If Stormtroopers aren`t Army, then who is?.. And how does local Police look?

By RodianClone, in Star Wars: Edge of the Empire RPG

I don't think we ever saw Imperial Customs on screen, but I accept them because their existence makes sense. I feel the same about the Imperial Army.

The thing is, there have been very good arguments given why it makes sense that there isn't a separate infantry than the stormtroopers. It's not about whether there is an army or not, it's whether there are infantry separate to the stormtroopers. Additionally, it's not a good comparison because whilst we never see Imperial Customs on screen (that we know of), we also don't see lots of scenes where we would expect to see them. The case with an imperial army is not the same - there are numerous cases where we would reasonably expect to see them but we don't. That's a different scenario than your imperial customs example. Instead, all the infantry we see are stormtroopers. They're also immediate descendents of the clone army which was the only Republic army - that was kind of the point: when the Republic needed an army suddenly the Jedi produced one out of nowhere.

At one point, Zahn's work was considered canon. He created the foundation of the EU, and nearly everything after referenced, added to, or directly used characters, situations, vehicles and all the rest that he laid down. Zahn in turn leaned heavily on WEG for background material. Zahn specifically used a separate Imperial Army, and referred to true stormtroopers as a vanishing breed. And Lucas signed off on all of that.

Lucas changes the rules all the time to suit his whims. Lucas reverses his own canon frequently. And now Lucas has cashed out and handed the reigns to Disney. Now the Imperial Army is in the usual 'no longer canon UNLESS' category.

Me? I use it. Because it makes sense, because it gives me a broader range of tools to use as a GM, and because I LIKED WEG's vision of the Imperial Army and stormtroopers. I too can make good arguments on other side of the equation. But until Disney makes their ruling, the argument is academic at best. The Army and stormtroopers were, AT ONE POINT, separate entities by canon. Now, pick your side. But all this arguing is pointless. Until Disney makes the decision for new canon, the Army is as legit as Talon Karrde, Mara Jade, the Noghri, and the Chiss. Which is to say, undecided until the Mouse weighs in.

But please, let's not use the argument that since Lucas didn't put in on screen it doesn't happen. The galaxy is too big to encompass in three two hour movies. Every installation we saw in the movies were Navy controlled. And Lucas ignored anything from the OT that inconvenienced his vision for the prequel trilogy. The man regards his own canon as flexible for the needs of the moment. A paragon of consistency he is not

Lucas changes the rules all the time to suit his whims. Lucas reverses his own canon frequently...

This...

But until Disney makes their ruling, the argument is academic at best. The Army and stormtroopers were, AT ONE POINT, separate entities by canon. Now, pick your side. But all this arguing is pointless. Until Disney makes the decision for new canon, the Army is as legit as Talon Karrde, Mara Jade, the Noghri, and the Chiss. Which is to say, undecided until the Mouse weighs in.

The Stormtrooper Corps was a branch of the Galactic Empire's Imperial Army which consisted of Stormtroopers. The Storm Commandos were the Corps' special forces.

The movies depict Imperial Army that is not a Stormtrooper, you see them lined up in ranks alongside Stormtroopers, Scout Troopers, Naval Troopers, Death Star Troopers and Army and Navy Officers in large numbers, You never see Imperial Army functioning as a Line Infantry trooper in the movies or any other source i've seen that is canon, you see Stormtroopers for that role, instead they are depicted as vehicular crews. Considering their legends entry describes them as a modern military equivalent to a Reservist force this makes sense, since we also never see any canon depictions where reservists would be called for. Why do we see Stormtroopers so often then in canon? They are iconic and easily identifiable, they are easier to animate over and over again, why wouldn't you see them? Plus canon describes them as a seperate branch of the Imperial army with its own commanders.

So the Mouse has weighed in. I can't decide if the solution is elegant, lazy, or indifferent, but it does a decent job regardless.

So the Stormtrooper Corps is a branch of the Imperial Army. Doesn't say it's the infantry, just a branch. So honestly, it's still open a tad for interpretation since we haven't seen Army infantry on screen, but we have old canon/Legends reference to them, and new canon hasn't excluded them.

The only real world parallel, at lease for US military, is Marine Corps. It's the comparison I used earlier and this new canon declaration (if Wookiepedia got it right. Not saying they didn't, but they have made mistakes and assumptions in the past) fits it well. The Marines are a combined arms force, but are primarily light infantry (and on paper, a component of a larger service, in this case the US Navy). Sounds good. They make up a good chunk of the US infantry in most large scale operations. Still good. They provide security for naval installations and ships, and for important diplomatic and 'special' facilities. Finally, they are better prepared for fast deployment to crisis zones. The Marines also have their own organic special forces, Force Recon. What they aren't equipped or organized for, or have the manpower for, are long term operations. That, and heavier ground combat, is the realm of the Army.

Sounds like a good fit. By that model, one could say (and I do) that we didn't see regular Imperial Army infantry in the OT is that we never had a situation or scene in the OT that would call for regular Army. The base on Endor is the very definition of a 'special' Naval installation, and as part of a trap to draw out the Alliance regulars, you'd want your 'best' troops in place. At Hoth, that was a quick reaction in the form of Vader's personal fleet, the 501st, and some extra ships he grabbed on the way in. Again, marines, not regular army. The boarding action on the Tantive IV? I don't even need to say it.

Is that the answer? No, that's just my answer. I am not the Mouse in disguise.

Just as a side note, the OTHER definition of Corps is a level of military organization above, and made up of, divisions and attachments (well, that's one definition. Force level terminology changes over time. But that is the system WEG Imperial Sourcebook used). The old order of battle from the old Imperial Sourcebook that I love, and that Zahn used to, in part, help define the Imperial military in the EU/old canon, built on the sector group. The sector group had three legions, or divisions, or stormtroopers assigned, plus smaller attachments. That would make the stormtrooper force in each sector a Corp. So that would also kind of support the old order of battle. Except, of course, that definition of corp is not what the wookiepedia article is using. Unless it is. Seriously, they couldn't have written just a little more than two sentences?

Anyway, the only DEFINITIVE thing given here is that stormies are a confirmed part of the Imperial Army, not a completely separate service. I personally think that is an improvement. It makes more sense. So, good Mouse. Now for gods sake restore Mara, Karrde and Thrawn to canon. Please?

Anyway, the only DEFINITIVE thing given here is that stormies are a confirmed part of the Imperial Army, not a completely separate service. I personally think that is an improvement. It makes more sense. So, good Mouse. Now for gods sake restore Mara, Karrde and Thrawn to canon. Please?

Much as you mention, that's about as meaningful in practice as US Marines being considered a part of the US Navy.

Sturn, I agree wholeheartedly that lets call it military.

Returning to the original question, I received a copy of the Star Wars Essential Guide To Warfare today. It's copyrighted to Lucasfilm and has the Lucas Books mark on the back, so I think it's as close to a canon answer as we'll get, and it refers to an Imperial Army distinct from the Stormtroopers corps.

Anything that is published about SW has some sort of Lucas logo on it, It doesn't make it canon, it just shows that Lucas gave permission to publish it. All vid games has Lucafilms along with WEG book. Look in your FFG SW books and you will see a Lucas Books logo there.

The thing is, going forward, all material published with an official Lucasfilm license is supposed to be vetted by the Story Group which means it IS canon. Obviously, this is a little ambiguous when it comes to games as we have the option of forging our own "canon". But when it comes to novels, comics, reference guides, etc., the intent is that everything is "official" and there should be no contradictions.

As to the topic at hand, being a long time SWRPG player (my first RPG book of any type WAS the Imperial Sourcebook which I picked up at the Star Tours shop at Disney World way back in 1989...and which I still have today although the binding has completely disentigrated) I have also followed the reasoning that the stormtroopers are an elite element of a much larger Imperial Army. The recently released Imperial Officer Handbook also supports this with separate chapters dedicated to the Imperial Army and another on the Stormtrooper Corps and the various types of Stormtroopers. But that book squeaked out right after the whole "legends" realignment went down and is technically not part of the "official" canon. (Also, in an interview, the author spoke about how he used the WEG Imperial Sourcebook as a major source of material.). However, recent depictions in official media seem to contradict this. It would appear that all standard Imperial infantry "grunts" wear Stormtrooper armor while officers, vehicle crew and logistics/support personnel wear simple chest armor and helmets. This keeps in line with how the Grand Army of the Republic was depicted in the prequels and the Clone Wars show. And it seems obvious that the intent is for the Stormtroopers to be the natural evolution of the GAotR even if clones are no longer used (and season 2 of Rebels will explain what happened to the clones...at least Capt Rex and his pals).I don't have too much issue with this. What really gets me is that all the official sources always call the Stormtroopers "elite" (including the Stormtrooper entry on Starwars.com). And the Stromtrooper training shown in Rebels goes into detail on how they are trained from a very young age and only best of the best graduate (or live even) to make it into the Stormtrooper ranks. But this competely contradicts how they are shown when in actual combat where they can't even hit anywhere close to their target and are generally shown to be complete, bumbling idiots. I know that with respect to Rebels it is a kids show in the vein of The Clone Wars and the Stormtroopers are filling the comedic relief role of the basic battle droids...but come on! This competely destroys the awe, and fear, inducing mystique of the Imperial Stormtrooper. For now, I will just roll my eyes and go with it. One train of thought that helps me deal with this is that if the standard issue Stormtrooper is just some Joe-schmoe Imperial stooge, at least the troopers of Vader's personal 501st Legion, who are still patterned after the original clone troopers, are the true white armor clad elite warriors of the Galactic Empire.

Sturn, I agree wholeheartedly that lets call it military.

Returning to the original question, I received a copy of the Star Wars Essential Guide To Warfare today. It's copyrighted to Lucasfilm and has the Lucas Books mark on the back, so I think it's as close to a canon answer as we'll get, and it refers to an Imperial Army distinct from the Stormtroopers corps.

Anything that is published about SW has some sort of Lucas logo on it, It doesn't make it canon, it just shows that Lucas gave permission to publish it. All vid games has Lucafilms along with WEG book. Look in your FFG SW books and you will see a Lucas Books logo there.

The thing is, going forward, all material published with an official Lucasfilm license is supposed to be vetted by the Story Group which means it IS canon. Obviously, this is a little ambiguous when it comes to games as we have the option of forging our own "canon". But when it comes to novels, comics, reference guides, etc., the intent is that everything is "official" and there should be no contradictions.

As to the topic at hand, being a long time SWRPG player (my first RPG book of any type WAS the Imperial Sourcebook which I picked up at the Star Tours shop at Disney World way back in 1989...and which I still have today although the binding has completely disentigrated) I have also followed the reasoning that the stormtroopers are an elite element of a much larger Imperial Army. The recently released Imperial Officer Handbook also supports this with separate chapters dedicated to the Imperial Army and another on the Stormtrooper Corps and the various types of Stormtroopers. But that book squeaked out right after the whole "legends" realignment went down and is technically not part of the "official" canon. (Also, in an interview, the author spoke about how he used the WEG Imperial Sourcebook as a major source of material.). However, recent depictions in official media seem to contradict this. It would appear that all standard Imperial infantry "grunts" wear Stormtrooper armor while officers, vehicle crew and logistics/support personnel wear simple chest armor and helmets. This keeps in line with how the Grand Army of the Republic was depicted in the prequels and the Clone Wars show. And it seems obvious that the intent is for the Stormtroopers to be the natural evolution of the GAotR even if clones are no longer used (and season 2 of Rebels will explain what happened to the clones...at least Capt Rex and his pals).I don't have too much issue with this. What really gets me is that all the official sources always call the Stormtroopers "elite" (including the Stormtrooper entry on Starwars.com). And the Stromtrooper training shown in Rebels goes into detail on how they are trained from a very young age and only best of the best graduate (or live even) to make it into the Stormtrooper ranks. But this competely contradicts how they are shown when in actual combat where they can't even hit anywhere close to their target and are generally shown to be complete, bumbling idiots. I know that with respect to Rebels it is a kids show in the vein of The Clone Wars and the Stormtroopers are filling the comedic relief role of the basic battle droids...but come on! This competely destroys the awe, and fear, inducing mystique of the Imperial Stormtrooper. For now, I will just roll my eyes and go with it. One train of thought that helps me deal with this is that if the standard issue Stormtrooper is just some Joe-schmoe Imperial stooge, at least the troopers of Vader's personal 501st Legion, who are still patterned after the original clone troopers, are the true white armor clad elite warriors of the Galactic Empire.

Look up different levels of canon on wookiepedia, all books, games, cartoons and so on are not canon, there is G canon which is Lucas Canon. nothing was vetted and that's what made it so easy for Lucas and Disney to say that only the movies and the Disney cartoons are the only canon. WEG is not canon, Tim Zhan's books are not canon. The logo on any items like the books or games were Lucasarts giving permission to the companies to use Star Wars including FFG, which was trade marked to Lucas, no more no less.

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Canon

2014 reboot
"The thing with legends is that parts of them are true."
―John Jackson Miller[src]
On April 25, 2014, a StarWars.com press release confirmed that the films of the sequel trilogy would not adhere to the post–Return of the Jedi Expanded Universe,[10] with further comments from LucasBooks Senior Editor Jennifer Heddle confirming that the EU as a whole is no longer considered canon. The EU has been re-termed "Legends," with related publications remaining in print under that banner.
Since then, the only previously published material still considered canon are the six original trilogy/prequel trilogy films and the Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series and film. Most material published after April 25—such as the Star Wars Rebels TV series and all novels beginning with A New Dawn—is also considered part of the new canon, on account of the creation of the Lucasfilm Story Group, which currently oversees continuity as a whole. Characters under the Legends banner are still available for use as needed, even if events concerning them are no longer canon.
Edited by Osprey

By the way, I am at Star Wars celebration this weekend and at the Story Group/Canon panel, they specifcally mentioned that Movies, current shows, new novels/reference guides and the new Marvel comics are now all part of the same canon and that the Lucasfilm Story Group (LSG) approves everything first to ensure there are no contradictions along with providing general direction for all the authors. The entire point of the LSG, and the reason that Kathleen Kennedy set it up, was to eliminate the two tiered approach previously used and prevent the sort of confusion that continued to grow and intensive with respect to the EU and the stuff that made it to the screen (both big and small). Here is a live blog from that panel: http://www.theforce.net/story/front/Celebration_Anaheim_2015_Star_Wars_Canon_Panel_163751.asp . Even video games and related materials will be vetted by the LSG now, such as the Battlefront tie in novel that is coming out. So the jist of what I am saying is, if the material is coming out this year or in the future and it has the official LSG stamp of approval then it is considered as canon (baring a few exemptions such as Star Tours, which was specifically mentioned at the panel).

Thst being said, we are talking about an RPG game here. As such, we are provided a basic framework from which we can create whatever narrative we want. If we want to create a Star Wars world were Stormtroopers are the empires elite shock force separate yet a part of a larger imperial army full of regular, less well equipped foot soldiers, then so be it. Heck, if we wanted to keep saying that ALL Empire era Stormtroopers are Jango Fett clones too, so be it. There is nothing to stop you. Arguing over canon with respect to an RPG or any table top game for that matter is pointless. As players, we are free to do and believe in whatever we want.

Edited by Otakuon

By the way, I am at Star Wars celebration this weekend and at the Story Group/Canon panel, they specifcally mentioned that Movies, current shows, new novels/reference guides and the new Marvel comics are now all part of the same canon and that the Lucasfilm Story Group (LSG) approves everything first to ensure there are no contradictions along with providing general direction for all the authors. The entire point of the LSG, and the reason that Kathleen Kennedy set it up, was to eliminate the two tiered approach previously used and prevent the sort of confusion that continued to grow and intensive with respect to the EU and the stuff that made it to the screen (both big and small). Here is a live blog from that panel: http://www.theforce.net/story/front/Celebration_Anaheim_2015_Star_Wars_Canon_Panel_163751.asp . Even video games and related materials will be vetted by the LSG now, such as the Battlefront tie in novel that is coming out. So the jist of what I am saying is, if the material is coming out this year or in the future and it has the official LSG stamp of approval then it is considered as canon (baring a few exemptions such as Star Tours, which was specifically mentioned at the panel).

Thst being said, we are talking about an RPG game here. As such, we are provided a basic framework from which we can create whatever narrative we want. If we want to create a Star Wars world were Stormtroopers are the empires elite shock force separate yet a part of a larger imperial army full of regular, less well equipped foot soldiers, then so be it. Heck, if we wanted to keep saying that ALL Empire era Stormtroopers are Jango Fett clones too, so be it. There is nothing to stop you. Arguing over canon with respect to an RPG or any table top game for that matter is pointless. As players, we are free to do and believe in whatever we want.

They are talking about the NEW stuff coming out is canon. Read the entire article I posted. In reference to your link you posted it looks to me like it hasn't changed.

Questioner says he wants Mara Jade to come back. Loud applause. Panelists are stone-faced. #SWCA

Pablo answered this diplomatically. Says the whole point of the LSG framework is that they won't fall back into past practices. #SWCA

That's 2 back to back tweets from what you sent, the first one says they were stone faced, why?

The second one is a dodge of the question at first but stating they won't make the same mistake twice. After reading all the tweets I see nothing that states that Legends is canon.

  1. The Q&A line keeps growing. #SWCA

  2. Q: Will Legends characters be "rebooted into the new canon"? People shout Mara Jade. Chee demurs. #SWCA

Hum, the tweet right above this statement is very in line with EU/Legends not being canon.

If you are there and have the opportunity please ask them the direct question. I think you should be persistent with it.

Sorry, but after reading all the tweets, i see nothing that contradicts the wookiepedia article and it actually backs it up.

I think the whole community wants to know.

As far as your second para I agree fully with you. Just remember that Star Wars fans really love canon and are passionate about it. They will sit and talk about it. There are other boards where people say that they don't care if Legends is not canon in their minds, because it is canon. Well fine its canon at their table, but you see contradictory stuff as the new Movies, TV, books and games come out. I believe that FFG will not come out with stats for major characters due to them not wanting to interfere with canon and Lando isn't really a major character. If you bring Han or Luke into your story that's on you.

Edited by Osprey

Thst being said, we are talking about an RPG game here. As such, we are provided a basic framework from which we can create whatever narrative we want. If we want to create a Star Wars world were Stormtroopers are the empires elite shock force separate yet a part of a larger imperial army full of regular, less well equipped foot soldiers, then so be it. Heck, if we wanted to keep saying that ALL Empire era Stormtroopers are Jango Fett clones too, so be it. There is nothing to stop you.

I completely agree and have said so myself. I believe the original intention was only Stormtrooper infantry, but agree having Army Troopers exist helps an RPG campaign.

Arguing over Discussing canon with respect to an RPG or any table top game for that matter is pointless.

It's not pointless, it's fun while increasing my pursuit of a Master's in Star Wars lore. :) Thesis - The Imperial Army Trooper: Does He Exist?

Edited by Sturn

You have a point, but ultimately these boards are for discussing the rpgs. Imperial Army Troopers are a thing in the rpgs even if they aren't in "Canon". You may choose to adhere more to Canon in this area, or any other, but ultimately most of the material in the RPGS is from Legends. Having a pure Canon game isn't really an option unless you are prepared to ignore most of the race, equipment and vehicle options. So discussions of Canon really aren't on topic for these boards except as they relate to the personal experiences of the players.

Having a pure Canon game isn't really an option unless you are prepared to ignore most of the race, equipment and vehicle options. So discussions of Canon really aren't on topic for these boards except as they relate to the personal experiences of the players.

I would find it hard to believe that anyone here has a "pure canon" campaign. I would imagine for most everyone it's pick and choose. So, choosing Stormtrooper-only infantry Imperial military doesn't mean you must now toss every race or piece of gear that came from legends. That would be senseless.

Removing off-topic discussions from this forum would probably gut half the posts. I'm fine leaving them in myself. Discussing what your personal RPG Star Wars universe includes or does not and debating why is also on topic for this forum, in my opinion.

Yes, of course I am not saying that anything published before 2015 is canon just because it has an LFL logo on it. Any of the material published prior to the formation of the LSG is to be considered non-canon until it is brought forward again into the new unified structure. This is what the whole "Legends" branding is about. And to be honest, I don't think I want two tiers of "canon" anymore. For me, if anything that is now considered "Legends" can't be brought into the new unified canon then it needs to be put out to pasture. Even if that means, for instance, that Thrawn will cease to exist. Sad yes, but a necessary sacrifice to keep Star Wars new and fresh and moving forward without confusing, messy contradictions (like what happens in the Marvel/DC universe). Perhaps when Ultimate Star Wars is released later this month we will get an answer as to what the Stromtroopers role within the Empire ultimately is (elite shock troops vs standard issue infantry).

Either way, as I mentioned previously, I have always seen the RPG as a way for us to make Star Wars our own even if our ideas run counter to what we see and read in the official source material. I know I for one will continue to follow the line that Stormtroopers are an elite fighting force while the Imperial Army is made up mostly of conscripts from subjugated planets (to put it another way, I see the Stormtroopers as filling the same role as the Sardaukar in the Dune novels).

You have a point, but ultimately these boards are for discussing the rpgs. Imperial Army Troopers are a thing in the rpgs even if they aren't in "Canon".

They don't exist anywhere in the FFG rule-books or adventures that I am aware of.

So discussions of Canon really aren't on topic for these boards except as they relate to the personal experiences of the players.

Not at all off-topic. People come here to ask questions when they don't know the answer and if someone posts a reply saying something about Imperial army forces or Yuvan Zong (sp?) or that Vader has an apprentice called Star Killer who founded the rebellion or whatever, it's entirely correct for other posters to inform the questioner that what they're being told isn't canon. The alternative is a lot of confused people when the whole point of deprecating big chunks of the EU was to create a clean slate. Canon gives us common ground to have conversations on.

There's nothing wrong with someone having a game built around Yuvan Zhong or whatever if it works for them, but other people need to know when someone is talking about something that everyone will accept or something that wont and may be particular to someone's game.

Edited by knasserII

One thing I'd like people to realize is that if I bring up something from Legends it doesn't mean I'm saying that people have to do it that way. It's an option that they can choose to use or not. However if I bring up something from Legends and someone says "but that's not Canon", it kind of baffles me, because neither are so many things from the rpg books.

Edited by Lord Zack

One thing I'd like people to realize is that if I bring up something from Legends it doesn't mean I'm saying that people have to do it that way. It's an option that they can choose to use or not. However if I bring up something from Legends and someone says "but that's not Canon", it kind of baffles me, because neither are so many things from the rpg books.

When you get the response "that's not canon", it isn't people telling you that you can't or shouldn't have that in your game. It's people telling you that you shouldn't argue something on the basis of it. So if you're saying "a Force user can move star destroyers around because Star Killer did it", and someone tells you "that's not canon", they're saying it's not valid to argue your case based on that. It might be true in YOUR game, but that doesn't lend weight to an argument about what is accepted as correct.

Edited by knasserII

But I'm "arguing" in the context of a game that is thoroughly Legends based. So in the context of this RPG and these boards, yes it is valid to bring up Starkiller- he's even mentioned in the Age of Rebellion Core Rulebook! So is the Legends version of the Imperial Army.

Edited by Lord Zack

They don't exist anywhere in the FFG rule-books or adventures that I am aware of.

They made it in AoR big time. Page 418+. FFG is definitely taking the WEG stance when it comes to Imperial Army Troopers.

Less prominent, but still widely feared, is the Imperial Army, which many erroneously believe includes the independent Stormtrooper Corps.

Some of what we see on page 418 conflicts with what we saw in Season 1 Rebels without some handwaving:

The Army and its subsidiaries are responsible for all operations conducted on the surface of a planet, including the maintenance of Imperial garrisons and operations conducted under the direction of planetary governors, sector Moffs, and Grand Moffs.

OR

The common citizen of the galaxy will never see a Star Destroyer or a stormtooper in person.....the Imperial Army toooper is the face of the Empire.....it is the stern and unforgiving face of the Army infantry that enforces the will of the Emperor on a planet's surface.

We see stormtroopers in Rebels season 1 doing all of the above even before it becomes apparent the Empire is facing some rebels with a Jedi. It would have been more in sync with FFG/WEG's stance if we at least saw a glimpse of some Army Troopers before the rare, elite stormtroopers arrived due to discovery of a rebel cell and a Jedi.

ETA: AoR doesn't have "Disney" stamped on the back of it, but more recent books do. It apparently slipped through right before the new Disney group would have pondered over its contradictions to canon? I wonder what would have happened with the text in the quotes above if the canon evaluation group would have read it and compared it to what was written into Rebels?

Even though I'm currently more pro-Stormtroopers only, I would have loved it if Rebels would have included the Army Infantry Troopers blatantly on screen and settled the issue. We have yet to see any Army Infantry Troopers on screen through 3 canon movies and 1 season of Rebels that were in the right era to include them.

Edited by Sturn

But I'm "arguing" in the context of a game that is thoroughly Legends based. So in the context of this RPG and these boards, yes it is valid to bring up Starkiller- he's even mentioned in the Age of Rebellion Core Rulebook! So is the Legends version of the Imperial Army.

The point of "Legends" is not that everything in it is still valid, but that it is only valid if it is brought into a canon source. It's perfectly possible for Dathomir to be canon and Yuvan Zong to not be, even though both came from Legends. One can only argue something is (outside of one's own game) based on something that is in a canon source, that's the point.

Where are non-Stormtrooper infantry mentioned in AoR, btw? I have it but haven't noticed that. Very interested to know as it would possibly change my position on this.

EDIT: Huh! There's an entry for a non-Stormtrooper infantry person and an explicit statement that Stormtroopers are not part of the army. Seems odd of FFG to do that seeing as there's never been any sign of such on screen. I'll change that for my game as I don't feel it works well. Looks like I'll be breaking with the game setting. I usually try to keep that to a minimum but I'll make an exception for this.

Edited by knasserII
Where are non-Stormtrooper infantry mentioned in AoR, btw? I have it but haven't noticed that. Very interested to know as it would possibly change my position on this.

See my post #121 above. We posted at about the same time.

Maybe you're getting the new Canon policy confused with the old canon tiers system? That's not in force any more- there is no more G-Canon, C-Canon, etc. There's just Canon and Legends, which isn't Canon, though elements of it has made it's way into the new Canon. Also, that's got nothing to do with anything FFG does as far as I know.

Edited by Lord Zack

Some of what we see on page 418 conflicts with what we saw in Season 1 Rebels without some handwaving:

...

We see stormtroopers in Rebels season 1 doing all of the above even before it becomes apparent the Empire is facing some rebels with a Jedi. It would have been more in sync with FFG/WEG's stance if we at least saw a glimpse of some Army Troopers before the rare, elite stormtroopers arrived due to discovery of a rebel cell and a Jedi.

...

ETA: AoR doesn't have "Disney" stamped on the back of it, but more recent books do. It apparently slipped through right before the new Disney group would have pondered over its contradictions to canon? I wonder what would have happened with the text in the quotes above if the canon evaluation group would have read it and compared it to what was written into Rebels?

I was editing my own post whilst you were posting. I play EotE though I bought AoR, so that had slipped past me. I agree with what you wrote (save wanting to have seen them on screen as I like the stormtroopers as is). I think you can make Rebels fit with what FFG have done, though I agree it seems contradictory and clearly wasn't intended to fit.

Looks like a bit of a cock-up, imo, but I guess that settles whether they exist in the RPG or not.