I went to bed grumbling about Dewback troopers and my spouse came up with this idea (likely to shut me up).

Since we don't see the Empire use beasts of burden anywhere else, assume the Dewback troopers were an anomaly. Something the local forces came up with. Tatooine is a backwater that probably doesn't get resupplied regularly and they added Dewbacks as a necessity. When Vader shows up, they activated the local Stormtroopers to hunt for droids.

I like this explanation because it structures beasts of burden in the Empire as an exception. While Dewback Troopers is very Star Wars (can we put a crazy creature in the scene? Do it) it does not feel very Imperial (Heavy emphasis on mechanized everything. Why did they put that AT-AT in a jungle for God's sake). I get the impression that if the Empire needed hound dogs it would build a "sniffer" droid.

I don't know if I'd go with there being 'local' stormtroopers on Tatooine. However, Vader's stormtroopers commandeering Dewbacks from local farmers/traders/whatever and putting them to use in their scavenger hunt seems very likely.

I would be careful when giving minions laminate armors full of attachments.

Those can sell pretty nicely on the black market.

Specially with Superior , which is (AFAIK) worth 5000cr.

I understand you want to give them an edge in combat, but for minions that is easier obtained with talents.

Not a real concern for me.

• My players aren't that fanatic about looting the bodies.
• The situations usually don't allow for stripping bodies of armour due to time constraints or other factors. This isn't a video game where you just click on the body to pick stuff up.
• Selling hot armour can be very dangerous considering how the Empire actively promotes people turning in "traitors' for cash. If the reward for a good tip is higher than the cost of said armour you can be sure most of the untrustworthy types will be more likely to go for the turn in rather than the profit of reselling and getting caught themselves.
• Even if they could find someone to buy it probably wouldn't be worth the effort since anyone buying such a hot commodity would pay little for it in order to turn a profit.
• I could keep going but those are the salient points.

Unless said buyers are rebels and can use those armors on missions as disguises.

Thanks for all the feedback guys!! This will benefit my game greatly.

I went to bed grumbling about Dewback troopers and my spouse came up with this idea (likely to shut me up).

Since we don't see the Empire use beasts of burden anywhere else, assume the Dewback troopers were an anomaly. Something the local forces came up with. Tatooine is a backwater that probably doesn't get resupplied regularly and they added Dewbacks as a necessity. When Vader shows up, they activated the local Stormtroopers to hunt for droids.

I like this explanation because it structures beasts of burden in the Empire as an exception. While Dewback Troopers is very Star Wars (can we put a crazy creature in the scene? Do it) it does not feel very Imperial (Heavy emphasis on mechanized everything. Why did they put that AT-AT in a jungle for God's sake). I get the impression that if the Empire needed hound dogs it would build a "sniffer" droid.

I don't know if I'd go with there being 'local' stormtroopers on Tatooine. However, Vader's stormtroopers commandeering Dewbacks from local farmers/traders/whatever and putting them to use in their scavenger hunt seems very likely.

And if anyone on that Star Destroyer would know the limitations of technology in the Tattooine climate, it would be Vader.

Unless said buyers are rebels and can use those armors on missions as disguises.

Awesome! You found a weakness to my theory!

https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/topic/196833-imperial-army/page-7#entry1975440

Imperial Army is a good SW EU/Legends reference that is easily adaptable for use in an AoR campaign; lot more material here that a GM can use, then is what currently available in the RPG line.

Arrgh I hate the dewback scene. Seriously, I can pick over the good parts of the prequels and enjoy them.. but why.. oh god why are there stormtroopers on dewbacks.

As much as folks ***** about the prequels, the remastered **** is the worst, as far as I'm concerned.

I could be wrong because it has been quite a while since I have seen the original in its original form, but I seem to recall stormtroopers on dewback in it. Sure they were off in the distance, but I thought they were there. Seem to recall the scene had more of them added in the remastered. Could be wrong in my old age, though.

Damnit, I think you're right. I just allowed myself to forget... Was easier to ignore in the original. I don't have a copy of the original (blazing hard to find) but it just seems weird the technophile Empire would use beasts of burden.

Thanks for reminding me, I'm mostly sure you're right.

Clone troopers did acquire local mounts and vehicles all the time. They come with the advantage of being adapted to the special condition of the planet, which is a big thing in star wars. I don't see why the stormtroopers should have given up that habit, even when they have access to more (crappy) gear.

@Mouthymerc

Yeah we have done some similar stuff just a bit stronger. We had a session where 3 of our party took out like 40+ stormtroopers and 5+ vehicles and took over an imperial base and we all kinda just went... thats not ok. And agreed to upgrade the enemies significantly to keep them a threat. Fresh Stormtroopers right out of the academy are the low stated ones like you mentioned and not worrysome unless they have some decent numbers or heavy weapons (and they SHOULD almost always have both). But older/more senior ones exist with some frequency and anyone important will have those as guards or more elite units. I just took over from our DM a few weeks ago and these are what i've been using with some regularity as the party decides to get into imperial entanglements.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B02OMk7R_VstblZ6WHFjVmVCWDg/view?usp=sharing Elite Trooper

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B02OMk7R_Vstc1dTUWRrdEp3aWs/view?usp=sharing Elite Pilot

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B02OMk7R_VstYVQ1TXdhR19XUHc/view?usp=sharing Elite Squadron Leader

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B02OMk7R_VstblhjYWp0QjdVblE/view?usp=sharing Elite Trooper Squad Leader

As to the looting higher end gear - everyone in the party has better - has enough credits they don't care MUCH - the gear is highly illigal to sell anyway - and since 1/2 the party uses Disrupters or lightsabers their isn't much left to loot at the end of the fight regardless.

A few of these with regular stormtroopers in a minion group or group of ~4 can be quite a challenge to the players and have made them behave a little more realistically when having the idea of confronting imperial enemies.


Ran a game last night where they accepted a mission to harass government ship traffic around the planet Fondor.

In a Bar on Tatooine - waiting for your week to go by for the exchange (Jaba mandated all parties wait here) - a tired and sandy Sullustian hands wedge a long distance communicator.

NPC: “Worgle” Worglemenarian-Numerian-Althorigan the IV(Sullustian)

(social pilot // stealth + light weapons)(3/5/4/3/3/5)(Squadron leader, agent, merchant)

• New upcoming VP in the Sorosuub planetary defence sales division

• Quest: “ I can help you set up shop as a contractor sub-corp on one of the outlying planets. Some terms… some rent.. Some signatures…. But mostly just some …. Services. “

“Attack vessels around Fondor - particularly government ships. They think they have enough planetary defence vessels already… and I need to make some sales. So convince them otherwise. Board them, sink them, outclass them and run away with brown stained pants… I don’t care. I make sales…..I get enough cred with the higher ups…. Then I get to set up some new operations with minimum oversight on an underused planet on one of the outlying solar systems near Sullust. If it all goes well… I can ‘rent you’ some space…. Sell you ‘materials’.... ‘Buy’ your totally legitimate ‘salvage…. And ‘resell’ your products. Maybe you also continue to help me out with your services from time to time as well.”

the party blew up some helpless government ships then tried to take on:

1 MC30C https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B02OMk7R_VstRVB4UTZaOVJ1MTg/view?usp=sharing
2 CR90's https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B02OMk7R_VstQVAtS0VQYVhYdlE/view?usp=sharing
6 VT-49's https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B02OMk7R_VstOGl5VmVSa1ZuM0E/view?usp=sharing

a dozen Alpha 3 Nimbus https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B02OMk7R_VsteFMtVklXZEJXc2M/view?usp=sharing

All flown by pilots with simliar stats to the elite pilots above.

They did VERY well, getting a surprose round and another round while the enemy deployed and started reacting. They used Brilliant Evasion vs the MC and blew up the MC and 1 of the CR90's before the little ships got within close range and began hitting them with lots of little hits and some crits. They then decided to leave before their Kossack Class Frigate took one too many crits.

@Mouthymerc

Yeah we have done some similar stuff just a bit stronger. We had a session where 3 of our party took out like 40+ stormtroopers and 5+ vehicles and took over an imperial base and we all kinda just went... thats not ok. And agreed to upgrade the enemies significantly to keep them a threat. Fresh Stormtroopers right out of the academy are the low stated ones like you mentioned and not worrysome unless they have some decent numbers or heavy weapons (and they SHOULD almost always have both). But older/more senior ones exist with some frequency and anyone important will have those as guards or more elite units. I just took over from our DM a few weeks ago and these are what i've been using with some regularity as the party decides to get into imperial entanglements.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B02OMk7R_VstblZ6WHFjVmVCWDg/view?usp=sharing Elite Trooper

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B02OMk7R_Vstc1dTUWRrdEp3aWs/view?usp=sharing Elite Pilot

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B02OMk7R_VstYVQ1TXdhR19XUHc/view?usp=sharing Elite Squadron Leader

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B02OMk7R_VstblhjYWp0QjdVblE/view?usp=sharing Elite Trooper Squad Leader

As to the looting higher end gear - everyone in the party has better - has enough credits they don't care MUCH - the gear is highly illigal to sell anyway - and since 1/2 the party uses Disrupters or lightsabers their isn't much left to loot at the end of the fight regardless.

A few of these with regular stormtroopers in a minion group or group of ~4 can be quite a challenge to the players and have made them behave a little more realistically when having the idea of confronting imperial enemies.

Ran a game last night where they accepted a mission to harass government ship traffic around the planet Fondor.

In a Bar on Tatooine - waiting for your week to go by for the exchange (Jaba mandated all parties wait here) - a tired and sandy Sullustian hands wedge a long distance communicator.

NPC: “Worgle” Worglemenarian-Numerian-Althorigan the IV(Sullustian)

(social pilot // stealth + light weapons)(3/5/4/3/3/5)(Squadron leader, agent, merchant)

• New upcoming VP in the Sorosuub planetary defence sales division

• Quest: “ I can help you set up shop as a contractor sub-corp on one of the outlying planets. Some terms… some rent.. Some signatures…. But mostly just some …. Services. “

“Attack vessels around Fondor - particularly government ships. They think they have enough planetary defence vessels already… and I need to make some sales. So convince them otherwise. Board them, sink them, outclass them and run away with brown stained pants… I don’t care. I make sales…..I get enough cred with the higher ups…. Then I get to set up some new operations with minimum oversight on an underused planet on one of the outlying solar systems near Sullust. If it all goes well… I can ‘rent you’ some space…. Sell you ‘materials’.... ‘Buy’ your totally legitimate ‘salvage…. And ‘resell’ your products. Maybe you also continue to help me out with your services from time to time as well.”

the party blew up some helpless government ships then tried to take on:

1 MC30C https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B02OMk7R_VstRVB4UTZaOVJ1MTg/view?usp=sharing

2 CR90's https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B02OMk7R_VstQVAtS0VQYVhYdlE/view?usp=sharing

6 VT-49's https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B02OMk7R_VstOGl5VmVSa1ZuM0E/view?usp=sharing

a dozen Alpha 3 Nimbus https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B02OMk7R_VsteFMtVklXZEJXc2M/view?usp=sharing

All flown by pilots with simliar stats to the elite pilots above.

They did VERY well, getting a surprose round and another round while the enemy deployed and started reacting. They used Brilliant Evasion vs the MC and blew up the MC and 1 of the CR90's before the little ships got within close range and began hitting them with lots of little hits and some crits. They then decided to leave before their Kossack Class Frigate took one too many crits.

How did they get defense 4/5? I only saw armor and armor mastery to get 2.

In general, I agree with your concept, but these elite troopers are pretty scary to see regularly. Also a lot of talents to keep track of. Thats why adversary exists. I would drop a lot of the talents, and simplify with an extra rank or 2 of adversary.

Using Dodge / Sidestep instead comes with the advantage that you have to pay for your avoidance, while two extra ranks adversary are always active for "free".

For the defense on the Imperial Elite Trooper. A shield with defensive 3 and reflective 2 + armor mastery to for the +1 bonus, gives them 4/3, That checks out, but the 5/4 … I would like too what I am overlooking.

Besides, I don't think that they are that scary for an experienced group. They upgrade melee attacks 4 times thanks to dodge, but those are just an average roll, which gives you 3 red dice. With an experienced character you are gonna roll a good amount of dice against that, boost dice are as well better than setback dice from defense. Against range it might be a little overboard, once you attack them from long range the dice results become a little odd as despair becomes not uncommon to roll with those 4 reds. So better use opics and go down to 3 reds.

But definitely a lot to track on the talent and equipment list and just adding a few more rivals with adversary 4 would do the job nearly as good. Defense dice are anyway only satisfying when player rolls them, so I would avoid high defense in general on npcs.

The 4/5 was using those bonkers max custom shields w/ crafted. I think w/ mods the shield itself is 3/4 then +1 armor mastery. Without those and using the heavy guns it's just 2/3. I actually purposely use dodge over more adversary so their is a cost that weakens them over a fight.

Again....the party is extremely combat capable and they killed 4 of the troopers and one squad leader who had all spread out for an ambush in 3 rounds ?

On 4/10/2016 at 2:43 AM, zypher said:

Do you use the Imperial Army at all? Or is it just Stormtroopers?

I've always said that the Stormtroopers are the elite special forces of the Empire, and have ran my games as such. If a squad of Stormtroopers show up, sit up pay attention and if you don't have the drop in them or 200+ exp..run.

I recently was spying on a thread that had become completely derailed, and it was brought up that Stormtroopers should be the rank and file of the Empire.. after reading a few thoughts on that thread, it got me doubting my current policy....

Not wanting to contribute to the derailing of that thread I am starting this one. What are YOUR thoughts on the Imperial Army being more prevalent in RPGs then they are in the movies, and Stormtroopers being the Marine's of the Empire, rather then incompetent boobs?

@Zypher,

In my Giorgioverse WIP campaign, I plan on having the Imperial Army being the primary low-mid tier adversary for my future PCs, leaving any encounter with Stormtroopers for mid-high tier encounters (so as to preserve the “oh shite things just got real” experience)*.

I plan on completely disregarding all of the SW movies as a source of reference, with the FFG RPG line and the various Visual/Ultimate/Complete line of books being my primary references. The way Stormtroopers are treated in the storytelling medium is not the way I want use them in my RPG campaign.

The Imperial Army will be inspired on modern US Army units while the Stormtrooper Corps will be heavily influenced on the modern US Marine Corps (with regards to training, equipment, deployment and doctrine), both adapted to fit in with the SW setting in the 19BBY-9BBY time-frame.

I plan on conceptually deploying the Imperial Military (all branches) as if it was created in the 2000’s instead of in the 1970s (combined arms, use of drones, integrated battlefield systems, battlefield doctrines, high lethality combat…) and the Stormtrooper Corps specifically in specialized roles I see the USMC active today (boarding actions, protecting embassies, naval ships, bases and VIPs; launching amphibious assaults, highly trained in close quarter combat/urban environments, counter-terrorism missions…).

Basically, something along the lines of your last paragraph.

* = I haven’t figure out how to do that with the game math/unit stats, but that is a separate future thread.

On 4/10/2016 at 8:22 AM, Kestin said:

It's a confusing topic - the material states that Stormtroopers are rare and dangerous, but the movies show them as otherwise . They aren't dangerous because movie tropes of the era (and today) demand enemies that try very hard to kill the good guys but still fail, and they're all over the place because the movies are about big important flashpoints where of course there'd be elite troops: securing stolen plans and rebel princess, searching for those plans, aboard the Death Star , anywhere Vader is, and in/around the secret bunker protecting a second Death Star.

That very clear reasoning above is precisely WHY I am disregarding the SW movies in my Giorgioverse WIP campaign, and their depictions of Stormtroopers specifically. I could not have written that in a better way!

On 4/13/2016 at 5:40 PM, Sturn said:

I have an easier time with the pink then the red. The default white is the best for me though.

I struggled with the pink text; the red text was easier to read.

I use stormtroopers primarily as "marines" and elite naval commando units.

When the empire deploys a star destroyer to deal with an issue they are carrying stormtroopers.

But, aside from garrisons are critical installations, most troops are regulars.

As a result, Imperial army and navy troopers are regular sights in my games.

On 2016-04-10 at 11:25 AM, MrMxyzptlk said:

Well I've said this before but I see the Stormtrooper Armor as something they break out for situations when heavy combat is expected. Why would a soldier wear that kind of armor while inside the walls of a garrison performing maintenance duties? Certainly when out among a not yet totally cowed population they would suit up for the protection as well as the faceless enemy quality mentioned in the book.

Now, the fact that often a group of troopers will be used as a minion group, which by the rules means not that much of a challenge for PCs, what I figure is the men inside are local police that were given the armor to perpetuate the idea that the Emperor's minions are everywhere. When I want a real fight I run them as Rivals with skills and such. Those are the REAL Imperial Army soldiers in their heavy armor spoiling for a good fight. Thus the players are never sure if they are going to fight the lesser goons or the real deal unless they succeed at a Hard Knowledge Warfare check to notice differences in the tactics and style.

Behold my evil!

“Aren’t you a little short for a stormtrooper?”

In the EU when Ysard is on Thyferra she places local troops in stormtrooper armour to give the impression they are elite troopers. They turn out to be much less effective. That kind of twist makes it fun and interesting too, I applaud your approach.

On 2016-04-12 at 9:47 AM, Kyla said:

I tend to think it of it more abstract terms, which helped me align the appearance of troopers in the movies.

The temptation is to compare the Imperial Military to a modern military - which (while logical) is inaccurate. Soldiers are generally numerous, and perform a wide variety of functions from base guards, to Military Police, to firefighters and emergency responders. Then you have the elite special forces units which are few in number and only do crazy hard-core stuff. I see the Imperial Military as the opposite. For the most part, The Imperial Army has guard duty, filling duty stations, guarding doors, piloting ground vehicles, maintaining and outfitting the mess/chow halls. The only time we actually see the gray uniforms of the ground troops, was in the AT-AT on Hoth (Major Veers), the Maintenance crews (on the Death Star) and the AT-STs on Endor. The rest of the time we saw the black uniforms of the Imperial Navy Trooper (all over the Death Star and on the bridges of Star Destroyers). In the totalitarian world of the Empire, they are the police forces, firefighting brigades, and security guards of the Empire, fulfilling these roles in the pacified cities of the Empire. Aboard bases and starships, they are the cooks, maintenance crews, janitorial staff, and clerical workers. They are combat ready, but their duties rarely see them in positions where it was necessary. The AT-AT drivers, Imperial Gunners on the Death Star (the beakie helmeted ones), TIE Pilots and Maintenance crew were all Imperial Military Troopers.

The Stormtroopers are the combat personnel - their primary responsibility is the pacification of threats to the Empire. Anytime an organized assault is staged against the Empire, the shock troops of the Imperial war machine are unleashed. They are elite, with gear and training far above the average mercenary or security force. Most of all though, they are countless. When pacifying an entire galaxy, the Empire would want as many elite combat troops as possible. In our modern military, we consider "elite" to mean "expensive and rare." This is perfectly logical based on our world, but in terms of Star Wars, money really means nothing to the Emperor. Through power and subjugation, what he needs he gets. That means if he wants elite soldiers to be his rank and file enforcers, then he has them.

Wow, great summary. As I saw your perspective it made me think of the Roman Legions. They were elite fighting forces but for the most part they built roads, walls, forts or did garrison duty. But when called upon Legions of trained, well equipped deadly armies were there.