OK, move along...  move along. 

Don't worry about it Jessica, it's just sometimes a post can be confusing so I'm sure it was just a mistake in haste was all.

The guidelines linked to are good things for everyone to check out around the site I think...  We don't want to be too pushy with them though so if the staff feels a need to step in and bring them to someone's attention we'll get on that, but remember to keep things friendly everyone.

If the Empire's instituting xenophobic/speciesist policies though as its power is consolidated though, then alien cultures become less important to their military machine.  But there again it depends if you agree with them being xenophobic and also depends on how you view humans in the galaxy...  Like if they're the dominant species by a long shot or what.  They certainly seem it.

I'm all for the idea that the Empire has anti-alien views and all that stuff, but some disagree with that because the films don't really say it outright plus the Alliance is sporting a ton of Aliens either until the battle of Endor we see them...  But all-human (or nearly all human) institutes within the Alliance are definitely possible (especially if humans are, again, the dominant species of the galaxy).  It's all very complex though because it's so easy for nobody to agree.

I guess the bet is still open though man.  

Ah, well I guess those have shown here...  now...  I dunno.  I didn't buy them, but they had plenty it seemed.

Scott hooked me up with some of his army building extras from over the years.  A nice AAT, some STAPs, and a slew of Droid Fighters.  The Separatist ranks grow!

Thanks Scott, pleasure of course to deal with...  Fast, and puts up with me dilly dallying on paying him too.   Plus my ineptness with Pay Pal!

Thanks man, I appreciate it!

I hit up Target tonight, and no Clones but they DID have the clamshell case packs out in abundance.

I thought those were a bust and got recalled since they didn't fit?

Thoughts?

If the droids were made of a decent plastic, I wouldn't cry foul on a re-release of them either.  Cream, Red, EU Green, and a Commander would all be welcome...

Just gotta get the plastic fixed.  It's fine on the Episode One versions, and they have an extra joint in their legs, so Hasbro's just letting everyone down on those.

The best thing to do when wanting to look in the Toy Industry Crystal Ball is to check out Asia...  Their toys are almost squarely aimed at a more adult market while kids are geared to electronics anymore (as are adults, who have disposeable income to spare I guess).

For instance the Hot Toyz snap-kit figures are a prime example of the trends...  These things are sold in the f'n checkout lane of stores and they're basically a super articulated, highly detailed, incredibly sculpted, mind-bogglingly painted, and nicely accessorized figure from Aliens Vs. Predator...  All ina  little blind packed box.  They're complex, a "kit" so there's some fun in constructing it, a collectible, an amazing action figure, and they're sold like next to the Kit Kats... 

You can't even get that here in a Toy Aisle much less the checkout lane.  It's incredible.

I think Action Figures aren't going to die, but I think we'll see the trend of them being aimed at adults increase as time wears on, especially the Star Wars brand which will lose kids in general by year's end I believe.  At least this resurgence they've had with ROTS's popularity.

Still though, whole lines are popular the world over...  GIJ, Star Wars, and Transformers to name 3.  I think they have their place, they'll just be changing over time, at least in who their respective company feels their market is.

I know like 1:18 military figures have this almost 100% adult market that is voracious for product but the companies supporting it are slow about it.  They're action figures though, through and through, and popular to no end.  It's all adults though.  I can't see a kid wanting a German in a trenchcoat, or a Japanese Officer, or an Iwo Jima Camo Marine...  Thems daddy's toys!

There's several ways of looking at this...

-The "Official" stance Lucasfilm Ltd. currently takes with this issue is that Stormtroopers (within the classic era) are a mix of Recruits, and Clones of various hosts (Fett Clones among other hosts chosen intelligently and beaurecratic back-scratchingly).  This makes EU jive on all levels with the films, etc...

-Lucas probably intended them to be Clones.  Intent means nothing in Star Wars though other than it's nice if that's what you agree with or not.  Interpretation then's all up to the "critic" if you will.

-The films give no definite answer of course, other than they're Clones up to E3, and then come E4 they're seemingly different guys at least to an extent.  To that end, you could just as easily counter LFL's position by saying no they're all recruits because in the end it's an EU debate, not one within the films.

For myself, I currently hold that they're recruits.  E3 ended with some pretty happy campers in the Senate...  I think the Empire was a popular movement, and was widely accepted around the galaxy save for some idealists, some stronger-willed beings, some isolationist planets, etc...  Thus the Rebellion Nucleus is made up of those types.

Lucasfilm's little explanation of everything isn't bad though...  It keeps EU storylines like Kyle Katarn's, Bren Tantor's, or whoever else that has a Stormtrooper history, right in line with the films it just twists what we thought was the truth around some, and introduces Clones into the Classic Trilogy.  That's fine, it just isn't what I currently personally go with, but that's me.

If I were to go with that explanation, I think I'd twist it to my own liking some...  Something along the lines of Officers within the Stormtroopers being sentient recruits, and Stormtrooper training/leading being a major stepping stone in an Officer's career in the military...  Like at one point Veers donned the armor and led a squad in battle personally.  Then the "lower" Stormtroopers are all Clones of Jango (I don't like the introduction of multiple hosts and I don't necessarilly buy into the "degrading genetic material" bull**** about why no Jango Clones exist, etc.).

That's if I were to personally go with the LFL explanation, which I don't...  yet.  Recruits has worked fine for me.  It makes customizing more fun too when you can pick whatever face you want under the helmet.