Jim Raynor wrote:I'm in favor of the multipurpose theory.
I'm not, but I'm left with little choice without conclusive evidence.
Jim Raynor wrote:The domes being shield generators may have had brain bug origins, but it is nontheless official and must be accepted unless contradicted by canon evidence.
Yes, unless.. the mandel blueprint can be considered official, of which I have seen no evidence against. It predates the later label, so it should overrule it as per canon policy. It should be noted though, that in some cases the policy has changed afterwards. But in case of the SSD lenght, it doesn't matter since the movies takes precedence.
We have three cases of various official evidence supporting one or the other:
1. The domes are scanners.
2. The domes are shield generators or projectors or both.
3. The domes are both sensors and generators.
The question is, which one stands? As far as the movies goes:
1. The Executor lost bridge shields, and the domes were intact.
2. An ISD was seen with a flaming bridge. The domes were intact.
This can be assumed to only prove that shield generators doesn't have to blow up when they fail to protect a ship - but that goes against official evidence, so it's out.
The official:
1. Most ships have shields, but only Star Destroyers has the domes. (There's an antenna that looks suspicious on the MF, though..)
2. Star Destroyers has several shield facings (6). But ISD only have 2 domes as far as I have seen. An Executor has more.
Jim Raynor wrote:It may very well be a bullshit "compromise" like the 12.8 km SSD length, but it is different because it only lacks canon support rather than being directly contradicted by canon. The idea that external shield generators on an ISD are silly because they aren't found on other SW ships is also incorrect. The EGTVV also points out external shield generators on A-wings, X-wings, Medium Transports, and Mon Cal Cruisers.
As for the starwars.com quote that supposedly supports the theory that the domes are scanners:
The superstructure above juts from the flat upper surfaces of the ship like an aircraft carrier's "island" command tower, complete with equipment finishing off its upper reaches like the communications and scanning gear of a carrier.
The quote in NO WAY states that the domes are for the purposes of communications and scanning. All it does is compare the APPEARANCE of the ISD to an aircraft carrier.[/quote]
I'm aware that it doesn't explicitly say that. You're splitting hairs though. I think it makes it obvious that the intention for the domes never was shields. It's not an in-universe explanation, but it's pretty much what we are left with..