...and I'm not talking about in SWM play!

So - there are the 10 factions (including Fringe) that are available within SWM, and the discussion of 'Best Faction' has been had in terms of pieces, synergy etc., but I wanted to know what y'all thought about this'n: looking at those 10 factions in terms of the Star Wars Universe (Movies, books, comics, lunchboxes etc.), which of the ten factions is the best? If you have a top three, list 'em.

That's all... carry on men.

Ooo... I like it!

My list would be the following three fractions

1: Mandalorians - Mandalorians have influnced the galaxy for ages, starting from the mandaolrian wars, to the scattered mandalorians during the rebel vs imperial war, to the new mandalorians that fought against the vong. Mandalorians are the spartans of the star wars universe. None of them have force (for the most part), yet they still are able to chop down jedi's and sith left and right. The Mandalorians single handly almost conquered the jedi during the mandalorian wars, however they were uncessful because of Revan. This just shows there brutal fighting skill, they were able to kill countless jedi and sith. Clone Troopers were clones of a Mandalorian leader, which we all know that the clones brought the destruction of the jedi. And lets not forget that the Mandalorians also pushed the vong way back in there invasion. Mandalorians have with stood the test of time against any era, there simply the strongest and best fraction of all time.

2. The Empire - The empire was able to do what no othere group before there time had been able to accomplish, and what no fraction up to date has been able to do. Remove the jedi from power, and eliminate them. The imperial forces swept threw the galaxy, and at one time controlled the whole galaxy. The Empire is easly the most recognizable fraction to. Even if you have never watched Star Wars, everyone knows that the tall guy with the deep voice in what looks like a robot suit, is Darth Vader (The Best Jedi-Sith of all time), and everyone nows what a stormtrooper is. The Empire is simple one of the greatest fractions of all time.

3. The Fringe - I don't think most people would agree with this choice, however think about this. The fringe have affect the galaxy at every single era. They were helpers and killers during the time of the old republic. Think about Atton, Mira, and HK-47. Thin about how big of a part they played in just that time alone. SWM's has Atton and Mira on the Old Republic, however if you know there characters from the video game Knights of the Old Republic, then you would now that Mira is a bounty hunter and Atton is a mercenary. HK - 47, well he's just programmed for death. Think about the fringe from the clone wars era. Aurra Sing, Cad Bane, Zam Wesell. Think about how much these three people alone affect things in the Star Wars universe. Don't forget these fringe, the most noticeable of all. Jabba the Hutt, Boba Fett, IG-88. If jabba didn't put a bounty on Solo, he never would of been found by vader, and luke wouldn't of got his hand chopped off. Think about what would of happened if Fett hadn't of tracked them to Cloud City. Also thin about Cade Skywalker and the huge affect he had on the New Republic and the Impire. The Fringe have affected the galaxy hugly at every single turn.

This is my list of the three most influincial and powerful fractions of all time.

Obviously I agree with your choice, see my entry, but I would state that Luke also came back from the Dark Side. It's often glanced over in recent EU novels, but the Dark Empire comics had Luke turning and coming back.

I enjoyed your assessment of the Galactic Empire. I didn't choose them primarily for their short reigh, but I like the points you use to support them as your #1. Nice.

1 - Imperials (Palpatine timeline) - Hard to argue with the efficiency and success while at its peak. The stories mostly focus on the efforts to overthrow the regime, but many worlds (especially Outer Rim) probably didn't care who exactly was in charge, just that there was some peace and order. Even in the prequels, we see that the Republic did not care for the Outer Rim too much. NR had too many issues and infighting among systems to hold it all together well. Although I never liked the character of Palpatine (pre-emperor) you gotta give him credit for orchestrating the whole war and following Empire with a ready-made brute squad of troopers. A planned government like that with a clear goal in mind does bring order to the chaos. Not agreeing with the character or the actions, but a solid faction at the time and conditions in the galaxy. Plus some really great characters.

2 - Fringe - It's what makes up the galaxy. Without these guys, there would just be a couple battles now and again between the other factions and nobody else would care. Plus, bounty hunters and Cantina aliens! Such a diverse group of species and abilities. The backbone of the SW galaxy and the glue that holds the game together. Although some of the other characters are more memorable and contributed to major events, the Fringe are always there and play their part in their own way.

3 - Rebels - Some of the most memorable characters and the basis of the calendar timeline in-Universe. Everything is dated from their actions. Just a great David-Goliath storyline that everyone wants to believe in so the faction touches people. Goes with seeing ANH first that these were the true good guys and the heroes you are supposed to like. All the rest seems to be stories to explain what lead up to the Rebellion or what was the aftermath. Might have a different perspective if I was introduced to the galaxy through another medium.

Although the Sith were very powerful individually and some of the most powerful beings in the galaxy, as a faction they don't play nice together. Kinda goes with the territory. NR never really had a solid control over the galaxy to maintain peace and too many splinter groups while in charge. Seps were just tools in Palpatine's grand scheme of things. Too many groups within to have the cohesiveness needed to make my list. OR and Republic had some very powerful Jedi over time and was in control of the whole galaxy for long stretches of time, but had major weaknesses, too that were often exploited. Vong and Mandos - I never fully accepted them as separate factions. lol Would much rather have seen them a subsets (ala Black Sun or Dejarik) that work well together but part of the Fringe. Mandos play all sides of the good vs evil storyline but never have aspirations, on the whole, to be the one faction to step up and be leaders of the galaxy. Vong just don't fit well overall and were one invading group that never fully won.

Hmmm, interesting question.

1) The Empire.

I really don't think anyone can argue against the raw effency that the empire did in terms of stablizing all the territories. While a lot of that was done though heavy handed tactics, they proved to be very effective at mantaining the peace for much of that period, not to mention building a very impressive army over the course of two decades. With a powerful Sith at the heam, there was nothing they could not do. Even though Palpatine probably never intended them to, they continued to function without him or another overlord at the hem for a considerable time afterwards, only the greed and general devide of the Moffs bringing them down.


As said, the same guy who built them (Palp) was the same guy who lead to their downfall. Still, they are respectable of much honour.

2) Seps

Leadership issues aside, they could have ended up winning the war had Palp not set up methods to keep the republuic in the fold. The raw number of units with one of the greatest genus's of his time, Grevious, would have utterly ruined the Republic and the moral effect of their army being millions upon millions of droids would have prevented any rebellion.

They definately had the wealth and numbers to succeed though they would have crumbled as a Goveriment once the war had been won due to them all being self serving sarlacs. Plus they were only really an eventral instument to make one user fall to the dark side and kill all the others, so whatever.


3) Clone army (Republic): Very effient at fighting and fluidly organised, with each troop being increadably loyal and trained, I would say that they would have continued to be successful troops had the cloners not gone rogue during the empire and cloning outlawed. Effical? No, effective? Yes. With the super hero Jedi at the front for most of their existance, there was nothing these guys could not do. Only the practically innumberable army of the seps could have been a match for this very effient fighting machine.


Rebels: Some of the greatest millitry leaders and determined resistance lead to them successfully sweeping the empire off of their feet, though I list them under the seps for not only lacking the manpower, but almost being wiped out several times. (Battle of Yarvin, Battle of Hoth, Battle of Endor were all very near misses for them. In the first two battles, the empire easily could recover their losses over time.) Plus they were generally unlucky after that. The only reason I rate them at 4 is because they defeated number 1. Whether it is though luck or not is irrvent.

Mandolorians: While these guys undoubtably knew how to fight a war and had a very effect system of carrying orders, they had driven themselves to extiniction multiple times. Plus since the cartoon apprently is a form of canon, it's a case of "good god! Where is their sense of identiy!" Plus, they ultimately had no masterplan when they did take over everything.

Ultimately, as a faction that had tried to take over the republic, they were little more then barbarians that knew how to fight, but did not know how to maintain a eco system, at least thats the impression I got.


Sith: Less said about their greed, the better. They utterly stab themselves in the back every single time. I can't see how such a stupid socity could exist. The sith culture just does not make much sense beyond the rule of two.


I don't have any comment on the Vong as I have not read their material.

Very valid point, and that whole bit is a bigger disappointment than anything else in SW, especially factoring in the prequels. The entire story is the rise and fall of Anakin and the climax of the series where he battles his son and then redeems himself just seems like a subplot. It's completely overshadowed by Indiana Jones and the teddy bears.

Anyways, back on topic, here are my 3.

1 - The Old Republic - Oh yeah, I said it. They held the Galaxy together far longer than anyone else did.

2 - The Empire - Ruthless and effective, for the most part : )

3 - Mandalorians - I wouldn't mess with them.

While we will never know what would have happened if the Emperor had not died, this video shows one possible result: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdClJNrOjh0

As for my top factions:

1. Mandalorians. I just love the culture, and the amazing warriors. Just too bad about the New Mandalorians in CW.

2. Sith. Amazing villains, never really beaten.

3. New Republic. Pretty much fixed all the problems with the Republic (GA era). A whole bunch of powerful Jedi, and they were able to survive fare greater challenges.