Why it' so hard to have credible Star Wars Imperials that are not villains.

[Sunseeker]

Because Imperials are the bad guys. They're an oppressive human-centric, xenophobic, psychotic sith-led organization that wants to conquer the galaxy and impose their oppressive, human-first, xenophobic ways upon everyone.

So yeah, apparently you missed the note that the Empire is the bad guy.

Should Imperials be given quality characterization? Sure. Many are. Quality characterization that emphasizes they are evil.

[Super Kami Dende]

A nod to Kreia would be great as well, one of Bioware's best characters of all time IMO.

A nod to all three would be fantastic, Since Kreia's interactions with Sion and Nihilus is a lot of what made her such a fantastic character.

[Ahovv]

...because it's poorly written. The good vs evil dichotomy is dull. The light side is presented as ultimately good, and the dark side as ultimately evil. There is no enlightened middle ground or points to draw from each.

At best you have someone like Mace Windu who channels the dark side during combat, but is otherwise a Jedi.

[Antiganon]

...because it's poorly written. The good vs evil dichotomy is dull. The light side is presented as ultimately good, and the dark side as ultimately evil. There is no enlightened middle ground or points to draw from each.

At best you have someone like Mace Windu who channels the dark side during combat, but is otherwise a Jedi.

Read some EU material, particularly Old Republic (pre-Phantom Menace) and New Republic (post RotJ). For the Old Republic stuff, focus on Qui-Gon and the idea of the Unifying Force. For the New Republic stuff, focus on the Jedi Academy trilogy, the New Jedi Order series with the Yuuzhan Vong (which includes "good" Imperials as well), and the Fate of the Jedi series. All deal with heavily introspective views of the Force, many coming to the conclusion that the Force is not a doctrine, nor a tool to be used or weapon to be wielded, but more like the elements in WoW - its there, it does its thing, it is neither good nor evil, but can be used in service of either.

[Gamdwelf]

Read some EU material, particularly Old Republic (pre-Phantom Menace) and New Republic (post RotJ). For the Old Republic stuff, focus on Qui-Gon and the idea of the Unifying Force. For the New Republic stuff, focus on the Jedi Academy trilogy, the New Jedi Order series with the Yuuzhan Vong (which includes "good" Imperials as well), and the Fate of the Jedi series. All deal with heavily introspective views of the Force, many coming to the conclusion that the Force is not a doctrine, nor a tool to be used or weapon to be wielded, but more like the elements in WoW - its there, it does its thing, it is neither good nor evil, but can be used in service of either.

That's all fake news now.

[sarahtasher]

Again, my point is not to salvage the Imperials (they are beyond the pale now,), but to at least give them non-angelic Rebel foes.

[Faroth]

When you have an Empire that is built as a tyrannical dictatorship, that tyrannical dictator is going to have certain types chosen for the high ranking officers. A certain type of person is going to climb the ranks in such an environment. You're not going to have a lot of people who want what's best for the citizens striving to advance and do the things the Empire will require them to do.

Typically when you have the non-villain Imperials, it's going to be stories told at the lower "grunt" level.

[sarahtasher]

Battlefront II reach truly Mister Burns level of supervilleny. (disclaimer : Operation Cinder is not revealed by Battlefront II, it's in the comics and novels already)

The Empire not only torch down Human planets (read, planets of the only specie that back the Empire) : they torch down planets of ultraloyalists Imperials essentially for the lulz. Reasoning : if we bomb our own worlds, they will see how far we are willing to go

(Yes, I'm painfully aware that this Operation Cinder aims to copy the actual Nazis ''Nero Decree'' = the Exalted Leader is gone, let's torch down everything. Except that even the actual Nazis balked at carrying it)

[Fargus]

Having a Rommel styled imperial character would be really cool.

There is. His name's Thrawn.

[eillas]

There is. His name's Thrawn.

I believe the VA for Wullf Yularen described him as Rommel.