^dangit, the forums broke earlier or I would have posted that.

The R2 slot isn't as wierd as it looks. Think of it like this: ALL of an R2 unit's internals (except what's in the legs) are attached to the head. When the head's in its normal position, the grippers/terminal probes/etc line up with little doors in the body, which are simply spring-loaded. There's a lock at the bottom of the torso internals that can be disengaged to slide the entire module out for maintenance/etc. The Naboo use the 'mech in that mode for the actual interface, probably because it allows more thorough systems integration.

This also explains a lot about R3/4/5/seven/ate/nine units, because popping the entire head+guts out to swap them allows the torso to be re-used as we see with those models.

Is that a shot of the real comic? Or made by you?

If you made it yourself, kudos.

But if it is from the real comic, the drawing looks really cheap. The ships look like a photoshopped screenshot of 3D models with black outlines. So lazy!

R2 doesn't extend his neck.

The internals are pulled up out of the chassis. This is not an impossible manner of doing things if we consider the exterior of an R2 unit just a shell, but can I point something out for you guys real quick..?

R2-D2 was FROM Naboo and a Royal Service Droid.

Is it really so far fetched that R2 was modified to fit an N-1?

Anyway... that is a lot of retconning and theorizing in order to save a bad design. R2-D2, or any other droid, never before was said that he basically is half disassembled when plugging itself into a fighter. We see him going out from the disabled X-Wing by his own means in Empire Strikes back. Then again in Revenge of the Sith, jumping out of the jedi fighter instantly. Then you tell me that in a N-1 fighter he is virtually skinned alive for better interconnection of the systems to fit into the flawed ship design.

It is as lame retconning, As lame as his never seen before leg rockets suddenly appearing in Attack of the Clones. It feels like what it is: Lucas thinking that something would be cool, his team explaining that it cannot be, then he shoehorning his decision over the established lore or the setting's logic.

Is that a shot of the real comic? Or made by you?

If you made it yourself, kudos.

But if it is from the real comic, the drawing looks really cheap. The ships look like a photoshopped screenshot of 3D models with black outlines. So lazy!

It's a zoomed in panel from the digital comic.

I dislike that cross section. I choose to think the droid rotates sideways then goes in the socket, rather than being pulled apart. Gives a little more room for the legs.

The socket upper part from where the head comes out still has a long neck section that can in no way fit the legs.

Also, it makes no sense for R2-D2 to be able to stretch its neck (he doesn't even have a neck!) like that, and then in Return of the Jedi he needs to walk on the tip of his "toes" in order to see inside Yoda's hut thru the window. Bah, it just makes no sense.

If you look at the fighter from the movie, and R2-D2 from the movie, you'll see on Artoo's done a blue ring then a silver ring before meeting his white chassis. Artoo on the starfighter only shows this blue ring, so there is at least several centimetres there. I'm not sure it clears enough, but still makes more sense than pulling the droid apart. Think of much of the yellow plating as just that, it doesn't have to be thick, and more decorative than anything.

Going with my solution, it would make more sense that Artoo (and all astromech) legs can adjust up or down a little bit, as it would aid in traversing uneven terrain.

Fitting R2 into the Eta-2 was almost as awkward. Where there ever real physical models of the Prequel ships prior to the cgi rendering? I could probably watch the making of docs but I just don't feel like it...probably too depressing.

Yes, there were! There was quite a lot of practical effects used in the PT, regardless of how much it's lambasted for using too much CGI (we should be insulting The Hobbit trilogy for that now).

Here is an album with some photos specifically of the starfighters.

And here is a video with some of those shots and some others.

The Delta-7 I can recall used an integrated astro, at least until the 7B variant moved the astro to the center.

The Eta-2 was supposed to have a full on non-truncated version... but the models in that album don't support that.

Kind of interesting, that. I guess you could explain it away again by saying the head came off and the torso went at a 90 degree angle from the droid socket?

^dangit, the forums broke earlier or I would have posted that.

The R2 slot isn't as wierd as it looks. Think of it like this: ALL of an R2 unit's internals (except what's in the legs) are attached to the head. When the head's in its normal position, the grippers/terminal probes/etc line up with little doors in the body, which are simply spring-loaded. There's a lock at the bottom of the torso internals that can be disengaged to slide the entire module out for maintenance/etc. The Naboo use the 'mech in that mode for the actual interface, probably because it allows more thorough systems integration.

This also explains a lot about R3/4/5/seven/ate/nine units, because popping the entire head+guts out to swap them allows the torso to be re-used as we see with those models.

Exactly! The R Series of Astromechs is simply meant to be, well, modular as all hell.

This does however mean that something like BB8 would have a super hard time in an N-1.

R2 doesn't extend his neck.

The internals are pulled up out of the chassis. This is not an impossible manner of doing things if we consider the exterior of an R2 unit just a shell, but can I point something out for you guys real quick..?

R2-D2 was FROM Naboo and a Royal Service Droid.

Is it really so far fetched that R2 was modified to fit an N-1?

Anyway... that is a lot of retconning and theorizing in order to save a bad design. R2-D2, or any other droid, never before was said that he basically is half disassembled when plugging itself into a fighter. We see him going out from the disabled X-Wing by his own means in Empire Strikes back. Then again in Revenge of the Sith, jumping out of the jedi fighter instantly. Then you tell me that in a N-1 fighter he is virtually skinned alive for better interconnection of the systems to fit into the flawed ship design.

It is as lame retconning, As lame as his never seen before leg rockets suddenly appearing in Attack of the Clones. It feels like what it is: Lucas thinking that something would be cool, his team explaining that it cannot be, then he shoehorning his decision over the established lore or the setting's logic.

The N-1 was a very particular design and R2 was a very particular droid. I'd wager that every Royal Service Droid could do what R2 did. Of course R2 didn't have to do that in an X-Wing, however. It's a completely different design, and R2 came into the T-65, and various other models, from the top and not the bottom.

It isn't a retcon. It's just another manner of installation. Wouldn't you like a droid that had such modularity? "Oh boy, his chassis broke, I need to get him a new one." Well lucky you! You can tear out his internals like it's no problem- and he's a droid, he's NOT going to care too much!

Congratulations, Astromech Owner! Your droid has a brand spanking new chassis that had an extremely inexpensive integration. It'd be convenient huh?

As for the leg rockets, hey those actually have some use. "My pilot is dead, this ship is about to explode, and I have data that would be useful. WHOOP JETTISON TIME FWOOOOOOOOOOSH" and with, very likely, some type of homing beacon, that droid can be very easily retrieved. All because he had these great little vectoring thrusters..!

It's like people forget these droids are made very specifically to operate well with Starfighters and Zero-G environments, performing mid-flight repairs (which can only be done internally on an N-1, perfectly explaining why the internals must be exposed to the Astromech and vice versa) and so on.

With a name like Astromech IDK how people forget that.

Question.In anpther topic it was mentioned that Shattered Empire vol.1 made another snub-fighter canon. I checked all the panels and couldn't find anything but standard fighters like Interceptors, Tie/LN, Tie Bombers, X-wings, Y-wings, A-wings and B-wings. Anyone knows what it could be?

There were a couple ships I didn't recognize, including one that looked like maybe a Rogue Shadow from the back, but no starfighters that I noticed.

Question.In anpther topic it was mentioned that Shattered Empire vol.1 made another snub-fighter canon. I checked all the panels and couldn't find anything but standard fighters like Interceptors, Tie/LN, Tie Bombers, X-wings, Y-wings, A-wings and B-wings. Anyone knows what it could be?

Off hand, the only thing I can think of is the Melcrawler II in issue 3... but it's basically the same ship as the Melcrawler from the Leia comics earlier this year. Also, it's a freighter, not a snub.

Well, guess I'm going to go look at every panel again...

After taking a look, the only two ships I don't believe currently have a name are the two in this album.

There is the ship that some have said looks like the Rogue Shadow. Pretty sure that's the transport Bey flies Leia to Naboo in, or at least the same model. It's got the rotating bits on the ends but I don't think that's it. Also, I didn't go back through the Leia comics but that ship may have been in there as well. There definitely were ships in that book that I didn't recognize so maybe I'll go back through it later.

The other ship is just a neat combat transport, sort of a continuation of the Republic gunship but heavier. I believe it's capable of spaceflight as well.

That's definitely the one I was talking about. It's clearly not the Rogue Shadow-type looking at it from other angles.

Or the II appears much earlier than 3ABY. Like the A-wings and such.

Problem with that was that Kallus's ship in Rebels - Lawbringer - is specifically called out as an Imperial I in Rebels Visual Guide - and is identical to all the others.

Hence, my theory that the ISD I and ISD II are told apart by the shape of the bridge tower, and not the weaponry.

I have an alternative theory on why she felt it was a II.

Sensors picked up a ship tag that identified it as a II.

I mean, you don't see her say that but it makes sense if you've played XWvsTF. They all had ship tags telling you what they were, for the most part.

R2-D2 was FROM Naboo and a Royal Service Droid.

Thank you maaaagic traaash can.

R2-D2 was FROM Naboo and a Royal Service Droid.

Is it really so far fetched that R2 was modified to fit an N-1?

You know that's one part of the prequels that never made any sense to me at all. Not the bit about R2 fitting in an N-1 droid socket, but the whole schtick about R2 and 3PO's origins.

It would have made WAAAAY more sense to have switched their origin stories.

3PO as part of the royal retinue (a protocol droid would be standard issue surely?) - and R2 working in Watoo's junk shop having been heavily modified by Little Anni's mechanical genius to explain R2's seemingly extraordinary abilities in comparison to other astromechs.

I mean come on, making a protocol droid for his slave mother - what were they thinking?

It would have made WAAAAY more sense to have switched their origin stories.

3PO as part of the royal retinue (a protocol droid would be standard issue surely?) - and R2 working in Watoo's junk shop having been heavily modified by Little Anni's mechanical genius to explain R2's seemingly extraordinary abilities in comparison to other astromechs.

I mean come on, making a protocol droid for his slave mother - what were they thinking?

...Mind blown...

Now that you say that, it makes total sense that the first draft of the story had been like that.

It is told in the script that Shmi Skywalker got extra money from repairing mechanical parts at home. We can even see her doing so when Qui Gon tells her that Anakin has been released.

If repairing stuff was so important for the family economy, it made sense that Anakin built an astromech from spare parts to help her mother, not a protocol droid. Also it makes sense that the astromech helped him build his racing pod, and he learned so much about repairing stuf from his young years next to his mech buddy.

Also, R2-D2 has no real role after they depart Tatooine in Episode I (he basically does nothing during the space battle, neither he really serves any purpose during the worm attack scene in Padme's bedroom in Episode II), all the way until

Anakin comes back to Tatooine looking for his mother, and finding R2-D2 C3PO repairing a moisture evaporator. Really? A protocol droid repairing farm machinery?

From that point on, R2-D2 becomes Anakin's astromech during the Clone Wars doing his proper role. And it is C3PO who stays with Padme doing his proper role.

It is also convenient that after Anakin turns into Vader, the two of them don't see each other ever again in the saga (other than Vader "accidentally" blowing up poor R2-D2 during the trench run). However Vader clearly sees C3PO in the Cloud City in the carbonite chamber, and if he actually was his maker, he should have recognized him.

Perhaps after all the roles of C3PO and R2-D2 were supposed to be exchanged in Episode I and the beginning of Episode II till Shmi's death. It makes much more sense like that. And a last minute change of mind in Lucas screwed it all up.

It would have made WAAAAY more sense to have switched their origin stories.

3PO as part of the royal retinue (a protocol droid would be standard issue surely?) - and R2 working in Watoo's junk shop having been heavily modified by Little Anni's mechanical genius to explain R2's seemingly extraordinary abilities in comparison to other astromechs.

I mean come on, making a protocol droid for his slave mother - what were they thinking?

...Mind blown...

Now that you say that, it makes total sense that the first draft of the story had been like that.

It is told in the script that Shmi Skywalker got extra money from repairing mechanical parts at home. We can even see her doing so when Qui Gon tells her that Anakin has been released.

If repairing stuff was so important for the family economy, it made sense that Anakin built an astromech from spare parts to help her mother, not a protocol droid. Also it makes sense that the astromech helped him build his racing pod, and he learned so much about repairing stuf from his young years next to his mech buddy.

Also, R2-D2 has no real role after they depart Tatooine in Episode I (he basically does nothing during the space battle, neither he really serves any purpose during the worm attack scene in Padme's bedroom in Episode II), all the way until

Anakin comes back to Tatooine looking for his mother, and finding R2-D2 C3PO repairing a moisture evaporator. Really? A protocol droid repairing farm machinery?

From that point on, R2-D2 becomes Anakin's astromech during the Clone Wars doing his proper role. And it is C3PO who stays with Padme doing his proper role.

It is also convenient that after Anakin turns into Vader, the two of them don't see each other ever again in the saga (other than Vader "accidentally" blowing up poor R2-D2 during the trench run). However Vader clearly sees C3PO in the Cloud City in the carbonite chamber, and if he actually was his maker, he should have recognized him.

Perhaps after all the roles of C3PO and R2-D2 were supposed to be exchanged in Episode I and the beginning of Episode II till Shmi's death. It makes much more sense like that. And a last minute change of mind in Lucas screwed it all up.

R2 didn't see Vader on the Death Star 1?

So what if he did / did not recognize either of them in E4 or 5? It's not like Vader is terribly interested in blurting out in front of everyone 'Hey 3PO - it's me: Anakin!"

He does however seem intent on keeping Chewie and Leia - and since 3PO is riding on 3PO, that might be an additional influencing factor on why he altered the deal

R2 didn't see Vader on the Death Star 1?

R2 doesn't really know that Vader is Anakin. Probably the last sight of Anakin he has is from Padme's transport cockpit on Mustafar, and that is before Anakin is put on the Darth Vader suit and helmet. Even if Obi Wan said something aloud on the way back that R2-D2 could have heard, Anakin was left for dead there.

And I don't think Vader was paying attention at a R2 unit crossing the hangar far away while he was fighting Obi Wan.

So what if he did / did not recognize either of them in E4 or 5? It's not like Vader is terribly interested in blurting out in front of everyone 'Hey 3PO - it's me: Anakin!"

He does however seem intent on keeping Chewie and Leia - and since 3PO is riding on 3PO, that might be an additional influencing factor on why he altered the deal

You have made me imagine Vader saying those words in a silly happy tone and now I cannot get rid of that. Thank you, sir...

R2 didn't see Vader on the Death Star 1?

R2 doesn't really know that Vader is Anakin. Probably the last sight of Anakin he has is from Padme's transport cockpit on Mustafar, and that is before Anakin is put on the Darth Vader suit and helmet. Even if Obi Wan said something aloud on the way back that R2-D2 could have heard, Anakin was left for dead there.

And I don't think Vader was paying attention at a R2 unit crossing the hangar far away while he was fighting Obi Wan.

So what if he did / did not recognize either of them in E4 or 5? It's not like Vader is terribly interested in blurting out in front of everyone 'Hey 3PO - it's me: Anakin!"

He does however seem intent on keeping Chewie and Leia - and since 3PO is riding on 3PO, that might be an additional influencing factor on why he altered the deal

You have made me imagine Vader saying those words in a silly happy tone and now I cannot get rid of that. Thank you, sir...

More where that came from:

I think I got something in my eye..., while I laughed...

I prefer imagining James Earl Jones' Vader voice saying (and this went throughmy head in the Siege of Lothal episode of Rebels) "I'll try spinning.. That's a good trick." And "Yippee!"

It would have made WAAAAY more sense to have switched their origin stories.

3PO as part of the royal retinue (a protocol droid would be standard issue surely?) - and R2 working in Watoo's junk shop having been heavily modified by Little Anni's mechanical genius to explain R2's seemingly extraordinary abilities in comparison to other astromechs.

I mean come on, making a protocol droid for his slave mother - what were they thinking?

...Mind blown...

Now that you say that, it makes total sense that the first draft of the story had been like that.

It is told in the script that Shmi Skywalker got extra money from repairing mechanical parts at home. We can even see her doing so when Qui Gon tells her that Anakin has been released.

If repairing stuff was so important for the family economy, it made sense that Anakin built an astromech from spare parts to help her mother, not a protocol droid. Also it makes sense that the astromech helped him build his racing pod, and he learned so much about repairing stuf from his young years next to his mech buddy.

Also, R2-D2 has no real role after they depart Tatooine in Episode I (he basically does nothing during the space battle, neither he really serves any purpose during the worm attack scene in Padme's bedroom in Episode II), all the way until

Anakin comes back to Tatooine looking for his mother, and finding R2-D2 C3PO repairing a moisture evaporator. Really? A protocol droid repairing farm machinery?

From that point on, R2-D2 becomes Anakin's astromech during the Clone Wars doing his proper role. And it is C3PO who stays with Padme doing his proper role.

It is also convenient that after Anakin turns into Vader, the two of them don't see each other ever again in the saga (other than Vader "accidentally" blowing up poor R2-D2 during the trench run). However Vader clearly sees C3PO in the Cloud City in the carbonite chamber, and if he actually was his maker, he should have recognized him.

Perhaps after all the roles of C3PO and R2-D2 were supposed to be exchanged in Episode I and the beginning of Episode II till Shmi's death. It makes much more sense like that. And a last minute change of mind in Lucas screwed it all up.

Darth Vader never even met R2-D2 in the old trilogy. The most they interacted was him blasting R2-D2 during the trench run.

The weirder part was Obi-Wan Kenobi not showing any recognition of R2.

In Star Wars, tech progress ranges from inconsistent to non-existent.

This gets ridiculous in Bioware's Old Republic setting. Apparently a few thousand years ago people were using the exact same technology for lightsabers, blasters, droids, spaceships, ect. that were used in the Old Trilogy.

Old Republic is hardly Bioware's setting. It existed in the comics for years before they made those games.