« previous next »
Pages: [1]

Author Topic: Episode VI Infinities  (Read 865 times)

  • Jedi Knight
  • ***
  • Posts: 217
    • View Profile
Episode VI Infinities
« on: April 08, 2020, 10:25:31 pm »
I just realized that I never finished this series of posts.  So here's my idea for an Episode VI Infinities (I know one already exists and this isn't terribly different in effect but I like it better).  Please provide feedback!

Story: Leia realizes Jabba has set a trap and manages to spring it and escape with Han.  Luke is able to return to Yoda a few days sooner and Yoda teaches him one last technique before dying.  When Luke confronts the Emperor he is ready for his lightning and redirects it back at him (a'la Zuko vs. Fire Lord Ozai (voiced by Mark Hamill) in Avatar: The Last Airbender).  The Emperor is seemingly defeated (or at least unconscious) so Luke attempts to leave with Vader.
Net effect: Vader lives.
Story Questions:  What kind of story consequences would this have?  Should the Emperor actually die?*  What becomes of Vader?  Is he imprisoned or does Luke manage to get him free (via smuggling him out or pulling privilege)?  What of Leia’s reaction?  Should anything more happen at Jabba’s?  Does Vader’s knowledge of Jedi help Luke establish his order sooner?  What of the still standing Jedi temple?

*An alternative ending is Luke is blocking the lightning and Vader, seeing his son make a stand against the Emperor, takes Luke's discarded saber and stabs Palpatine in the back.
Logged
-ZehnWaters, the Silaglaren

Share on Bluesky Share on Facebook

  • Grandmaster of the Jedi Order
  • ******
  • Posts: 1726
  • Keeper of the sacred blade
    • View Profile
Re: Episode VI Infinities
« Reply #1 on: April 10, 2020, 02:38:21 am »
I know one thing for sure, Vader need to get rid of his armor. First of all it's tied to the dark side.

There is a bigger problem. Darth Vader do not go back to the light. There is no selfless act of dramatic heroism!
Logged
Like Like x 1 View List

  • Youngling
  • *
  • Posts: 28
    • View Profile
Re: Episode VI Infinities
« Reply #2 on: April 10, 2020, 09:58:34 am »
Quote from: ZehnWaters on April 08, 2020, 10:25:31 pm

What becomes of Vader?  Is he imprisoned or does Luke manage to get him free (via smuggling him out or pulling privilege)?  What of Leia’s reaction?
What about him (Vader) resuming his life as Anakin Skywalker? From the looks of it, it was a tightly guarded secret in the Empire. It wouldn't be a lie to say he was gravely injured during the Purge, and he only returned after discovering that he had a son. With his scars, I doubt anyone would push too hard for more details, but he would have to find a way to survive without the suit, or something heavily modified to be observably different from Vader's set up. It might even be a nice way of having Luke come to some new understanding of Obi-Wan's "certain point of view" rationalization. As for Leia, she'd definitely confront him, and it could create a temporary distance between her and Luke as she tries to reconcile the fact that "Anakin" survives, when so many good people she's known haven't. Bail comes to mind immediately. And this exchange just popped into my head (not Bail related):

Leia: "Darth Vader."
Anakin: "That name no longer holds any meaning for me."
Leia: "It doesn't? Really? Well, it still holds quite a bit of meaning for your victims. Just as you were never able to fully rid yourself of the spectre of Anakin Skywalker, you can't shed the onus
of having been Darth Vader any more easily than that armor you wear."
Logged
Like Like x 1 View List

  • Global Moderator
  • Grandmaster of the Jedi Order
  • *****
  • Posts: 4973
  • Dark or Light? Why choose when neither is right?
    • View Profile
Re: Episode VI Infinities
« Reply #3 on: April 10, 2020, 10:54:54 am »
Leia springing Han and getting away doesn't solve the problem that Chewie and the droids are also still prisoners/possessions of Jabba.  Maybe the assumption is that Lando could then get them out without getting Luke involved/captured but with Jabba still alive he'd be furious and could lead to who knows how many more issues.  We also have Boba Fett to contend with going forward.

Long story short: If you change the timeline as suggested you may radically alter everything else and it doesn't lead directly to the path you laid out where Vader/Anakin survives.


Much easier it is to just let Yoda hang on a little long to teach Luke a bit more.  Also possible that Vader simply survives the "final encounter" with the Emperor although there would be questions of his condition at the end.  Assuming things go as they do in the movie except Anakin survives the last encounter there are multiple ways things could go.

The easiest way to end the war/rebellion could be to have Vader assume the mantle of Emperor and declare an order to stop and offer the reasons why.  This assumes that Vader would be accepted as the new Emperor far more easily than any of the others who wanted to take his place along with an idea that Vader may have had better knowledge/understanding of all of the Emperor's other dealing.  Now would Anakin be in position to do this as a prisoner of the Rebellion? Unlikely.  I'm also not sure that a "public display" of capturing Vader instead of him falling would do them any good.

Now if Vader still dies at Endor but Luke somehow manages to rescue the old war hero Anakin Skywalker it may not immediately change things although it could actually be a boost to resistance morale granted Leia knowing the truth may have a harder time accepting all of it.  Here the question simply may be how long the Vader is Anakin secret could be kept because Anakin certainly could provide a wealth of knowledge about the Force as well as the Empire and other things.

Looking out way in the future Anakin's survival may completely change the Destiny of one Ben Solo if that is the timeline you choose to follow.
Logged
Over 14,500 post on the WotC board before they closed the SAGA board.

  • Jedi Knight
  • ***
  • Posts: 217
    • View Profile
Re: Episode VI Infinities
« Reply #4 on: April 10, 2020, 07:55:12 pm »
Quote from: Oncarou on April 10, 2020, 09:58:34 am
Leia: "Darth Vader."
Anakin: "That name no longer holds any meaning for me."
Leia: "It doesn't? Really? Well, it still holds quite a bit of meaning for your victims. Just as you were never able to fully rid yourself of the spectre of Anakin Skywalker, you can't shed the onus
of having been Darth Vader any more easily than that armor you wear."

I like it!

Quote from: StevenO on April 10, 2020, 10:54:54 am
Leia springing Han and getting away doesn't solve the problem that Chewie and the droids are also still prisoners/possessions of Jabba.  Maybe the assumption is that Lando could then get them out without getting Luke involved/captured but with Jabba still alive he'd be furious and could lead to who knows how many more issues.  We also have Boba Fett to contend with going forward.

Yes, the concept was that Lando frees Chewie and in the confusion of Leia springing the trap they all escape.  The comics make pretty big leaps of logic as well.  Not a good excuse but there it is.  As far as issues going forward?  All the more story potential.

Quote
The easiest way to end the war/rebellion could be to have Vader assume the mantle of Emperor and declare an order to stop and offer the reasons why.  This assumes that Vader would be accepted as the new Emperor far more easily than any of the others who wanted to take his place along with an idea that Vader may have had better knowledge/understanding of all of the Emperor's other dealing.  Now would Anakin be in position to do this as a prisoner of the Rebellion? Unlikely.  I'm also not sure that a "public display" of capturing Vader instead of him falling would do them any good.

Now if Vader still dies at Endor but Luke somehow manages to rescue the old war hero Anakin Skywalker it may not immediately change things although it could actually be a boost to resistance morale granted Leia knowing the truth may have a harder time accepting all of it.  Here the question simply may be how long the Vader is Anakin secret could be kept because Anakin certainly could provide a wealth of knowledge about the Force as well as the Empire and other things.

Hm.  Things to think about.  Do you think Luke and Co. might simply keep it secret that he survived at all and simply use him as a resource?  Maybe the top brass in the Rebellion know.  Then when the war is over Luke takes him to Yavin to build a Jedi academy.  I suppose the leaders would want to keep him locked up, but if Luke could.

Quote
Looking out way in the future Anakin's survival may completely change the Destiny of one Ben Solo if that is the timeline you choose to follow.

NO.
« Last Edit: April 10, 2020, 08:35:09 pm by ZehnWaters »
Logged
-ZehnWaters, the Silaglaren

  • Jedi Knight
  • ***
  • Posts: 217
    • View Profile
Re: Episode VI Infinities
« Reply #5 on: April 10, 2020, 08:34:30 pm »
Alright, which look do we like better for redeemed Vader:
A, B, or C
« Last Edit: April 10, 2020, 08:37:47 pm by ZehnWaters »
Logged
-ZehnWaters, the Silaglaren

  • Global Moderator
  • Grandmaster of the Jedi Order
  • *****
  • Posts: 4973
  • Dark or Light? Why choose when neither is right?
    • View Profile
Re: Episode VI Infinities
« Reply #6 on: April 10, 2020, 10:44:15 pm »
Quote from: ZehnWaters on April 10, 2020, 08:34:30 pm
Alright, which look do we like better for redeemed Vader:
A, B, or C

Not B, that look is too "Darth Vader" if you're tying to get away from that.

I guess in some ways A is in that same boat but the face with C just doesn't look right to me.
Logged
Over 14,500 post on the WotC board before they closed the SAGA board.

  • Jedi Knight
  • ***
  • Posts: 217
    • View Profile
Re: Episode VI Infinities
« Reply #7 on: April 12, 2020, 11:04:16 am »
Quote from: StevenO on April 10, 2020, 10:44:15 pm
Not B, that look is too "Darth Vader" if you're tying to get away from that.

I guess in some ways A is in that same boat but the face with C just doesn't look right to me.

Hm.  Maybe just a whole new set of complete armor?  Like an Ubese or a Mandalorian.
Logged
-ZehnWaters, the Silaglaren

  • Grandmaster of the Jedi Order
  • ******
  • Posts: 1726
  • Keeper of the sacred blade
    • View Profile
Re: Episode VI Infinities
« Reply #8 on: April 12, 2020, 12:25:47 pm »
Out of those 3, I would go with A.
He would probably drop as much as possible pf the armor if he is redeemed. The armor is cool and all, but it's part of Darth Vader. He would want to distance himself from that look.
Logged

  • Global Moderator
  • Grandmaster of the Jedi Order
  • *****
  • Posts: 4973
  • Dark or Light? Why choose when neither is right?
    • View Profile
Re: Episode VI Infinities
« Reply #9 on: April 12, 2020, 01:00:41 pm »
Quote from: ZehnWaters on April 12, 2020, 11:04:16 am
...
Hm.  Maybe just a whole new set of complete armor?  Like an Ubese or a Mandalorian.

As Merc mentions I'm thinking he'd likely be giving up any significant armor if he wants to show true redemption.  To me C is the furthest from "Vader" and perhaps the most minimalist assuming you keep in some kind of armor as his life support system.  Showing his face makes him human again.
Logged
Over 14,500 post on the WotC board before they closed the SAGA board.

  • Padawan
  • **
  • Posts: 98
    • View Profile
Re: Episode VI Infinities
« Reply #10 on: April 12, 2020, 09:48:26 pm »
Interestingly enough I have been running a Star Wars RPG game that led to a somewhat similar result.

So the PCs were sent on a mission to a planet by the Rebellion. A secret, undercover, sandbox campaign. One of my players journalled about it online if you want to read the craziness of it here. https://yordano-searle.livejournal.com/

However, the key result is that the research lab on this planet was developing the targeting system for the superlaser on the 2nd Death Star and the PCs prevented it from being completed on time.

So, in the climatic final battle when the Emperor reveals the "full operational" battle station, the superlaser misses!

That weakens Vader's belief in the Emperor. And in this version the Emperor looses his temper and unleashes force lightning on Luke, but Vader intervenes and blocks it. So it becomes a father and son battle vs the Emperor with the Emperor loosing.

Anakin survives and joins Luke to create a very different Jedi order. (No cradle robbing to train Jedi from birth. Using the old, "original" Jedi code, etc...)

We're now playing in a new campaign set a few years later in this same universe.
Logged
Pages: [1]
« previous next »