I don't own the EotE book and quite honestly my wikifu isn't exactly providing a lot of info but I'll ask here as there are many more knowledgable people.

One thing prevalent in the background of the Tepani Sector was that the autonomy of the Sector Houses and the deep Imperial roots and Imperial Center connections to two of the strongest Houses made it one of the most difficult places for the Rebellion to be in. So how and why did it throw off the Empire no more than a year after Endor for the New Republic?

This is from Lords of the Expanse, and I assume the way it happens was just typical storyboating by EU authors just because.

Well it's been a while since I read the campaign setting books, but the bottom line seems it's just business in the sector.

Tapani had the autonomy it had because 1) it was a major leg in getting bacta to the galaxy, and 2) the Nobel houses were so concerned with each other and staying in power that swearing loyalty to the empire was just a given.

So when the NR became a thing and was clearly going to be the new big government of the galaxy, the houses were probably pretty quick to make the switch. The alternative was worrying that if you stayed loyal to the Empire, and the rest of the sector went republic, the other houses would be able to get outside help and an easy justification to burn your house to the ground and divide up your territory.

I have read the material in Lords of the Expanse, and can offer some input

The Tapani Sector was never really under direct imperial control. Some of the noble houses supported the Empire, while others remained neutral, or secretly opposed it. The fact that most of the Sector was located away from the Rimma Trade route. Except for the shapani bypass, meant as long as the trade routes were open, bacta shipments went to the core, the Empire didn't care what the rest of the sector did.

In the main adventure in "Lords of the Expanse" (some time around the BoY) a Torpedo sphere was attacked be rebellious factions which gave the excuse for the Empire to take more control of the sector, or at least have more of an active presence. The Free worlds, and any world along the Shapani Bypass were obvious targets while the rest of the sector could wither on the vine.. so to speak

After the Battle of endor, the Empire consolidated back into the Deep core, or balkanized under strong Admirals or Moffs. The Sector was not worth the trouble to maintain an iron hold over.

I remember that JAN operation. I was just curious because it would make the most sense for House Pelagia and Cadriaan, but not for Melantha which had most of its power base as Imperial support and assets. Medichi, and by extent Medichi's puppet houses Calispa and Reena were aligned by the power block unless something happened to force that change with the NR. Even as just business, any formal declaration or change has no background as there was a large Imperial presence.

It just seems like its just a description with no story.

It just seems like its just a description with no story.

It probably is exactly that.

Tapani was one of those neat ideas that I think didn't really pan out. WEG had success with Darkstryder and wanted to kick out another boxed set, this time not tied to a specific a campaign design. So they came up with a shady, stable but conflicted sector with lots of political intrigue and grey area for a darker more cynical theme. Unfortunately they kinda went a little too far and ended up making something that didn't feel quite as Star Wars as it probably needed to feel.

Of course once it was done, it was "canon" so other authors mined it for ideas and "essential guide" books wrote summaries about it, but there really wasn't anywhere important for the sector to go because it's themes and concepts don't fit the Star Wars mold very well.

It's kind of a shame really. WEG essentially failed to do what Rogue One generally succeeded at.

I doubt that, WEG didn't have to knock off multiple IPs and rehash characters save formation and previous planetary guides. Tapani feels just as Star Wars as most of the other books, save not being in a back water dump like Tatooine or Lothal.

That answers my question.

As far as execution, I think Ghostofman generally has the right of it.

It was an attempt on WEG's part to introduce a setting where the lines of battle weren't quite as clear-cut as they would be in a more typical WEG adventure, as well as bringing in chances for adventures where political intrigue was just as vital (if perhaps more so) to success than your skill with a blaster or chops at flying a ship. Problem being that when most folks play a Star Wars game, they'd rather be Han Solo and Luke Skywalker instead of Padme Amidala or Bail Organa. So other than being a reference point for other writers, the Tapani Expanse tended to be, if not ignored simply overlooked.