buckrogersbarker

This, tbh!
"Mud Trooper" the hint is in the name. And yeah Woody's character is very likely in disguise (we can only assume) but who knows, we might find out these are officers, and there might be more iterations of this than Woody's character!
That coat is slick! Looks heavier than R1, a thicker kinda rubbery material?

A Deep aversion to standing armies or why are rank bars different from before Empire Strikes Back and after.
 

Before the Clone Wars, the Old Republic enjoyed almost 1000 years of relative peace.  The Republic while vast and expansive, was NOT ubiquitous and even well-traveled parts of the galaxy did not accept its currency.  It was only after the Clone Wars that the republic increased more than 25% of its size and territory by acquiring the Outer Rim Territories, Hutt space and what would become the Corporate Sector.  All of these were spoils of war controlled by the Trade Federation, the Techno Union, the Banking Clan and the other conglomerates that made up the Confederacy.  
 
Before the Clone Wars, most military and police protection was performed by local system militias.  The ground and space force of Naboo is an excellent example of this with forces to defend their cities from pirates, but not enough to take on a well-organized military.  The Droid armies of the Trade Federation could be quickly built and this imbalance did much to push the military creation act that kicked of the Clone Wars.
 

Before the military creation act, the closest thing that the Republic had to a military was the Judicials.  These soldiers represented the Republic senate wherever they went.  Clad in the same blue uniforms that would later be adopted by the Imperial officer corp, much of their roots and traditions can be found in this elite force.  Tarkin, Yularen, and Screed were all Judicials.  Orsen Krennic used Judicial Rangers when he rescued Galen Erso.
 
The end of the Clone Wars brought the nascent officer corp into its own replacing the Jedi as leaders of the Clone forces.  The Star Destroyers commanded by these officers were of the same shape as the Jedi fighters of the time, drawing comparisons that the new officer corp was the inheritor of the Jedi legacy.  Still, the same trepidation that had made the Military Creation Act difficult to pass at the start of the war prevented the unification of the entire military under direct Coruscant control.
 
Nominally, the emperor controlled the Galactic forces left over from the Clone Wars directly from Coruscant.  You can recognize these members as wearing double rank bars and often times being referred to as “fleet officers”.  The officers that wore single rank bars reported to the local sector moff and were under the oversight of the sector’s senator.  With 75% of the empire’s sectors being monitored by imperial senators, it is no wonder why Tarkin and Darth Vader were so concerned about word of the Death Star getting out.  

The officers that oversaw the construction of the Death Star were sector controlled, not controlled by Coruscant directly.  But as the sector moffs (and Grand Moff) of the out Rim Territories worked directly for the Emperor and none reported to a local senator since most of these territories were occupied worlds, they were able to operate with impunity and secrecy.  Direct connections to Coruscant control happened only through top admiralty: for example Krennic who was a fleet admiral.  The rest worked in silos, many of which never knew for what the final product was to be.  This was the time that the bulk of the Imperial Military was far from the core worlds and hidden in the shadows of the outer rim.
 

New moffs and admirals were being minted in this time.  Admiral Versio of the ISB is hailed not just for his activities as an intelligence leader, but as the person who brought his home world into the empire.  He was rewarded with a place not in sector politics, but a position in the expanding galactic fleet.  And his world had its military standardized to the Imperial model.
 

The difference between sector fleets and the galactic fleet has a real world comparison to the armies of the United States.  The National guards are commanded by the governors of their respective states, but do have a place in the hierarchy of the US Army in times of emergency.  They are trained by many of the same schools that their regular army colleagues are trained.  They wear the same uniforms for the most part with minor differences to distinguish them.  Most officer uniforms had specific sector insignia for the collars and hats they wore.
 

The elimination of the Imperial Senate removed the senators that provided oversight for the sector militaries.  The regional governors took direct control of their territories and their militaries reporting directly to the Emperor much like the regional governors of Rome took to reporting to their emperors.  The illusion of separation was over and the single bar rank system disappeared as did sector insignia.  Everyone wore double rank bars from then on out until the end of the empire five years later.  The Emperor had direct control of his empire then.
 
 

It should be noted that the Confederacy was not soundly defeated, its command and control was smashed.  It’s leadership was decapitated.  But the many of the worlds that made up the Confederacy fought on for years to come.  We will see some of that in the coming Solo film 

We don’t even know for sure what we will see in this movie.  Shouldn’t we be careful of ceding territory?  

A Deep aversion to standing armies or why are rank bars different from before Empire Strikes Back and after.
 

Before the Clone Wars, the Old Republic enjoyed almost 1000 years of relative peace.  The Republic while vast and expansive, was NOT ubiquitous and even well-traveled parts of the galaxy did not accept its currency.  It was only after the Clone Wars that the republic increased more than 25% of its size and territory by acquiring the Outer Rim Territories, Hutt space and what would become the Corporate Sector.  All of these were spoils of war controlled by the Trade Federation, the Techno Union, the Banking Clan and the other conglomerates that made up the Confederacy.  
 
Before the Clone Wars, most military and police protection was performed by local system militias.  The ground and space force of Naboo is an excellent example of this with forces to defend their cities from pirates, but not enough to take on a well-organized military.  The Droid armies of the Trade Federation could be quickly built and this imbalance did much to push the military creation act that kicked of the Clone Wars.
 

Before the military creation act, the closest thing that the Republic had to a military was the Judicials.  These soldiers represented the Republic senate wherever they went.  Clad in the same blue uniforms that would later be adopted by the Imperial officer corp, much of their roots and traditions can be found in this elite force.  Tarkin, Yularen, and Screed were all Judicials.  Orsen Krennic used Judicial Rangers when he rescued Galen Erso.
 
The end of the Clone Wars brought the nascent officer corp into its own replacing the Jedi as leaders of the Clone forces.  The Star Destroyers commanded by these officers were of the same shape as the Jedi fighters of the time, drawing comparisons that the new officer corp was the inheritor of the Jedi legacy.  Still, the same trepidation that had made the Military Creation Act difficult to pass at the start of the war prevented the unification of the entire military under direct Coruscant control.
 
Nominally, the emperor controlled the Galactic forces left over from the Clone Wars directly from Coruscant.  You can recognize these members as wearing double rank bars and often times being referred to as “fleet officers”.  The officers that wore single rank bars reported to the local sector moff and were under the oversight of the sector’s senator.  With 75% of the empire’s sectors being monitored by imperial senators, it is no wonder why Tarkin and Darth Vader were so concerned about word of the Death Star getting out.  

The officers that oversaw the construction of the Death Star were sector controlled, not controlled by Coruscant directly.  But as the sector moffs (and Grand Moff) of the out Rim Territories worked directly for the Emperor and none reported to a local senator since most of these territories were occupied worlds, they were able to operate with impunity and secrecy.  Direct connections to Coruscant control happened only through top admiralty: for example Krennic who was a fleet admiral.  The rest worked in silos, many of which never knew for what the final product was to be.  This was the time that the bulk of the Imperial Military was far from the core worlds and hidden in the shadows of the outer rim.
 

New moffs and admirals were being minted in this time.  Admiral Versio of the ISB is hailed not just for his activities as an intelligence leader, but as the person who brought his home world into the empire.  He was rewarded with a place not in sector politics, but a position in the expanding galactic fleet.  And his world had its military standardized to the Imperial model.
 

The difference between sector fleets and the galactic fleet has a real world comparison to the armies of the United States.  The National guards are commanded by the governors of their respective states, but do have a place in the hierarchy of the US Army in times of emergency.  They are trained by many of the same schools that their regular army colleagues are trained.  They wear the same uniforms for the most part with minor differences to distinguish them.  Most officer uniforms had specific sector insignia for the collars and hats they wore.
 

The elimination of the Imperial Senate removed the senators that provided oversight for the sector militaries.  The regional governors took direct control of their territories and their militaries reporting directly to the Emperor much like the regional governors of Rome took to reporting to their emperors.  The illusion of separation was over and the single bar rank system disappeared as did sector insignia.  Everyone wore double rank bars from then on out until the end of the empire five years later.  The Emperor had direct control of his empire then.
 
 

These Star Wars history lessons are always a wonderful distraction from work  cheers and beers for the effort you put in to them mate.

A Deep aversion to standing armies or why are rank bars different from before Empire Strikes Back and after.
 

Before the Clone Wars, the Old Republic enjoyed almost 1000 years of relative peace.  The Republic while vast and expansive, was NOT ubiquitous and even well-traveled parts of the galaxy did not accept its currency.  It was only after the Clone Wars that the republic increased more than 25% of its size and territory by acquiring the Outer Rim Territories, Hutt space and what would become the Corporate Sector.  All of these were spoils of war controlled by the Trade Federation, the Techno Union, the Banking Clan and the other conglomerates that made up the Confederacy.  
 
Before the Clone Wars, most military and police protection was performed by local system militias.  The ground and space force of Naboo is an excellent example of this with forces to defend their cities from pirates, but not enough to take on a well-organized military.  The Droid armies of the Trade Federation could be quickly built and this imbalance did much to push the military creation act that kicked of the Clone Wars.
 

Before the military creation act, the closest thing that the Republic had to a military was the Judicials.  These soldiers represented the Republic senate wherever they went.  Clad in the same blue uniforms that would later be adopted by the Imperial officer corp, much of their roots and traditions can be found in this elite force.  Tarkin, Yularen, and Screed were all Judicials.  Orsen Krennic used Judicial Rangers when he rescued Galen Erso.
 
The end of the Clone Wars brought the nascent officer corp into its own replacing the Jedi as leaders of the Clone forces.  The Star Destroyers commanded by these officers were of the same shape as the Jedi fighters of the time, drawing comparisons that the new officer corp was the inheritor of the Jedi legacy.  Still, the same trepidation that had made the Military Creation Act difficult to pass at the start of the war prevented the unification of the entire military under direct Coruscant control.
 
Nominally, the emperor controlled the Galactic forces left over from the Clone Wars directly from Coruscant.  You can recognize these members as wearing double rank bars and often times being referred to as “fleet officers”.  The officers that wore single rank bars reported to the local sector moff and were under the oversight of the sector’s senator.  With 75% of the empire’s sectors being monitored by imperial senators, it is no wonder why Tarkin and Darth Vader were so concerned about word of the Death Star getting out.  

The officers that oversaw the construction of the Death Star were sector controlled, not controlled by Coruscant directly.  But as the sector moffs (and Grand Moff) of the out Rim Territories worked directly for the Emperor and none reported to a local senator since most of these territories were occupied worlds, they were able to operate with impunity and secrecy.  Direct connections to Coruscant control happened only through top admiralty: for example Krennic who was a fleet admiral.  The rest worked in silos, many of which never knew for what the final product was to be.  This was the time that the bulk of the Imperial Military was far from the core worlds and hidden in the shadows of the outer rim.
 

New moffs and admirals were being minted in this time.  Admiral Versio of the ISB is hailed not just for his activities as an intelligence leader, but as the person who brought his home world into the empire.  He was rewarded with a place not in sector politics, but a position in the expanding galactic fleet.  And his world had its military standardized to the Imperial model.
 

The difference between sector fleets and the galactic fleet has a real world comparison to the armies of the United States.  The National guards are commanded by the governors of their respective states, but do have a place in the hierarchy of the US Army in times of emergency.  They are trained by many of the same schools that their regular army colleagues are trained.  They wear the same uniforms for the most part with minor differences to distinguish them.  Most officer uniforms had specific sector insignia for the collars and hats they wore.
 

The elimination of the Imperial Senate removed the senators that provided oversight for the sector militaries.  The regional governors took direct control of their territories and their militaries reporting directly to the Emperor much like the regional governors of Rome took to reporting to their emperors.  The illusion of separation was over and the single bar rank system disappeared as did sector insignia.  Everyone wore double rank bars from then on out until the end of the empire five years later.  The Emperor had direct control of his empire then.
 
 

It should be noted that the Confederacy was not soundly defeated, its command and control was smashed.  It’s leadership was decapitated.  But the many of the worlds that made up the Confederacy fought on for years to come.  We will see some of that in the coming Solo film 

A Deep aversion to standing armies or why are rank bars different from before Empire Strikes Back and after.
 

Before the Clone Wars, the Old Republic enjoyed almost 1000 years of relative peace.  The Republic while vast and expansive, was NOT ubiquitous and even well-traveled parts of the galaxy did not accept its currency.  It was only after the Clone Wars that the republic increased more than 25% of its size and territory by acquiring the Outer Rim Territories, Hutt space and what would become the Corporate Sector.  All of these were spoils of war controlled by the Trade Federation, the Techno Union, the Banking Clan and the other conglomerates that made up the Confederacy.  
 
Before the Clone Wars, most military and police protection was performed by local system militias.  The ground and space force of Naboo is an excellent example of this with forces to defend their cities from pirates, but not enough to take on a well-organized military.  The Droid armies of the Trade Federation could be quickly built and this imbalance did much to push the military creation act that kicked of the Clone Wars.
 

Before the military creation act, the closest thing that the Republic had to a military was the Judicials.  These soldiers represented the Republic senate wherever they went.  Clad in the same blue uniforms that would later be adopted by the Imperial officer corp, much of their roots and traditions can be found in this elite force.  Tarkin, Yularen, and Screed were all Judicials.  Orsen Krennic used Judicial Rangers when he rescued Galen Erso.
 
The end of the Clone Wars brought the nascent officer corp into its own replacing the Jedi as leaders of the Clone forces.  The Star Destroyers commanded by these officers were of the same shape as the Jedi fighters of the time, drawing comparisons that the new officer corp was the inheritor of the Jedi legacy.  Still, the same trepidation that had made the Military Creation Act difficult to pass at the start of the war prevented the unification of the entire military under direct Coruscant control.
 
Nominally, the emperor controlled the Galactic forces left over from the Clone Wars directly from Coruscant.  You can recognize these members as wearing double rank bars and often times being referred to as “fleet officers”.  The officers that wore single rank bars reported to the local sector moff and were under the oversight of the sector’s senator.  With 75% of the empire’s sectors being monitored by imperial senators, it is no wonder why Tarkin and Darth Vader were so concerned about word of the Death Star getting out.  

The officers that oversaw the construction of the Death Star were sector controlled, not controlled by Coruscant directly.  But as the sector moffs (and Grand Moff) of the out Rim Territories worked directly for the Emperor and none reported to a local senator since most of these territories were occupied worlds, they were able to operate with impunity and secrecy.  Direct connections to Coruscant control happened only through top admiralty: for example Krennic who was a fleet admiral.  The rest worked in silos, many of which never knew for what the final product was to be.  This was the time that the bulk of the Imperial Military was far from the core worlds and hidden in the shadows of the outer rim.
 

New moffs and admirals were being minted in this time.  Admiral Versio of the ISB is hailed not just for his activities as an intelligence leader, but as the person who brought his home world into the empire.  He was rewarded with a place not in sector politics, but a position in the expanding galactic fleet.  And his world had its military standardized to the Imperial model.
 

The difference between sector fleets and the galactic fleet has a real world comparison to the armies of the United States.  The National guards are commanded by the governors of their respective states, but do have a place in the hierarchy of the US Army in times of emergency.  They are trained by many of the same schools that their regular army colleagues are trained.  They wear the same uniforms for the most part with minor differences to distinguish them.  Most officer uniforms had specific sector insignia for the collars and hats they wore.
 

The elimination of the Imperial Senate removed the senators that provided oversight for the sector militaries.  The regional governors took direct control of their territories and their militaries reporting directly to the Emperor much like the regional governors of Rome took to reporting to their emperors.  The illusion of separation was over and the single bar rank system disappeared as did sector insignia.  Everyone wore double rank bars from then on out until the end of the empire five years later.  The Emperor had direct control of his empire then.
 
 

A Deep aversion to standing armies or why are rank bars different from before Empire Strikes Back and after.
 

Before the Clone Wars, the Old Republic enjoyed almost 1000 years of relative peace.  The Republic while vast and expansive, was NOT ubiquitous and even well-traveled parts of the galaxy did not accept its currency.  It was only after the Clone Wars that the republic increased more than 25% of its size and territory by acquiring the Outer Rim Territories, Hutt space and what would become the Corporate Sector.  All of these were spoils of war controlled by the Trade Federation, the Techno Union, the Banking Clan and the other conglomerates that made up the Confederacy.  
 
Before the Clone Wars, most military and police protection was performed by local system militias.  The ground and space force of Naboo is an excellent example of this with forces to defend their cities from pirates, but not enough to take on a well-organized military.  The Droid armies of the Trade Federation could be quickly built and this imbalance did much to push the military creation act that kicked of the Clone Wars.
 

Before the military creation act, the closest thing that the Republic had to a military was the Judicials.  These soldiers represented the Republic senate wherever they went.  Clad in the same blue uniforms that would later be adopted by the Imperial officer corp, much of their roots and traditions can be found in this elite force.  Tarkin, Yularen, and Screed were all Judicials.  Orsen Krennic used Judicial Rangers when he rescued Galen Erso.
 
The end of the Clone Wars brought the nascent officer corp into its own replacing the Jedi as leaders of the Clone forces.  The Star Destroyers commanded by these officers were of the same shape as the Jedi fighters of the time, drawing comparisons that the new officer corp was the inheritor of the Jedi legacy.  Still, the same trepidation that had made the Military Creation Act difficult to pass at the start of the war prevented the unification of the entire military under direct Coruscant control.
 
Nominally, the emperor controlled the Galactic forces left over from the Clone Wars directly from Coruscant.  You can recognize these members as wearing double rank bars and often times being referred to as “fleet officers”.  The officers that wore single rank bars reported to the local sector moff and were under the oversight of the sector’s senator.  With 75% of the empire’s sectors being monitored by imperial senators, it is no wonder why Tarkin and Darth Vader were so concerned about word of the Death Star getting out.  

The officers that oversaw the construction of the Death Star were sector controlled, not controlled by Coruscant directly.  But as the sector moffs (and Grand Moff) of the out Rim Territories worked directly for the Emperor and none reported to a local senator since most of these territories were occupied worlds, they were able to operate with impunity and secrecy.  Direct connections to Coruscant control happened only through top admiralty: for example Krennic who was a fleet admiral.  The rest worked in silos, many of which never knew for what the final product was to be.  This was the time that the bulk of the Imperial Military was far from the core worlds and hidden in the shadows of the outer rim.
 

New moffs and admirals were being minted in this time.  Admiral Versio of the ISB is hailed not just for his activities as an intelligence leader, but as the person who brought his home world into the empire.  He was rewarded with a place not in sector politics, but a position in the expanding galactic fleet.  And his world had its military standardized to the Imperial model.
 

The difference between sector fleets and the galactic fleet has a real world comparison to the armies of the United States.  The National guards are commanded by the governors of their respective states, but do have a place in the hierarchy of the US Army in times of emergency.  They are trained by many of the same schools that their regular army colleagues are trained.  They wear the same uniforms for the most part with minor differences to distinguish them.  Most officer uniforms had specific sector insignia for the collars and hats they wore.
 

The elimination of the Imperial Senate removed the senators that provided oversight for the sector militaries.  The regional governors took direct control of their territories and their militaries reporting directly to the Emperor much like the regional governors of Rome took to reporting to their emperors.  The illusion of separation was over and the single bar rank system disappeared as did sector insignia.  Everyone wore double rank bars from then on out until the end of the empire five years later.  The Emperor had direct control of his empire then.
 
 

Today's acquisition.  Governor Tarkin and Doctor Ball

Grey uniforms... they have always been there, though they have meant different things and came different sources.  I am not about to say what is (because the shifting sands of what IS always changes), but will show how we got to this point and what happened along the way.
 
  The first grey officer we saw was in the movie A New Hope.  He wore a 451 style tunic, but with black breeches and a black hat like the ISB.
 
The same actor in the same uniform meets with Tarkin prior to the destruction of Alderaan.  
 
The first merchandised figure was the "Death Squad Commander" which was quickly renamed the "Star Destroyer Commander".  While this guy never showed up in the movies, he found himself in licensed material down through the years.  He is a special unit that can be built in the video game "Empire at War".
 
They also appeared in the comic adaptation of "Splinter of the Mind's Eye" as Vader's personal bodyguards.
 
The first description of who the grey uniformed officers were was found in the "Imperial Sourcebook" published by West End Games in 1988.  They were listed as the imperial Army.
 
The West End Games Death Star Technical Manual published in 1991 showed what Army soldiers looked like.  If you have seen the recent photos of the Mud Troopers in the upcoming Solo film, you will notice the similarities to the Trooper in Field Armor.  These were the books given out by Lucasfilm to guide new Star Wars authors like Timothy Zahn.
 
As the 1990s went on, grey uniformed officers showed up in the comics and in video games.
 
the early 2000's saw an Imperial Army general leading several officers in green while he was in grey.
 
General Zeiring ironically showed the promotion scale used today in the movies.  He promotes Lt. Sunbur to Captain, then commander... 
 
2008 saw the release of The Clone Wars with Clone officers in grey.  Human officers wore the green.
 
they reappeared in the Battlefront II game.
 
The first official return of the grey uniforms came with Governor Pryce of Lothal in the Rebels animated series.  The grey choice could be said to be something different than the Imperial Navy, but the real reason for the color of her uniform and the style and color of her hair is to mimic Colonel Doctor Spalko, the bad guy from the last Indiana Jones movie.  
 
Grey Uniforms started to appear in other areas.  Cadet Vanto in the Thrawn novel comic adaptation is shown in a grey uniform standing next to a green one.
 
The Imperial officers in Battlefront II are in army grey... and contrast with the green officers of the previous game.

I'll add to this over time.  The purpose was to show where all this stuff comes from. 

There is precedent even as recent as the new Battlefront 2 game where we saw an aqualish with the rank of Lieutenant.  The empire has used alien officers other than thrawn down through the years in comics, books and other sources.  We just never saw it on the big screen.

There is precedent even as recent as the new Battlefront 2 game where we saw an aqualish with the rank of Lieutenant.  The empire has used alien officers other than thrawn down through the years in comics, books and other sources.  We just never saw it on the big screen.

As I promised, I show you my article about Empire. It will be printed in May in "Nowa Fantastyka", Polish magazine about sci-fi and fantasy (I will show you photos when I receive my copy of the magazine) and thats why some information could be obvious for us. Everyone of you helped me in this answering on my question, so enjoy. 
 
Especially I thanks @trencher - he translated this text.
 
The imperial point of view
 
In Star Wars, the embodiment of the forces of evil is the Empire, and its symbol - fear-raising Darth Vader. However, when we look deeper, we will see that the Empire, to which even Ronald Reagan referred, is not as completely black as rebels paint them.
 
Long long time ago...
 
Episodes I-III show not only the fall of Anakin Skywalker and the birth of Darth Vader, but also political machinations, as a result of which the Republic was replaced by the First Galactic Empire. This would not have been possible without the corruption and bureaucracy that penetrated the republican Senate from the inside, making it impossible to make quick and efficient decisions. The proclamation of the new system took place in 19 BBY (before the battle of Yavin, as in the stellar world, a chronology is defined), when Chancellor Sheev Palpatine proclaimed himself an Emperor with the end of the Clone Wars.
 
The classic trilogy (episodes IV-VI) presents the final years of the Empire's existence and the fight of the Rebels with - as if not seen - a legal political system. It is actually a faint fragment of the stellar history, only a few years from almost twenty when the Emperor ruled. We get to know many events not through films, but through other sources - TV series, comics or novels. All this creates the so-called canon - a collection of stories that complement, explain and develop particular threads.
 
After the Disney label canceled the existing Extended Universe in 2014, closing it as an alternative story and describing it as Legend, new stories began to emerge. In this new canon, cinema films and the Star Wars emitted in the years 2008-2014: Clone Wars (121 episodes), as well as an animated film of the same title. Since then, the sequential brothers have joined the canonical filmmakers, the Rebels series (broadcast on television since 2014) and spin-offs (Rogue 1, Solo). How does the Empire present itself in this new universe? Very patchy.
 
Evil painted on the face
 
In the series Rebels, imperial officers are portrayed as a model example of incompetence and stupidity. Their very appearance deterred and shows that people in the army are arrogant, stupid and do not sin with their beauty. Fierce expressions of admirals Kassius Konstantine or Brom Titus say everything - the children to whom the series is directed, they immediately know who they are dealing with and learn that the evil is painted on the face (it looks a bit like propaganda illustrations from the Second World War world). If, however, a handsome man is found, he will soon find that he hesitates about the rightness of the chosen side and as a result he will turn to the enemy side. A model example is agent Alexandr Kallus, who served in the Imperial Security Office, who pretending to be a devoted imperial cause, in fact gave information to the rebels. When Grand Admiral Thrawn discovers his betrayal, Kallus easily (how else) runs away and for good adheres to the Alliance.
 
Unfortunately, the Rebels show that the Empire is not enough that it is stupid, it can be defeated by a group of beings simply believing in a just cause and in addition usually acting without any plan. Stormtroopers fail in the tunnel, encircling enemies and having them on the fork, death stormtroopers (members of the elite unit) box as often as ordinary soldiers, and in almost every episode destroy valuable imperial equipment - an important broadcasting station, destroyer or prototype TIE fighter. It is surprising that the Empire has survived almost twenty years.
 
English accent and German uniforms
 
The old trilogy shows the Empire as a masculine world. There is no woman in it (unless he hides under the helmet of a stormtrooper or TIE pilot), and men are classic officers, whom we associate with films about World War II - refined, stiff and very often talking with a British accent (which rather stems from the involvement of actors from Great Britain than the intended action). This is not the case in the first spin-off - Rogue 1, and judging from the trailer for Solo, it will be similar.
 
The Empire depicted in films is ubiquitous and dangerous. Tarkin's uncompromising decision to use the combat station and destroy the Alderaan planet is an example of imperial policy - government through fear. In turn, the battles at Scarif or Hoth show the military might and resources of the evil side. Of course, the moral imperative requires victory for the positive heroes, which is why the imperial counts "bloopers" - do not appreciate the determination of the opponent (Tarkin, Thrawn), too close destroyers (Admiral Gorin in the Battle of Scarif), too quickly come out of hyperspace (Admiral Ozzel) or they disregard the local fauna (Ewoks). However, it can not be denied that the Empire depicted in films can be a source of horror, not just the presence of Darth Vader or the Emperor.
 
In classic episodes there are no everyday scenes depicting ordinary life in the Empire. In New Hope, virtually all imperialists serve on the Death Star, in the Empire counterattack or Return of the Jedi, we see them again only in purely business and military situations. However, the change in the approach is announced by spin-offs. In the aforementioned Rogue 1 we can see what the imperial occupation looks like - officers are walking through Jedha City streets, as well as patrolling and checking the stormtrooper's documents. A day like every day, interrupted by terrorist attacks by Sawa Gerrera. The hope for a similar presentation of everyday life is given by Solo, in the trailer where the recruitment scene for the army is shown. And let there be more similar tastes.
 
Novels of the new canon
 
The new fictional canon focuses mainly on the events presented in the films, showing them from different points of view. Unlike the Enlarged Universe, the chronology is not excessively extended, but rather compressed into the period of decline of the Republic or Empire, often showing the young years of characters known from films (Leia, Princess of Alderaan by Claudia Gray, Tarkin and Catalyst by James Luceno) or the series (New Dawn of John Jackson Miller, Thrawn by Timothy Zahn). There are books referring to computer games (Battlefront II. Inferno Squad by Christie Golden), but there are also novels not directly related to films (Lost Stars by Claudia Gray) or showing the last days of the Empire and the time after its fall (Chuck Wendig Trilogy).
 
The time line slightly increases after the fall of the Empire and dates back to the times depicted in the new episodes, the Force Awakening and the Last Jedi, but these titles do not cover the subject of current considerations.
 
The new imperial canon
 
One can risk the thesis that the new canon is very imperial. Most of the novels take place around the economic consequences of the construction of the Death Star. These threads are quite important for the plot axes - after all, building a powerful battle station lasted several years, it required a lot of raw materials and financial outlays.
 
The Empire presented in the books is a political system in which only uncompromising individuals are found, endowed with a great deal of cunning. But although they often follow their own ambitions, they also try to create something better on their own worlds. Some planets have adopted a change in the political system with joy, seeing the benefits that flow from it (eg Vardos, from which Iden Versio comes from, the main character in the novel Inferno Squad and the Battlefront II game). What's more, the Empire is seen as bringing order to the chaos of the Clone Wars and corruption of the Republic - the scene from the novel Inferno Squad is featured, in which the girl runs in a crisis situation towards the stormtrooper, because for her it is a symbol of security. For many, the Empire is a guarantee of peace - only the rule of a strong hand is able to control the recent chaos.
 
Old friends and ambitious people out of nowhereB
 
By defining the old universe as an alternative story, a certain gate was left to itself. Every now and then they are chosen from more interesting threads or characters and are implanted in the new canon. The part changes diametrically (the way the Death Star plans were made became a canvas of a separate film, Rogue 1, but the old story was changed completely), the part retains virtually no major changes (Thrawn's character).
 
One of the most important old / new characters is the above-mentioned Grand Admiral Thrawn. A brilliant strategist, a connoisseur of art who believes that thanks to her knowledge he will defeat the enemy - it is impossible to hide that the fans missed him the most. The Thrawn trilogy of Timothy Zahn enjoyed (and still enjoys) a great esteem in the environment, and the acquisition of the Polish edition is nearly miraculous and involves a considerable financial expense. The Blue Admiral was reactivated for the needs of the Rebels series, but in a great way he also returned in Zahn's new novel, in which not only we can get to know his career in the Imperial Fleet, but also see how the service looks from the inside.
 
Another imperial, Wulff Yularen, the head of the Imperial Security Office, first appeared in New Hope for ... a few seconds. The character was developed in the Clone Wars to show it again in the Rebels series in white uniform. In Thrawn's novel, his role has been more developed, as well as the significance and influence of IBB itself (which is also characteristic of the new canon).
 
Wilhuff Tarkin, the great moff, gained even more importance than before. The Emperor rules with an iron hand, but with the help of his advisors, alone in the shadow, and the creator of the imperial doctrine plays the first violin. Tarkin appears not only in the context of building a combat station, but also in many other relevant situations, scrolling on the pages of subsequent novels.
 
The new imperial is above all people who find themselves in the system. They often come from insignificant worlds, and in the Empire they see a chance for their career and are able to use it. A great example is Ahrinda Pryce, who from the daughter of the owners of the mine on Lothal reaches the position of governor of this planet. This scheme includes Director Orson Krennic, the main coordinator of work on the construction of the Death Star, an architect and engineer who is able to manipulate people and uses those talents to work on the project.
 
But ambition is just one of the qualities appreciated in the Empire. Grand Admiral Rae Sloane, the heroine of the Wendig cycle The end and beginning, truly believes in the order and order that the Emperor's government brings to the Galaxy and tries to merge the remains of the fleet after his death. In turn, Iden Versio, the daughter of the head of IBB and propaganda artist, is brought up in the belief that current governments are the only right way to maintain peace (only the threat of extermination of her family world makes her turn away from her former comrades). Also, do not forget about Ciena Ree (Lost Stars), for whom the oath of the Empire binds her even in the face of its inevitable end.
 
It is also not difficult to notice that women are appearing more and more often in the ranks of the Empire. It's not that they were not there before - not many, but they did appear, though their competence left much to be desired. Currently, women not only serve in the army or Fleet, but also hold high positions, which they owe their skills.
 
What about the Empire?
 
From the moment when forty years ago Star Wars appeared for the first time, the infatuation of the Empire continues. This is also reflected in the costume organizations - the largest of them, Legion 501, associates over 12,000. active members around the world.
 
What is the result of this fascination with the oppressive, paranoid and authoritarian system of government? Many fans point primarily to the beauty of uniforms, armor and military equipment. With an imperial order, the rebels look like a bunch of random beings gathered in one place. In addition, the Empire has huge destroyers, characteristic TIE fighters, AT-AT majestic rolling machines and finally - the Death Star. Popularity can be compared to that enjoyed by German uniforms and military equipment from World War II (imperial uniforms were modeled on German ones). It is not without reason that the white armor of the stormtrooper is one of the most recognizable and most successful stellar costumes, just after the characteristic armor of Darth Vader.
 
An equally important aspect seems to be the fascination with evil, the desire to temporarily find yourself on the other side of the barricade, the realization of the fantasy of "being a villain" - usually the negative heroes have more complex characters and more interesting past. Significant (and still valid) is somewhere deeply convinced that the authoritarian system is a remedy for bigger problems (sooner or later every modern state will appear before the crisis of democracy, as Erich Fromm mentions in Escaping from Freedom), and ordinary citizens will give the opportunity to choose an illusory sense of peace and surrender to a stronger power.
 
What will the Empire be like in Solo? Sparse promotional materials show that the creators will probably follow the path delineated by Rogue 1 and show several scenes from everyday life under the Emperor's rule. The books show that the course is designed to present the Empire as a more gray than a black political system. Because life is not black and white, even in Star Wars.
 

I thought this conversation warranted a bit more than screengrabs, but rather a dedicated T pose in neutral lighting to help us better understand how Hask plays into the CRL's. Like others have said we haven't established Veers and others as CRL's (Save for Veers in armor which for who knows why isn't under this roof) so I can't say I agree with making Hask his own unique CRL yet. The uniqueness of the character seems marginal as I'm sure his body is identical to other game models save for the face. Regardless he will be useful in helping us develop our First Order developments. Since Dice was attempting to make what we see on screen we should be treating our game models and our film models as directly related otherwise comic references and such will each need their own CRLS to remain consistent across the Board.
 
Really brings out that charcoal grey. But hey if we make him his own CRL don't worry about keeping your uniform clean or shaving. Yikes!
 
 

I just had a friend pull it last night and render it. Not so sure it's a prototype but an interesting spot. My bet is cinematic vs in game models differences.
 
As for cinematics generally those are prerendered and can be slightly different and more detailed than in game models. It's been some time since I went through that doc but are there not more make officers running about? 
 
In regards to animated we have had the legion build and approve movie versions of animated characters since that is what they represent. Sure we can make it stylized like in clone wars but we know what they are imulating. If we keep along that path Hask and other in game models will have to have their own separate crls because the game looks this way and the real ones look this way. We don't make a game version if kylo with xcoser fabric, we make a TFA or TLG. Point being the game uniforms and the movie uniforms need to coexist in the same crl, otherwise you have a TFA, TLG, and BF2 costume varient. We don't do that for ANH, ESB, and ROTJ so much.

Piett is a main character. So is Veers (and arguably he has a different enough uniform to make it matter). So is Xamuel Lennox.
 
I think Morti is correct here:

I’ve been playing Battlefront 2 every day since it came out.  This past month they are rolling out updates and new skins for even the regular troopers. Size aside for gender, I can see the first order officer being a generic character for men and women with face characters being level 3 just like line and staff officers for the empire.  
 
That would be in line with what we already do 

For what it's worth, I'm not trying to debate that the differences between Hask and the Generic do not exist.
I'm saying: I can see no real reason why a separate CRL would need to be created for differences so minor. One CRL works for -all- First Order Captains and Lieutenants in the movies and I can't see why it wouldn't work here.
 
Admittedly I feel that FO Cap/LT does need updating with TLJ specifics - again in order to best explain and show the handful of differences to GML's should a costumer wish to portray a TFA officer (especially for Imperator/Executor here on the IOC). A few of us were going to get together and work on that when we had the energy and high quality versions of the movies to pore over. But I digress!

Krennic's CRL manages to cover three separate costumes. Three! Two as new configurations which by all rights could very easily have been their own CRL's. Even I fought for the raincoats to have their own CRL back in the day and I'm glad that the configurations proved me wrong.

I was also rather upset that we didn't get a Mitaka CRL, nor a Mitaka appearance specification. However the logic and reasoning behind -why-, made sense. It's not the outcome I wanted but its the one that was right for the CRL at the end of the day. I had a vested interest in "getting what I wanted" from that CRL being as I helped write the thing I will admit. But the same logic and reasoning behind both the configs for Krennic, and how the Lieutenant CRL was rolled out (re: face character stuff) seem to be vacant from this argument. :T That's what concerns me.

I'm going to see what I can do about getting models pulled from the game if that would help. Unfortunately the person I asked to get some model info in the past is on vacation so I might take some time. XD But again, I'm not debating at this point that there are no differences, so I'm unsure what further reference will achieve.

It's not that Mitaka was different from other Lieutenants.
It's that TFA Lieutenants are different from TLJ Lieutenants. And TFA didn't even have Captains for us to base any judgement on. The CRL had "Captain" added and was released shortly after TLJ came out, without any input from the IOC as a whole, discussion, etc.

And I wasn't naming any names or wanting to go back to exactly what happened when the CRL came out, just highlighting that if one CRL can do the job for a uniform with such a big number of variants between movies (and ranks) why would this one be any different?

I'll see what I can do with regards to getting a model pull from BF2 of the Generic and more high quality references etc. Bear with!

There's no doubt that Hask has more polys than the generic, you can see it in the edges of the costume (its super apparent in the curvature of the pants flares) but I still can't see them as being different costumes. :T

I appreciate that it was "intended" to be the Lieutenant, but clearly if you place the good shots we have now of movie Lieutenants next to Battlefronts officers, something got lost in translation.

If a character needs a certain number of differences from another uniform of the same rank, in order to warrant its own CRL, would this not then be applicable to the First Order Lieutenants and Captains from the movies? There is a far longer list of differences between TFA and TLJ grey uniforms, and yet not only do they have to share a rank, they all fall under one CRL rather than split between two CRL's. We didn't even HAVE captains available to us for reference when the CRL was published shortly after the release of TLJ and further analysis could be completed, but yet it got published anyway.

And I got it. I did. The costumes were -so similar- that yeah swap out the handful of differences and you're probably good. I was going to recommend or request a TLJ configuration to be added, since the list of differences is -so- broad, but there is ENOUGH THERE, for one CRL to do a vast majority of the work. Additionally, the Junior officer with one set of code cylinders could easily be a configuration. The vast majority is already there, configs are great and I love them, they work. Someone wants to be Canady? They'd use that CRL. Mitaka? Same CRL. If someone wanted to make and clear a Lieutenant and portray Finn in disguise! Same CRL!

I have to honestly ask why these two situations are being handled so differently.
 
Comparing the Infero Squad CRL's situation to this situation is like comparing chalk and cheese. There are massive differences in almost every single aspect of those character designs. They are individual and separate character designs. There is no argument there. Hask is the same guy in the same uniform as the generic. He's got more polys because he got the benefit of a few lines and didn't have the same ingame poly restrictions because he was fully pre-rendered. His textures are probably a vastly higher resolution as a result, too. It's still the same uniform. :T
 
I've not cleared a female character yet so I know exactly where you're coming from!

My proposed CRL text specifies that the princess seam placement is -suggested- to be in that location for women. I'm saying allow both, since the same uniform appears and shows both locations. It appears where it does on a character presenting as female, because of breasts. It's a fitting thing, and it makes complete sense logically why Hask doesn't have the same seam placement. You move seams around a little to match the body of the wearer, but its still a uniform. The seams are still there.

Different code cylinders is a higher level of clearance I would say, I wouldn't put it in basic at all, ergo it's not important or required enough of a detail to warrant a different CRL. If someone wanted to use specifically cylinders without clips, it's something for a higher clearance level I'd say, since requiring that is going to require a fully custom set of cylinders, and adds really very little to the costume outside of a very high level of accuracy. Which is what higher clearance levels are for.

Rank bars I've already covered. References exist for both, allow both. TLJ black uniforms "admirals" until we know otherwise, use General stripes for whatever reason. XD Allow both! And if you wanted to make the suit darker for specifically Hask, that's fine too. Charcoal grey matching on screen reference, is charcoal grey matching on screen reference.

 

Hmm, I definitely think that the differences in the references that someone could place side by side and compare will matter a lot. One set of comparisons could be entirely different from another set, depending on what you use.
 
Colour is a couple shades off. In footage of the generic officer running around Starkiller (The only time where both models appear in the same sort of lighting, cutscene or otherwise) the colours look similar. As with olive uniforms, and I foresee the same issue with grey FO movie uniforms, matching greys is going to be very difficult. It's a problem that will exist no matter the source of the costume. Especially depending on the references a person decides to use, it differs so wildly from lighting to lighting. Colour is already going to vary wildly from build to build. A CRL can only specify "charcoal grey" and as we've already seen from the Hask build thread, this can go all over the place. Unless we're going to require pantone colours which we've never done before. A person has to use their own judgement, based on what they see in the references they're working from, and their GML needs to clear it. I would put money on all future renditions of this costume, if lined up, would show an equal colour variance.
 
Rank bars are different, the generic appears to be stacked for some reason? Double thick? I covered this in my CRL proposal above. We've already had it suggested on the CRL thread for First Order Admiral (the black with the fold over at the front) that it contain both TFA and TLJ rank bars, since both are seen on that costume. How is this acceptable in that situation and not here?
 
Belt/Shoes - All of the leathers, whether they are shiny or not, or how shiny they are, is not really something I think should be adhered to for basic in any situation. Under that stipulation, the Hask CRL if he gets his own, would require a lighter set of leather belt, holster and boots (hat brim and gloves darker for some reason?) and if that is a specific difference between Hask/Generic that people want to point at when making a case for CRLs, I would want to very specifically see the specifics on leather in Hask's CRL. I feel that this is going to be subjective from person to person. "Belt/Boots/etc leather finish should match on screen references" should be enough? I also think that requiring a special, specific level of finish for Hask's belt, boots, and holster, is way above a basic clearance level. I'd even say Level 3. The difference in tone from his gloves and hat brim up there is enough to make the leather itself look grey, for example. That's a full custom set of boots, not just ImperialBoots Hux model, and a big ask.
 
Design - different construction? Aside from the fit of the uniform on the much slighter, smaller body of a woman, and the front princess seam placement (again, this is part of the tailoring and I can fully understand that placement decision from a design POV) I can't see where else it differs?
 
Code Cylinder hooks I'll admit isn't something I noticed, however considering the differences in Hask's code cylinders from First Order cylinders in general, and the fact that neither of the CRL texts proposed in this thread require the specific bent hooks that his have, clips or not shouldn't matter for basic. Not to mention I'd be concerned about keeping them in place since we'd have actual gravity to contend with rather than videogame magic.

We also have it from LFL that Hask is not special. He is a face character and he gets a few lines, but he is intended to be the same rank as the generics from multiplayer.

All it'd need, is this at the foot of a generic CRL with a front and back, just like Krennic's raincoat:
 
Established alternate configuration:
- Facial appearance, specifically hair, facial hair, and scarring.
- Rank Bar is the thinner variant.
- Front princess seams are to run around the outside of the code cylinders.
 
I think even requiring that a Hask spec have shinier leather components, or specific hooks on his code cylinders, is too much for basic. Unless configs could start having their own higher levels? Starts getting messy. You could go as far as specifying "- Charcoal grey fabric for the uniform should be darker" or something for the fabric here but I'm not sure it warrants it.
 
Four lines is all you need. :T

EDIT: In addition, that graphic there utilises shots of the generic under a vast array of different lighting situations. And one shot from character select where the model is a holo-projection so shouldn't count as a true ref for colour. Hask references utilise two from the same cutscene where he appears indoors, and one extremely high resolution render. It's not exactly the most balanced set of references to put next to one another. :S
 

Nobility has been part of the galaxy since long before the founding of the Old Republic, but there were no galactic nobility before the Emperor took control at the end of the clone wars.  Shortly thereafter the Emperor started to name nobility to supporters across the empire to create a system of Peerage.
 
The ascension of Chancellor Palpatine was not without precedent in the galaxy.  His own homeworld of Naboo was ruled by a series of Queens and Kings elected by the populace with a degree of authority stronger than a president or prime minister answerable to a legislature.  Palpatine HAD been elected to office and with no children, did not appear to be creating a hereditary monarchy.  The success of the Clone Wars brought in vast territories that had once been beyond the Empire’s reach.  The largest of these was the Outer Rim Terrirories, Hutt space, another region reorganized into what became the Corporate Sector Authority and effectively the Unknown Regions beyond the Western Reaches.  

With no direct representation in the Imperial Senate these regions were often under military rule or increasingly under control of appointed nobles and sometimes corporate charters.
 
There are at least three grades of nobility that have been found in the 40 years of Star Wars stories.
The first we saw was “Baron” with the appearance of Baron Tagge of the house of Tagge, a noble family that included General from the Death Star.  The head of the family Ormon Tagge controlled a vast industrial conglomerate that brought him a seat at the table governing the galaxy.  He proposed to organize the underpopulated region of space into the “Corporate Sector Authority” for proper exploitation by commercial interested.  The CSA had its own security services separate from the empire and the intruding eyes of the Imperial Senate.  As long as the correct taxes were paid into the imperial treasury, Tagge and his family had an independent fiefdom of their own. 
 
Baron Tagge jockeyed for the number two position to the emperor arguing that it should be him over Vader.  This lead to a confrontation where Vader challenged Tagge to a duel and blinded him with his lightsaber.  Tagge would spend the rest of his life practicing with a jedi lightsaber he acquired trying to become good enough to challenge Vader again and beat him.  Upon his death, a younger Tagge in the imperial military gained the title.
 
The Moff in charge of Cato Nemodia was also a Baron who had started as an imperial officer. 
 
Probably the most famous Baron was Soontir Fel of the 181st squadron, who gained the title after a military victory.
Pilots seemed to be the most popular recipients of the title based on their own accomplishments. 
 
Baron Valen Rudor was an imperial pilot on Lothal that received the title. 
 
The title would come with a baton of office and an estate.  Baron Fel’s estate would come from his home planet on Corellia.  Baron Rudor would receive an estate on Lothal.  Many times this estate would come from the confiscated property of citizens arrested and executed for treason.  Rudor would gain Old Jho’s Pit Stop establishment.
 
A second noble title was given exclusively to pilots the title of Tam.  The title of Tam was given to two pilots in the Star Wars universe Anikan Skywalker and Imperial Pilot Merrik Steele in the video game Tie Fighter.  Creating it as a title was a “retcon” by Pablo Hildago who found the mention of Skywalker in the old newspaper Star Wars serials from the 1970s.  The title for Maarik Stele came in the official companion guides for the game.  And a new title was born.
 
The third and final title is “Lord”.  Lord is usually used for a higher rank than Barons, but no title of Duke or Count is heard in the saga.  Darth Vader is not the only Lord in the Empire.  Lord Tion is an imperial Commodore that first appeared in the Radio drama of A New Hope in 1980.  He is the imperial commander of the subjugation of Raltier and was a suitor for the affections of Princess Senator Leia Organa. 
 
 
The title of a noble supersedes rank.  While an officer can be an admiral, captain, moff, or even a Lieutenant, they are addressed as Baron or even  “My lord”… even by superior officers, unless they are address by a noble of higher rank… which at this time is only the Emperor.
 
 
The purpose of nobility is to support the monarch and the structure that ensures continuity under that form of government.  The Empire passing at only 23 years old did not have the time to create enough peerage to continue this or maybe it was never intended to continue beyond the life of the Emperor as we see from the details of Operation Cinder.  Low level titles were given not so much to run the galaxy but to ensure loyalty and gratitude to the regime. 
 

I’ve been playing Battlefront 2 every day since it came out.  This past month they are rolling out updates and new skins for even the regular troopers. Size aside for gender, I can see the first order officer being a generic character for men and women with face characters being level 3 just like line and staff officers for the empire.  
 
That would be in line with what we already do