Star Wars Roleplaying - The Physics of Star Wars

[Red 331]

Paul Bateman, the Emmy nominated Concept Designer & Art Director and protegee of the late Ralph McQuarrie, has famously referred to John William's Star Wars soundtrack as the "Oxygen" of Star Wars.

I'd argue that Star Wars Roleplaying provides the "Physics" of Star Wars.

While media such as video games provides environments, and to some extent metrics, which can be used represent how things actually work in the Star Wars Universe (i.e. the functional controls and gages in the interior of starships in the X-Wing computer came), I think even game designers would admit that many of the game representations are "supersized" to provide for a more enjoyable gaming experience, instead of attempting to accurately measure the capabilities of characters, vehicles, etc.

Besides providing for a way for people to play a Star Wars game together, and immerse themselves in the Galaxy Far Far Away, I think the roleplaying game defines the limitations, the relative capabilities, and the do's and don'ts of how things work in Star Wars. To that extent, I think it does represent the "Physics" of Star Wars.

I don't think it's a coincidence that members of the Lucasfilm Story Group, which includes individuals such as Leland Chee and Pablo Hidalgo (former WEG contributor), have already shown a tendency to draw from WEG RPG materials (inquisitors, ISB, etc.) in developing the new content under the contemporary continuity system. It's neat to see that connection, and it will be fun to see what WEG-created elements make it into the new films as well.

Anyway, I just wanted to articulate my thoughts on that, and see what other people think. Are there people in the forum who don't actively play the roleplaying game, but enjoy reading the materials as a way to better understand the "Physics" of Star Wars?

[Red 331]

Insert sound of cricket noise here.



Ah well - so much for my revolutionary idea. It sounded cool when I was thinking about it.

But in retrospect...

Is there an "anti-Sticky" option for forum posts?

[Naaman]

You know, there is a lot of content out there that attempts to do what a table top rpg does. For example, youtubers have this thing where they do fantasy vs matches between characters who never could have fought in the first place, etc.

As an rpg-er myself, I find myself bemoaning the inconsistencies I see in the films or TV shows (such as Ahsoka hitting Pre Viszla's rocket pack and saying "Ididnt miss"... she could have killed him right there, or taken an arm or whatever...But Pre is good enough to beat Obi-Wan's keester, and even stacks up decently against Darth Maul).

And its things like this that make me wish that everyone involved in the storytelling were a gamer. I want consistency! Plot armor is great amd fine, but at least make it make sense! Yoda should have taken Dooku's hand, for example, in order to create a proper catalyst for his decision to retreat. Based on the film it looked like a stalemate at worst.... Dooku still had a chance at winning (so it APPEARD). Yoda's defeat of Dook ougjt to have been decisive, IMHO.

I'm not sure if that is along the line of what you were thinking... but its what I think of when I hear "physics of Star Wars."

[Whill]

I'll take your word on the unrealism of TCW based on what I've seen of it. I don't doubt it.

[Naaman]

Your analysis is spot on and I wholeheardetly agree.

My issue... and this takes us off topic, sorry OP... is that we FINALLY get to see Yoda in action and there is no payoff.

Do you remember what the audience sounded like at 1:30 am when Yoda started doing his thing?

And then...... bleh....

He marches in there in his own version of a heroic manner, and then just doesn't get anything done. He was constantly on the offense. He wasn't just "defending" against Dooku, but he was attacking him with a prowess that we had never seen before in SW.

And I've just accepted that hands are disposable in SW. If someone isn't losing a hand, it must not be SW.... you know?

I would rather have waited for Yoda to actually win a fight... which we actually never get to see him do. And I feel like that is a misuse of his character.

Compare this to the scene in the 1990 TMNT where Splinter shows up and saves the turtles, kills Shredder and saves the day.

[Whill]

I see what you mean.

I think all three lightsaber duels were too short, including Yoda's (they were less than a minute each). There actually was a lot more filmed at least for Anakin's battle, but Lucas was concerned with total run time. I totally agree with most of the deleted scenes being cut, but cutting climactic action for the sake of overall run time? I think that hurt the film. Of course Yoda was special effects so a shorter battle time for him could have also been for post-production time and budget concerns, but I agree more action hero Yoda would have helped the film.

A more conclusive defeat of Dooku could have been a better climax and it could have helped AotC as a movie in its own right, but I feel Dooku getting more soundly defeated at the end of AotC only to get killed at the beginning of the next film would have weakened the character more than he already is, which in turn could have hurt the drama of RotS because the Clone Wars may not have seemed so bad for the Republic if the enemy leader was that weak.

Since Yoda had to lose his duel with Palpatine in RotS, yeah, it would have nice to see Yoda get one win. But Dooku is already a dramatically weak villain as it is, so that's a tough one.
_________________
*
Site Map
Forum Guidelines
Registration/Log-In Help
The Rancor Pit Library
Star Wars D6 Damage

[Lane Arroway]

IMHO, Yoda shouldn't have been swinging his lightsaber around at all. I agree, that those fights he's in are pointless. If Yoda was going to break character and attack, he should have ended it. He's suppose to be the living representation of the lightside of the Force. Wisdom, knowledge, and defence is his philosophy of the Force. Anything else risks temptation to the Dark Side.

Check out, "What If Episode One was good?" followed by "What If Episode Two Was Good?" on youtube. Made some great points in those.

Personally, I would miss Ewan Mcgregor in the movies, he's a great Obi-Wan, that said, if GL titled his movie, Star Wars Episode I A New Hope, I would have been fine with it.

I totally agree with what you said, Red 331. Awesome insight!
_________________
"This job is 90% talking to people and 10% shooting at them."

[Whill]

[Naaman]

Concerning Whill's point about Dooku being weak, I think that ep3 should have had Grievous at the beginning with Obi-Wan and Anakin defeating him together, and then, Dooku (since he "fled" in ep2) being confronted by Obi Wan and Anakin... the two of them losing, Yoda coming and killing him, and then later Palps kils Mace with Anakin's help.

[Falconer]