Wow there is only a 40 page difference between EotE and AoR? What have you seen that I haven't?

The actual page count isn't exact, but Obligation Rules plus charts, New Talents, Careers, Specialization Trees, and Starting Group Resources, plus a starting Adventure, would be more than 40 pages. I personally don't need a the other half of the book that covers what the definitions for what skills do, how to make a dice pool and all the additional reprint of how to play. That was already presented. If the rules were significantly different then sure another CB would be appropriate.

There was a whole chapter over the break down of different criminal organizations and other affiliations that we wont's see in AoR, so that willl be filled with something.

Very true!

Actually, considering that EotE CB was about double the size of the beta, I'm pretty confident there will be more than enough to keep it interesting. New planets, information on the Empire, and more.

Actually, considering that EotE CB was about double the size of the beta, I'm pretty confident there will be more than enough to keep it interesting. New planets, information on the Empire, and more.

Oh definitely!

Regardless of what FFG does, I would buy an Empire book regardless of what format it comes in. Even if I disagree with the content. More information about the Empire is always good, both as a player and a GM.

My vote's for source book. A core book would be redundant, since we've seen the narrative details of the Imperial Military outlined in EotE and, I assume, AoR. In fact, the final AoR product may very well contain a section detailing how to implement the rules for Imperial players, and I imagine it would describe it much as we have here: identical mechanics, just with Duty switched around and some stats for standard Imperial equipment. I wouldn't count on an adventure, unless it's released in a source book.

The strength with the source book is that it could contain information on how to make a character that was a former Imperial before defecting to the Rebellion, or else just walking away from the military entirely. It might have some specializations or particular Motivations/Obligations to tie back to EotE.

Of course...

I think that the license might be the issue to begin with, along with insecurities when writing about potentially loaded issues without making it pants-on-head-kick-the-puppy-eat-the-kitten-retarded, as "evil" uninterestingly is often made out to be.

Agreed one hundred percent. If they did a source book, it would probably take a Zahn-style approach and talk about how most Imperials are just doing their jobs, aren't corrupt, and legitimately believe in their government. Such a book would have to encourage players to be non-evil, perhaps even serving as a sort of Internal Affairs to deal with the officers and governors that give the Empire a bad name.

Personally, as a fan of moral relativism and ambiguity, I try to take this approach in all my games. It doesn't always work -- sometimes you need a villain who just kicks the dog for the pure, evil pleasure -- but I try to keep it in the back of my players' minds.