapon-shield interactions are not seen to occur in the movies on a tightly well-defined surface, but can attenuate and dissipate quite a distance away from the ship or very up close. Presumably the shield nebulously dissipates out with the square of distance, the fact it possesses "a surface" notwithstanding. The ICS, regardless, is the "most well-researched" source outside the films, it was granted both the general imprimatur as canon, and also a -specific- one. Unless you have a compelling reason to regard the ICS as insurmountingly contradictory with the films, it is canon.

I don't have to "handwave away" the shields as volumetric. The fact is they are volumetric, and the ICS is indisputable canon that must be incorporated into any comprehensive explanation or model unless completely impossible. You have hardly made that sell.

The shield on Anakin's fighter, the shield on the Droidekas, the Gungan shield, the Gungan handheld shields, and the shields in the Naboo power station (or whatever it was) were all easily visible and planar in appearance. I have the visuals of the film on my side: they all look like bubbles or walls. Additionally, the bolt/shield interactions seen do not 'dissipate quite a ways away or well up-close' at all, in every instance where the shield is visible, the interaction occurs at that visible shield bubble. Some bolts bounce off, others appear to impact there.

Moreover, the idea of a volumetric blob off of which blaster bolts bounce when they hit the boundaries, yet inside they work fine; a blob which is difficult to penetrate (the droids 'pushing through') yet once inside, movement returns to normal. That doesn't sound like a volumetric blob at all. That sounds like a shield bubble. The visuals of the films support a shield bubble easily, since every shield you see in an atmosphere looks like a bubble, and all the interactions you see with a visible shield occur at the visible shield.

It seems to me that the most reasonable explanation is that in other cases, where interactions occur further or closer to the source of the shield than might be expected, it's simply because the bubble isn't where you think it is, or it is not the shape you think it is. I am not disputing the ICS as canon, but to see all the shield bubbles and weapon/shield interactions in TPM and then say "Oh, that's volumetric and just LOOKS like it has a non-volumetric shell at which all interactions occur..." seems like trektardish glorifying of the tech manual over the evidence.

[Dooey Jo]

Perhaps it should be mentioned that a "volumetric ball with sharply defined edge" force field is no more physically correct than a bubble force field. Both would require equal amounts of handwaving.

[Illuminatus Primus]

The nervous Rebel troopers aim their weapons. Suddenly a tremendous blast opens up a hole in the main passageway and a score of fearsome armored spacesuited stormtroopers make their way into the smoke-filled corridor. In a few minutes the entire passageway is ablaze with laserfire. The deadly bolts ricochet in wild random patterns creating huge explosions

Bolts ricocheting is not without precedent.

We do not observe ricocheting in the ANH film, and quite clearly both explosive projectiles (contact-fuzed) or energy beams (not going to bounce off walls) do not satisfy this claim. Even if the blasters are projectiles and they plausibly ricochet (granting your claim), projectiles don't do so off soft soil. You are reaching and you know it.

How is projectile's ricocheting off of soft soil with little or no velocity change preferable to the stand dynamics of volumetric shielding - a canonically determined fact?

The shield on Anakin's fighter, the shield on the Droidekas, the Gungan shield, the Gungan handheld shields, and the shields in the Naboo power station (or whatever it was) were all easily visible and planar in appearance. I have the visuals of the film on my side: they all look like bubbles or walls. Additionally, the bolt/shield interactions seen do not 'dissipate quite a ways away or well up-close' at all, in every instance where the shield is visible, the interaction occurs at that visible shield bubble. Some bolts bounce off, others appear to impact there.

Okay, and where the shield bubble is not visible, you're claiming there is no shielding? What of the countless shield interactions in AOTC and the OT? Do they not count? Are none of those craft shielded? You're cherry-picking; "visible shield" does not include all instances of known shielding in the films, and you know it. Furthermore, AOTC ICS says that shields are volumetric and unless that is completely irreconcilable with the filmic canon, it stands.

Shields
Conventional shield technologies use a range of force-field effects. Ray shields, for example, deflect or break up energy beams, while particle shields forcefully retard high-velocity projectiles. Normally, the shield intensities diminish gradually with distance from the generator or projector. However, shields projected in an atmosphere tend to have a defined outer surface. Such a boundary becomes super-hot when left still, and mirage-like effects are seen. Shields surrounding a moving airborne vessel are less visible, but can impact on aerodynamic performance. When a shield absorbs large energy blasts, the momentum can surge back to the ship and affect its motion. Shields do not operate without cost: Constant power is required to dissipate the energy from the impacts.

Moreover, the idea of a volumetric blob off of which blaster bolts bounce when they hit the boundaries, yet inside they work fine; a blob which is difficult to penetrate (the droids 'pushing through') yet once inside, movement returns to normal. That doesn't sound like a volumetric blob at all. That sounds like a shield bubble. The visuals of the films support a shield bubble easily, since every shield you see in an atmosphere looks like a bubble, and all the interactions you see with a visible shield occur at the visible shield.

The Falcon in the Bespin atmosphere? Hm? When Anakin's fighter first lifts off? When it reactivates the shield is also only visible for a few moments while it is stationary, completely consistent with Saxton's descriptions, which of course require no justification anyway since unless hopelessly contradictory toward the filmic canon, they are indisputable facts regarding the authentic story of STAR WARS. Furthermore, AOTC ICS says that shields are volumetric and unless that is completely irreconcilable with the filmic canon, it stands.

It seems to me that the most reasonable explanation is that in other cases, where interactions occur further or closer to the source of the shield than might be expected, it's simply because the bubble isn't where you think it is, or it is not the shape you think it is. I am not disputing the ICS as canon, but to see all the shield bubbles and weapon/shield interactions in TPM and then say "Oh, that's volumetric and just LOOKS like it has a non-volumetric shell at which all interactions occur..." seems like trektardish glorifying of the tech manual over the evidence.

First of all, apparent energy beams bouncing off the soft soil just like they do off the Gungan hand shields, is evidence of interaction beyond the shield "surface". The shield interactions (oft- and incorrectly dubbed flakbursts) of TPM, AOTC, and the OT take place at varying distances from the apparently shielded craft. Furthermore, we know for a fact that the Gungan shields may be of a different nature than the "standard shielding" (AOTC ICS). The fact you do not see personally volumetric effects is not a satisfactory irreconcilable contradiction between the films and the AOTC ICS; the films do not disallow the facts of the AOTC ICS, and this is hardly comparable to Trek debating, because the TM is not canonical (the AOTC ICS is, and especially so). Furthermore, just because you aliken one set of events or arguments to another in different contexts and regarding different topics does not establish the same outcome to be true in both cases. Furthermore, the TM is poorly researched and written and rife with basic scientific errors, undermining its general credibility. Contrastingly, the AOTC ICS is written by a professor of astrophysics and his description of shields is more consistent with known characteristics of force fields. Furthermore, AOTC ICS says that shields are volumetric and unless that is completely irreconcilable with the filmic canon, it stands.