Being a general in the Galactic Empire can be a thankless and precarious position; they are held to the highest standards, responsible for any failures of their subordinates, and subject to intense scrutiny by higher authorities. Few have risen to this post more ably than General Veers, deemed a tactical genius and responsible for a number of great victories, most notably the assault on a rebel base on the frozen planet of Hoth. Accompanied by terrifying snowtroopers trained and equipped for this hostile environment, Veers is an exemplary officer.
Veers represents a certain breed of Imperial officer, one steeped in the discipline and hierarchy of the military and with firm conviction toward the cause of galactic subjugation. He has proven to be stalwart and unflinching even in interactions with such terrifying individuals as Darth Vader. His confidence played a part in his success during the attack on Hoth, guiding his forces in a surface assault against the shield generators powering the energy shield which protected the rebels from bombardment. Though he appeared to have been taken out of commission by a stray snowspeeder crashing into his AT-AT’s cockpit, rumor has it the stalwart general survived to resume his duties elsewhere.
You Have Your Orders is a phrase that sums up Veers’s approach to command, always prepared to perform his mission and expecting his subordinates to follow suit, advancing on the enemy fearlessly and without delay.
This and several other of his abilities augment the mobility and survivability of the stormtroopers under his command, which on Hoth included his favored snowtroopers. I Will Have Results is an especially flexible Active ability, not only providing a bonus Dash to a Stormtrooper Supporting Character, but granting a Hunker token, removing a condition, or offering a bonus attack. Prepare For a Surface Attack allows Veers to place troops in an advanced position while being held in reserve and gaining improved defense rolls while readying for their part in the attack. We Are The Storm is Veers’s Identity ability which facilitates his well-planned assaults on key objectives. A result of shelling from nearby assets like his famed AT-ATs, this ability can entirely disrupt an enemy’s hold on an objective, unleashing blasts that will either drive defenders away or inflict punishing damage.
Veers is famed as an officer and commander, not as a brawler or personal combatant. But his prowess is not to be denied, especially for someone of his rank and authority. As a longstanding veteran, Veers can hold his own while guiding the troops on foot. This can be seen in both of his effective Stances.
His Lay Siege Stance is the more aggressive of the two, utilized while on the assault against objectives, providing greater ranged attack and defense stats while being slightly diminished in melee. His Combat Tree and Attack Expertise Chart in this Stance focus on damage but he also gains some potential Heals, including from his Battle Armor, as well as options to Shove or Strain the enemy, and possibly Reposition if needed or gain a free use of I Will Have Results. Let the Rabble Come is a more defensive Stance, helping facilitate his survival when battle devolves into a close melee. In this Stance, Veers inflicts slightly less damage but can more readily Heal himself and continue the brawl against those who engaged him.
Wherever you see General Veers, you will find him accompanied by hand-picked stormtroopers. On arctic worlds like Hoth, this will be his snowtroopers. Tactically, it helps that they blend into the ice and snowstorms making them difficult to spot until it’s too late.
Squads of snowtroopers are led by capable lieutenants. These officers have undergone training to rely on terrain-appropriate gear to ensure their soldiers can Press On toward the foe, shrugging off debilitative conditions. Under a lieutenant’s Commanding Presence even regular troopers can be pushed past their limits and ignore enemy attempts to inhibit them. Dogged Assault allows nearby stormtroopers to take cover after attacking. And like other stormtroopers, the lieutenant demonstrates how Only Imperial Stormtroopers Are So Precise, benefiting from Sharpshooter [1].
The Disciplined Assault Stance is simple and straightforward, offering a Combat Tree with a balance of damage and Heals, as well as giving the chance to Expose or Shove the foe, and possibly allow the lieutenant to Reposition. Lieutenants possess slightly better combat stats than regular Snowtroopers, as is expected with their seniority.
Regular Snowtroopers may not be as flashy as specialist troops, but they are resilient and effective. Snowtroopers can endure a bit of added difficulty to commit to Forced March, shrugging off a condition that might otherwise impair their advance. They also have access to Assault Tactics to accept similar pressure to augment ranged attacks via a free focus action, and possess the customary Sharpshooter perk that should be a given since Only Imperial Stormtroopers Are So Precise.
Wherever Snowtroopers march, snowstorms follow, letting them bury their foes by the execution of Blizzard Tactics. Or at least, that’s the theory. As might be expected, this Stance is similar to Stormtroopers’ Assault Tactics but differs in subtle ways, such as an Attack Expertise Chart focused on directly damaging foes rather than Pinning them down.
Leaders of the Galactic Empire should do more than reserve General Veers and his Snowtroopers for battles on Hoth. They are impressively effective on many other worlds and climates, and certainly deserve a vacation from the arctic cold from time to time.
That’s all for today’s Databank Download, but be sure to check back for more previews of your favorite Star Wars™: Shatterpoint characters. The Maximum Firepower Squad Pack is available for pre-order at your local game store.
Until next time, Atomic Mass Transmissions, signing off!