Poll: If you could be in any group from the original Star Wars movies...

[Zykon TheLich]

My name would be spat upon with hatred and venom by all the freedom loving people of the galaxy for millenia to come, such would be my ruthless reign of terror in the name of the Empire.

 

[Dancingman]

Imperial rule for a strong galaxy!

Rebels might have "good" intentions, but promote the kind of weakness that bought down the fall of the republic in the first place.
Keep the empire, get rid of the sith emperor perhaps, and you get the best of both worlds.

Furthermore if rebels weren't plotarmored (and imperials weren't plot nerfed), the rebellion wouldn't even have lasted long in the first place ¬¬

I know right? I mean the idea that Luke's damn proton torpedo didn't hit like... a maintenance flap in the Death Star on its way to the reactor? That and the fact that the Rebels were borderline Mary-Sues at times? Geez in a world like the Star Wars galaxy you have to have a strong empire like that or everyone dies a horrible death at the hands of alien invaders.

 

[Dancingman]

Empire, specifically an Imperial Spy.

Far as I'm concerned, being a spy would be the best job, since you are less likely to die in front line duty, and there is more excitement involved, plus you get the likelihood of spending time in one area, instead of constant reassignments.

As for picking the Empire, if you were to choose between the possibility of becoming a POW with the Imperials or the Rebels, I think you're more likely to get tortured for info with the Imperial Interrogators.

I would totally do the same thing! And yeah if the Empire caught you you'd be in for some serious suffering if you didn't talk, just watch A New Hope, the thing they used on Princess Leia? Yeah the Empire had plenty of those.

 

[russkiimperial]

I chose unaligned/mercenary. I say sit back and wait until one side is sure to win over the other and choose that one.

As far as the debate, the problem with the Old Republic was that it basically became like the UN. It didn't really have any way of enforcing its rule and nobody took it seriously. Unfortunately, on a scale such as that you would almost need something tyrranical to really get things done. Personally, the star wars galaxy would be better suited with some form of a loose confederacy (not the Starcraft 'Confederacy' mind you) which would only have the systems team up militarily if there is some outside threat. Just keep the beauracracy and regulation out of all the other matters and leave that to the planets.

 

[Frankster]

That and the fact that the Rebels were borderline Mary-Sues at times? Geez in a world like the Star Wars galaxy you have to have a strong empire like that or everyone dies a horrible death at the hands of alien invaders.

Marysues doesn't say the half of it. What happened at Endor was an assault on common sense: a legion of elite stormstroopers getting beaten by teddybears armd with rock and sticks, the vastly superior imperial fleet who had ambushed and completely outmanoeuvred the rebels ended up losing to a ragtag fleet of inferior ships. That film was a tragedy worthy of greek plays as the gods themselves clearly had a grudge against the empire and boosted the rebels to win.

 

[Dancingman]

That and the fact that the Rebels were borderline Mary-Sues at times? Geez in a world like the Star Wars galaxy you have to have a strong empire like that or everyone dies a horrible death at the hands of alien invaders.

Marysues doesn't say the half of it. What happened at Endor was an assault on common sense: a legion of elite stormstroopers getting beaten by teddybears armd with rock and sticks, the vastly superior imperial fleet who had ambushed and completely outmanoeuvred the rebels ended up losing to a ragtag fleet of inferior ships. That film was a tragedy worthy of greek plays as the gods themselves clearly had a grudge against the empire and boosted the rebels to win.

Well actually the Mon Calamari ships were some of the best in the galaxy, plus they were getting their asses kicked and would've lost eventually, it's just that the Rebels destroyed the Death Star and the Imperials had to retreat or get caught in the field of debris, also it's kind of a morale thing to lose that station, so they probably felt pretty scared. Plus the Ewoks knew indigenous tactics and knew the terrain better than the Empire, plus it's sorta a dig at the Vietnam War so that's part of the reason why they won.

At the same time, as well-lead as the Rebels were at times, the Empire is just awesome, and far too skilled to get its ass kicked in such a way.

 

[Frankster]

Well actually the Mon Calamari ships were some of the best in the galaxy, plus they were getting their asses kicked and would've lost eventually, it's just that the Rebels destroyed the Death Star and the Imperials had to retreat or get caught in the field of debris, also it's kind of a morale thing to lose that station, so they probably felt pretty scared. Plus the Ewoks knew indigenous tactics and knew the terrain better than the Empire, plus it's sorta a dig at the Vietnam War so that's part of the reason why they won.

Granted, those Mon Calamari cruisers were nice ships, but only made for a minority of the rebel fleet. The other ships like the correllian ones or frigates always seemed sooo fragile, like you could snap them in 2 like a twig.
The morale thing is explained a bit in the novels, but meh, i direct my blame at the emperor here for not allowing the imperial fleet to fully engage, just so he could show off his fancy laser.

Ewok bit really can be argued though. The imperials had been there for a long time, and were more then familiar with the terrain, wasn't so much indigenous tactics as imperials being nerfed to act like idiots or weaklings, you actually see stormtroopers lose in closecombat to ewoks D: For gods sake, did those stormies have their proper vitamin intake?
Then there's the complete lack of tactics the stormies had, these were supposed to be vets damnit!

 

[Dancingman]

Well actually the Mon Calamari ships were some of the best in the galaxy, plus they were getting their asses kicked and would've lost eventually, it's just that the Rebels destroyed the Death Star and the Imperials had to retreat or get caught in the field of debris, also it's kind of a morale thing to lose that station, so they probably felt pretty scared. Plus the Ewoks knew indigenous tactics and knew the terrain better than the Empire, plus it's sorta a dig at the Vietnam War so that's part of the reason why they won.

Granted, those Mon Calamari cruisers were nice ships, but only made for a minority of the rebel fleet. The other ships like the correllian ones or frigates always seemed sooo fragile, like you could snap them in 2 like a twig.
The morale thing is explained a bit in the novels, but meh, i direct my blame at the emperor here for not allowing the imperial fleet to fully engage, just so he could show off his fancy laser.

Ewok bit really can be argued though. The imperials had been there for a long time, and were more then familiar with the terrain, wasn't so much indigenous tactics as imperials being nerfed to act like idiots or weaklings, you actually see stormtroopers lose in closecombat to ewoks D: For gods sake, did those stormies have their proper vitamin intake?
Then there's the complete lack of tactics the stormies had, these were supposed to be vets damnit!

Well the naval battle wasn't meant to be so much a fight as it was a distraction to buy the people infiltrating the Death Star time. But I can see where slightly smaller and more maneuverable Rebel vessels would help. However it's mostly the fact that the Emperor wanted to demonstrate his laser, which actually isn't too bad of an idea in a way. It's a major morale booster for the Imperials and a major morale drain, a few more "demonstrations" and the Rebel fleet would've cut and run with or without orders, the Emperor's plan was brilliant, it's just that they managed to get to the (stupidly) unshielded reactor core and blow it up again. Also, you can make an argument that he didn't order a complete engagement because then the Rebel fleet would've been surrounded and not had room to retreat, thus costing the Empire more vessels since the Rebels would probably fight like they never had before with their backs to the wall like that. I think the Emperor was a vengeful bastard who wanted the Rebels dead, but he was a politician as well, more losses means more money down the drain to him.

Also, take novelizations with a grain of salt, most of the people doing them don't seem to really know what they're doing all the time. I mean the dumbass who did the Episode Three novelization stated that Dooku intentionally threw the fight with Anakin because he thought he would be spared. NO WRONG YOU FAIL GO BACK AND WATCH EPISODE THREE AGAIN! Anakin HAD gotten better at dueling since they last fought and then Dooku provoked him into tapping into the Dark Side to give him that extra boost to win.

In regards to the Ewoks, indigenous tactics can indeed trump over a technologically superior force, remember that the Ewoks were particularly good in that battle (they probably didn't show us all the ones they lost when they engaged the Empire) but even then it was a Pyrrhic victory. Besides this is the 501st Legion they're fighting, great troopers, but they hadn't had experience on Endor yet, you can still get surprised by the enemy no matter how good you are, and even if you've been there for a long time. Again, that part was supposed to be the Vietnam War as interpreted by Star Wars, and there were plenty of little skirmishes in that where we got our hides tanned.

 

[greenyboy27]

Any group? I'd join the Cantina Band.

I'd come see you play in a heartbeat.

Agreed, as long as they come up with some new material.

And i'd be a Sith just because of the sheer badassery which emanates from them.

And if not... fuck it, i'll be a stormtrooper

 

[Frankster]

snippy

I honestly think you've put more thought into your arguments then the producers of the film did, I really doubt George Lucas had ANY of that in mind.
But i admire the emperor's sense of practicality if he really was thinking of expenses as he did his master plan xD If it's true, sith lord he might be, he is a "good" leader.

Btw, that this was the 501st particularly stings, and my mind REFUSES to accept it.
This means that this was the last legion of pure clone troopers, who've fought all the way through the clone wars and in many varied engagements (i <3 battlefront 2).
They survived much more hostile environments and demanding battles and THIS is how they go out? they survived Felucia but go down on Endor? *insert darth vader noooo vid here*
Tell me this isn't so and you mistook them for another legion D:
Since battlefront 2 campaign ends with hoth without saying what happens afterwards, hoped they got stationed to a more mundane task somewhere else and were far away from the endor debacle.

 

[Aryanos]

I'd take the Solo route, probably a mercenary, but at some point I'd pull a Karrde and join the good guys.

Karrde never joined the republic or the rebellion. He stayed unaligned. And even the Katana mess was still a business deal.
My choice would be Imperial. Just cause I'd wanna be a Mara Jade. Or Ysanne Isard.

 

[Dancingman]

snippy

I honestly think you've put more thought into your arguments then the producers of the film did, I really doubt George Lucas had ANY of that in mind.
But i admire the emperor's sense of practicality if he really was thinking of expenses as he did his master plan xD If it's true, sith lord he might be, he is a "good" leader.

Btw, that this was the 501st particularly stings, and my mind REFUSES to accept it.
This means that this was the last legion of pure clone troopers, who've fought all the way through the clone wars and in many varied engagements (i <3 battlefront 2).
They survived much more hostile environments and demanding battles and THIS is how they go out? they survived Felucia but go down on Endor? *insert darth vader noooo vid here*
Tell me this isn't so and you mistook them for another legion D:
Since battlefront 2 campaign ends with hoth without saying what happens afterwards, hoped they got stationed to a more mundane task somewhere else and were far away from the endor debacle.

Crap! I just checked Wookieepedia (the one stop shop for absolutely anything I need to know about Star Wars), 501st didn't fight at Endor, I forgot BF2 ended at Hoth, and by the way I loved that game I still remember an amusing incident where I played the Battle of Hoth as the Empire and stole a snowspeeder from the main base and flew around strafing Rebels.

And thanks for the producers comment, hehe, I really can't say that I put more thought into it than George Lucas but you really just can't pause the movie and explain all that stuff to the viewer, the way I figure it the best directors have to leave it so the audience can figure it out for themselves.

 

[Betancore]

Being *that* kind of person, I said Rebel Alliance.
I mean, c'mon, they're the good guys. (Yeah, I'm a sap that way, I'm sorry). Also, they have far more interesting ships and things, they're inventive and tenatious (or however you spell it), and, AND (!) they've got Chewbacca. What's not to like?

(Oh and Han Solo, but that's a personal prefenece).

Han Solo is my personal preference too. I'd probably go for the Rebel Alliance. I think in any situation like that, I'd side with the underdogs and help to be the usurpers etc etc.

 

[HeySeansOnline]

I'd take the Solo route, probably a mercenary, but at some point I'd pull a Karrde and join the good guys.

Karrde never joined the republic or the rebellion. He stayed unaligned. And even the Katana mess was still a business deal.
My choice would be Imperial. Just cause I'd wanna be a Mara Jade. Or Ysanne Isard.

I guess you're right there, but that's sort of what I meant, an unalligned alligned, and then eventually go full good guys. Sort of a progressive joining.

 

[Frankster]

snippage

Yey, that would have been such a sucky way for the 501st to end their service record Who knows, with the death of the emperor and the fall of the empire, maybe they went and became a mercenary company or what not. Can't quite imagine them doing mundane jobs.

And meh, there's a difference between leaving things for audience to figure it out and not having thought it out in the first place. No interview or behind the scenes footage ever gave me the impression george lucas put more thought beyond "good guys win cos they are good".

 

[Xpwn3ntial]

I would join the Zaan Consordium, so I can be a part of a large criminal enterprise and not just a small gang.

 

[Aryanos]

I'd take the Solo route, probably a mercenary, but at some point I'd pull a Karrde and join the good guys.

Karrde never joined the republic or the rebellion. He stayed unaligned. And even the Katana mess was still a business deal.
My choice would be Imperial. Just cause I'd wanna be a Mara Jade. Or Ysanne Isard.

.

I guess you're right there, but that's sort of what I meant, an unalligned alligned, and then eventually go full good guys. Sort of a progressive joining.

You want the Solo route then, Han actually did several jobs for the alliance before that whole mess with Luke and the death star.

I would join the Zaan Consordium, so I can be a part of a large criminal enterprise and not just a small gang.

The Consortium ends up getting wiped out you know that right?

 

[Johnnyallstar]

Either a bounty hunter or....


Red Two, Standing By.

 

[Del-Toro]

Actually, the Empire primarily focused on putting down resistance, and aside from the occasional bit of censorship (only against music and films that had "fuck the empire" as their primary point) and blowing up pirates, they left well enough alone. Well, that and the slavery, although typically the people in question did something to piss the Empire off, so it was more like Jail and hard labour, something we have here. Economically, the Galaxy was very strong during the Empire's reign, with goods being less likely to be stolen by pirates for fear of Star Destroyers suddenly appearing to vaporize them.

Besides, the Rebellion was formed by a bunch of sentors when their power started to wane. The only one to survive the war then basically took over galactic governance (albeit with a republic), so I kind of consider the rebels to be like the Sons of Korhal from starcraft. Even after Endor, the Empire kept rolling, although it reformed big time, and never died, even though the Rebellion's legacy did. So yeah, I guess it's time to get fitted for an Army (Not stormtroopers, they had a regular army too) officer's uniform.

The Empire was relatively decentralized in some aspects (such as how the Grand Moffs were pretty much left to their own provided they didn't try to rebel themselves). And actually slavery was specifically reinstated by the Empire, though it survived in the Outer Rim during the Old Republic, during the Empire it became a state-sanctioned trade, and even though most slavery was punitive (i.e. commit a crime, get put into slavery) they still targeted those who would make ideal slaves, such as Wookiees for their strength.

And yeah canonically the Empire functioned as the Imperial Remnant following Endor, it wasn't much until the Fel Dynasty. A series of rebellions, some of which were lead by Imperial warlords, pretty much devastated what was left and made it into the Remnant. But yeah the Empire got much better after Endor, since it wasn't being ruled by people like Tarkin or Palpatine anymore and it pretty much had to drop the racism since they just didn't have enough humans to keep doing what they were doing.

One nitpick though: stormtroopers were the core of the Imperial Army, of course they had some more ragtag groups for enforcement on the Outer Rim but stormtroopers were pretty much the way they kept peace on the ground level. Some Stormtroopers were clone soldiers after the Empire restored its old cloning program (albeit with more clone templates than just Jango Fett since it became clear it was a security risk), but they also opened their ranks up to non-clones and even the occasional alien provided he or she was willing to serve and didn't mind some very unsubtle discrimination. It'd probably be not unlike an African-American serving in the U.S. military in the 40's, under the command of human officers and the only ones that really advance are the ones that prove that they can go above and beyond their human cohorts.

Actually the Imperial Army wasn't just some ragtag group. They operated all walkers and armour in the Imperial Military, and performed defense and planetary garrision duties, as well as attacking strategically nonvital targets. The reason we see the Stormtrooper Corps as much as we do in the movies, whereas the Imperial Army doesn't show up at all, is because Anything of particular strategic importance is entrusted to Stormtroopers, which means everything Luke and the gange are involved with. Think of the Imperial Army as the Star Wars answer the Warhammer 40k's Imperial Guard.