Yeah I totally get that. Big death lasers are such a cliche, especially nowadays. I guess I just pictured it being the more likely route during production in 83. But I think the new SSD having a ton of turrets would also look cool.

To play devil’s advocate, if the Empire figured out this super-laser technology, you would think that even if they first one was destroyed, it did work, so they wouldn’t completely abandon the technology, but make it more efficient. I pictured it just being powerful enough for the one-shot kills the DSII does in the battle. And like I said, it probably would be one of the options that requires the least amount of changing. Super-laser’s seem to be the Emperor’s style, after all.

I always felt cloaking was more Star Trek-y, but then again they did use it in The Clone Wars, and it operated the same way you described, having to deactivate the cloaking device to fire.

Regardless of my opinion, I think you should go forward with the turrets/cloaking device idea if you’re really into it, and maybe this suggestion could be an alternative if you decide it’s not working for you. Don’t know till you try!

And yeah! I was thinking of the Madine deleted scenes for that as well! I think the more rebels you kill onscreen, the more audience will feel the losses. So even if they succeed in their mention, they’ll feel the cost. Especially if they see the Rebel Fleet before and after the battle.