Stormtroopers and Intimidation

[MrNexx]

So, Stormtroopers are immune to bribes, intimidation, and seduction.

How does that play out for you? A massive bonus to willpower? A fiat immunity?
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[Mamatried]

now this is based on the propaganda that there was never any stormtroopers tuned traitors, this is not interiley true.

At least not in what legends is concerned where we had several deserters and some that took bribes of various sorts.

I belive that the stormtroopers are "impossible" to bribe comapred to the Navy Officers and Crew that were know to not be impossible to bribe.

the ancient Persian Immortals were "immortal" yet 1000s died in battle.

[garhkal]

For me, its a flat out immunity. The skills don't work.
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[Darklighter79]

[MrNexx]

[TauntaunScout]

[garhkal]

Maybe that was a bargain or persuasion to get them to surrender.
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[TauntaunScout]

[RyanDarkstar]

In my favorite issue of the old Marvel Comics Star Wars, #65 "Golrath Never Forgets," I was amazed as a kid seeing two stormtroopers without helmets taking a smoke break! I figure Mils Giel had the lowest tier troopers under his command after his demotion.


These two were quite intimidated by what looked like Rebels charging at them and quickly opened fire, blowing the "Rebels" to smithereens. Turns out, the wall had some property that could absorb light when hot, and then it could project the recorded light as essentially a video display. (Couldn't find a picture online of this.)

So, I'm fine with stormtroopers losing their bravado through intimidation in my game, depending on the quality of troops being thrown at the heroes.
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[TauntaunScout]

This is not propaganda from in-universe fiction. This is from the out of game rules section of the book. That being said, the word was blackmailed, and I mis-remembered it as intimidated.

And the specific thing that they cannot be bribed, seduced or blackmailed into doing is betraying the emperor.

The rules go on to state that while they are fanatically loyal (not courageous, loyal) they are not suicidal, and will surrender if facing impossible odds.

So I would say stormtroopers can be scared under the heat of battle like anyone else (and the miniatures rules subject them to breaking like other units).

But in the spirit of "cannot be... into betraying the emperor"... I'd still say they can't be intimidated, say, under threat of a wookie PC tearing their arms off, into betraying the emperor by spilling military secrets like the password to a safe or the location of a fleet.

[Mamatried]

I do not think this si a game mechanics thing we can roll.

If we think of the Stormtroopers as a form of fanatics, like the german SS and we compare this to the "army", we see that the SS was "impossible/hard" to intimidate, bribe etc, they acted on their orders and being fanatics.

However once alone, or in a small group they will surrender, they are not dumb and suicidal, but I am sure once take prisoner they will do their utmost to escape, sabotage, gather information etc etc.

As to bribes, I am sure this is labeled "impossible" due to the Stomies being mooked. I am chased by a platoon so I toss some credits at them......it won't work.

However on a backwater planet ran by a corrupt imperial moff would have a culture of bribery, here I would think that the isolated stormie will have abribe chance, but still be extremely hard to pull off.

Intimidate, yes they get scared, but being a fanatic is in may ways a shiled against fear.

And I would think in the right circumstances the stomeies can be both bribed and intimidated, with relative ease.