SWG Tales

I am with E-bo. While I respect a player's choice to be whatever race they want, whatever job they choose and whatever profession they pursue I still cringe when I see mismatched RP going on. Its true ANYTHING can be explained in RP, even a wookiee and trandosian together, but sometimes I just find it too hard to swallow. I won't make fun of anyone for it but I may shy away from RPing with someone or something that does not make sense, simply because I cannot RP back. For example, I once met an Imperial wookiee Mayor. Really nice guy, great roleplayer to boot, but I just couldn't understand the combo. Maybe there was a backstory I had no clue about, maybe it was in his profile and I failed to read it, but I just couldn't bring myself to figure out how that would work. I just had to shy away. I don't mean that as an insult to the wookiee RPer, I just mean it makes it hard for others to understand and RP in situations that just don't make sense.

Its foolish to think as Imperial officers and soldiers we can just write off every alien, we are above all else an RP community that has to work together whether our characters get along or not. Instead we have to decide just how to work around alien races and still maintain the basic beliefs of the Empire.

Thats why I took the easy way out. Vixor does not personally have any problem with other races. He was born and raised around them, he worked with them and even had many alien friends. His role in the Empire does not include alien cleansing or aggressive activity but rather the opposite. His job in his own little niche of Imperial Intelligence is to blend in with the seedier side of the galaxy, get to know everyone he can, build a network of informants and gain trust. To be effective in his job he cannot alienate that which he derives his intell. I guess the old saying applies... you catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar.

On a more serious angle from my previous post, Griggs, if you're looking for inspiration for RP as an Imperial Intelligence agent, you need look not much farther than recent real world events.

From the Imperial point of view, loyal citizens and military both, the Rebel Alliance's attack and success against the Death Star could be looked at as their 9/11. A stinging combination of horror, vulnerability, embarrasment and wake up call to get your act together.

From this platform you can take what you know of the post-Episode 4 era and spin from there other current real world parallels.

- One part of the establishment that says "I told you so." (represented by General Tagge in the Death Star conference room scene; also Vader himself).

- Another faction that touted the Death Star as the Be All, End All. (represented by General Motti the "Force Chokee" from the same scene). This faction may be scrambling trying to cover their butts and make frantic attempts to look good again in front of the Emperor.

- Then you have the Emperor who, though he suffered the same setback as everyone else, is still the the type to enjoy watching his pack of pet dogs fight over the same bone for the master's favor.

In general you're looking at your typical game of "Cover Your Ass Musical Chairs" that happens in any bureacracy when something goes hella wrong. The question is "Who's going to have a chair when the music stops?"

Or the coldhearted CIA exec from Clear and Present Danger. "I've got a 'Get Out of Jail Free Card', Jack. You don't have one of these, do you?"

There are surely a few more angles, but shine those few "lights" through the prism of your character and see what colors come through the other side.

I still got 2 cents laying around for topics like these....

It would be interesting to see all these differ3ent imperial factions do a lot of posturing and infighting. The only problem is that the empire has no strong presence now. If you all don't work things out the way the different intel bureaus of the old republic did it will only serve to hurt you more.

I think that should be recognized. Build now for a more divisive tomorrow =)

Yeah, I've always said there needs to be a dedicated imperial military presence first and foremost. I've used terms like "stormtrooper guild" to describe this. I think the stormptooper is undervalued by the average gamer. Blame the movies for this. A stormtrooper represents the "we are here and we are going to kick your ass" branch of the empire's might. Unfortunately when you see them lose to teddy bears, it loses it's effect.

A stormtrooper guild can be comprised of PVP'ers and RP'ers. The RPers would give flavor and context to the group.

On top of that fundation you can build an intel unit and other such entities that are RP focused. This sort of organization can meet the needs of RP'ers and PVP'ers (BTW, I dont see much difference between the needs of an RP group and a PVP group.).

Ekade wrote:Yeah, I've always said there needs to be a dedicated imperial military presence first and foremost. I've used terms like "stormtrooper guild" to describe this. I think the stormptooper is undervalued by the average gamer. Blame the movies for this. A stormtrooper represents the "we are here and we are going to kick your ass" branch of the empire's might. Unfortunately when you see them lose to teddy bears, it loses it's effect.

A stormtrooper guild can be comprised of PVP'ers and RP'ers. The RPers would give flavor and context to the group.

On top of that fundation you can build an intel unit and other such entities that are RP focused. This sort of organization can meet the needs of RP'ers and PVP'ers (BTW, I dont see much difference between the needs of an RP group and a PVP group.).

I fully agree with you Ekade. A stormtrooper should not be put to a level lower then some furry bare that has a sharp stick. A stormtrooper is the guy who gets the job done whatever the means may be.

I hate seeing people RP with other stormtroopers treating them like crap. Hell even Jaminos respects them for their abillity to get something done efficently. Even though Jaminos was and still sorta is a reb he will not go against the empire because in the RP world they outnumber him a million to one and it is better to work for them then against them.

Jaminos wrote:

Ekade wrote:Yeah, I've always said there needs to be a dedicated imperial military presence first and foremost. I've used terms like "stormtrooper guild" to describe this. I think the stormptooper is undervalued by the average gamer. Blame the movies for this. A stormtrooper represents the "we are here and we are going to kick your ass" branch of the empire's might. Unfortunately when you see them lose to teddy bears, it loses it's effect.

A stormtrooper guild can be comprised of PVP'ers and RP'ers. The RPers would give flavor and context to the group.

On top of that fundation you can build an intel unit and other such entities that are RP focused. This sort of organization can meet the needs of RP'ers and PVP'ers (BTW, I dont see much difference between the needs of an RP group and a PVP group.).

I fully agree with you Ekade. A stormtrooper should not be put to a level lower then some furry bare that has a sharp stick. A stormtrooper is the guy who gets the job done whatever the means may be.

I hate seeing people RP with other stormtroopers treating them like crap. Hell even Jaminos respects them for their abillity to get something done efficently. Even though Jaminos was and still sorta is a reb he will not go against the empire because in the RP world they outnumber him a million to one and it is better to work for them then against them.

Thank you, thank you and thank you. I HATE how people have come to think of Stormtroopers as your average clown shoes. Stormtroopers are suppose to be the most elite of the Imperial Military Ground units. They tear through the passage way at the opening of ANH. I'm trying to remember what book (possibly "Heir") where Luke is captured and they make a move to rescue him. He's surrounded by Stormtroopers and the non movie good guys think it's certain death. Even Luke comments on their combat abilities.

I think the problem comes from Stormtroopers, because they are so identifiable with the Empire, becoming the plain green guys in GI Joe that are always dispensable and used as a stepping stone to make a given hero look good.

I wrote a story where the Colonel goes on a monlouge about why the true power of the Empire lies in the Stormtrooper. In fact, if you give me a little over a week, we'll see the Reassignment of MP-101 (provided Nyase gives it the ok) which is my contribution to making Stormtroopers how they truly should be.

Vixor D'zod wrote:But I try for my own interpritation. I try looking at the Empire compared to the British Empire's company rule of India around the mid 1700s/mid 1800s. Not entirely mind you, while Britian was more after the control of certain resources rather than all-out conquor. This is entirely just for the purposes of how my characters act, not how the rest of you should.

I prefer the British Empire view myself as well. Probably influenced by the fact that most of the actors playing imperial officers had British accents.

*Ponders John Cleese playing Vader....*

"VOOM"?!? Motti, this traitor wouldn't "voom" if you put four million volts through 'em!
*under his breath* I know it, I tried.

TramelRaggs wrote:I think the problem comes from Stormtroopers, because they are so identifiable with the Empire, becoming the plain green guys in GI Joe that are always dispensable and used as a stepping stone to make a given hero look good.

Ok Tramel, I agree with you. BUT! Never reference GI Joe with Star Wars. A better reference would be Rando Redsuiter on Star Trek TOS. Because Rando Redsuiter always dies in Star Trek so that Kirk can attain some goal.

(this was not meant as a flame. I just hold GI Joe to be sacred. You know this)

Tramel, you've had my approval on that since you first told me about it. I'm still waiting to see the story. :P

On another note, I like the idea about the jurisdiction and imperials getting together to discuss rank. I've no problem with being second in command. I even have a burocrat character who's only a lowly Second Lt.

And now i forget everything else i had to say.

I have to say one thing.

The reason the Stormtroopers lost to a bunch of teady bears isnt cause their were too many, GL was going stupid and wanted to get kids to remember these movies. Orginaly the Ewoks were gonna be Wookies but I forget his lame excuse why they changed it. Either way when I watch ROTJ I always think of those bears as being what they should have been, Warrior Wookies

E-bo Obi wrote:

TramelRaggs wrote:I think the problem comes from Stormtroopers, because they are so identifiable with the Empire, becoming the plain green guys in GI Joe that are always dispensable and used as a stepping stone to make a given hero look good.

Ok Tramel, I agree with you. BUT! Never reference GI Joe with Star Wars. A better reference would be Rando Redsuiter on Star Trek TOS. Because Rando Redsuiter always dies in Star Trek so that Kirk can attain some goal.

Dude, you watch Star Trek?

TramelRaggs wrote:

E-bo Obi wrote:

TramelRaggs wrote:I think the problem comes from Stormtroopers, because they are so identifiable with the Empire, becoming the plain green guys in GI Joe that are always dispensable and used as a stepping stone to make a given hero look good.

Ok Tramel, I agree with you. BUT! Never reference GI Joe with Star Wars. A better reference would be Rando Redsuiter on Star Trek TOS. Because Rando Redsuiter always dies in Star Trek so that Kirk can attain some goal.

Dude, you watch Star Trek?

IF, I watch any TV at all it is one of 2 channels. Spike or SCI-FI. So given that determine the saturation of the above mentioned Star Trek on those two channels and you should be able to come to a logical conclusion. =)

I now own GI Joe on DVD so i don't have to search for it any longer on regular TV.

KirtViza wrote:I have to say one thing.

The reason the Stormtroopers lost to a bunch of teady bears isnt cause their were too many, GL was going stupid and wanted to get kids to remember these movies. Orginaly the Ewoks were gonna be Wookies but I forget his lame excuse why they changed it. Either way when I watch ROTJ I always think of those bears as being what they should have been, Warrior Wookies

His reasoning was that the chewie had become 'too technologically advanced', and he wanted a primative race to be part of the downfall of the empire. I'm actually inclined to agree with the decision, being as the wookies as primatives just doesn't seem right to me.

What is with the gorilla stormtroopers (the huge ones that look like they belong in a gym with Arnold)? Were they in the books?

My biggest problem is the stormtrooper Barbradys in the player cities. They should. A, be as tough as the stormtroopers you find on Yavin or Endor and B, if they find contraband on you, they should not allow you to walk away with it.

Stormtrooper Barbrady "O'kay. here's a citation for carrying illegal goods... and here are you're illegal goods."

Nyase wrote:His reasoning was that the chewie had become 'too technologically advanced', and he wanted a primative race to be part of the downfall of the empire. I'm actually inclined to agree with the decision, being as the wookies as primatives just doesn't seem right to me.

But Teddy Bears?

I'm more inclined to think it was more along the lines of 'Wookies are too technologically advanced... and I can't use midgets to play wookies. I've been looking over the script and there is a definite lack of midgets....'.

Yea, probly was the midget thing, but that's the reason he gave anyway.

As for the bulky STs, those are supposed to be Dark Troopers. Technically, they're robots. Also, they're supposed to have black armor and jetpacks and a big, bad ass gun. Unfortunatly, every game after their original appearance has rather jacked up on the dark troopers. Rebellion claimed they were force sensative trained storm troopers, and here in galaxies, they treat them as just beefed up STs. (Nothing as amusing as watching a group of dark troopers beat folks down with the stun batton). What would be really interesting is if they gave out the dark trooper variant that General what's his name had. Big, bulky exosuit.