I call it the stormtrooper effect. We want our bad guys to be terrifying so we set them up as these nigh undefeatable forces. But we need our good guys to win so we set up a scenario that puts our good guys in just enough danger but not bad enough that they can't win (so 5 bad guys super weapons, perfect aim, and undefeatable armor). But then we need to do it again but we want to ramp up the stakes but still let our good guys win. But how have our good guys survived? Eh...the bad guy weapons and armor are just slightly weaker than before. (7 bad guys with mildly super weapons, good aim, and tough armor). And again (10 bad guys with meh weapons, average aim and sorta armor). And again and again ad infinitum until your small band of of heroes are fighting a battalion paper mache that can't hit the side of a barn.
I'm sure we can agree stargate suffers this in droves. The first serpent guards were able to withstand a lot of fire and the camera shots made it seem to emphasize that. The staff weapon was a good weapon to the point if O'Neil got his hands on one he started using that instead of the gun he was carrying. Ha'tak firepower measured from megatons to gigatons per bolt and could wipe out all life on a planet if the Goa'uld were pissed enough with one ship being all that's needed to invade earth.
Then the jaffa became fodder who could fall at a single bullet, their staffs were weapons of terror that couldn't hit crap, and ha'tak explosions looked like rocket explosions. Hell, at least on youtube the ha'tak is considered a weak pushover that started losing the moment Earth started building ships, something completely untrue but is a testament to how they are portrayed.
So, how do we solve this? What do you think? Me? I say let's start with better explanations. Like bullets penetrating jaffa armor because of armor piercing rounds. Or that the ha'tak can reduce its firepower because they want to enslave words rather than wipe them out if possible. Or that they want more penetration per shot to pierce shields as opposed to a wasteful explosion. And there's the portrayal. The bombing of Cal Mah really made the ha'tak look bad when it could be easily solved and could possibly save money on effects. Instead of tiny explosions all over the place in the camp, have a mountain the distance explode, covering the entire area in dust. Then just play the orbital bombardment sound effect over and over again.
Just some ideas on how I'd solve Stargate's stormtrooper effect. What do you think?
I'm sure we can agree stargate suffers this in droves. The first serpent guards were able to withstand a lot of fire and the camera shots made it seem to emphasize that. The staff weapon was a good weapon to the point if O'Neil got his hands on one he started using that instead of the gun he was carrying. Ha'tak firepower measured from megatons to gigatons per bolt and could wipe out all life on a planet if the Goa'uld were pissed enough with one ship being all that's needed to invade earth.
Then the jaffa became fodder who could fall at a single bullet, their staffs were weapons of terror that couldn't hit crap, and ha'tak explosions looked like rocket explosions. Hell, at least on youtube the ha'tak is considered a weak pushover that started losing the moment Earth started building ships, something completely untrue but is a testament to how they are portrayed.
So, how do we solve this? What do you think? Me? I say let's start with better explanations. Like bullets penetrating jaffa armor because of armor piercing rounds. Or that the ha'tak can reduce its firepower because they want to enslave words rather than wipe them out if possible. Or that they want more penetration per shot to pierce shields as opposed to a wasteful explosion. And there's the portrayal. The bombing of Cal Mah really made the ha'tak look bad when it could be easily solved and could possibly save money on effects. Instead of tiny explosions all over the place in the camp, have a mountain the distance explode, covering the entire area in dust. Then just play the orbital bombardment sound effect over and over again.
Just some ideas on how I'd solve Stargate's stormtrooper effect. What do you think?
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