4 hours ago, Nytwyng said:

The armor was concept art for Kylo Ren, Abrams rejected it for him, but liked the look, so it became Phasma.

It’s mainly the ancillary media that’s built her up beyond what was essentially a side (not even supporting) character. I’m of the opinion that, once a unique look and name was given to the character, an actor with some name recognition was cast to reinforce the unique quality (not necessarily the character’s level of prowess), and also to keep handy for a potential future expanded role.

The Phasma novel paints a picture of her prowess and reputation within the First Order that appears, at a glance, to be at odds with what was shown in TFA. But then, using the example of Boba Fett, it was the ancillary media that did that, too. All he did in ESB was stand around and look cool, and all he did in RotJ was much of the same, then get killed quickly.

I’m willing to see what they do with her in TLJ, especially with the additional detail that LFL has commissioned via the novel and the current comic.

It should also be noted that those same "ancillary media" establish her as a self-serving b...h, who will back stab you at the drop of a hat to save her own skin (Starscream anyone?)

19 minutes ago, Tramp Graphics said:

It should also be noted that those same "ancillary media" establish her as a self-serving b...h, who will back stab you at the drop of a hat to save her own skin (Starscream anyone?)

That it does.

Sounds like a pretty standard trait for a villain in a big evil empire.

6 hours ago, Tom Cruise said:

Sounds like a pretty standard trait for a villain in a big evil empire.

Right along with the noble bad guy with misplaced loyalties (Cardinal). Apparently bad guys can't exist in the middle range, but then again, few heroes can either. Archetypes are common for lazy writers, but they're also useful to a lazy audience. Despite the negative connotations it has gathered, stereotyping works well enough in some contexts.

10 hours ago, HappyDaze said:

Right along with the noble bad guy with misplaced loyalties (Cardinal). Apparently bad guys can't exist in the middle range, but then again, few heroes can either. Archetypes are common for lazy writers, but they're also useful to a lazy audience. Despite the negative connotations it has gathered, stereotyping works well enough in some contexts.

Maybe they don't want to confuse the audience with the main characters. They don't have to be cartoons of good and evil, but it's hard to get behind a character who has normal everyday reactions to situations and just sees everything through that lens of "Maybe?" The characters have a job to do in any story, and it's not usually to reinforce our normal day to day decisions based around concepts we get to view from afar, and personal stuff that no one else really cares about but the person going through that situation. The grey man is usually an ancillary character who provides that option of "what if this isn't a good idea?" or "That's not worth caring about, you shouldn't care either." I like to have to do some guessing about what the characters think and feel, but not to the point where the motive isn't clear. I'll admit that this is very story vs. game thinking on my part though.

Who the F wants moral ambiguity in Star Wars?!?! For F's sake they dress the bad guys in Nazi inspired garb and use terms as well, they dress the heroes all in earth tones. The bad guys capital ships are shaped like tools you'd cut and hack with and the good guys like sculptures of living things. The IP has never tried being anything other than stereotypical in a caricature kind of way of its characters and scenes, it's the root F-ing appeal of it. The whole thrust of it was to reimagine the serial sci fi pulp genre, not appeal to the wine and cheese literary type. Don't people drink enough mugs of piss flavored moral ambiguity when they read the news everyday?!?! Not for me in Star Wars, no thanks.

I have no idea what we'd do without the black and white morals of the pirate to keep us grounded!

2 hours ago, 2P51 said:

Who the F wants moral ambiguity in Star Wars?!?! ... Don't people drink enough mugs of piss flavored moral ambiguity when they read the news everyday?!?! Not for me in Star Wars, no thanks.

This.

2 hours ago, 2P51 said:

Who the F wants moral ambiguity in Star Wars?!?! For F's sake they dress the bad guys in Nazi inspired garb and use terms as well, they dress the heroes all in earth tones. The bad guys capital ships are shaped like tools you'd cut and hack with and the good guys like sculptures of living things. The IP has never tried being anything other than stereotypical in a caricature kind of way of its characters and scenes, it's the root F-ing appeal of it. The whole thrust of it was to reimagine the serial sci fi pulp genre, not appeal to the wine and cheese literary type. Don't people drink enough mugs of piss flavored moral ambiguity when they read the news everyday?!?! Not for me in Star Wars, no thanks.

I don't object to moral ambiguity in Star Wars. When I don't have it in the source materials, I can usually imagine a place for it and make it work for my games just fine.

I think that it depends on the game that you want to run. Han was a morally ambiguous character in the first movie, and Cassian was a morally ambiguous rebel in R1. Star Wars has always shown that 'grey' characters exist alongside the shining heroes and dark villains.

IMO, It is refreshing to have good and evil, but it can make the story richer to have complex characters as well.

Guess I'm for a mix.

Quote

But then, using the example of Boba Fett, it was the ancillary media that did that, too. All he did in ESB was stand around and look cool, and all he did in RotJ was much of the same, then get killed quickly.

This! Oh, so this!

I've never understood the fan obsession with Boba Fett. He made one clever move in anticipating Han Solo's "stick to the side of the star destroyer" manoeuvre, then moved in to engage a lightsabre-wielding Jedi at melee range, then got taken out by a blind guy with a stick!!

He really wasn't that good!

New trailer during Monday night football, when tickets go on sale? It's almost like Christmas.

It's at halftime. I say they just do an opposed check for the first half, go straight to halftime, show the trailer, and then play the second half normally....

Well, this is a weird feeling. A Star Wars trailer that made me go "Eh, that looks okay I guess." instead of grabbing the nearest tube-like object and swinging it around making voom-voom sounds like a fool.

What a sad day.

It wasn't a great trailer, but I don't have the feeling of complete Empire rehash either, so neutral I guess.

7 hours ago, 2P51 said:

It's at halftime. I say they just do an opposed check for the first half, go straight to halftime, show the trailer, and then play the second half normally....

It looks like they went with your suggestion, but they took forever to roll that first half opposed check.

Almost lost me at the "cute" bird thing. Deserves to be stuck on a spit between an apple and an Ewok...

But...I'm slightly intrigued by the hint of the possibility of the story...

2 minutes ago, whafrog said:

Almost lost me at the "cute" bird thing.

What, not a big Pog fan? They don't offend me, but we'll have to see them in action and how much screen time they get before I pass final judgement.

Those Koosh Ball Wolves look pretty keen tho.

20 minutes ago, 2P51 said:

It wasn't a great trailer, but I don't have the feeling of complete Empire rehash either, so neutral I guess.

But then the art of the Really Good Trailer is a lost one in Hollywood.

Consider something like this:

Or this

Or this

But then I guess it's unfair to compare something an advertising intern knocked out in an afternoon to The Master of Suspense. But you get my meaning. . . . .

7 hours ago, 2P51 said:

It's at halftime. I say they just do an opposed check for the first half, go straight to halftime, show the trailer, and then play the second half normally....

If it was Rugby the trailer would of been seen much earlier.

1 minute ago, Desslok said:

What, not a big Pog fan? They don't offend me, but we'll have to see them in action and how much screen time they get before I pass final judgement.

True, I'm just not into the "cute" side of Star Wars. I bet they taste like chicken...

Terrible trailer, really. The E7 trailer had me buzzing, from Finn popping into screen, to the Falcon's awesome barrel roll. This was a monologue with some flyovers. Reminds me of this video I watched recently, which compares the storytelling in Rogue One vs E7. This trailer makes me concerned we'll be getting another Rogue One:

Oh, new poster too:

the best part about this trailer is the line where Luke says he hasn't seen raw strength like Rey's since Kylo Ren. Looks like a kick to the nads for the prequel's prophecy of the Chosen One.

Naw, you can still keep the prophecy around. Luke was only aware of Vader's fully trained potential. He never got to see the raw, untapped (AKA - untrained) strength that Lil' Annie had.

The odd 'reverse psychology-esque' upside for me is that TFA and R1 had great music in their trailers, and then craptastic soundtracks, so I am hoping since the music in 8's trailers has been sukky it will mean a great soundtrack...