sci-fi creative writting tips?

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Smithy
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Re: sci-fi creative writting tips?

Post by Smithy »

discord wrote:.... his distinct lack of trust in 'democracy', one i happen to share.
Sacrilege.....





;)

fredgiblet
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Re: sci-fi creative writting tips?

Post by fredgiblet »

Chtulhu wrote:Such a weapon is utterly useless for space combat
I don't know, I think the Mon Cal cruisers in RotJ might have some thoughts on that.

EDIT: Also remember that anything and everything involving the Vong is EU and thus inapplicable to the reasoning of anything in the movies. As much as I like the EU claiming that rationalizations in the EU apply to the movies doesn't really work.

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Cthulhu
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Re: sci-fi creative writting tips?

Post by Cthulhu »

Yeah, but only if it's a trap! And setting up effective traps in the vastness of space if you have only one device is not a viable tactic. It only worked because it was in the script. Besides, it is slow, can only fire in one direction, costs like three or four fleets of standard destroyers and requires just as many for escort in combat, because it's that expensive and will be a priority target. All in all, really impressive for civilians, but a joke for any admiral.

Absalom
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Re: sci-fi creative writting tips?

Post by Absalom »

It was also going to have close enough to unbreachable shields. It may have been an absurd vehicle, but that wasn't going to be enough to make it vulnerable.

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Arioch
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Re: sci-fi creative writting tips?

Post by Arioch »

The only Star Wars book I ever read (aside from the movie novelizations) was the first one, Alan Dean Foster's Splinter of the Mind's Eye, that came out before even before the second movie. I'm guessing that doesn't even count as EU. Nor, I suppose, does the Holiday Special...

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Count Casimir
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Re: sci-fi creative writting tips?

Post by Count Casimir »

The only Star Wars books I've really delved into were the X-Wing novels, the series split by Michael Stackpole and Aaron Allston. I've read a few others, but man were those great.

Has anyone read the comics? I'd like to read those sometime, but can't find 'em nearby.
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discord
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Re: sci-fi creative writting tips?

Post by discord »

cthulhu: well, it's also one of the few weapon systems i can think of that would kill a vong world ship in a expedient manner...but it is also a useful tool for scaring someone shitless, which would be why tarkin liked it.

and the best use for a admiral would be as a supply/logistics depot, dry docks, etc....all in a tough nut to crack which can be moved where needed....it's a monster, not anywhere near cost effective, but very powerful and useful anyway, mobile shipyard, military stronghold and a logistics base all in one huge package.

<edit>
timothy zahn and his thrawn trilogy is probably one of the better around, read it.
</edit>

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Cthulhu
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Re: sci-fi creative writting tips?

Post by Cthulhu »

I've read the Thrawn trilogy in my geek phase some years ago. It's far better than many of the other Star Wars books and better that most of Star trek ones. Probably should re-read it, especially if Disney decides to base the new trilogy on 'em and spoils the story forever :lol: .
The cost-effectiveness of the station was my biggest problem with it. I mean, having a mobile base is nice, but all the additions make it a insanely expensive priority target for the enemy. Thus it negates most of the advantages it provides and binds parts of the fleet as an escort. A couple of less expensive, lower-profile stations would've been better. Besides, as far as the story goes, the destruction of Alderaan was the last straw for many worlds which then joined up with the rebels and thus the moon station actually sped up the downfall of the empire instead of securing it.

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Re: sci-fi creative writting tips?

Post by fredgiblet »

When you're talking about escorts you need to remember that neither Death Star was vulnerable in the eyes of the Empire. If the exhaust port was shielded or hidden on the first one then it wouldn't have been, and if the second one was completed it wouldn't have been either. Nothing short of a Super Star Destroyer is going to be a threat (barring the first ones flaw) and even those aren't going to be that dangerous unless they're something like an Eclipse-class which doesn't even exist in the movies.

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Re: sci-fi creative writting tips?

Post by Absalom »

Arioch wrote:The only Star Wars book I ever read (aside from the movie novelizations) was the first one, Alan Dean Foster's Splinter of the Mind's Eye, that came out before even before the second movie. I'm guessing that doesn't even count as EU.
I honestly don't know, though certainly it has a bit different of a feel to it. I got the impression that it was going for a "few plucky freedom fighters against the world" vibe, which just isn't in keeping with the rest of the setting. Unless you're a Jedi, of course, but even then...
Arioch wrote:Nor, I suppose, does the Holiday Special...
Lucas would probably say that doesn't even exist, and was just in all of our imaginations.
Count Casimir wrote:The only Star Wars books I've really delved into were the X-Wing novels, the series split by Michael Stackpole and Aaron Allston. I've read a few others, but man were those great.
The Thrawn series was better in my opinion, but yeah, those were pretty good. Covered a nice amount of territory, too.
Count Casimir wrote:Has anyone read the comics? I'd like to read those sometime, but can't find 'em nearby.
I haven't read much. I always understood them to be to the EU what the EU is to the movies, but that might have been just my misunderstanding. I believe that they're still published by Dark Horse, so you should see if your local comic shop can order them for you.

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Re: sci-fi creative writting tips?

Post by Dragoon »

The entire project was intended to SCARE planetary populations into submission rather than actually fight battles. for Psychological effect the Death Star was perfect. The cost effectiveness of the Death Star would not have been an obstacle. It was intended to be a terror weapon. one single weapon that could overwhelm and destroy the defenses of any rebel system.

If a world was in rebellion or supporting rebellion simply the threat of the Death Star being sent for a visit would be enough to bolster it's"loyalty".

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