[Jester]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeddostotle7

There are legitimate differences in their armor (aside from the supplemental gear) that is exclusive to Sandtroopers.

Which is the result of the production team slightly redesigning the Stormtrooper armour between shooting in Tunisia and shooting at Elstree Studios. In-universe, there's no reason why a detachment of the Empire's elite naval shock troops would be roaming a dustball like Tatooine except that they'd been set down there by Darth Vader for the express purposes of securing the Death Star plans. Argue otherwise on the basis of the minor cosmetic differences and you might as well accept the old Trekkie claim that Ewoks can shatter Stormtrooper armour.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeddostotle7

I'm pretty sure that, even with their advanced technology, they can only make their armor so strong against common weaponry before it becomes impractically heavy/bulky, analagous to the real world. Clonetrooper armor could take a hit or two before giving way, but it was heavier. Stormtrooper armor, while lighter and not as directly protective, is designed to disperse the energy of a blaster bolt somewhat to reduce damage and give the wearer more of a chance to survive.

I'm pretty sure sure that Stormtrooper armour is as protective as the Empire is willing to provide for a given cost-per-suit, which also rather neatly explains why Boba Fett's Mandalorian armour has apparently withstood dozens of direct hits from blasters, whereas a single shot with a small pistol like Leia's is generally enough to put a Stormtrooper down for the count.

Quote:

Originally Posted by En Sabah Nerd

Even just watching Jedi it's pretty obvious he pretends to be old and weak what with his cane which he immediately tosses aside to zap Luke. In ROTS he makes a point of announcing to the senate that he has been injured and barely survived an assassination attempt, playing for sympathy points I assume.

Indeed, and as such, I can see him affecting to be satisfied with a plain, ordinary military shuttle (although now I'm hearing that Phasma's armour in TFA was apparently stripped from the hull-plating of Palpatine's personal transport...).