The aim and precision of a Stormtrooper.

[Locutus of Bored]

We're not talking about the real world, or else you should just skip the rest and follow my #8 suggestion and that would be the end of it. We're talking about the in-universe explanation up to and including all current materials preceding Rogue One, which includes AotC, RotS, The Clone Wars series, and Obi-Wan's experiences with the clones.

And while they didn't go into detail, we do know right from ANH that Obi-Wan was a general in the Clone Wars. At the time no one knew exactly what that meant and most thought the clones would be the antagonists throughout rather than originally being allies before turning on the Jedi, but the reference is still there to build on with information from the Prequels.

 

[Reverend]

Devil's Advocate: Obi-Wan didn't exactly say Stormtroopers are especially precise, just that the blast points were "too accurate for sandpeople", so the "only Imperial Stormtroopers are so precise" can be taken as a comparative statement, not an absolute. Yes I know, that's splitting the hair awfully thin, but I think it's a valid enough way to look at it.

 

[Skywalker]

Only a Jedi deals in absolutes.

 

[Lakenheath 72]

Mythbusters did a special on Star Wars in 2015. The experiment and the results.

By analyzing footage from the Star Wars films, Adam determined that the blaster bolts moved at an average speed of 130 miles per hour (210 km/h). Jamie built a pneumatic cannon to launch projectiles at this speed, testing various materials for safety and behavior in flight. Polyethylene foam slugs and standard Ping-Pong balls did not fly straight or reach the required speed, but foam balls with dart-like shafts and feathers performed satisfactorily.

They set up a replica of a Rebel ship passageway, 40 feet (12 m) long, with the launcher mounted in a stand and firing from one end to the other. When they test-fired on a Stormtrooper mannequin, they found the shots hitting far off target, suggesting a problem with the mass-produced shafts and feathers. Jamie replaced these with two wooden ice cream spoons, crossed to make the ball spin in flight, and was able to hit the mannequin consistently. Each man fired three shots at the other and hit him every time.

In a second trial, the shooter held the launcher in a "carry" position, with the barrel lowered, and had to raise it to firing position before each shot. Even with this change, neither Adam nor Jamie was able to dodge any of the shots. They classified the myth as busted, but watched as fencing expert Colby Boothmansuccessfully deflected some shots with a bamboo sword, noting that a Jedi knight could possibly protect himself with his lightsaber.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MythBusters_(2015_season)#Episode_236_.E2.80.93_.22Star_Wars_2.22

I have vague recollections of generals walking the front lines, not getting hit by bullets. I have, as well, a vague recollection of a close gun duel in which both fired at close range, like Han Solo and Greedo, and only one person dying. So, those have some basis in reality for me.

 

[M'rk son of Mogh]

Why is everyone believing what Obi Wan said about their precision anyways?
That guy rarely spoke the truth about anything, and even admit to it with his "well, from a certain point of view" speech.

"Only Imperial Storm Troopers are so precise... from a certain point of view."

 

[Mr. Adventure]

The plan was to put a tracking device into the Falcon to find the location of the rebel base so maybe those stormtroopers were tasked to very precisely narrowly miss their targets.

 

[The Wormhole]

Why is everyone believing what Obi Wan said about their precision anyways?
That guy rarely spoke the truth about anything, and even admit to it with his "well, from a certain point of view" speech.

"Only Imperial Storm Troopers are so precise... from a certain point of view."

But then what reason would he have to lie about that?

 

[J.T.B.]

This isn't how blasters work, though. Considering we can visually see and track blaster fire, it must move considerably slower than even a bullet.

Human eyes can "track" a bullet, at least at some velocities, but bullets don't usually reflect much light back to the eye. Under the right conditions, though, you can see them. I remember one late afternoon with the sun low watching jacketed .45 rounds fly downrange looking like coppery baseballs. Then of course there are tracers:

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

That said, as mentioned above analysis of movie frames shows the bolts move 100-200 feet per second, considerably slower than even the big, slow military .45, which is around 900 fps IIRC.

As to the main question: Star Wars was a movie pastiche and that's one of the fun things about it. Ben's comment was the equivalent of coming across a burned-out wagon in a Western and looking at the arrows to see which tribe had done it. Blaster bolts leave nothing behind to pick up and look at, of course, so they had to have Ben comment on the "blast points." And, enjoy.

 

[M'rk son of Mogh]

But then what reason would he have to lie about that?

That's easy. "Look at what we're up against! They're precise, they're scary, joining me and learning the ways of the force is the only way!"

It's a scare tactic to help convince Luke to join him on his quest and take the next steps to becoming a Jedi.

You can't trust Obi Wan. It's like that old joke, how do you know if Obi Wan Kenobi is lying? He opened his mouth.

 

[Galileo7]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Reverend]

That's easy. "Look at what we're up against! They're precise, they're scary, joining me and learning the ways of the force is the only way!"

It's a scare tactic to help convince Luke to join him on his quest and take the next steps to becoming a Jedi.

You can't trust Obi Wan. It's like that old joke, how do you know if Obi Wan Kenobi is lying? He opened his mouth.

As a rule Jedi don't use fear as a tool. Kenobi least of all. Your reasoning is faulty.

 

[M'rk son of Mogh]

As a rule Jedi don't use fear as a tool. Kenobi least of all. Your reasoning is faulty.

If Kenobi will lie about Luke's dad, he'll certainly find it worth it to lie to ensure the last Jedi will train to fight for the fate of the galaxy.

 

[Kahless the Unforgettable]

Easiest explanation: The Force protects people from the otherwise crack-shots amongst the stormtroopers.

Rogue One made it quite clear the Force plays a role in it; no one misses that easy of a target.

 

[Reverend]

If Kenobi will lie about Luke's dad, he'll certainly find it worth it to lie to ensure the last Jedi will train to fight for the fate of the galaxy.

There's a world of difference between garnishing the facts because a kid isn't ready for the full truth yet and blatantly lying to get your own way. I'm afraid what you have there old chap is a classic case of the false equivalencies. I prescribe bed rest and a course of critical thinking.

 

[Ithekro]

Imperial troops tend to be precise when attempting to knock out vehicles, which are usually quite large and troopers don't want to expend unnecessary time when taking out things like the tracks or motors will be enough to ensure the thing stops. Clone Troopers would do this too with the droid armies if they could get the chance, especially since some of the Separatist droids has specific weaknesses that required the clones to take out specific parts of the droid to knock it down (these are the larger droids, not the rank and file battle droids). That is if a Jedi didn't just slice it up for them first.

Of course they have to hit the target first, but when they do it tends to be a vital spot if they can help it. Fortunately, Jawa Sand Crawlers usually don't go drag racing in the sands. Usually.

 

[Reverend]

Imperial troops tend to be precise when attempting to knock out vehicles, which are usually quite large and troopers don't want to expend unnecessary time when taking out things like the tracks or motors will be enough to ensure the thing stops. Clone Troopers would do this too with the droid armies if they could get the chance, especially since some of the Separatist droids has specific weaknesses that required the clones to take out specific parts of the droid to knock it down (these are the larger droids, not the rank and file battle droids). That is if a Jedi didn't just slice it up for them first.

Of course they have to hit the target first, but when they do it tends to be a vital spot if they can help it. Fortunately, Jawa Sand Crawlers usually don't go drag racing in the sands. Usually.

Yeah there's also the point that Sand People wouldn't have the expertise to target specific components on the crawler, so the damage is going to be more spread out and random, whereas troopers know where to target, thus the damage patterns are more precise and focused on the exposed power systems.

It's the difference between a car looking like Bonnie & Clyde's car after the Feds were done with it and a car that has a single .50 cal hole through the engine block.

 

[matthunter]

Yeah, it's hero insurance, not actual inaccuracy. They cut down the Tantive V's crew easy enough.

And once Finn gets his hands on a blaster in TFA he immediately scores 3 for 3 in taking down his former comrades.

 

[Reverend]

Yeah, it's hero insurance, not actual inaccuracy. They cut down the Tantive V's crew easy enough.

And once Finn gets his hands on a blaster in TFA he immediately scores 3 for 3 in taking down his former comrades.

Well the boarding operation on the Tantive IV wasn't exactly what you'd call highly tactical. They just overwhelmed the Alderaanian forces with sheer numbers. I mean just look at how many trooper bodies Vader had to step over at the airlock.

As for Finn: they've made a point that the First Order troopers have had a much better, more consistent standard of training.

 

[Ithekro]

First Order troopers have a lifetime of training in a similar manner as the Clone Troopers did, just it takes longer since the kids still grow up normally rather than accelerated. Imperial Stormtroopers don't have nearly as much training even if they managed to be recruited as teenagers.

 

[Skywalker]

The First Order's stormtroopers are kinda like if the Hitler Youth grew up to become the elite Waffen-SS. The Empire's stormtroopers seemed to have been handled more like the Red Army was in World War II: overwhelm the enemy with vastly superior numbers, regardless of any deficiencies in training or defense. Like Imperial TIE fighters, for them it was more about quantity than quality.