"Commander Gree became an experton alien species and customs." His 41st Elite forged "alliances with native populations."
"Fans do have encyclopaedic knowledge, but like authors, they don't ever have the complete picture, and none of us ever can."
Fist_of_Mandalore posted:Valin_Halcyon posted:So basically the three million figure is just there to confuse us? I would say so, yes
Valin_Halcyon posted:So basically the three million figure is just there to confuse us?
"I know quite a bit about real guns, being a hunter."
Fist_of_Mandalore posted:Brian_Babtech posted: And how do you think they'd defend against missiles, artillery, and tanks? Uh, with missiles, artillery and tanks of their own. Simple eh? EDIT: If the Clones didnt have air/orbital support, how do they get to China in the first place?
Brian_Babtech posted: And how do you think they'd defend against missiles, artillery, and tanks?
jedimasterED posted:I think Karen and Ryan did a masterful job discussing three items to account for the seemingly startling discrepancy in numbers between the GAR and the CIS Droid Army:Superior deployment and engagment techniquesself-inflated CIS numberspoorer-and-poorer quality and lower-and-lower quantity of driod productionThese reasons alone help to bridge the gap of numbers. Furthermore, Karen and Ryan left it deliciously open for larger numbers of clones produced at other cloning facilities (whether on Kamino, Coruscant, or elsewhere). Also, who's to say local forces couldn't "occupy" their own planet after and with the help of Republic troops? I think this is quite likely, especially considering this bit related to Commander Gree:"Commander Gree became an experton alien species and customs." His 41st Elite forged "alliances with native populations."Millions to hold a planet, eh? We might be thinking a little too much of our militaty "expertise," here, friends. This is a fictional arena, and while our own logic and opinions might lead us to think things should be a certain way, I would like to quote a very wise person:"Fans do have encyclopaedic knowledge, but like authors, they don't ever have the complete picture, and none of us ever can."So, just because it doesn't make sense to you right now, doesn't mean it can never make sense or that it HAS to make sense. Bravo, Karen and Ryan. Your efforts to appease fans and contribute to the Saga are highly commendable! If we had fan-given awards for the EU creators, you two would be up for many, many of them!Fist_of_Mandalore posted:Valin_Halcyon posted:So basically the three million figure is just there to confuse us? I would say so, yes Yeah, you know Karen and Ryan... they hate you all and love to sew confusion, frustration, and angst. Get a grip, fanboys! "I know quite a bit about real guns, being a hunter."No offense, but that statement cracks me up! I'm sure you have so much more experience and expertise that it surpasses the research and insight Karen and Ryan put into this article. Good God, we fans can be so full of ourselves! But this topic is not about how much more you think you know than Karen or Ryan or anyone else (which, I can assure, is such a misconception it's not funny!) or who could win (and how) between the GAR and China. This topic is about the article and discussing it, so please, knock this crap off.
Valin_Halcyon posted:Wait, the ships were fully staffed by clones?
Thrawn McEwok posted:And... ED "self-inflated CIS numbers"? Blow-up battledroids? Canon go boom?
The strength of the Separatist forces was often quoted as quadrillions..."
"... a significant portion of the droid army was either half-complete or incorrectly assembled."
Thrawn McEwok posted:I like the way this seems to be nicely ambiguous, though...
[link=boards.theforce.net/user.asp?usr=jedimasterED] jedimasterED[/link] posted on 9/20/05 7:16pmIndeed. The more and more I read it, the more and more I realize just how flexible and open for possibilities the article truly is.
starwars.com posted:When the greedy corporate titans and the disenfranchised systems of the galaxy pooled their resources together to leave the aging Galactic Republic behind, they became the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Their military assets formed a droid army of seemingly limitless size -- a weapon that needed a military mastermind to be wielded effectively. From within the ranks of the Confederacy came General Grievous, a brilliant strategist unhindered by compassion or scruples. His lightning strikes and effective campaigns caused his reputation to grow in the eyes of a frightened Republic. To many, he eclipsed the threat posed by Count Dooku, the charismatic leader of the Confederacy's political battlefields -- Grievous was the face of the enemy.
starwars.com posted:Following that bloody debut, scattered reports along the HoloNet told of numerous successes in the Office of the General's campaigns against the Republic. Grievous led a stab into the Republic's inner systems along the Corellian Trade Spine, conquering world after world. When Duro fell to a concentrated Confederacy attack, the insulated Core Worlds trembled in fear of what the General was able to achieve.
Gladiuus posted: [link=boards.theforce.net/user.asp?usr=jedimasterED] jedimasterED[/link] posted on 9/20/05 7:16pmIndeed. The more and more I read it, the more and more I realize just how flexible and open for possibilities the article truly is. It doesn't seem to be to me. The ORBAT column quite explicitly states that the Grand Army is made up of ten System Armies, each headed by a Jedi Council member. The Gradn Army itself is lead by the Chancellor. Unless there are multiple Grand Armies, and by extension more than twelve council members, then the figure stands at an unfortunate mere 3 million clones. Which, as mentioned by others, is absurd. I love Karen and Ryan's work, but... the numbers here just don't make too much sense.
JimRaynor55 posted:The idea that the CIS army was led by incompetents is refuted by the official databank... Grievous wasn't just some cool Jedi-slayer. He was a military mastermind who could have probably given Thrawn a run for his money.
jedimasterED posted:My copy says (on page 26 in the blue box entitled "Regular Army: Strength and Command Structure") that the Grand Army is the equivalent of the "10 Systems Army" PLUS an "additional (3,000,000)" troops. If a "Systems Army" equals 294,912 troops, then the 10 Systems Army would equal 2,949,120 troops. And if the Grand Armay is the 10 Systems Army (2,949,120 troops) PLUS approximately 3,000,000 more, then the total number of troops climbs to around 5,000,000. This doesn't take into account the Special Forces. Is half a billion enough?
jedimasterED posted:Did GG lead each and every droid battalion in the galaxy? I think not. I think it is safe to say that the GAR had superior training, superior troops, superior strategy, and superior commanders (whether Jedi, Clone, or enlisted).
JimRaynor55 posted:Half a billion is 500 million, which is almost 100 times what you calculated. And even that is too little.
JimRaynor55 posted:Grievous doesn't need to be everywhere. He was the Supreme Commander of the CIS forces, and therefore would have made all the important strategic decisions. He served a role similar to Thrawn during the Thrawn Trilogy, so it is only logical that his leadership would have a similar effect.