This was a mystery percolating for almost fifty years

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers around the nature of blaster bolts in the Star Wars universe, clarifying that they are not lasers but rather plasma bolts, as retconned in the lore. Participants compare the speed of these fictional projectiles to Nerf gun darts, suggesting they travel at approximately 39 km/h. The conversation highlights the blend of fantasy and science fiction in Star Wars, emphasizing that understanding this distinction enhances enjoyment of the series. References to George Lucas's stylistic choices and influences from classic films like _Hidden Fortress_ and _633 Squadron_ are also noted.

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  • Understanding of science fiction versus fantasy genres
  • Familiarity with Star Wars lore and terminology
  • Basic knowledge of projectile motion
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  • Research the physics of plasma and its representation in science fiction
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  • Analyze the narrative techniques used in _Hidden Fortress_ and their influence on Star Wars
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Fans of Star Wars, film scholars, and anyone interested in the interplay between science fiction and fantasy storytelling.

DaveC426913
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: slaps forehead : OF COURSE!!
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does it also make laser beams travel slower than light?


https://www.wired.com/2012/05/star-wars-blaster-speed/
  • A Jedi deflecting blaster bolts with a lightsaber is about the same as a baseball player hitting a pitched ball.
  • Playing with Nerf guns and plastic lightsabers in the backyard isn't too terribly different than the movie.
 
BWV said:
does it also make laser beams travel slower than light?


https://www.wired.com/2012/05/star-wars-blaster-speed/
Iirc, they’ve retconned the actual weaponry from lasers to some sort of handwavium plasma. Yes, heavier weapons are called “lasers” or “turbolasers” but it’s a plasma bolt.
 
Flyboy said:
Iirc, they’ve retconned the actual weaponry from lasers to some sort of handwavium plasma. Yes, heavier weapons are called “lasers” or “turbolasers” but it’s a plasma bolt.
Saw that and according to the piece I posted they travel about as fast as nerf gun darts
 
BWV said:
  • Playing with Nerf guns and plastic lightsabers in the backyard isn't too terribly different than the movie.
You can say that again. That may have been the basis for that series' broad appeal. Lucas deliberately adopted a B movie style. Viewers like it : it's fun.
 
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Now if a Jedi could deflect an inside slider or a knuckle-ball, I would be genuinely impressed.
 
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diogenesNY said:
Now if a Jedi could deflect an inside slider or a knuckle-ball, I would be genuinely impressed.
Use The Force, Luke.
 
c=39 km/h, laser speed problem solved.
 
  • #10
Office_Shredder said:
c=39 km/h, laser speed problem solved.
But now you have to explain why Luke's busted-ass landspeeder doesn't have a hyper-drive.
 
  • #11
DaveC426913 said:
But now you have to explain why Luke's busted-ass landspeeder doesn't have a hyper-drive.
Hyperdrives are for going fast, he was just going a couple of cs.
 
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As soon as I realized that Star Wars is fantasy and not science fiction, all of these issues went away and it became even more enjoyable.
 
  • #13
Chicken Squirr-El said:
As soon as I realized that Star Wars is fantasy and not science fiction, all of these issues went away and it became even more enjoyable.
Many years later, when I watched Kursawa's _Hidden Fortress_, a whole lot of things began to make a bit more sense. Also, the trench run is nearly shot for shot from the climactic sequence of _633 Squadron_.
 

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