Darths & Droids IV: Not in Numerical Order

[Keltest]

Don't we already know what Corey's campaign was?

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Rogue One?

That was before Corey joined the group at all.

[Kantaki]

Ok, quickie time: Without any spoilers, without any reference to the dialog, what was your reaction to the visuals of Finn's helmet coming off?

"Huh, they have faces now."

Pretty much this.
I mean, there's someone with a face under it and that's it. Finn not having a face would've been more surprising.
And kind of concerning.

[Morquard]

"Guess they're not all Jango anymore"

[b_jonas]

"Guess they're not all Jango anymore"

Yes, but we knew before Disney that not all the troopers are clones, so that wasn't too much of a surprise either.

[SirKazum]

Ok, quickie time: Without any spoilers, without any reference to the dialog, what was your reaction to the visuals of Finn's helmet coming off?

Not much really, since the trailers had already spoiled that pretty thoroughly for me

edit: and as for them not being all clones anymore, from what I remember of that discussion around the time the movie came out (which I suppose isn't spoilery anymore, as Keybounce saw him without the helmet), wasn't that fact established by the OT itself? Because there's something in A New Hope (which I don't recall from the movie, just from the discussion) about how Luke was thinking about becoming a Stormtrooper before Ben showed up and all? So, by that point in the timeline, at least a significant portion of the Stormtroopers, perhaps all of them, are conscripts rather than clones.

[Morquard]

Not much really, since the trailers had already spoiled that pretty thoroughly for me

edit: and as for them not being all clones anymore, from what I remember of that discussion around the time the movie came out (which I suppose isn't spoilery anymore, as Keybounce saw him without the helmet), wasn't that fact established by the OT itself? Because there's something in A New Hope (which I don't recall from the movie, just from the discussion) about how Luke was thinking about becoming a Stormtrooper before Ben showed up and all? So, by that point in the timeline, at least a significant portion of the Stormtroopers, perhaps all of them, are conscripts rather than clones.

Luke wanted to join the Academy, supposedly to become a TIE pilot.

And no, its never addressed at all in the OT, because I bet back then it wasn't even a possible possibility that the Stormtroopers came from the Clonetroopers. I bet "Clone wars" was just a term, and even Lucas had no idea what it meant. But you're right, by that time likely most of them were conscripts, which is something you can extrapolate by the time between RotS and ANH and that the clones are aging much faster than humans, but it was never stated in a movie.
It was later shown in the Rebels TV series, where they meet Rex and two other clones in 1 or 2 BBY and they all look to be in their 60s.

[SirKazum]

Luke wanted to join the Academy, supposedly to become a TIE pilot.

Okay, that makes a lot more sense, yeah. Since that factoid came up when discussing Finn not being a Jango clone, I guess whoever was involved in it seriously misremembered the movie, and I didn't remember it well enough myself to mentally correct it

And sure, things were a lot fuzzier during the OT's inception, so I bet Lucas and co. didn't give the Stormtroopers much thought beyond "they're sci-fi Space Nazi footmen" when the first movie was made. I just thought a throwaway detail in it might have set a canon that contradicts the notion of clones lasting into the OT era. Well, same results anyway.

[Rodin]

Not much really, since the trailers had already spoiled that pretty thoroughly for me

It was also pretty much impossible to avoid the internet discussions about John Boyega being in the movie. The casting for TFA made quite a big splash at the time, particularly since they were using relatively unknown actors for some of the roles.

Whatever else one may say about the movies, I think they got the casting spot on.

[keybounce]

It was also pretty much impossible to avoid the internet discussions about John Boyega being in the movie. The casting for TFA made quite a big splash at the time, particularly since they were using relatively unknown actors for some of the roles.

I managed.

I know nothing about the cast. I think they got a female to play the big bad, but that's all. (Thought it was Rey, but it's Ren. Go figure.)

Ok, time to write up my reaction to that helmet coming off then.

[137beth]

Yes, but we knew before Disney that not all the troopers are clones, so that wasn't too much of a surprise either.

I didn't know that not all stormtroopers were clones until TFA was released (I heard from discussions years before I watched it).

I did know who played Kylo Ren, because I saw the SNL sketch in which

Spoiler: TFA casting and a bit of plot

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Adam Driver played Kylo. The premise of the sketch was a mockumentary in which Kylo Ren disguised himself as an intern on the Starkiller Base, so that he could find out what his employees thought about him (an "undercover boss.") Unfortunately for Kylo Ren, he wasn't very good at concealing his identity.

In 2020 he came back and did a follow-up sketch set after the events of TLJ.

And I enjoyed those two SNL sketches more than episodes VII or IX.

[Morquard]

I managed.

I know nothing about the cast. I think they got a female to play the big bad, but that's all. (Thought it was Rey, but it's Ren. Go figure.)

Aahh so close... :D

[Rodin]

I managed.

I know nothing about the cast. I think they got a female to play the big bad, but that's all. (Thought it was Rey, but it's Ren. Go figure.)

Ok, time to write up my reaction to that helmet coming off then.

I'm very impressed. I'm certain I would have picked up the core cast from trailers being shown when I was in the movie theater, or from the actors being interviewed on late night talk shows. Even if I were trying to intentionally avoid it, Star Wars leaves such a big culture splash that I would be seeing stuff everywhere. It's like not knowing Game of Thrones has dragons in it.

Heck, I know a basic plot outline of the Mandalorian despite never having seen it. The memes are pervasive.

On the other hand, I'm reminded of the time I visited my sister and she made a "What does the fox say?" joke. That video completely passed me by and she thought I was pulling her leg when I didn't get the joke. It sparked a major argument about how I must be living my life wrong if nobody in my social circle had watched a music video.

Spoiler: TFA Casting

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And now I'm very glad I was extra vague in my mention of the casting! I thought Daisy Ridley being the star was universally known in the same way everyone knows Daniel Craig is the current Bond.

[b_jonas]

I did know who played Kylo Ren,

But Keybounce was asking about Finn. Kylo Ren doesn't remove his helmet until later in the movie. At this point Keybounce doesn't yet know that Kylo Ren is not a naga robot clone of Nute Gunray. (This confused me as well at first.)

[Xihirli]

Spoiler: QUOTE from Jonas

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But Keybounce was asking about Finn. Kylo Ren doesn't remove his helmet until later in the movie. At this point Keybounce doesn't yet know that Kylo Ren is not a naga robot clone of Nute Gunray. (This confused me as well at first.)

Hey, spoiler this! That's a major twist subversion they might keep!

[Rogar Demonblud]

Not directly relevant to Darth & Droids, but I caught up on Irregular Webcomic and have to say DMM's report on his injury was daunting.

[dmmaus]

Not directly relevant to Darth & Droids, but I caught up on Irregular Webcomic and have to say DMM's report on his injury was daunting.

Yeah, it was pretty nasty. Recovering okay at the moment. I just took the final hospital dressing off, and the scar actually doesn't look as bad as I thought it might. Still hurts - it'll probably take a few weeks for the bruising and pain to go away fully.

[Elkins]

Oh, hey memnarch! The commentator gang's all here, apparently. I think this thread is usually pretty good about spoilers, since Keybounce is here as well. But, as we've seen, it's not always perfect. I hope you can stick around, but I also understand if you want to be extra-guarded.

I miss a lot of movies too, so I've pretty much accepted that I probably won't be able to guess Corey's game. I'll take my audience enjoyment from watching other people try to suss it out in the forums.

Keybounce, I didn't follow the promotional stuff very closely before VII came out nor (as stated) do I see a lot of movies in the theater...but I do follow a lot of blogs that take an interest in social issues within geek culture, so I was unable to avoid learning about Boyega's casting. So I can't help you either, I'm afraid, with what my unspoiled reaction to that scene was: I didn't get one. I really enjoyed reading about yours, though. Insidious how those assumptions creep into our minds, isn't it?

Yikes! Since I don't follow Irregular, I didn't know about DMM's injury, but I just went to take a look. That sounds really nasty, DMM. I'm glad to hear you're healing up okay, and I hope the pain subsides at a rapid pace. I know it can be hard to ignore hand sensations - our big dumb brains pay a lot of attention to nerve signals coming from that area, even when we try to convince them to stop.

[Kantaki]

So Phasma's female cause Annie says so?
By now the DM should be used to the players taking over the world building.

And Finn basically assigns himself a infiltration mission.
Again with the players doing what they want.
Clever though. The party has to come together someway.

[137beth]

Spoiler: TFA

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So instead of Finn "rescuing" Poe, they will both leave together on an infiltration mission, get separated, and then probably Finn will try to recruit Rey into the First Order.

[Rogar Demonblud]

For those who don't know, the Second Reich is Prussia from roughly the Silesian Wars during the reign of Frederick the Great through Imperial Germany's collapse at the end of WWI and the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II. The Nazis were the Third Reich, the First was Charlemagne.

[keybounce]

So the Second Reich includes The Red Barron and the air wars?

... Will need to find SOME way to work that into a future annotation.

Meanwhile: I have seen Pete's character

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Seriously.

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Ok, so white robes, going through a Star Destroyer, seeming to know exactly where to look in said Star Destroyer. What's the standard RPG will? "I leave everything to my next character"? Pete lost a Star Destroyer, and is now salvaging one.

Oh, and there is BOTH a "Rey" and a "Ren". Joy. Now, which spoilers did I hear about for which character?

[Rogar Demonblud]

Technically, they already had a Red Baron analogue back in the day. Baron Soontir Fel of His Imperial Majesty's 181st Fighter Group. So good a pilot he could beat Vader in sims. Trained several of Rogue Squadron's best before they defected. Also Wedge Antilles' brother-in-law.

[The_Snark]

Meanwhile: I have seen Pete's character

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Seriously.

Spoiler

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Ok, so white robes, going through a Star Destroyer, seeming to know exactly where to look in said Star Destroyer. What's the standard RPG will? "I leave everything to my next character"? Pete lost a Star Destroyer, and is now salvaging one.

Oh, and there is BOTH a "Rey" and a "Ren". Joy. Now, which spoilers did I hear about for which character?

Spoiler: D&D spoilers courtesy of Keybounce

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Yes! I had both predicted and was hoping for this to be Pete's character.

[keybounce]

Have we seen any indication of nuclear power here? Have we seen any indication of "modern, high-tech power" in this universe without paper?

(Yes, I recall DMM's napkin calculations of one star destroyer of wood per minute for Coruscant.)

[dmmaus]

With spoilers going both ways, be very careful everyone! Do not assume that Keybounce/memnarch know something about the movie just because they've seen the next strip or two in advance.

Also, Keybounce/memnarch: what's obvious to you from seeing a strip in advance may be something utterly surprising to people familiar with the movie.

[Elkins]

Okay for Keybounce to read, but spoilers for near-future D&D:

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I am devastated that Keybounce's confusion over Ren/Rey has to come to an end so soon! I mean, I suppose it couldn't have lasted all that much longer, but I'd really been enjoying it, and remain so impressed that he managed to stay that unspoiled.

[Morquard]

For those who don't know, the Second Reich is Prussia from roughly the Silesian Wars during the reign of Frederick the Great through Imperial Germany's collapse at the end of WWI and the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II. The Nazis were the Third Reich, the First was Charlemagne.

a) These terms were coined by the Nazis in the 1920 to retroactively establish their "Third Reich" (also a term coined by them) as a legitimate successor state to those, so the use of either of those names is problematic, when referring to those eras.
b) You're wrong. The "First Reich" in those terms would describe the Holy Roman Empire (lasting from around 800 to 1806), and the Second Reich is the German Empire from the Unification in 1871 to 1918.

[hamishspence]

Technically, they already had a Red Baron analogue back in the day. Baron Soontir Fel of His Imperial Majesty's 181st Fighter Group. So good a pilot he could beat Vader in sims. Trained several of Rogue Squadron's best before they defected. Also Wedge Antilles' brother-in-law.

He was such a success that several more Red Baron analogues were created - Countess Iran Ryad, who flew a red TIE Defender (Starships of the Galaxy 2001 web enhancement)

https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Red_Star_1

Tofen Vane, whose deceased father was a Viscount, and who flew a red Tempest Zero (TCW Hero of the Confederacy comics)

https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Tempest_Zero

and Baron Elrik Vonreg, who flew a "TIE-Baron" (Star Wars Resistance)

https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/TIE...ty_Interceptor

[Rogar Demonblud]

a) These terms were coined by the Nazis in the 1920 to retroactively establish their "Third Reich" (also a term coined by them) as a legitimate successor state to those, so the use of either of those names is problematic, when referring to those eras.
b) You're wrong. The "First Reich" in those terms would describe the Holy Roman Empire (lasting from around 800 to 1806), and the Second Reich is the German Empire from the Unification in 1871 to 1918.

The Nazis didn't count the HRE as anything. It was generally run by the wrong country (Austria) and received its legitimacy from being crowned by a foreign power (the Pope). Neither works with German Nationalism.

[Keltest]

Wow this seems like a wildly unsafe topic to be discussing. I vote we talk about something else instead! Like how half the group seems to have decided to play villains this time without telling anybody else. How did that happen? Was there no session 0 for these characters?