Myths of Endor

[sonofccn]

Palpatine 2.0 used the Eclipse: Not as powerful, the laser was still capable of doing 2/3 of the DET effects described in Death Star.

True. The SSD equipped with superlaser would be an effective weapon platform or at least more than the Death Star. However in the post ROTJ time period the empire also unleashed the suncrusher, centerpoint station, the galaxy gun and World Devestators IIRC. If actual dying on the station couldn't fully break him of his habit of these resource wasters than escaping alive from his unfinished DS2 is unlikely too. As JMS pointed out there was no flaw in the DS2 merely Palpatine's own hubris which he can pawn off to someone else, quite possible many others without effort.

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Enough to lay waste to an entire world in one shot, and likely pierce any shield, although in such a scenario, a second shot would be necessary. But once the planet would have lost its shields, people would just coil in fear anyway.

The issue however is that with the Death Star you wouldn't need to get to that stage, orbiting the planet with a big boom stick shoved in their face. The idea of an unstoppable immense battle station that could reduce a planet to an asteroid field in an instant was what sparked Palpistine's interest. I agree that the Eclipse would be a better, cheaper replacement for the death star project but the question is would Palpy see it.

[Mr. Oragahn]

Palpatine 2.0 used the Eclipse: Not as powerful, the laser was still capable of doing 2/3 of the DET effects described in Death Star.

True. The SSD equipped with superlaser would be an effective weapon platform or at least more than the Death Star. However in the post ROTJ time period the empire also unleashed the suncrusher, centerpoint station, the galaxy gun and World Devestators IIRC. If actual dying on the station couldn't fully break him of his habit of these resource wasters than escaping alive from his unfinished DS2 is unlikely too. As JMS pointed out there was no flaw in the DS2 merely Palpatine's own hubris which he can pawn off to someone else, quite possible many others without effort.

All of which had been smaller than a DS, safe for CPS, which was not built by the Empire iirc.
So it would indeed show a trend for smaller structures, but just as destructive on their whole. And that without the Empire in shambles.

The issue however is that with the Death Star you wouldn't need to get to that stage, orbiting the planet with a big boom stick shoved in their face. The idea of an unstoppable immense battle station that could reduce a planet to an asteroid field in an instant was what sparked Palpistine's interest. I agree that the Eclipse would be a better, cheaper replacement for the death star project but the question is would Palpy see it.

Can't tell. Both ways are bad anyway, to me, and would require a goddamn deus ex machina for the Rebels to be relevant beyond a mere fleeing nuisance.

[Mike DiCenso]

Centerpoint Station was not built by the Empire, but by an ancient and believed long extinct race. The Wookipedia article is linked to here.
-Mike

[sonofccn]

All of which had been smaller than a DS, safe for CPS, which was not built by the Empire iirc.
So it would indeed show a trend for smaller structures, but just as destructive on their whole. And that without the Empire in shambles.

I'll agree the emperor was nudged in the right direction, world devastators were an interesting concept IMO, but most still suffered from a single hard to replace uberweapon as opposed to cheaper more numerous merely pragmatically powerful weapons. I don't think escaping alive would push him even farther away leading to either abandoning superweapons all together or staying on a similar path he's own now.

Can't tell. Both ways are bad anyway, to me, and would require a goddamn deus ex machina for the Rebels to be relevant beyond a mere fleeing nuisance.

Well insurgents as we've seen on this rock are hard to put down with conventional forces. The rebellion also is aided by the loose grip the Empire posseses allowing them freedom of movement as well as a deep well of support. While this would change if the Empire began focusing on industry more, if the Emperor stays on his superweapon kick it constantly provides the rebellion with both a major propaganda boost as well as a target that is worth whatever their losses is many times over. In either case don't count the rebellion out through in either case things will become more bloody.

[Mr. Oragahn]

Can't tell. Both ways are bad anyway, to me, and would require a goddamn deus ex machina for the Rebels to be relevant beyond a mere fleeing nuisance.

Well insurgents as we've seen on this rock are hard to put down with conventional forces. The rebellion also is aided by the loose grip the Empire posseses allowing them freedom of movement as well as a deep well of support. While this would change if the Empire began focusing on industry more, if the Emperor stays on his superweapon kick it constantly provides the rebellion with both a major propaganda boost as well as a target that is worth whatever their losses is many times over. In either case don't count the rebellion out through in either case things will become more bloody.

The Empire has far more power on all possible fronts against a single planet, than the Imperialistic wannabees do against Afghanistan. It has enough power to curb an entire planet, and can act independently, doesn't have to answer to anyone nor maintain the degree of farce that floats these days. It doesn't have to deal with other ex or rising super powers, it doesn't have to deal with "allies" that start buying weapons to the enemy and plot to use a currency that's not the one Imperial currency. If it is called the New (Galactic) Order, I think it's for a very specific reason, the one being that in reality, the nice guys won largely due to plot contrivances more than any series of cold and logical steps. Their victory was against all odds, and that relatively twice.

[watchdog]

"And now young Skywalker, you, like your father, are now mi.......oh crap!"
BOOOOOM!

This was actually kind of done, in the infinities timeline for Return of the Jedi. Vader upon being confronted with his son AND daughter, turns against the Emperor. Palpy while watching the fight leading up to that turn suddenly senses that the DS is about to get bitch-slapped-again and beats a hasty retreat. His plans are hampered by the fact that Lord Vader now in white armor is willing to help the rebels learn all of Palpy's secrets. And of course we have the clone of Palpatine to see exactly what he would do as well. Luke called it correctly when he met Palps face to face, he told him that his overconfidence was his weakness and he is right; the Emperor, the Empire, the entire imperial navy and imperial structure all share that same flaw. Tarkin was so sure that the rebels did not stand a chance against his precious Death Star, until he went boom. Palpatine was so confident that a legion of his "Best Troops" could take out the rebels, until his troops landed in Furry Hell (kind of like the warsies are so certain that their side is all powerful, following in Palpy's lead).
A surviving Palpatine can cause all sorts of trouble but I think it all comes down to whether Vader survives as well, and if he changes sides. Luke wont have to try and recreate the Jedi order from scratch all by himself, he will have the guidance of his father, a fully trained Jedi Knight to help him as well as someone who knows the imperial structure inside and out (because Palpy was so confident that no one could ever be turned from the Dark Side).

[Mike DiCenso]

You have thought that in that Infinities version of RoTJ that someone, Luke, Leia or whomever would have suggested that Vader/Anakin do more to change his costume than merely go from black to white. At least try to keep his identity a secret, for chrissake!
-Mike

[watchdog]

Yeah, I mean it's not like he needed the breathing apparatus over his eyes in order to live, although I do believe the EU book "Dark Lord" claimed that he could never really replace the suit as trying would kill him. I have not read the book so I'm going on word of mouth here.

[Mike DiCenso]

Well, so what's the vaunted SW medical technology's solution to the problem? Do they just give him a set of cape and robes, and airbrush the rest of the armor white? Is that it? And who the hell is not on trial for crimes against sapient life? Sheesh.
-Mike

[Mr. Oragahn]

They could pack Vader up into some kind of wooden crate on wheels, paste some hairs here and there, airbrush the whole thing pink, and voila. Find some fancy name for our coughing... ambassador, yes, ambassador from the planet Plank.

[Mike DiCenso]

Or they could pull an Obi-Wan style "I told the truth, from a certain point of view" lie. Just say that Anakin Skywalker had been held prisoner by Palpatine and Vader and was being tortured all these years because he was supposed to be the greatest Jedi ever or something like that.
-Mike

[watchdog]

It's too bad the comic ended with white-suit Vader promising to help the Rebels against his former master, all we got was the Emperor looking all pissed about Vaders defection without any indication of what would happen next.
We dont even get to find out how the rest of the Rebellion felt about having this evil bastard suddenly on their side.
That would have made for an interesting part of the story; The trial of Darth Vader.

[Mike DiCenso]

One of the unfortunate and serious flaws of the SW Infinities titles is that they did not wait until the entire PT was completed before attempting their stories. For example, Chewbacca in the ANH and TESB Infinities meets Yoda, and as we all know now, Chewbacca and Yoda would instantly have known each other (no doubt throwing Han for a real loop in the process).
-Mike