# Why does Captain Phasma get to pimp her armor in Star Wars:TFA? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 18, 2017, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-captain-phasma-get-to-pimp-her-armor-in-star-wars-tfa/791576 "2017-07-18T16:08:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-captain-phasma-get-to-pimp-her-armor-in-star-wars-tfa/791576/1 "2017-07-18T16:08:14Z")
Why is the character of Captain Phasma from Star Wars: The Force Awakens the only stormtrooper wearing custom chrome armor? Her military job seems to be that of “head stormtrooper”, but if that is the case “captain” seems to be a relatively low rank for a garrison the size of the one on Starkiller Base. I’d expect something like “commander” or “colonel”. Or some sort of NCO rank like “Master Chief”. Is it “officer” armor, but Phasma is the only officer who doesn’t wear the standard black Nazi uniform? Is it “girls” armor? It just seems strange that what I would assume is a mid-rank officer (or anyone in the First Order) just gets to customize their uniform. I know the actual answer is we, the audience, need to be able to recognize her character in her role as “bad ass on-site stormtrooper combat commander”. ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-captain-phasma-get-to-pimp-her-armor-in-star-wars-tfa/791576/2 "2017-07-18T16:31:42Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Her military job seems to be that of “head stormtrooper”, but if that is the case “captain” seems to be a relatively low rank for a garrison the size of the one on Starkiller Base. I’d expect something like “commander” or “colonel”. Or some sort of NCO rank like “Master Chief”. Well, you’re thinking “Army Captain”, whereas in the Navy the Captain is the boss of the whole ship. So perhaps it’s a Navy style title and not an Army style rank. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-captain-phasma-get-to-pimp-her-armor-in-star-wars-tfa/791576/3 "2017-07-18T16:33:03Z")
Because it looks awesome. In-universe, there’s either some flexibility for stormtrooper commanders and they can choose their armor, or all stormtrooper commanders wear special armor of some sort. As for her rank, not sure. I always assumed all stormtroopers were enlisted – perhaps with the most experienced as NCOs (sergeants and the like) – and thus perhaps Phasma is that very rare commissioned officer who still fights as a stormtrooper. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-captain-phasma-get-to-pimp-her-armor-in-star-wars-tfa/791576/4 "2017-07-18T16:33:51Z")
When I first watched the movie, I assumed she was a commissar–some sort of thought police. She was concerned about why a soldier did not perform in combat, and ordered more training/programming. And giving a commissar a distinct uniform makes sense, since it’s not unusual for inspectors/auditors to have a different command structure than regular soldiers. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-captain-phasma-get-to-pimp-her-armor-in-star-wars-tfa/791576/5 "2017-07-18T16:50:08Z")
Adding to what **Pleonast** said, I suspect that both her and Kylo Ren were outside of the normal command structure, and that not-the-Emperor had both of them in place to keep an eye on each other as well as on the regular troops. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-captain-phasma-get-to-pimp-her-armor-in-star-wars-tfa/791576/6 "2017-07-18T16:56:55Z")
According to [Wookiepedia](http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Phasma%27s_armor), the chrome was salvaged from Palpatine’s personal ship and was pretty much a status symbol. “Look at how powerful I am that I can rock a custom rig.” ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-captain-phasma-get-to-pimp-her-armor-in-star-wars-tfa/791576/7 "2017-07-18T17:20:18Z")
In most armies, Captain is the highest rank you will probably see actually fighting on the ground. Higher than that and they tend to be back from the front line or have a more strategic command. My thoughts are that she refused promotions because she prefers to be fighting. I doubt many with higher ranks can push her around too much. When discussing Finn’s punishment after his fleeing, Hux seems to be trying to give her shit about how she handled him after his issues in the first scene. Her comeback with with ‘it was his first offense.’ always seemed to carry an undertone of 'Listen, tightcollar, I mange hundreds of troops who need discipline issues from peeing at an unassigned time to potoential treason. So don’t go telling me I need to crack down on some rookie who took his helmet off and didn’t fire when ordered in a non-combat situation. If we killed for every offense like that we’d have no troops for you to send around. Don’t like it? Then go whine to the hologram with bad-hair boy" ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-captain-phasma-get-to-pimp-her-armor-in-star-wars-tfa/791576/8 "2017-07-22T21:14:13Z")
I’m re-watching Force Awakens now and thought of this. According to wookipedia: > **[Phasma](https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Phasma)** > > Phasma, a human female stormtrooper captain of the First Order, grew up as a member of the Scyre clan on the nuclear-ravaged world of Parnassos, where she became a formidable warrior, eventually becoming the clan's military leader. Seeking passage... “She served as part of the unofficial commanding triumvirate for the First Order.” So I’d guess she gets to do what she wants. Plus, what **Johnny Bravo** says, that’s pretty bad-ass. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-captain-phasma-get-to-pimp-her-armor-in-star-wars-tfa/791576/9 "2017-07-22T22:33:07Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Why is the character of Captain Phasma from Star Wars: The Force Awakens the only stormtrooper wearing custom chrome armor? > > Her military job seems to be that of “head stormtrooper”, but if that is the case “captain” seems to be a relatively low rank for a garrison the size of the one on Starkiller Base. I’d expect something like “commander” or “colonel”. Or some sort of NCO rank like “Master Chief”. > > Is it “officer” armor, but Phasma is the only officer who doesn’t wear the standard black Nazi uniform? > > Is it “girls” armor? > It just seems strange that what I would assume is a mid-rank officer (or anyone in the First Order) just gets to customize their uniform. > > I know the actual answer is we, the audience, need to be able to recognize her character in her role as “bad ass on-site stormtrooper combat commander”. We also had that one trooper that used whips, so since its not really an imperial force in the old school fashion, I’m surprised there is not much more customization. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-captain-phasma-get-to-pimp-her-armor-in-star-wars-tfa/791576/10 "2017-07-22T23:09:19Z")
Regardless of the reason for her armor, it appears to make her spectacularly inept even by normal stormtrooper standards. After being built up as some kind of supersoldier, the onyly function she appears to serve is being captured and then thrown down a garbage chute. Another J.J. Abrams special turd in the Soup of Pointless Cool. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-captain-phasma-get-to-pimp-her-armor-in-star-wars-tfa/791576/11 "2017-07-22T23:34:27Z")
Because they were trying to recapture the lightning in a jar of Boba Fett fandom except with a female character, and failed spectacularly. (And as already mentioned, she was even less competent than Boba Fett, willing to turn traitor on her whole movement the first time she found herself in danger.) ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-captain-phasma-get-to-pimp-her-armor-in-star-wars-tfa/791576/12 "2017-07-22T23:37:58Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > After being built up as some kind of supersoldier, the only function she appears to serve is being captured and then thrown down a garbage chute. Another J.J. Abrams special turd in the Soup of Pointless Cool. > > Stranger Sort of following in the footsteps of Darth Maul… ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-captain-phasma-get-to-pimp-her-armor-in-star-wars-tfa/791576/13 "2017-07-23T00:13:13Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Because they were trying to recapture the lightning in a jar of Boba Fett fandom except with a female character, and failed spectacularly. (And as already mentioned, she was even less competent than Boba Fett, willing to turn traitor on her whole movement the first time she found herself in danger.) At least she didn’t accidentally fly into a sand vagina. > [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Sort of following in the footsteps of Darth Maul… Point taken; the _Star Wars_ universe is chock full of presumably bad ass characters that fail to do anything useful, and the _Revenge of the Sith_ is most notewothy for worst use of a Samuel L. Jackson death scene ever. So I guess it is a tradition that predates Abrams. But I’m still going to hate him for it. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-captain-phasma-get-to-pimp-her-armor-in-star-wars-tfa/791576/14 "2017-07-23T00:19:31Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > _Revenge of the Sith_ is most notewothy for worst use of a Samuel L. Jackson death scene ever. Not to defend any of the prequels, but that’s a pretty [bold claim.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMwmqp3GLMc) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-captain-phasma-get-to-pimp-her-armor-in-star-wars-tfa/791576/15 "2017-07-23T00:32:25Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Sort of following in the footsteps of Darth Maul… Darth Maul killed Qui-Gon in single combat. Can you imagine Phasma dealing with a Jedi’s best shots – excuse me, the best shots from a _pair_ of Jedi – before expertly breaking through Liam Neeson’s guard to get the win? ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-captain-phasma-get-to-pimp-her-armor-in-star-wars-tfa/791576/16 "2017-07-23T01:11:30Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > Not to defend any of the prequels, but that’s a pretty [bold claim.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMwmqp3GLMc) I stand by it; Jackson dies like a bitch in _Revenge_ despite his reputation and purple lightsaber. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-captain-phasma-get-to-pimp-her-armor-in-star-wars-tfa/791576/17 "2017-07-23T03:08:06Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > I know the actual answer is we, the audience, need to be able to recognize her character in her role as “bad ass on-site stormtrooper combat commander”. No, the actual answer is “We wanted to make the character look different so we could sell more toys.”