And don't forget that there are actually two Death Stars out there. The one that got destroyed above Yavin IV and the one that got destroyed above Endor. It took the Empire approximately 20 years (from Episode III to IV) to build the first one (at least judging by the last closing shots with Vader and Tarkin). The second Death Star was most likely being built at the same time, but with better accomadations (railings around the pits, a covered exhaust port, etc). Imagine that there were two different Death Stars, being controlled by different factions of the Empire.

Imagine that there were two different Death Stars, being controlled by different factions of the Empire.

So......

Death Star Wars?

Sorry, had to be said.

I think it's entirely possible that the Death Star wouldn't be as effective as the Empire hoped. The unprovoked destruction of Alderaan could leave many planets thinking that they could be targeted at any time for any reason and thus have nothing to lose. This could be especially true for non-humans who are getting the short end of the stick already and see a planet of humans get wiped out on a whim.

Also, the Death Star was more symbolic than practical. You can't rule a planet that you've destroyed and the Emperor definitely wanted to rule the galaxy. Plus the Imperial fleet could already raze a planet clean with orbital bombardment. For the person on the receiving end, there's not much different between being killed and the planet turned into a barren wasteland and being killed when the planet is turned into an asteroid field.

I doubt the Death Star would have been that useful long term.

Is the Emperor going to pull the trigger on Corellia? Or Kuat and Duros, where a massive chunk of their war production comes from? Of course not. And as soon as it gets out that certain worlds are to important to feel the wrath of that weapon, the Empire is going to implode.

I doubt the Death Star would have been that useful long term.

Is the Emperor going to pull the trigger on Corellia? Or Kuat and Duros, where a massive chunk of their war production comes from? Of course not. And as soon as it gets out that certain worlds are to important to feel the wrath of that weapon, the Empire is going to implode.

How so? Sure the DS isn't going to blow away any planet hosting a major Imperial Defense manufacturer, but that doesn't mean the Imperial Navy can't be used against them.

is it logical for planets to still want to side with the rebels if the Death Star is in use? I want the situation to be desperate but would the active threat of your planet being atomized result in the rebels not being able to find aid and assistance anywhere?

Short answer:

Math says that even 2 Death Stars wouldn't stop a rebellion. People with strong ideology or groups that are the next likely targets for imperial conquest would probably fund the rebels in secret just to keep the Empire occupied. The Empire can use the rebels as an exclude to deny freedoms and invade places, they just have to make sure not to push the rebels too hard or risk them turning to suicide bombing and hyperspacing into planet cores.

Long Answer:

The Death Star(s) were likely more for propaganda purposes. Symbols of the strength of the empire and their stance on

One thing to look at is what is the Emperor's end game? He can't have too many years left on him. So what are his plans? Clone and inhabit a new body, repeat until the end of time? Go out with a bang and destroy everything? Endlessly conquer until he no longer draws breath? Merge with the dark side and become a god? Perhaps this is all a plan to start a civil war so the over 100 quadrillion citizens of the empire kill each other as they struggle to fill the power gap left behind?

Knowing his long term plan can help guide the direction the empire takes. If he starts going crazy, like really crazy where his actions start to have an impact across the empire, then yes more people will start to stand up. If 1 million worlds rebel, it would take over 1000 years for the empire to destroy them using their 2 death stars (assuming each one can take out one plate per day). Math isn't on his side if there is any kind of modest size rebellion. Factor in those who after their home planet is blown up would probably be willing to fly a star ship into the capital or use their ship's hyperdrive to blow up the planet.

The empire gets its power from a mix of apathy and sheer size of the galaxy with its insanely high number of inhabitants. Most people don't care who runs things so long as they get fed and/or can go about their daily routine. Plus the citizens of the empire probably don't care that much about people on other planets, especially those really far away or of a different species. People on Earth tend not to care about those in other countries, at least not enough to actually do anything that disrupts their daily routine. That kind of apathy is bound to be even greater when those being killed are not even on the same planet or the same species. But rebels serve a purpose for the empire. Rebels are terrorists, and stopping terrorists makes those in charge look good. It is also a good excuse for taking away freedoms and building massive armies and conquering new territories.

Knowing the apathy, it then becomes a matter of who is enough of an ideologue to back the rebels and who profits if the Empire falls. You can always find someone from the old days that would like to see the Glory of the Republic restored. As for who profits, the obvious groups are criminals and the Hutts. Hutt space is not under the Empire's rule and is likely the next target after squashing the rebellion or if looking for someone to blame for the rebellion. (Heck if I were the emperor I'd accuse them of funding terrorism, threaten to blast Nal Hutta, and offer to free all the Hutt slaves bringing them in as free citizens of the empire. This way I could cripple the Hutt economy and ensure they couldn't rise up down the road. It would also give the empire the “moral high ground.” I could then play off the apathy of the populace to ensure that no one actually helps the freed slaves, creating a lower class of citizens that I could exploit.)

Anyway, that sets up the Hutts as the unlikely allies for the rebels, and puts the Rebels in a situation where the Hutts may not be openly supporting them, but are willing to quietly fund them so they are a continued nuisance for the Empire that keeps them too preoccupied to invade Hutt space. You also have anyone that would want to take over if the emperor is disposed.

This can put the PCs in some tough situations where they are working with/for criminals and may have to accept that drug money and human trafficking are paying the bills. It might also be interesting to see what they do when they realize in some areas it is the iron fist of the empire that preventing various racial and religious groups from killing each other. Add in the old rich people that want to see the glory of the Republic restored and who are wanting to fill the power vacuum deposing the Emperor would leave and you get a situation ripe for politics as well.

I'm more curious about what would have happened had there been a bit of sabotage done to the Death Star's Hyper drive and whatever it used for maneuvering.

Instead of just arriving and heading into orbit of the gas giant Yavin orbits it goes a little too close and can't escape the pull of the gas giant maybe even due to them miscalculating how much of an effect it would have.

So rather than Tarkin waiting for a firing solution they begin emergency evacuation, so I was wondering...

If they lost the original Death Star to such an accident, how much of a change would there be if Tarkin survived this mess well okay lived through it maybe the reception he'd receive after such a colossal mistake might have changed either his position and maybe outlook?

What do you think how would the Star Wars Universe have developed if Tarkin survived?

His skull finds new use as Palpatine's favorite bowling ball probably.

Honestly I think you would have the Second Battle of the Death Star over Nal Hutta ending with its destruction at the hands of whats left of the Rebellion and the Hutt Cartel's fleets of mercenaries. One of the biggest problems the Rebels have is the difficulty of spreading the word about the Death Star destroying Alderaan, but if it survives Yavin its going to be the ultimate terror weapon and even easier recruiting tool for whats left of the Rebel Alliance.

Its quite simply Who's Next? This could be your home that is obliterated at the Emperor's whims. At that point its no longer much of deterrent and becomes a massive liability in keeping order. Alderaan was a planet of pacifists with no real military and the Emperor blew it up for lols. Corellia, Nal Hutta, Mon Cal the Emperor actually has a reason to blow up with the death star.

Wouldn't the possibility of being blown up next disincline people to not resist? Since it's supposed to be a weapon of fear wouldn't the fear of being next keep most people in line and be a little less likely to join the Rebellion for fear of giving the Emperor an excuse to blow them up? After all Alderan was blown up for being believed to be in league with the Rebellion. So wouldn't people want to put some distance between them and the Rebellion?

That's the idea Kael. The problem is its a very stupid idea. Which do you think is more likely that the population will sit around praying no rebels arise on their world or that they will demand the threat be removed?

Lets provide an example. A 2nd US Civil War breaks out and the Federal forces nuke a city suspected of aiding the rebels what do you think would happen next?

That's the idea Kael. The problem is its a very stupid idea. Which do you think is more likely that the population will sit around praying no rebels arise on their world or that they will demand the threat be removed?

I think they'd take the third option: turn in anyone who they even remotely suspect of being a Rebel to the ISB. Immediately.

Anyone who's on the fence about rebelling, who doesn't have it so bad they're willing to risk not only their lives, but the lives of their spouse and kids, is not going to support the Rebellion with the Death Star around.

You under estimate the "it won't happen to me" menatality as well as the sheer number of inhabited planets in the setting. The Death Star cannot take out every rebel planet. There are just too many and it would take too long.

A few planets may bow down, some will strengthen their resolve, some will grow more desperate. It is the desperate ones that become a problem. Some will start witch hunts to turn in anyone they see as a threat, while others will assume they are dead anyway and start acting like real terrorist. The attacks would shift from rebels going against imperial ships and strongholds to attacks that create the most damage and visibility no matter how many innocent lives were lost.

While the number of people/worlds openly opposing the empire may go down, the level of violence will only increase. In this setting all it takes to destroy a planet is a ship and the safety setting turned off on the hyper drive. You blow up a few planets and someone is going to start taking out core worlds in response.

That's the idea Kael. The problem is its a very stupid idea. Which do you think is more likely that the population will sit around praying no rebels arise on their world or that they will demand the threat be removed?

Lets provide an example. A 2nd US Civil War breaks out and the Federal forces nuke a city suspected of aiding the rebels what do you think would happen next?

They surrender. We already answered that situation when we nuked 2 cities during WW II and the Japanese decided surrendering was a better opition to seeing if the Americans would do it a third time.

You under estimate the "it won't happen to me" menatality as well as the sheer number of inhabited planets in the setting. The Death Star cannot take out every rebel planet. There are just too many and it would take too long.

A few planets may bow down, some will strengthen their resolve, some will grow more desperate. It is the desperate ones that become a problem. Some will start witch hunts to turn in anyone they see as a threat, while others will assume they are dead anyway and start acting like real terrorist. The attacks would shift from rebels going against imperial ships and strongholds to attacks that create the most damage and visibility no matter how many innocent lives were lost.

While the number of people/worlds openly opposing the empire may go down, the level of violence will only increase.

Actually, the removal of "it won't happen to me" mentality is exactly what the Empire is taking advantage of.

See, normally there's a small buffer: in order for the Empire to hurt you and your family, they have to be able to trace your activities back to you. It's easy to adopt the position of "they won't crack my identity." However, if the simple fact of successfully carrying out rebel missions on your planet means it'll get blown up, then suddenly you don't get the benefit of that mentality. It CAN happen to you, because the Empire doesn't need to figure anything out. It's a simple equation, is the planet more trouble than they're worth? Suddenly, it's in my best interest to keep that equation on the side of "worth it," which means not only ceasing any Rebel activity, but turning in any Rebels I can get my hands on.

As for the Death star taking out every rebel planet...it takes moments to blow up a planet. You'll get some lag time in hyperspace, but that's about your biggest boon. Fact is that if you rebel and cause enough problems, you're staring down a gun barrel waiting for your turn to be executed, along with your family.

You're right in that there would be some serious witch hunts against rebels, but that's hardly a disadvantage to the Empire. They don't worry too much about executing nine innocents so long as they get that tenth rebel traitor, and manpower is not something the Empire is short on.

Frantic terrorist efforts would only destroy the one thing the rebels have going for them: the moral high ground. Their recruitment would go into the gutter, because now not only does the Empire have the power to destroy your planet, but the Rebel look like a bunch of meanies anyways.

In this setting all it takes to destroy a planet is a ship and the safety setting turned off on the hyper drive. You blow up a few planets and someone is going to start taking out core worlds in response.

That's Legends material, and good riddance. If blowing up a planet were that easy the Death Star would have never been built in the first place.

That's the idea Kael. The problem is its a very stupid idea. Which do you think is more likely that the population will sit around praying no rebels arise on their world or that they will demand the threat be removed?

Lets provide an example. A 2nd US Civil War breaks out and the Federal forces nuke a city suspected of aiding the rebels what do you think would happen next?

They surrender. We already answered that situation when we nuked 2 cities during WW II and the Japanese decided surrendering was a better opition to seeing if the Americans would do it a third time.

We are not discussing a war against a foreign power. I thought I made it clear we were discussing a civil war like one in the Star Wars movies so why are you using World War II as an example?

In this setting all it takes to destroy a planet is a ship and the safety setting turned off on the hyper drive. You blow up a few planets and someone is going to start taking out core worlds in response.

That's Legends material, and good riddance. If blowing up a planet were that easy the Death Star would have never been built in the first place.

Actually I believe that was how Anaxes was destroyed in canon but I may be wrong.

We are not discussing a war against a foreign power. I thought I made it clear we were discussing a civil war like one in the Star Wars movies so why are you using World War II as an example?

Because the WW II consideration better accurately portrays the situation than the hypothetical you proposed. The Empire isn't a unified political entity with a vested interest in remaining a unified whole by it's member states. There are going to be large swaths of the Empire that honestly has no vested interest in who is in charge so long as life for them doesn't change. And there are going to be planets that do not identify with other planets in the Empire.

I know they call it the Galactic Civil War and all but not everyone in the Empire has a vested interest in unity the same way the US in your example would.

Also in the grand scheme of things WW II serves as an excellent example to study how these actions might play out. Germany used fear tactics to turn neighbor against neighbor. So we know that if there is enough fear honest people will turn in people suspected of working against the ruling power if it means they aren't harmed. And we know in that regard that the use of a super weapon (which considering the context of WW II nukes would be) can have the effect of suppressing a population into surrender as opposed to inspiring them to continue fighting.

I didn't realize they took out the ability of a hyper drive to take out a planet. That is good.

It wouldn't destory the moral high ground, at least not for those who hate the empire. Believers are believers and fanatcis are fanatics. Look at ISIS for a real world example.

The death star as a scare weapon wouldn't work, especially once put into use. It is akin to strategic boming. Strategic bombings (or planet explodings) don't do anything to lower enemy moral, sometimes they may help eliminate key personel or resources, but those are usually quickly replaced (see al qaeda as an example). Given the size of the empire, blowing up a planet is aking to taking out a neighborhood or small city on Earth. Given the scale, the numbers are not on the Empire's side if it relys on threats and violence. They could never erradicate the resistance.

Given the scale it like the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Sure Isreal will take out whatever neighborhood an attack comes from, but that doesn't stop rebels from launching attacks or the people in those neighborhoods from stopping them. Or look at the U.S. and the ongoing war on terror. Terrorism is still kicking. Terror acts (whether suicide bomber or drone strike) don't deter people. People fighting for a cuase will face certain death and risk the lives of others because they believe the cause is worth it. Even in a state where neighbors rat out neighbors and secret or not so secret police drop by, resistance cells still form. In Star Wars, the destruction of Alderaan only galvanized the resistance.

Despite what some think, the Nuclear bombings in WW2 were not the deciding factors for Japanese surrender. On the ground, the bombing looked no different from the dozens of attacks that were already carried out on major Japanese cities. The firebombing of Tokyo in March, 1945 had killed even more civilians than the atomic bomb (75,000–200,000 in Tokyo, about 50,000 combined in the atomic blasts). For the Japanese, Hiroshima was one more city lost that looked like so many others lost. It did little to either shock them or to weaken their resolve for continuing the war. Plans were already in motion exploring 2 routes of surrender before the atomic bombs were dropped.

Well, when you're looking to recruit, you're not going to have a hard time recruiting hardline fanatics that already support your cause; you want the fence-sitters, the people who intellectually know what the Empire does is wrong and immoral but are afraid to risk their comfortable lives and families to fight for a better government. The rebels becoming space-ISIS is all the excuse these people need to NOT support the rebellion; the Empire may do bad things but at least they keep the speeder-train running on time. All those rebels do is blow up preschools, hardly someone you'd want to associate with. The few planets that go hardline get eradicated, and the few rebels that escape find no welcome among other planets that have no desire to get blown up and think the rebels are child-killing scum.

It's not akin to strategic bombing, because one can survive strategic bombing. It's the Star Wars equivalent of a multi-megaton nuke, and should be treated as such. Guerrilla fighters rely on local popular support to hide among the populace. The Death Star goes a long way towards removing that support. The few planets that would end up supporting the rebels anyways would just be made into examples.

I'm not going to go further into the real world example because I think we could derail the whole topic pretty quickly, but there's a reason dictatorships are able to exist: people are generally more willing to submit and live than resist and die.

We'll just have to agree to disagree.

Maybe such an icon of power could actually fracture the unity of the Empire? I would focus on who in the Empire controls the Death Star.

I think Vader was always planning on challenging the Emperor eventually, as is the way of the Sith. Vader would probably have a considerable advantage if he wrestled control of the Death Star away from his master. Alternatively, let's say that the Emperor moved his seat of power to the Death Star instead of Coruscant. I could totally see Vader blowing up the Death Star to take out the Emperor.

Heck, what if Tarkin found out that the Emperor was the force wielding Sith Lord who manipulated everyone and took the Death Star for himself while flipping the double bird?

I did have plans for Vader to work against Palaptine.

I always thought of Vader as too broken to try to supplant Palpatine myself, interesting.

Ok first while Death Star attacks would terrify many they would also anger many. People who lose everything and everyone they love to the Death Star have nothing left to lose in trying to take the Empire out. Also there's a point where there is too much fear to benefit the Empire when people decide the only way for their loved ones to be safe to be safe is to take out the source of their fear.

I can't help feeling the whole idea of the Death Star was to keep Tarkin preoccupied and when he would inevitably try to betray the Emperor we would learn there was a built-in self destruct designed precisely if they should fire the Death Star laser to kill him.

My own opinion is that one way or the other Tarkin's Death Star was destined to suffer an irreparable failure costing Tarkin his life.

Alderaan was the wrong world to target, its one thing to threaten a world with destruction its quite another to blow up an otherwise completely defenceless one that only shows everyone is now a target and no matter whether you think they'd turn on each other history shows that there will be plenty of people ready to take the fight back and eventually win .

Please stop making references to the Second World War or ISIS, neither really work well with what is a fictional franchise and if a Hutt can reverse engineer the Death Star Laser so can others and there's quite a few ideas from the Clone Wars animated series that make more sense than the Death Star which should have made a great movable moon sized carrier now that is far more scarier given ultimately the Empire wants to be in charge and you can't be in charge of a pile of rubble!

The Hutts didn't actually reverse engineer the Superlaser. They stole the blueprints and had the original designer working on it, along with an army of furry, hive-minded Tim the Toolman Taylors.

And the new canon makes it blatantly clear that Tarkin has no desire to betray Palpatine at all.

The problem with the Death Star invoking fear is simple. They used it to blow up Alderaan the most pacifistic unrebellion planet there is. We surrender is off the table, because all the Rebels who survived is going to do is claim Alderaan surrendered and the Empire blew it up anyway. They will paint Palpatine as insane and completely useless to attempt to negotiate with. Mon Cal, Nal Hutta and Corellia and pretty much all "rebel" planets are already on his hit list so they would have no reason to believe kicking out the Rebel Alliance or surrendering would result in anything but a Death Star Visit and death.

Japan didn't surrender because of Nukes it just gave them enough of an excuse to save face in losing the War they started with the full knowledge that the United States would win eventually. It also stopped the large scale mass suicide events. How ever claiming that the Death Star would cause planets to surrender is missing a key part of the equation. The United States would accept a surrender and was out of Nukes. The Emperor doesn't care if Nal Hutta surrenders or not and the Death Star isn't out of Ammo.