Was looking to come in here and knock down Caedus arguments, but I see none worth responding too.
Also, Beni---Vader held back his telekinetic powers against Luke in RotJ; Luke confirms this himself after Geth wrecks him on CoPL by saying Darth would have done similar if he wanted:
Time seemed to slow. His head throbbed, pounding to the same rhythm as the beating of his heart. His face had gone cold, numb, and Luke realized distantly that Gethzerion’s spell had ripped open blood vessels in his brain, and he was about to die, one among hundreds of fatalities on this battlefield. o this is how it would have been, if Vader had tried to kill me. Who had Luke been kidding?
----Excerpt from The Courtship of Princess Leia
So can we put this silly notion that RotJ Luke is anywhere near Vader to rest already?
@DC, Luke isn't really in any position to make objective claims on what Vader could or would have done, especially in the contexts of a desperate situation where he is speaking out of self-depreciation for his ability to challenge powerful Force users i.e. he's underrating himself, a moment of self-doubt.
There are plenty of more objective and impartial sources that claim otherwise. First off there is what Vader actually believed:
A warrior needed to contend with equals. Obi-Wan was gone, and the other Jedi were all extinct, save one, who was the strongest of them all. His own son. He had told the Emperor that Luke Skywalker would join them or die. The real truth was only slightly different: Luke would join Darth Vader or die. It would be something to look forward to. That would be the duel of a lifetime. This wasn't even exercise.--Shadows of the Empire
For the first time, the thought entered Vader's consciousness that his son might best him. He was astounded by the strength Luke had acquired since their last duel, in the Cloud City - not to mention the boy's timing, which was honed to a thought's breadth. This was an unexpected circumstance. Unexpected and unwelcome. Vader felt humiliation crawling in on the tail of his first reaction, which was surprise, and his second, which was fear. And then the edge of the humiliation curled up, to reveal bald anger. And now he wanted revenge.Guess he was mistaken, right?--Return of the Jedi novelisation
Then there are various objective out-of-universe sources:
"On the Death Star... Father and Son grimly clash! Brutally, aggressively, Darth Vader brings his full strength and power against the younger man....
This is a battle of equals.
...
And if there is any true advantage, it seems to have shifted to him.
http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/11115/111155790/4122329-2646129480-39708.jpg
The fight this time was far more balanced. Vader discovered that Luke was his match, and, once again, the Sith Lord found his thoughts straying to an alliance between them against the Emperor.Luke had indeed grown powerful since Bespin, and he was an equal match for his father.
--The Official Star Wars Fact File #111
On the Death Star, Luke and Darth Vader were engaged in a duel that was even more vicious than their battle on Cloud City. Luke had grown stronger since their last encounter, and his skill with his lightsaber had improved greatly. As they swung at each other in the Emperor's throne room, Luke sensed the advantage had shifted to him.--Return of the Jedi Junior Novelization
Luke and Vader are engaged in a man-to-man duel of lightsabers even more vicious then the battle on Bespin. But the young Jedi has grown stronger in the interim, and now the advantage shifts to him. Vader is forced back, losing his balance, and is knocked down the stairs. Luke stands at the top of the stairs, ready to attack.And for the record? Vader was not holding back, he was pissed and prepared to kill:--Return of the Jedi script
'You are unwise to lower your defenses,' Vader warned. His anger was layered, now - he did not want to win if the boy was not battling to the fullest. But if winning meant he had to kill a boy who wouldn't fight... then he could do that, too. Only he wanted Luke to be aware of those consequences. He wanted Luke to know this was no longer just a game. This was Darkness.I fail to see why Vader would hold back on TK if he intended to put the fear of God into him....
Luke heard something else, though. 'Your thoughts betray you, Father. I feel the good in you ... the conflict. You could not bring yourself to kill me before - and you won't destroy me now.'
...
This accusation really made Vader angry. He could tolerate much from the insolent child, but this was insufferable. He must teach this boy a lesson he would never forget, or die learning.
--Return of the Jedi novelisation
So sure, let's put this silly notion to rest shall we?
EDIT: Another quote to add the the pile:
Although Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker are equally strong in the Force, their duels are more than just about physical strength.And credit to ShootingNova for most of these quotes. 👆--Beware the Sith
Originally posted by Deronn_soloYou'd do well to interpret me properly if you're going to call me retarded, LAL.
ILS is just as retarded as I've always known, if he's suggesting Vader and Luke are equals in the Force as of RotJ.
Luke's raw power and potential > Vader's. How it manifests is through Luke's Force augmentation, which put Vader on his ass in spite of Vader also having augmented armor and a Sith amulet.
Vader's actualized power in abilities like TK, telepathy etc >>>>> Luke's.
