First and foremost, I know it provides great faction identification against the backdrop of black space in the movies. The overwhelming green against paltry red is a beautiful illustration and commentary on the nature of the conflict. But, in universe-wise, why?

This site has some interesting ideas. http://scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/33080/what-is-the-significance-of-the-reversed-colours-of-imperial-and-rebellion-laser

As an aside, I just finished reading Tarkin and there is a preview for Heir to the Jedi in it.

Luke is in a new ship and when he fires the lasers its mentioned that they are blue.

An even higher quality than the green then

Standing "joke" around here (for X-Wing) : :Imps get the superior red lightsabers, Rebs get the superior red lasers...

from what I can remember off-hand, the "lasers" are actually projectiles of super-heated gas/plasma

the rebels red "lasers" are less refined because of their inferior tech, the imperial green are more refined

but we all know the real reason is 100% cinematic

Maybe an in universe explanation is as simple as different manufacturers. Out of universe it is for the audience.

from what I can remember off-hand, the "lasers" are actually projectiles of super-heated gas/plasma

the rebels red "lasers" are less refined because of their inferior tech, the imperial green are more refined

but we all know the real reason is 100% cinematic

So... That's why the imperials get to reroll all their dice right?

Similar question bugged me about the engine exhausts - imperial is mostly blue, original falcon was yellow/white, then blue, rebels have some orange red, some blue. Different fuel sources maybe?

Maybe even just slightly different engine tech. TIEs used ion engine for example, and the other ships have different makers and technology. Could be something as simple as that.

from what I can remember off-hand, the "lasers" are actually projectiles of super-heated gas/plasma

the rebels red "lasers" are less refined because of their inferior tech, the imperial green are more refined

but we all know the real reason is 100% cinematic

So... That's why the imperials get to reroll all their dice right?

Similar question bugged me about the engine exhausts - imperial is mostly blue, original falcon was yellow/white, then blue, rebels have some orange red, some blue. Different fuel sources maybe?

The "laser" color is probably due to the ammo rather than the ship.

Rebels have quite a few ships that had an imperial origin (even the X-wing was designed for the empire originally, I think), but they don't have widespread access to the same kind of ammunition as the empire to arm their ships with.

And I don't think re-rolling dice is about the quality of the "laser" as much as the combined accuracy and firepower. Ties might have better "lasers," but their guns are effin puny compared to the X

I don't think the color has anything to do with the quality of the weapons unless you think the Naboo defense force had higher quality lasers then the Trade Federation, Old Republic, and Jedi Order

Well the reasoning for the blue lasers was it was slightly ionized to better damage droid

I don't think the color has anything to do with the quality of the weapons unless you think the Naboo defense force had higher quality lasers then the Trade Federation, Old Republic, and Jedi Order

I don't think you can apply much logic of any kind to the prequels

True but as far as I know there has never been any indication anywhere that the color of the laser bolt has anything to do with the quality of the weapon except for that bit about blue ones doing more damage to droid systems.

In the prequels, I think EpIII in the battle over Coruscant, there is a scene where you see clone troopers firing turbolasers through mag shields at a passing Confederation ship. They're loading what look like WWII style 12in guns, complete with individual rounds of sorts.

Here's a CIS ship, note the spent rounds being ejected out:

Death Star crew in Ep4:

Clones from Ep3 on a Venator SD:

The whole point of an energy weapon like a turbolaser is that as long as you have the ability to maintain the weapon and a source of energy it can fire until the end of time. There's no way that lasers or blasters depend on shells and Turbolasers are basically bigger, nastier lasers with some tweaking to the generator and focusing systems.

The whole point of an energy weapon like a turbolaser is that as long as you have the ability to maintain the weapon and a source of energy it can fire until the end of time. There's no way that lasers or blasters depend on shells and Turbolasers are basically bigger, nastier lasers with some tweaking to the generator and focusing systems.

In this case, untrue. Despite the name they aren't actually lasers in star wars....they use super heated gas to create the bolt (which is what the canisters are). They are actually closer to plasma weapons rather than laser weapons.

" Lasers were generated by stimulating a "gain medium"; this substance was charged with electricity, radiation or even by chemical reaction so as to release energy in the form of photons. The gain medium could come in the form of a solid (often a crystal), liquid or gas ( tibanna gas was reputedly a favored medium). The "gain medium," when charged, saw the rapid excitement of its constituent atoms. These atoms would experience increases in electron energy levels. Said electrons, seeking equilibrium, then released photons, or packets of electromagnetic radiation, so as to self-stabilize. The produced radiation, reflected and amplified by the optical cavity, could then be released as a high-powered and potentially destructive beam of coherent radiation. The output coupler was responsible for the release of the beam from the optical cavity."

The whole point of an energy weapon like a turbolaser is that as long as you have the ability to maintain the weapon and a source of energy it can fire until the end of time. There's no way that lasers or blasters depend on shells and Turbolasers are basically bigger, nastier lasers with some tweaking to the generator and focusing systems.

In this case, untrue. Despite the name they aren't actually lasers in star wars....they use super heated gas to create the bolt (which is what the canisters are). They are actually closer to plasma weapons rather than laser weapons.

There it is

But yeah, the weapon in Star Wars don't work as actual light based lasers (not even the light-sabers) as much as more conventional projectiles (insofar as plasma is conventional)

Why were they named lasers? Cause it sounds cooler and spacey.

But yeah, the weapon in Star Wars don't work as actual light based lasers (not even the light-sabers) as much as more conventional projectiles (insofar as plasma is conventional)

Why were they named lasers? Cause it sounds cooler and spacey.

*Bingo*

I'm pretty sure the idea to have differently colored lasers stems from the use of different colored tracers by real life militaries. For example, Americans used red colors and soviets used green. Coincidence?

I'm pretty sure the idea to have differently colored lasers stems from the use of different colored tracers by real life militaries. For example, Americans used red colors and soviets used green. Coincidence?

That actually was one accepted theory, yes. Apparently it was based on accounts by Vietnam vets, who described the green soviet-bought tracers used by the NVA as "beautiful green death".

Terrifying as that would have been, i bet it looked amazing.

I'm pretty sure the idea to have differently colored lasers stems from the use of different colored tracers by real life militaries. For example, Americans used red colors and soviets used green. Coincidence?

Coincidence? No, seems like a mix up. How come the reds didn't use red?

is joke