Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 4.3bsd-beta 6/6/85; site topaz.RUTGERS.EDU Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!cbdkc1!desoto!packard!topaz!Baidins From: Baidins@UDel-Huey.ARPA Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers Subject: Empire Troops Message-ID: <3376@topaz.RUTGERS.EDU> Date: Wed, 21-Aug-85 14:49:09 EDT Article-I.D.: topaz.3376 Posted: Wed Aug 21 14:49:09 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 24-Aug-85 14:06:43 EDT Sender: daemon@topaz.RUTGERS.EDU Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J. Lines: 49 From: Baidins@UDel-Huey.ARPA Concerning the Empire hasn't anyone noticed that the Empire's space fleet and army are filled with incompetents right up the chain of command, including the Emperor, but not Vader and that the ground troops are ill-equipped. First, the ground troops are worthless. True they have blasters and armor that todays armies would kill to get, but notice: 1. No organization better than an armed mob. In the Ewok attack the Imperials go charging off into the woods in no order and get ambushed one by one. 2. No hand to hand combat training. In one scene an Imperial gets a spear in the back in a vulnerable joint. If they were taught to fight back to back and given reasonable weapons for hand to hand like light sabers (they would not even need any real proficiency at them) , any Ewok who closes to close range is dead. 3. No hand grenades. Imperial troopers in pit getting slowly stoned to death. One hand grenade and the Ewoks would be dead. 4. Extremely badly thought out fighting vehicles. Vulnerable to mere logs and extremely unstable on rough terrain. A better vehicle would something like the rebel craft used to fight walkers in Empire Strikes Back, but larger and more heavily armed and armored. 5. In general no use of high explosives and fragmentation, which the troopers in their armor could live through while their lesser armored enemies would die. 6. The officers are not armored which means killing them is easy and causes disorganization of Imperial troops. Second, general incompetence and lack of initiative at all levels. In the last movie, the officer goes off into the woods without insuring the rebels cannot do anymore damage by either ensuring a sufficient guard or killing his prisoners(remember no Geneva convention). The designers of the Death Stars left a small Achilles' heel a clear sign of incompetent design. In Star Wars, letting an 'empty' pod escape without immediate inspection or destruction is also ridiculous. Finally, the Emperor, himself, who must have gotten lax or an incredible case of hubris, brings the rebel fleet into his grasp only to let it get away. A better solution would have been the immediate destruction of the raiding party (remember he gave the rebel spies the real access codes for the shuttle). Destroying both Luke and Vader at a distance( like blowing the shuttle they come up on), and giving his fleet leave to blow away the rebels with the support of the Death Star. The rebels are extremely lucky to have such an incompetent army as opponents, otherwise they would never have won.