Stormtrooper Armor In Star Wars Movies. Are Changes Necessary?

[TRON JA307020]

So far we have had 3 major changes in the armor. Clone Stormtroopers to OT Stormtroopers to Episode 7 Stormtroopers. The armor in all three versions look similar but for each incarnation I really don't see any upgrades. Yeah maybe the upgrade the material but the actual look of the armor doesn't seem to add anything. The new armor for episode 7 seems to actually lack some coverage on the shoulder area that the original actually had. Wouldn't the armor as years go by be more advance and actually be better? It seems the changes are just for looks nothing more.Discuss.

 

[Karzak]

Perhaps when you see the film an answer will avail itself.

Anything until then is just speculation.

That said, between the time of TNG's first season and the end of Nemesis, Starfleet went through four completely different styles of uniforms, arguably solely "for looks and nothing more."

So what?

 

[TRON JA307020]

Perhaps when you see the film an answer will avail itself.

Anything until then is just speculation.

That said, between the time of TNG's first season and the end of Nemesis, Starfleet went through four completely different styles of uniforms, arguably solely "for looks and nothing more."

So what?

Armor is different. It should advance in quality not just looks. The new armor doesn't seem to have as good coverage.

 

[Mudd]

Everything in the Star Wars movies is "just for looks." There is nothing wrong with this. The reason people pay money at the box office is to look at it all.

 

[TRON JA307020]

Everything in the Star Wars movies is "just for looks." There is nothing wrong with this. The reason people pay money at the box office is to look at it all.

I understand that for a real world explanation but as a in movie explanation I don't. Did the remnant of the empire make the armor on production lines? Do they buy it? The people who design it are they just doing what they think looks cool like a clothing designer without though to function or protection of the armor? Some of the changes seem unnecessary. Would the changes cost the remnants of the Empire more credits to make the armor instead of using existing mold? Why did they stick with the white color? Its to easy to see and makes these guys stick out like sore thumbs. Wouldn't a more camouflage look be better? I have a plethora of questions about the armor that is keeping me up at night.

 

[martok2112]

While I admit I'm not keen on the new stormtrooper armor, I'm not gonna overly distress myself over it, and simply hope that TFA ends up being another good Star Wars film.

 

[Ithekro]

Well the difference from the original clone trooper armor to later armor was due to trooper comfort. The original armor was difficult to even sit in. The Stormtrooper armor is likely designed for more untility over the war designed Clone Trooper armor. Also the newer armor would have to be designed to fit multiple body types rather than just one guy repeated millions of times.

TFA armor seems to be easier to wear than the older Stormtrooper armor, or at least that is what it seems from those that wore in at Celebrations. It is more confortable. Also I think there is a helmet light near the chin. They also removed the breather ports on the helmet front it seems.

They also might be unisex given the design of the front plate.

 

[TRON JA307020]

Well the difference from the original clone trooper armor to later armor was due to trooper comfort. The original armor was difficult to even sit in. The Stormtrooper armor is likely designed for more untility over the war designed Clone Trooper armor. Also the newer armor would have to be designed to fit multiple body types rather than just one guy repeated millions of times.

TFA armor seems to be easier to wear than the older Stormtrooper armor, or at least that is what it seems from those that wore in at Celebrations. It is more confortable. Also I think there is a helmet light near the chin. They also removed the breather ports on the helmet front it seems.

They also might be unisex given the design of the front plate.

Yup no more male looking chest plate. I guess they could have kept it and made a female breast plate if they have decided to have female troopers. Of course than the armor would have looked stupid with a female design.

 

[Gaith]

Everything in the Star Wars movies is "just for looks." There is nothing wrong with this. The reason people pay money at the box office is to look at it all.

I understand that for a real world explanation but as a in movie explanation I don't.

High-ranking military officers have been known to make new uniforms just for the glory of seeing something they had a hand in everywhere they look. There was no need for the US Navy to adopt blue digital camouflage uniforms, which are particularly good at making a Sailor hard to spot if they fall overboard, but you just know some admiral saw the sweet-ass new digital designs on soldiers and Marines and wanted some.

 

[Trekkin]

In terms of utility, the OT armour was apparently useful for jack-all. "Oh no! A pebble has bit my heavily armoured head. It's a fatal one-hit blow every time!"

New or improved materials can automatically change the looks of a design. For eg. Different metals bend and shape in different ways. As mentioned, the new armour also looks a hell of a lot easier to move in. When most of the weapons used by your enemy can just cut or blast through your armour anyway, having the ability to run and dodge does sound like a good idea

 

[Alidar Jarok]

There have been more than three Storm Trooper looks. The snow trooper and the scout trooper were two other versions.

The change to the Clone Troopers served a plot reason (to be halfway between Jango's armor and the original Storm Trooper armor) and helped suggest change over the passage of time. Does the new Storm Trooper look serve a plot reason? Who the hell knows, the movie hasn't come out. More importantly, it doesn't need to. Star Wars is fundamentally about looking cool.

 

[Mudd]

Everything in the Star Wars movies is "just for looks." There is nothing wrong with this. The reason people pay money at the box office is to look at it all.

I understand that for a real world explanation but as a in movie explanation I don't. Did the remnant of the empire make the armor on production lines? Do they buy it?

Yeah, and Luke Skywalker killed scads of hapless, innocent civilian contractors and other noncombatants when he blew up the Death Star.

Seriously, dude, it's Star Wars. Chill.

 

[TRON JA307020]

In terms of utility, the OT armour was apparently useful for jack-all. "Oh no! A pebble has bit my heavily armoured head. It's a fatal one-hit blow every time!"

New or improved materials can automatically change the looks of a design. For eg. Different metals bend and shape in different ways. As mentioned, the new armour also looks a hell of a lot easier to move in. When most of the weapons used by your enemy can just cut or blast through your armour anyway, having the ability to run and dodge does sound like a good idea

LOL! Yeah in ROTJ the stormtroopers of that era just fell by being pelted with rocks and sticks. Hopefull this new armor will have been updated to withstand rocks and sticks.

 

[The Wormhole]

It generates new action figures. That could also very well apply in-universe as well.

 

[ManOnTheWave]

Even in the OT, stormtrooper and even Darth Vader armor changed with each film.

 

[JD]

Real world armies uniforms change over time, so it makes sense ones in a sci-fi universe would to. Maybe the technology behind the armor is changing so the redesigned it to work better with that new technology.

 

[JoeZhang]

Everything in the Star Wars movies is "just for looks." There is nothing wrong with this. The reason people pay money at the box office is to look at it all.

I understand that for a real world explanation but as a in movie explanation I don't. Did the remnant of the empire make the armor on production lines? Do they buy it?

Yeah, and Luke Skywalker killed scads of hapless, innocent civilian contractors and other noncombatants when he blew up the Death Star.

Seriously, dude, it's Star Wars. Chill.

Oh man you are bring up bad memories - I sunk all of my savings into alderaan beach condos.

 

[Kor]

Another poster noted from his own personal experience that real armies change uniforms more often than you would expect.

With armor, I would imagine there's continued R&D to improve usefulness while also balancing flexibility and protection. Think of the development of Batman's armor from Batman Begins to The Dark Knight.

Kor

 

[Ithekro]

Armor doesn't stop one from getting knocked down from a physical attack. It just keeps one from being pieced by blades and bullets. Blunt force trama can be made non-fatal by the armor, but it will still likely knock you down.

The stormtroopers on Endor were knocked over by primative weapons used by the Ewoks, but if you look, you might notice that most were not killed by that, but when jumped and basically hacked and beated by lots of Ewoks each. Arrows seemed to only work against scout troopers who had less armor and the unarmored officers. The main thing the Ewoks achieved at the start was mass confusion allowing the Rebel to regain their weapons and start shooting Imperials. The tide didn't seem to turn until Chewbacca managed to gain control of an AT-ST and the Ewok traps started taking out the Imperial speeder bikes and AT-STs. The stormtroopers are killed either via Rebel basters, AT-ST fire, or blunt force trama via being mobbed by several Ewoks at once. All other instances or rocks seem to only knock the trooper on their butts to allow other Ewoks to mob them. Arrows seem to not do much unless it hits in the gaps in the armor. The body glove not providing protection against pointy things.

One might note though that a blaster shot Stormtrooper might not be dead. Going by Rebels, there are troopers that have been shot or being very close to massive explosions that have survived to be shot again or been in another explosion. An example of those this is the TIE depot on Lothol. Sabine attacks and blows up some TIEs at the depot in the preview clips that introduce the characters before the season started. Several troopers were taken down at point blank range from her detonators. Late in the first season, she attacks that depot again as a distraction. The troopers remember her and when she leaves them another detonator, they remember that as well ("not again"). So it is possible that stormtrooper armor is more effective than we give it credit. Han Solo blaster is suppose to be a "heavy blaster pistol", so like taking a magnum to body armor. The Stormtrooper blasters are carbines, so they are heavier weapons a well. The regular blasters might not actually kill a trooper (still might knock him on his butt). Not sure about Leia's long gun in both Star Wars and Return of the Jedi.

 

[Sybok Was Wrong]

1) New stormtroopers outfits creates new toys to sell;

2) New stormtrooper outfits keeps things visually fresh.

Good enough reasons!