Solo: A Fan Service Story

I've never been this 'meh' feeling towards a Star Wars movie.

Ok, the 2 seconds of Chewy face planting someone so thoroughly make me chuckle every... single... time!

22 minutes ago, Jo Jo said:

Solo: A Fan Service Story

I've never been this 'meh' feeling towards a Star Wars movie.

People say fan service like it's a bad thing IDGI

49 minutes ago, Imperial Advisor Arem Heshvaun said:

Current Canon, the Avenger is an Imperial Class , in Legends she is both called an Imperial I and II .

Interestingly her name is an homage to the World War II Grumman Torpedo Bomber Avenger .

Galaxy Guide 3: The Empire Strikes Back identifies the Avenger as the Star Destroyer that launched the Viper probe droid that discovered Echo Base. This appears to have been based on dialogue between Captain Needa and a subordinate that did not make the final cut of the the radio dramatization of TESB. However, the Star Wars Customizable Card Game later contradicted this, as did the Star Wars Encyclopedia which identify the Stalker as the Star Destroyer holding this distinction. Further adding to the confusion, Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary also identifies the Avenger launched the probe droid.

Attempting to clarify the discrepancy, The Essential Atlas states that both ships were responsible for deploying probe droids, though does not state with absolute certainty which ship is seen in the film.

Star Wars: Behind the Magic also identifies the Avenger as the Star Destroyer that launched Vader's shuttle at the beginning of Return of the Jedi , and remains Canon.

I would assume that since Death Squadron was the task force responsible for launching the probots that ISD Avenger has a 1 in 5 chance to have been the ship seen in the opening of ESB. That’s ok, but it would be nice if all the ships in Vader’s fleet got some recognition and a memorable scene to themselves. Having one ship do EVERYTHING, especially the one Star Destroyer that was actually name dropped on film in the entire OT seems supremely lazy and pandering. Especially since any post ESB exploits would be sans Captain Needa.

and it makes so much more sense for Vader to arrive at DS2 via the Devastator even if the model in RotJ didn’t match the original ANH opening scene. I’d be fine with the Avenger being one of the pair of destroyers flying in the background with the ISD that deployed ST-321 though. Of course the ISD in question could very well be unrelated to any other ISDs appearing in the OT, especially given the changes in models, but the Tyrant in ESB (good, our first catch of the day) was represented by two different models depicting very different classes of destroyer so anything is possible. Having Vader back in his original flagship while Palpy steals the Executor is both logical and fun.

also, the ISDs chasing the Falcon when they leave mos eisley in ANH, were they ever named?

14 minutes ago, thespaceinvader said:

People say fan service like it's a bad thing IDGI

In general fans don’t know what’s best for a story or franchise. They just know what they think they would like to see. When fans are pandered to it often hurts the media and/or franchise involved due to flanderising characters, lazy writing and a general staleness.

23 minutes ago, thespaceinvader said:

People say fan service like it's a bad thing IDGI

I just feel like this will be a movie of a bunch of scenes explaining how Han got all his things. The Falcon, his sidekick, his blaster, etc. Do I really need to see all those things live on screen? Maybe it will surprise me, but I am in no rush to see it.

Also, there will be endless debate on whether whatshisface played a good Han or not, to the point where the movie/story itself doesn't really matter

5 minutes ago, Jo Jo said:

Also, there will be endless debate on whether whatshisface played a good Han or not, to the point where the movie/story itself doesn't really matter

I thought the debate was going to be about Therm Scissorpunch, the Taserface of the Solo movie.

23 minutes ago, GrimmyV said:

also, the ISDs chasing the Falcon when they leave mos eisley in ANH, were they ever named?

According to Decipher's CCG, which is the best, one of them was the Conquest. Devastator was the ship that captured Tantive IV, so it has my vote for being the other one because I don't feel like digging through any other material.

1 minute ago, nexttwelveexits said:

According to Decipher's CCG, which is the best, one of them was the Conquest. Devastator was the ship that captured Tantive IV, so it has my vote for being the other one because I don't feel like digging through any other material.

It would make sense for Devastator to hang around there given that Vader knew his prey had gone aground in Tatooine, but conversely, it might well have taken him with Leia off to the Death Star. Either would make sense.

7 minutes ago, nexttwelveexits said:

According to Decipher's CCG, which is the best, one of them was the Conquest. Devastator was the ship that captured Tantive IV, so it has my vote for being the other one because I don't feel like digging through any other material.

Devastator is likely, but a bit awkward as it is seen returning to the DS with Vader and Leia, but it can be assumed that Vader sent his flag ship back to Tatooine to resume the search for the plans and blockade/picket the planet.

I think I have the card for the Conquest, but I haven’t looked at those cards in a long time. A long time.

also there were at least three ISDs pursuing the Falcon, with Han mentioning a third one off screen attempting to cut off their escape.

47 minutes ago, GrimmyV said:

Having Vader back in his original flagship while Palpy steals the Executor is both logical and fun.

Admiral Piett transferring his Flag to the Accuser is mentioned in the Shadows of Empire sourcebook.

Link

And while I agree it may seem logical he would have used the Devastator , it was the Avenger in all the Canon material of the time.

At the Battle of Endor, the Avenger is the Imperial Fleet’s lead communications ship, lending to importance of her role.

The Devastator is also named in homage for another World War II plane, Douglas Torpedo Bomber Devastator .

1 minute ago, GrimmyV said:

Devastator is likely, but a bit awkward as it is seen returning to the DS with Vader and Leia, but it can be assumed that Vader sent his flag ship back to Tatooine to resume the search for the plans and blockade/picket the planet.

I think I have the card for the Conquest, but I haven’t looked at those cards in a long time. A long time.

They're all in my brother's basement, many states away. Hooray for the Internet, where a simple search for the Star Wars CCG A New Hope cardlist yielded a quick and comprehensive result.

Weirdly, the ol' Star Wars CCG still has a thriving-ish community complete with community-made 'official' set releases and tournaments/events. There are places where you can play digitally, online! It's mesmerizing, but while it was amazing to find and join in the nostalgia, it also felt like the community decided to impressively double down on the crazy shark-jumping trajectory set by Decipher in the final releases of the game. I had to limit my games to the pre-E1 releases just for sanity's sake.

2 minutes ago, Imperial Advisor Arem Heshvaun said:

At the Battle of Endor, the Avenger is the Imperial Fleet’s lead communications ship, lending to importance of her role.

I thought the communications ship was a completely different class than the ISD, larger and possibly represented by the enormous multi-bridge tower in one shot during the battle. Or was that ship also named Avenger just to add to all the confusion.

and why would the comm ship be escorting Vader as his personal transport?

5 minutes ago, Imperial Advisor Arem Heshvaun said:

Admiral Piett transferring his Flag to the Avenger is mentioned in the Shadows of Empire sourcebook.

Eh. Still sounds lazy, but I guess he wouldn’t have had any issues with the new captain with Piett miraculously surviving while Needa and Ozzel both got the axe; Piett would seem to have been Vader’s permanent number one, at least as permanent as anyone under Vader’s command can be.

3 minutes ago, GrimmyV said:

I thought the communications ship was a completely different class than the ISD, larger and possibly represented by the enormous multi-bridge tower in one shot during the battle. Or was that ship also named Avenger just to add to all the confusion.

and why would the comm ship be escorting Vader as his personal transport?

Eh. Still sounds lazy, but I guess he wouldn’t have had any issues with the new captain with Piett miraculously surviving while Needa and Ozzel both got the axe; Piett would seem to have been Vader’s permanent number one, at least as permanent as anyone under Vader’s command can be.

Sorry @GrimmyV you quoted me right as I caught my edit. Piett transfers his Flag to the Accuser not the Avenger , a ship not part of the original Death Squadron , and formerly the Flagship of the late Grand Inquisitor (the EU Grand Inquisitor, not the Rebels incarnation).

If you get a chance to look at your Decipher Cards, you will see the Avenger is indeed the communications ship for the Fleet at Endor. Or just hit Google with ‘Decipher Card Game Avenger Dagobah set.’

In EU the Conquest is both the chasing the Falcon and is later part of the main battle line of Death Squadron , and this in part of my own editing of Wookipeedia LONG AGO ?

@nexttwelveexits @GrimmyV

One of my memories from the Decipher Card game being played at the San Diego comic con.

I had minutes earlier won my qualifying game by blowing up Echo Base along with all of the planet Hoth with Commence Primary Ignition and my fully operational Death Star I , when I heard a cheer from a nieghboring table.

In that game, Yoda had gone into a Y-Wing and blown up that game’s Death Star I .

Oh, and Death Squadron (with flagship Executor no less), Death troopers and the Death Star(s!), the Imperial armed forces really wants to show how lethal they are. Too bad the fatalities are mostly Imperials. At least the Emperor refrained from wearing skulls and what-not.

GUNBOAT needs no such gratuitous naming convention. Just a canon appearance, that would be nice.

Keeping on topic forum people happy

6 minutes ago, Imperial Advisor Arem Heshvaun said:

@nexttwelveexits @GrimmyV

One of my memories from the Decipher Card game being played at the San Diego comic con.

I had minutes earlier won my qualifying game by blowing up Echo Base along with all of the planet Hoth with Commence Primary Ignition and my fully operational Death Star I , when I heard a cheer from a nieghboring table.

In that game, Yoda had gone into a Y-Wing and blown up that game’s Death Star I .

Omg that brings back wonderful memories.

I wonder when X-wing’s ‘opperatives’ Or ‘episode one’ wave will hit, when there’s a clear division between what the game was and how it jumped the sarlaac. Or did we already pass that line at least twice already?

3 minutes ago, GrimmyV said:

GUNBOAT needs no such gratuitous naming convention. Just a canon appearance, that would be nice.

I'm actually getting sick of fighting for canonical GUNBOATS now. I've become somewhat of a joke amongst my friends. It'll be like

me: "oh, dude, this is the one. The GUNBOAT's gonna be canon in the new Solo movie. Just watch."

my brother: "yeah, sure. You said that about Episode VIII. And Rogue One. And Episode VII..."

me: "GUNBOAT!!!"

my brother: *rolls eyes*

11 hours ago, KommanderKeldoth said:

Am I the only one that likes the music in these trailers?

I'm fine with the music. It's not like it's Ladyhawke or something. . .

2 hours ago, Jo Jo said:

Solo: A Fan Service Story

I've never been this 'meh' feeling towards a Star Wars movie.

And they should be making this movie for all the folks into Marvel comics?? JAWS sequels?? James Bond films??

1 hour ago, thespaceinvader said:

People say fan service like it's a bad thing IDGI

Exactly. If there were no SW fans, there would be no SW IP. Of course the movies are fan service.

2 minutes ago, Imperial Advisor Arem Heshvaun said:

Keeping on topic forum people happy

I’m actually happy this movie got made, it’s something for the more casual fans that think they are ‘true nerds’ because they remember a few references this movie will make. For me? The biggest selling point is the GIANT SPACE TENTACLE MONSTER. Because if some space monster isn’t tying to eat the protagonists then it’s not going to feel like star wars. Bonus points for tentacles or giant ship devouring creatures.

wait, where there any (main) characters getting almost eaten in TLJ?

3 minutes ago, Darth Meanie said:

It's not like it's Ladyhawke or something. . .

Ladyhawke ? how I miss you. And Legend.

Lil’bacca

1 minute ago, GrimmyV said:

wait, where there any (main) characters getting almost eaten in TLJ?

The little porg was a main character. He narrowly avoided suffering the same sad fate as his parents at the hands of a hungry Wookiee.

Just now, Kieransi said:

The little porg was a main character. He narrowly avoided suffering the same sad fate as his parents at the hands of a hungry Wookiee.

Omg Chewie was the space monster! TLJ, you managed to invert even my twisted expectations!