In ANH, we saw Sandtroopers.
In ESB, we saw Snowtroopers.
In ROTJ, we saw Scout-troopers (also known as Biker Scouts).
We also saw the Imperial Bodyguard, whom I've heard are the best recruits from the Stormtrooper ranks. I don't know if they really count, though -- they're sort of a step-up from Stormtroopers. Woulda been nice to see them in action, though.
What other kinds of Stormtrooper variants are there?
I wonder what the career of a Stormtrooper is -- go to Stormtrooper boot camp, graduate, then serve as a Stormtrooper in various fields (hot weather climates, cold weather climates, etc.) or go to specialized academies? "Okay, in Snowtrooper Boot Camp you'll learn how to build an igloo with nothing more then your hands ..."
Those shielded, turbolaser-equipped droids from TPM are far more capable... one wonders why those were never used by the Empire (the real reason probably being a limited budget and ditto SFX technology).
[ October 30, 2001: Message edited by: Mojo Jojo ]
If your unit is assigned to a desert area, then you would wear the Desert Terrain Uniform.
Also, tie-pilots wear helmets similar to storm troopers but black. and AT-AT pilots do as well, but white with the imperial emblems on either sides of the forehead.
"Aquatic Assault Troopers/Sea-Troopers
Dark Troopers – are so well-equipped that they constitute powerful self-contained weapons platforms.
Radiation-Troopers – work in radiation zones
Sand Troopers/Desert Troopers – troopers who have been trained in desert tactics, they wear temperature-controlled body gloves underneath their protective armour to help them keep cool while working in blistering heat.
Scout Troopers – although lightly armoured, are highly mobile marines usually assigned to Imperial garrisons. They use speeder bikes to patrol perimeters, perform reconnaissance missions, and to scout enemy locations. To assist them when travelling at high speeds, scout troopers wear specialised helmets equipped with built-in macrobinocular view plates and sensor arrays that feed into computers that analyse terrain instantaneously to help navigation.
Snow-Troopers/Cold Assault Troopers – trained and equipped to do battle in frozen environments. They wear the basic white armour equipped with powerful heating and personal environment units, terrain-grip boots, and face-shielding breathing masks.
Spacetroopers/Elite Zero-g Troopers – Each trooper utilises armour and equipment that enables them to function as if they were an independent spacecraft, to withstand the vacuum of space, to propel themselves through space, and to attack and breach nearly any target.
Storm commandos/black-armoured scout troopers
Stormtroopers – shock troops of the Empire."
Basically there are stormtroopers trained for every contingency and we've only seen the tip of the iceberg in the films and novels.
Well if the Empire was going up against the Jedis, perhaps the droids were too susceptible to the force (not to get into the whole control center thing). Perhaps the Sith could project their will more effectively with meat machines like troopers than droids.
[ October 30, 2001: Message edited by: Balaam Xumucane ]
quote:
...perhaps the droids were too susceptible to the force...
1). If one Force Push can send a 1000+ kg. droid (they've got to be heavier than ordinary stormtroopers) flying through the air, those poor little bits of Cannon "Stormtrooper" Fodder would be blown away like leaves in the wind
2). I think that weak-minded troopers would be a little bit more susceptible to Jedi mindtricks ("these aren't the droids you're looking for" ) than hardwired battlebots 
3). Regarding that control center nonsense... robots like C3PO are completely autonomous and self-powered, so I find it hard to believe that an army of combatdroids would have to be controlled (a la Command&Conquer) from upstairs.
It might be cheaper to build the robots to function from the command ship. Another aspect: this would prevent the Battle Droids from thinking about what they were doing. Perhaps the Trade Federation has had, in the past, problems with Droids deciding, "Hey, I don't want to be a soldier anymore, don't I have rights?"
quote:
Originally posted by USS Vanguard:
dark troopers are robots/cyborg/droids though. not quite the same.
Yes, but I've read somewhere (Star Wars: Supremacy?) that the Dark Troopers are normal troopers that are very slightly Force-sensitive and in exoskelatal suits that boost their abilities. Of course we all know from the game "Dark Forces" that they are really robots, but remember the last one that Kyle fought was the General in a exo-suit? Anyways . . . I'm not fussed and actually prefer the robot-theory - they're meaner that way and more menacing! 
Say, can anyone please confirm where I might have read about the Dark Troopers being normal troopers with Force & suits?
I'll just post the entire page. This descroption is word for word people!!!
Dark Trooper
Few know the details of the infamuos Dark Trooper project. The files were heavily encrypted. The imperial engineers were sworn to secrecy. And the rebels who faced the machines in combat never lived long enough to pass on any information.
All except one-Kyle Katarn, commando and Jedi knight. Katarn's briefings to Alliance Command, coupled with classified data sliced by Bothan spies, have revealed critical facts about the Empire's ambitious attempt to create "super stormtroopers." Through Katarn downplays his accomplishments, it appears he nearly single-handedly derailed the entire undertaking.
The Dark Troopers were the brainchildren of General Rom Mohc, a decorated Imperial officer obsessed with personal combat. He vociferously protested the construction of the Death Star, arguing that all soldiers deserved the chance their enemy one-on-one. When the Death Star detonated above Yavin, Moch was given the perfect opportunity to advance his cause.
Several dozen of Mohc's mechanical men swiftly went from prototype to finished version aboard the Arc Hammer-a titanic spacegoing constuction facility completed at the starship yards of Kuat. The droids' first combat test, a brutal one-sided massacre, utterly decimated a Rebel base on Talay. An impressed Darth Vader ordered Mohc to continuewith production.
The battle droids had three distinct stages, each one suitable for armed comflict. The Phase One Dark Trooper, little more than a metal skeleton, was primitive but relentless. It's structural frame, forearm shield, and razor-edged carving blade were cast from phri, an exceptionally durable alloy found primarily on the moons of the Gromas system.
The Phase Two was a standard combat unit. It's additional phrik body shell made it tougher than the Phase One, while its repulsorlift engine and flight jets gave it supirior maneuverability in the air. Each Phase Two carried a devastating assault cannon that fired plasma shells and long-range explosive rockets.
The Phase Three was conceived as the ultimate Dark Trooper, and Katarn claims he faced only one. It appears likely that this unit, stationed aboard the Arc Hammer, was the only finished prototype for a planned, but uncompleted, line. Even more massive than the Phase Two, this unstoppable behemoth sported a nasty cluster of firing tubes connected to a seemingly endless supply of seeker missiles. These rockets, while slow, homed in on a target's heat signature and packed enough detonite to obliterate the strongest personal shielding. The Phase Three prototype was designed to operate independently but could also be worn by a Human operator as an exosuit.
Katarn's destuction of the Arc Hammer cost the Empire billions of credits and marked the death of the Dark Trooper project. Emperor Palpatine, still smarting from the loss of the Death Star, was so infuriated by the newest setback that he refused to approve funding for a new construction facility.
I hope you guys appreciate me taking 10 minutes to write all this down!!! My neck is sore from looking at the monitor then turing to look at the bokk over and over. You gotta love these Essential guide books! I have the ones for Droids, Vessels and Vehicles, and Alien Species.
[ October 31, 2001: Message edited by: MIB ]
. . .
Ah! Just remembered that there is no supscription fee . . . Carry on!
But, seriously, Dark Trooper aside (they don't count, being robotic ...)
We've got ...
Stormtroopers
Scout Troopers
SeaTroopers (Aqua)
Spacetroopers
Sandtroopers.
Wow. Empire spends a lot of cash on uniforms. One would think they could spare some money for TRAINING.
And, TARGET PRACTICE.
Then again, that could just be me.