Shadow Hunter

Ok I know this novel is old, but I bought the recent edition with the new short stories added and having just finished it, I've officially decided Darth Maul is a bad ass..

Sidious believes in the book Maul's "skills as a warrior are nonpareil."

He proved himself to be a "superior fighter" than one whose lightsaber skills were second to none.

So to me everything about this novel (as well as everything we have learned about him since) says his close combat skills are unmatched.

I don't actually think he's particularly powerful in the force. I just think being from a warrior like clan and going through Sidious's brutal training regime made him possibly the most highly "skilled" warrior of the PT era.

Which I think is kind of cool. Yes I know he was from a very force sensitive race (would have to be to be a Sith Lord) but I actually prefer him not being Uber powerful. Just the most skilled warrior, with considerable power of course. (I hope CW series doesn't change that).

Going to read Darth Plagueis next to get more insight into his training as well as his relationship with his master. Perhaps Cloak of Deception first.

Wow, this is all news.

^ Hey Blax I know you love everything about Maul..

But I don't remember on all the Maul discussions anyone mentioning that Sidious himself saw Maul's skills as a warrior being "nonpareil."

And of course him being from a Warrior clan is something we only found out last year.

His power in the force however is still not really known. The most we see him do with Force TK in Shadow Hunter is explode a door open.

Like I said I prefer him being one of the most "skilled" warriors of the mythos. Don't really feel there's a need to make him Uber powerful with the Force as well. But who knows where CW series will take him.

Yes, that's kind of opinion I always had about Maul. He was trained only as warrior without access to arcane Sith teachings, so not to break rule of two.
And it can be seen as during fight he relies purely on his skill and strength without using dun moch or any offensive Force powers. It was his superior skill and unusual style with double-bladed lightsaber that allowed him to defeat Qui-Gon Jinn. Obi-Wan wasn't much weaker in combat either, even at the moment of Kenobi's anger and grim determination Maul was able to take positional advantage and kick him into reactor pit.

I used to always support Obi-Wan in "ROTS Obi-Wan vs Maul" versus threads. Although I always gave Maul enough credibility to say ROTS Obi-Wan wins a very difficult fight (which was a giving Maul a lot more credit than most people on the forum).

But I'm changing my stance on that now. I'm Always going to take Maul's side in any Maul vs Obi-Wan threads now after reading Shadow Hunter and especially after seeing their last fight in CW which was likely Maul's first Lightsaber fight in over a decade.

Originally posted by DARTH POWER
Going to read Darth Plagueis next to get more insight into his training as well as his relationship with his master.

As far as feats go, Plagueis is the badass of his novel. For some reason I think your going to really like him.

(lol) I remember you once saying that all of Sidious' apprentices were your favorite because they are not just "evil, old, and creepy like Sidious" (something like that). Well I think that your opinion about Sidious may change after reading this novel. I mean he is not a redeemable character at all, but was he always pure evil? Well let's just say he did seem to have a little humanity in him but never enough to have been a good person. His sadistic and sociopathic ways are still traits he seems to have been born with... Well you'll see what I mean. (lol)

Also, some revelations about Dooku may come as a surprise to you.

Guys we don't even know that Plagues is real chances are Senator Palpatine was just making him up to turn Anakin to the darkside and to kill Padme, plus why would plague even know maul when his apprentice killed him in his sleep and during Phantom mencae Maull had been apprentice to Palaptine for less than 3 years? You guys need to think things logicilly.

Originally posted by Padawan Obi-Wan
Guys we don't even know that Plagues is real chances are Senator Palpatine was just making him up to turn Anakin to the darkside and to kill Padme, plus why would plague even know maul when his apprentice killed him in his sleep and during Phantom mencae Maull had been apprentice to Palaptine for less than 3 years? You guys need to think things logicilly.

Either way, Plagueis really was Palpatine's master.

Originally posted by DARTH POWER
I used to always support Obi-Wan in "ROTS Obi-Wan vs Maul" versus threads. Although I always gave Maul enough credibility to say ROTS Obi-Wan wins a very difficult fight (which was a giving Maul a lot more credit than most people on the forum).

But I'm changing my stance on that now. I'm Always going to take Maul's side in any Maul vs Obi-Wan threads now after reading Shadow Hunter and especially after seeing their last fight in CW which was likely Maul's first Lightsaber fight in over a decade.

facepalm

I think is kind of cool. Yes I know he was from a very force sensitive race (would have to be to be a Sith Lord) but I actually prefer him not being Uber powerful. Just the most skilled warrior

I admit when I see Padawan Obi-Wan kill Mail I got kinda upset and cry a little bit the ator who p[lays darth maul is a great friend of mine that i met ons et of attack of the clones. Great friend, even better martial artist. I learn a lot from him which helps as I now teach Jiu-Jitsu to classes 7-13 years.

Originally posted by SIDIOUS 66
I remember you once saying that all of Sidious' apprentices were your favorite because they are not just "evil, old, and creepy like Sidious" (something like that).

A good memory you have.. I said Darth Sidious's Sith apprentices are my fav characters. Whilst Sidious himself is a bit wierd.

But you gotta love all his dialogue and every scene with him in it. And Ian Mcdiarmid's acting is brill.

Originally posted by SIDIOUS 66
Well I think that your opinion about Sidious may change after reading this novel. I mean he is not a redeemable character at all, but was he always pure evil? Well let's just say he did seem to have a little humanity in him but never enough to have been a good person. His sadistic and sociopathic ways are still traits he seems to have been born with... Well you'll see what I mean. (lol)

Also, some revelations about Dooku may come as a surprise to you.

Yeah Im definetely looking forward to reading that novel. Just contemplating whether to read Cloak of Deception first.

Originally posted by Arhael
Episodes with Maul are already out? Wohoo!
I have always been for the idea that characters like Maul and Ventress can put up a decent lightsaber fight against high league characters like Yoda, Dooku and Windu.

I'm dead certain now Maul's above Ventress. I can see him giving Dooku hell. Would probably win a pure saber/close combat fight against him imo.

But Yoda and Mace are too powerful for Maul.

Mace's combat skills alone likely rival Maul's. Those 2 are probably the most skilled warriors in the PT era. But Mace is obviously more powerful.

Originally posted by Padawan Obi-Wan
I admit when I see Padawan Obi-Wan kill Mail I got kinda upset and cry a little bit the ator who p[lays darth maul is a great friend of mine that i met ons et of attack of the clones. Great friend, even better martial artist. I learn a lot from him which helps as I now teach Jiu-Jitsu to classes 7-13 years.

Really??

No.

I'm dead certain now Maul's above Ventress. I can see him giving Dooku hell. Would probably win a pure saber/close combat fight against him imo. But Yoda and Mace are too powerful for Maul. Mace's combat skills alone likely rival Maul's. Those 2 are probably the most skilled warriors in the PT era. But Mace is obviously more powerful.

In any case watched that episode. Kenobi showed himself well at the beginning but then Maul turned to taunting angering Kenobi and using it against him. And legs! Maul should have been born with them. It looked like legs alone defeated Obi-Wan. ;D

Originally posted by Arhael
You say he can give hell to Dooku but Yoda and Mace are too powerful, yet, Dooku stood himself well against Yoda and I red that there was another encounter between them, where Dooku showed himself even better.

Well the AOTC novel states Yoda had Count Dooku skipping back desperately. And when Dooku did better in a rematch that was on Vjun, a planet steeped in the dark side.

Besides A>B>C doesn't always work. Dooku's form is pure fencing. Designed specifically for sword to sword fighting. Which is awsome. But it's weakness being it's not designed for anything else.

Maul with his Mastery of Juyo (deadliest form) plus his deadly combat skills, and Mastery of the Unorthodox Saber Staff would be a nightmare for Dooku's pure fencing style.

In short Yoda tools them both, but I see Dooku putting up a better sword fight against Yoda than Maul would. Even though Maul MIGHT be able to best Dooku in close combat.

And that my friend is why A>B>C doesn't always work.

Originally posted by Arhael
And where that obviousness about Mace being obviously more powerful?

Well until we see Darth Maul Force crushing 2 Destroyer droids and a dozen other droids with a one handed force wave, I will continue to assume the Head of the Jedi Council has a much stronger connection to the Force which makes him more powerful.

Take Maul's skills and give him Savage's raw power and then you may have someone to match Mace Windu.

Originally posted by Arhael
In any case watched that episode. Kenobi showed himself well at the beginning but then Maul turned to taunting angering Kenobi and using it against him. And legs! Maul should have been born with them. It looked like legs alone defeated Obi-Wan. ;D

Yes I know. Obi-Wan was winning early on in the fight. He got an advantage via a force push, and did not take the opportunity to finish Maul because he was watching out for Ventress.

Cool. Only problem is.. It was likely Maul's first Lightsaber fight in more than 10 years! He probably needed a bit of time to get back into his fighting style. Once he did start getting into it Obi-Wan admitted he was outmatched.

As for the kicks, Maul's have always been deadly. Part of his combat skills. The cybernetic legs will easily have as many disadvantages as advantages.

Besides A>B>C doesn't always work. Dooku's form is pure fencing. Designed specifically for sword to sword fighting. Which is awsome. But it's weakness being it's not designed for anything else.

Maul with his Mastery of Juyo (deadliest form) plus his deadly combat skills, and Mastery of the Unorthodox Saber Staff would be a nightmare for Dooku's pure fencing style.

And that my friend is why A>B>C doesn't always work.

What do you mean? Of course A>B>C. If I am better than you I am also better than everyone you are better than. It's simple bro. You think I just get worse when there are different people. Doesn't wprk like that hun. And don't give me that crap about rock paper scissors it is just a game in real life rock makes paper into paste.

Let's also not forget, statements about Maul from Shadow Hunter and TPM were many years before the Clone Wars.

Most of Mace's best stuff was a decade later, after he had completed vaapad and such.

I could quite believe Maul being better than Mace or other Jedi duelists at the time. Most of the order's prodigies were still growing at that point.

Plus Ray Park is a much better martial artist than the actors and stuntmen for Mace and Dooku etc...