So like many of you I've pre-ordered two starter sets with enough storm troopers to last me for a while; but my all time favorite Empire soldier has always been the snow trooper. Ever since I first saw Empire Strikes Back the image of snow troopers assaulting Echo base is what I associated with elite sci fi soldiers (regular stormtroopers failing to hit anything they shot at didn't help either). Now; I don't want to buy, build and paint a Hoth themed Empire army but I definitely want to include snow troopers in my list and I think I found a solution........ Imperial Galactic Marines . This unit used to be an elite assault formation of Clone troopers during the waning days of the Republic called Galactic Marines led by Jedi General Ki Adi Mundi. After Order 66 they joined the empire and changed their name to reflect the new management. What do you guys/gals think?

Darn I was going to surprise everyone with a galactic marine squad until now haha.

Seriously though I have the same problem, I really love both looks of snowtroopers and the marines but I want a unified look to my army. I think they are totally cool. They would be easier to paint than white in my opinion.

I kinda want to have my army have the same base, but snowtroopers should be on snow in my opinion but that would look out of place with my Endor theme. But then if the rebels get Hoth troopers then I'd have to justify them on Endor too variety to do two armies. Then it gets worse when I think about shore troopers from rogue one, fleet troopers from the Tantieve IV, etc. The point is, Star Wars takes place on so many planets it will be hard to have a unified look unless you want to deviate from the movies, which is perfectly fine. I just like painting the way I see troops from the films.

I've been thinking about this too. While cohesiveness in an army not only looks great on the table top, it helps add to the overall game immersion. One thing that helps is how the bases add to the story of each model. Decorating a base the same way for an army along with a singular color or maybe two thematically will bring a lot of cohesion to it and make it "pop" on the game table. But the question is.. what do you base it with? While Hoth is an incredibly cool setting and one of the most iconic battle scenes in movie history (in my opinion), just how many games will I personally play in probability on a Hoth scene table? Much fewer than an Endor, Tantooine, Lothal, Jaku, or similar types. I can suspend my disbelief enough for non-matching Hoth for the few games I'll most likely be playing in that setting.

Now, going with using troops themselves that may not fit the setting. IIRC, in the original canon, the snowtroopers were not really snowtroopers.. but more of a harsh-environment type of trooper.. at least during the Galactic Civil War. I can see myself painting up a unit of all-whites like the ones used in Hoth.. as well as a unit or two like these above (Marine-style). I am going to have a much harder time suspending my disbelief of the Rebel Fleet Troopers protecting Hoth than even normal stormtroopers attacking it. lol. But at this point, I can't see myself collecting two types (or more) of armies just to better match the terrain.

Eh, my favorite 40k army I play with is a crusade army, I don’t think the different color schemes take away much. I do think you will want to base them all the same, which is why I’m going with a snowy woods base.

Oh and I really like the galactic Marine idea!

Love the idea of the galactic marines. There's still the slight possibility that a clone faction will be released, only reason I would hesitate to paint up my snowtroopers like that.

As for basing: after building numerous miniature armies (lotr, fantasy, 40k) I've found that concrete/rock style basing works great on just about any table. It sounds odd at first, but most tables will have some sort of bunkers, castles, fortifications and or buildings. Its the one basing material that's shared across most tables. Cork works amazing for this and is also super easy to paint. Prime, base, wash and a dry brush just looks awesome.

Endor: has rocks and bunkers

Hoth: has rocks and a rebel base

Tatoonie: has rocks and buildings

Spaceship/deathstar: ok nothing is really rock or concrete but hey it's different tones of grey and black, close enough.

I think that most people who don’t want hoth themed stuff are doing marines. I was going to but i quite like the snowtroopers as they are ao im not sure

Currently working on a Lah'mu mat and I think I'll end up basing my army with a dark volcanic/glacial soil. I think the white stormtroopers will pop against the dark terrain and there is a bit of snow on the ground so the snow troopers don't seem as out of place as they would on say, Endor. It's also going to let me paint my Rebels a bit differently than the standard tan/green that is iconic but a bit common.

Can't wait to get all mine painted so I can show you what I have planned

They've been pretty widely discussed here since the reveal. I'm expecting a solid 40% of all snowtroopers will have marine paint schemes. I know mine will be.

Im thinking about jungle camo army

Atst, and speeders and troops

(except Vader)

Pretty sure there will be less snowtroopers painted like snowtroopers than other things.

Regarding basing, I’m thinking of doing something like Vallejo thick mud and some flock. I’m building a forest world, maybe throw some swamp into it. However, I haven’t done basing before so I don’t know if that works or if that will look off.

Snowtroopers can be Galactic Marines.

Scout Troopers can double as the 41st Elite Corp.

According to Legends, the Galactic Marines from the Grand Army of the Republic were re-purposed into the Cold-Weather Assault Trooper section.

In current cannon, it's the section of Vader's Fist who were trained in hostile environments, extreme cold being just one of those.

If you were basing your paint schemes overall on legends material, then Galactic Marines would fit right on in.

(I intend to paint the unit commander to be a Galactic Marine if/when I purchase the expansion.)

Snowtroopers on Jedha

In the new Disney/Marvel comics "snowtroopers" are seen fighting on Jedha after the Death Star attack. So even in canon they should be considered "hostile environment troopers" more-so than "snowtroopers". They're also seen at the Citadel of Rur (which is definitely cold - but no snow there either).

So, you can really base your snowtroopers for whatever planet you'd like. You don't have to paint them as Galactic Marines just because you don't want to see snowtroopers on Tatooine, etc. That being said, Galactic Marines look awesome and I'd love to see them across the table.