Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens

[The Romulan Republic]

Jesus, do you guys honestly think anyone involved with the art design of that thing gave two shits about anything in universe technically? There is even less of a chance it has anything to do with real world sword play. It looked cool and screams knightly and stuff and the staff light saber was taken. That was the extent of the thought put into it.

Just like all those crap swords hanging in fantasy shops.

I have no idea what was going through the head of whoever designed the lightsaber, but there's no reason not to try to come up with an explanation for it that makes sense, or criticize it if it doesn't.

[Anacronian]

I believe that Ralph Mcquarrie is credited with the actual design.


(notice the wide round rim just before the blade seem to actually protect the hand wielding it a tiny bit)

Though most of the physical components that made up the lightsaber came from antique camera parts.

[Borgholio]

New teaser. Shows something neat that confirms some that we've discussed about the plot.

http://www.wired.com/2015/08/star-wars- ... al_twitter

[The Romulan Republic]

So Spoiler

Finn's going to try duelling a hostile Force-user? Considering that he seems to start out as a stormtrooper, that shouldn't end well. I mean, its not like Anakin could have kicked Maul's ass in Episode I or Luke could have kicked Vader's ass in Episode IV either.

Hoping that it ends with Luke showing up to save him like Yoda did for Kenobi and Anakin in Attack of the Clones.

[Anacronian]

Quote from JJ Abrams that I find confusing: ... what would have happened if the Nazis all went to Argentina but then started working together again?’ What could be born of that?
Could The First Order exist as a group that actually admired The Empire? Could the work of The Empire be seen as unfulfilled? And could Vader be a martyr? Could there be a need to see through what didn’t get done? /endquote.

So what happened to the rest of the Empire, So far my understanding was that the First Order was a splinter group of the still existing empire, but now it sounds like the First Order is all there is left?

Souce

[Adam Reynolds]

So Spoiler

Finn's going to try duelling a hostile Force-user? Considering that he seems to start out as a stormtrooper, that shouldn't end well. I mean, its not like Anakin could have kicked Maul's ass in Episode I or Luke could have kicked Vader's ass in Episode IV either.

Hoping that it ends with Luke showing up to save him like Yoda did for Kenobi and Anakin in Attack of the Clones.

Based on spoliers: Spoiler

Rey saves him, not Luke. Apparently she is stronger in the Force than Kylo and was at least marginally trained at the same level as Kylo. It is a conflict in which none of the characters are as strong in the Force as the classic characters.

Quote from JJ Abrams that I find confusing: ... what would have happened if the Nazis all went to Argentina but then started working together again?’ What could be born of that?
Could The First Order exist as a group that actually admired The Empire? Could the work of The Empire be seen as unfulfilled? And could Vader be a martyr? Could there be a need to see through what didn’t get done? /endquote.

So what happened to the rest of the Empire, So far my understanding was that the First Order was a splinter group of the still existing empire, but now it sounds like the First Order is all there is left?

Souce

That does fit rumors I have heard about the nature of the First Order. That the Empire is all but dead.

Though the question them becomes one of why this Resistance is so small as well? If the Remanent of the Empire is so small, why does the New Republic not simply crush them?

[The Romulan Republic]

That makes it sound like they're doing something I wanted- having a galaxy where neither the Republic/Rebellion or the Empire (or First Order, as the case may be) is in control of everything, but their are a lot of little factions instead. It would be more diverse, and it seems to make sense. A simple continuation of the Empire wouldn't fit with Return of the Jedi's ending, but the Rebellion appears too small to quickly take the whole galaxy, especially if a lot of the galaxy didn't want to join (i.e. crime lord worlds, ex-Separatist worlds, and ex-Imperial worlds, plus random worlds with standard nationalism/separatism).

[ray245]

It feels like a poor attempt to recreate the story of the rebellion again.

[The Romulan Republic]

I don't know about that. It could be, but not if they took it in the direction I'm suggesting. Besides, no way to tell how poor it is until you see the final film.

Though frankly, I get the impression that you're one of the people who pretty much decided the film would be bad the moment it was announced and will not be swayed by anything.

[Dartzap]

Maybe the situation is more akin to:
Spoiler

The Bacta War, where the NR doesnt feel able to play wackamole with the First Order for political reasons, but still has a hand in confronting them, like the Rogues did when fighting Isard

[ray245]

I don't know about that. It could be, but not if they took it in the direction I'm suggesting. Besides, no way to tell how poor it is until you see the final film.

Though frankly, I get the impression that you're one of the people who pretty much decided the film would be bad the moment it was announced and will not be swayed by anything.

Yeah, but why do we need to need a story about a bunch of resistance fighters fighting against a much powerful Imperial order? There's so many other ways tell a story in the political climate you are describing.

[Adam Reynolds]

That makes it sound like they're doing something I wanted- having a galaxy where neither the Republic/Rebellion or the Empire (or First Order, as the case may be) is in control of everything, but their are a lot of little factions instead. It would be more diverse, and it seems to make sense. A simple continuation of the Empire wouldn't fit with Return of the Jedi's ending, but the Rebellion appears too small to quickly take the whole galaxy, especially if a lot of the galaxy didn't want to join (i.e. crime lord worlds, ex-Separatist worlds, and ex-Imperial worlds, plus random worlds with standard nationalism/separatism).

That is a rather logical progression. Perhaps the Resistance exists as the last holdouts of the Rebel Alliance after the rest of the galaxy moved on from them. Sort of a "ding, dong, the Emperor is dead." Now why should we accept you as galactic leadership? It would be somewhat similar to the problems faced by the American colonies before the constitution was drafted and the United States was officially formed. After throwing off a despot*, there was little desire for a strong central government, at least until the need for it was clearly shown. The First Order could create this need. Luke's apparent failure to create a successful Jedi Order could be a part of this as well, few saw the need as they felt that had been doing fine without them.

* Though the American case is hardly as clear cut as SW obviously.

Maybe the situation is more akin to:
Spoiler

The Bacta War, where the NR doesnt feel able to play wackamole with the First Order for political reasons, but still has a hand in confronting them, like the Rogues did when fighting Isard

That is possible, but that gets into the problem that it potentially makes the good guys too powerful. And in the PT, we have already seen the good guys in power. It would be more interesting to not see either faction in power.

Though frankly, I get the impression that you're one of the people who pretty much decided the film would be bad the moment it was announced and will not be swayed by anything.

This was also what I have seen with his perspective. He seems to want something completely different, without some sort of Dark Side Force user. He seems to feel that it cheapens Vader's sacrifice in ROTJ.

[The Romulan Republic]

Well, the way I see it, their would probably be a lot of worlds that would be sympathetic to the Rebels. But many might not be, not necessarily because they supported the Empire but simply because not everyone is going to agree with the Rebels' way of doing things. And the Rebellion as of the Emperor's death in Return of the Jedi did not appear to have the numbers to control the galaxy, seeing as how they were a hidden guerrilla force. They also lack the brutality to intimidate people into obedience the way the Empire tried to.

[Elfdart]

See the blaster Brienne of Tarth is holding? Notice anything odd about it?


Spoiler

It has both a folding stock and a buttstock. Maybe it was designed for an alien with more than two shoulders.

[Batman]

It's chromed?

[Anacronian]

I like her C3PO gloves - the fingers do really look like they were cast of C3PO.

[Adam Reynolds]

It's chromed?

It has two stocks. The first is the one that she is using, the second is the folding stock at the front of the weapon.

[Batman]

Could be a mounting rack or an (admittedly awkwardly shaped) fold-down forward pistol grip.

[Adam Reynolds]

Could be a mounting rack or an (admittedly awkwardly shaped) fold-down forward pistol grip.

On the old model those were stated to be stocks. Who knows what it is now. Odds are what was supposedly a stock never would have worked on most of the props and so when they added it they never noticed.

[The Romulan Republic]

That makes it sound like they're doing something I wanted- having a galaxy where neither the Republic/Rebellion or the Empire (or First Order, as the case may be) is in control of everything, but their are a lot of little factions instead. It would be more diverse, and it seems to make sense. A simple continuation of the Empire wouldn't fit with Return of the Jedi's ending, but the Rebellion appears too small to quickly take the whole galaxy, especially if a lot of the galaxy didn't want to join (i.e. crime lord worlds, ex-Separatist worlds, and ex-Imperial worlds, plus random worlds with standard nationalism/separatism).

That is a rather logical progression. Perhaps the Resistance exists as the last holdouts of the Rebel Alliance after the rest of the galaxy moved on from them. Sort of a "ding, dong, the Emperor is dead." Now why should we accept you as galactic leadership? It would be somewhat similar to the problems faced by the American colonies before the constitution was drafted and the United States was officially formed. After throwing off a despot*, there was little desire for a strong central government, at least until the need for it was clearly shown. The First Order could create this need. Luke's apparent failure to create a successful Jedi Order could be a part of this as well, few saw the need as they felt that had been doing fine without them.

* Though the American case is hardly as clear cut as SW obviously.

Maybe the situation is more akin to:
Spoiler

The Bacta War, where the NR doesnt feel able to play wackamole with the First Order for political reasons, but still has a hand in confronting them, like the Rogues did when fighting Isard

That is possible, but that gets into the problem that it potentially makes the good guys too powerful. And in the PT, we have already seen the good guys in power. It would be more interesting to not see either faction in power.

Though frankly, I get the impression that you're one of the people who pretty much decided the film would be bad the moment it was announced and will not be swayed by anything.

This was also what I have seen with his perspective. He seems to want something completely different, without some sort of Dark Side Force user. He seems to feel that it cheapens Vader's sacrifice in ROTJ.

The good guys were never in power, at least on a galactic scale, except maybe in Phantom Menace (and even then, the Republic and Jedi had serious problems). They just didn't realize that the bad guys were already running things.

[Adam Reynolds]

The good guys were never in power, at least on a galactic scale, except maybe in Phantom Menace (and even then, the Republic and Jedi had serious problems). They just didn't realize that the bad guys were already running things.

It was their fall from power, but it required them to be in power in order for the fall to happen.

[Terralthra]

See the blaster Brienne of Tarth is holding? Notice anything odd about it?

I think you mean Brienne of Darth.

More on-topic, the folding stock of the E-11 comes straight from the folding stock of the Sterling SMG on which the props were based. It worked perfectly well.

[Darth Tanner]

So the toy lines have been released today... from a quick browse you can get a few hints on the film...

The First Order Star Destroyer is called the Finalizer... would imply maybe they only have the one ship? Some of the models have it with a burned like pattern on the front, perhaps its going to do some forced reentry during the film.
The Black Tie Fighter with extra armour is a special forces version. It definately has a bottom turret mounted gun and some sort of gun or greeble on the top to the side of the cockpit too.
The First Order troopers may be using Clone Wars small one man walkers, it looks near identical to me and also a snow speeder like design.
The black shuttle is called a command shuttle and is specifically Kylos.
Kylos lightsaber comes with a light dagger!
Luke and Boba Fett have figures with winter/desert special gear.
Finn is in the headline with a lightsaber but his figures come with a blaster.
BB8 comes with Rey implying he belongs to her.

May the merchandising be with you.

[The Romulan Republic]

Does that mean that Spoiler

Boba Fett survived the Sarlacc and will be in the new film

?

If so, I'm not sure how I feel about that. It seems like pandering to a certain demographic of rabid fans, and yet... its not really implausible, and it would allow for a final showdown with Han.

[RogueIce]

They're toys. I'd be wary of reading too much into any of it. For a long time the Lamda shuttles were known as "Tyderium shuttles" because that's what the one in RotJ was called. And I wouldn't read too much into the SD having the one name or that shuttle being "Kylo's shuttle" any more than every X-wing belonging to Luke Skywalker because "Luke's X-wing" was undoubtedly a thing in various toylines.