Stormtrooper reputation isn't deserved.
So I posted this on the TOR forums and also on CV, though with CV is was more a post rather than a thread topic.
But even still, Stormtroopers DO NOT deserve the reputation they have had for the past 30+ years or so.
Tell me did anyone here actually WATCH the movies?
As in....you knew what was going on with particular scenes involving the OT?
If so...congratulations, you were able to realize something that a vast majority of people have failed to realize and something that has become a meme/joke/whatever, when it's based on a complete lie.
Anyone wanna tell me, what the Empire was wanting to do in A New Hope?
Find the hidden Rebel Base. It's quite clearly noted throughout they were wanting to, that and it's clear that Luke and co were let go. Does anyone recall this conversation?
Tarkin: "Are they away?"Vader: "They've just made the jump into hyperspace."
Tarkin: "You sure the homing beacon is secure aboard their ship? I've taken an awful risk Vader, this had better work."
So tell me....in what logical universe, would it make sense in killing those heading for the hidden base which the Empire is trying to find? Get it?
Now moving on....Endor, people say they lost to Ewoks. While right, this is overblown exaggeration.
The Stormtroopers were sent to capture the Rebel Strike Force...which they did, they were taken by surprise not expecting to be thrusted into a sudden battle.
More to that, not only did the Ewoks have terrain advantage, they also had a crack team of Rebel SpecForce fighters, a Wookiee and a famous gunslinger.
Not to mention, it wasn't until Chewie hijacked an AT-ST that the battle turned around in their favor.
This is both noted in the script
Chewbacca's walker moves through the forest, firing laser blasts at
unsuspecting stormtroopers, and destroying other Imperial walkers. The
Ewoks shout and cheer as the giant machine helps turn the tide of the
battle in their favor.
and book novelization
Chewie climbed down inside. It took him half a minute to master the controls - Imperial technology was pretty standardized. And then, methodically, one by one, he began approaching the other, unsuspecting, Imperial Walkers, and blasting them to dust. Most had no idea what was happening.As the giant war-machines began going up in flames, the Ewoks were reinspired. They rallied behind Chewie's walker. The Wookiee was turning the tide of battle.
To even further back up Stormtroopers not sucking...does anyone recall this quote?
Obi-Wan: "And these blast points, too accurate for Sand People. Only Imperial Stormtroopers are so precise."
In episode 1, you had Sand People tagging and even destroying a Podracer.
Before someone brings up the fact, Obi-Wan wasn't at the race. That doesn't matter...he lived on Tatooine for what...20+ years for Luke to grow into a man?
He noted that Sand People ride in single file, he noted on their accuracy. His statement isn't baseless, he clearly has knowledge of Sand People for how long he lived on Tatooine, it's not reaching to figure he had also seen them shoot, otherwise, there wouldn't be any point in making such a statement.
Moving on to further accuracy...on Endor, the speeder bike chase.
You had a Scout Trooper make a ridiculously accurate shot on a speeder bike. Said Scout was able to hit Leia's speeder bike which the bikes they rode on can go up to 310 mph, while he was driving one handed on his own bike.
Also of course, during the bunker battle. You had 2 Stormtroopers blasting R2 and wounding Leia.
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This is just the movies folks, in the EU, I can give you quite a few things showing Stormtroopers as being a fierce fighting force. They aren't mooks like everyone believes....it wouldn't make any sense for the Empire to have incompetent troops when they are trying to run a galaxy.
Whew...ok, I'm done now.