Enyalus
MALE DOMINANCE!!!
Originally posted by Gideon
I disagree wholeheartedly and question your subscribed logic. If strategic retreats are totally indicative of inferiority, I would like to take the time to point out that Yoda, too, withdrew from the fight with the Emperor. Does that mean that he was weaker? Not necessarily. An alternative explanation that cannot be ruled out is an echo of Heath Ledger's Joker's statement to Batman in the Dark Knight; why would Palpatine want to risk his mastery and ownership of the galaxy in what amounted to a glorified "fist fight" with someone as powerful as Yoda? Palpatine didn't stop to play fair because his top priority is saving his ass, hence why he led Yoda all around the Rotunda trying to use the environment to gain an advantage. Palpatine disarmed Yoda and demonstrated equal strength in the Force. It could go either way.
Yoda withdrew from the fight because he lost his lightsaber and fell off the platform, totally ceding the high ground. Yes, he lost. Straight up. He couldn't defeat Sidious after losing both those things, and retreated.
But was he losing in Palpatine's office? I wouldn't say so. I would say he had an edge, however slight. And I believe that is why Sidious ran onto the rotunda, to negate Yoda's freedom of movement advantage. I know you're going to say, "but that was strategy, he was smart enough to not take any chances." And I agree. Definitely. But on an even surface, in a neutral area maybe, he wouldn't be able to do that - and in my opinion Sidious goes down. I do agree that they're equal in the force, but I give the edge to Yoda in saber skill. He's had more than 800 years to master them, afterall. Sidious' lightning blasting Yoda's saber out of his hand was not only total PIS, but was only possible because he was off balance and on the rotunda.
Windu certainly wins the lightsaber engagement and quite possibly the all out fight. That said, others are correct: Palpatine's initial speed and reflexes are superior to Windu's, forcing Windu to "submerge" in Vaapad to cancel out the Sith Lord's superiority. Moreover, Vaapad itself wasn't superior to Sidious's bladework until Windu utilized the shatterpoint charism. Finally, despite being on his ass, a Jedi Master possessing an incredible physique and a superconducting loop hovering over him, and being assaulted by his own lightning, Palpatine still nearly forced Windu's lightsaber back upon him where the Jedi was "choking on ozone". And in the end? Palpatine was still feigning weakness. That is a considerable disparity in power.
I, like anyone who has more than half a brain, fully realize that Palpatine is more powerful than Mace. By a considerable amount. You agree that the only reason he was able to best Sidious was due to Vaapad, and that's exactly what I said, "Mace wins because of his Vaapad and Shatterpoint." So, it seems we agree on that. 🙂