The most important piece of information you hit on here is that of this archetype's introduction. Follow-through obviously matters as well, but it's how they're introduced that forms the foundation of whether or not we find their competency believable later on.
Looking at your examples of Phasma and Lurtz, we can see stark differences in their introductions which help to establish key aspects of their characters. Starting with Lurtz, he's the first of his kind that we ever see dug from the pits beneath Isengard. As soon as he rips free of that placenta-like encasement he's trapped in, the very first thing he does is grab the orc who was digging him out by the throat and mercilessly strangle him. This establishes two things - firstly, Lurtz's ability to kill. The orc he slew was armored, but Lurtz reacted so quickly that he was able to grab him by the throat and grip him so tightly that not only was he incapacitated, he was strangled dead in a matter of literal seconds. Secondly, it establishes his size. Lurtz and the other Uruks are comparatively massive next to the orcs, which are roughly the same size as men. He's large, powerful, violent, and efficient, and in the second half of his introduction we're shown his loyalty as he pledges himself to "Sarumaaaaaaan!"
Phasma's introduction, by contrast, is one that looks fantastic on the surface of it. During the First Order's raid on that Jakku encampment to find the map shard, we get to see Phasma march through its smoldering remains as her Storm Troopers finish gathering up the remaining survivors before laying waste to them. She stands out for her imposing height and the unique chrome armor she wears, and an attempt to establish her authority is made when she orders FN 2187 to submit himself for an equipment check and psych eval after failing to follow orders during the massacre. However, there's a thoroughly distinct difference between Lurtz and Phasma here - Lurtz is given an introduction where he's active. We see the type of creature he is from his very first actions, and that initial introduction is supported in his portrayal throughout the remainder of Fellowship. Phasma, however, takes no active role in leading her troops. She's not shown disembarking with the Storm Troopers she commands, she leaves the ship after they're done. She's never shown giving them orders because Kylo Ren does that himself. She's never shown taking part in the fighting, but instead is shown cornering one of our would-be heroes when he breaks away from the rest of the men to issue disciplinary orders. Phasma is supposed to be a Captain in the First Order's army, a rank of high standing and much responsibility. Lurtz, likewise, is given leadership over the first Uruk pack to find the Fellowship and reclaim the ring. We're told plenty of what Phasma is supposed to be, but never shown it. We're told plenty of what Lurtz is supposed to be, too, and then explicitly shown it right down to him killing Boromir and successfully fighting against Aragorn. Lurtz is a capable leader and warrior. Phasma is a glorified disciplinarian who gets undercut at every turn.
Throughout this boring slop of a trilogy, Phasma does not display any leadership skills whatsoever, nor is she even somewhat capable a combatant. Finn (yet another terribly misused character) and Rose Tico, a maintenance worker, wipe the floor with a stormtrooper commander. Captain Phasma gets to theatrically stomp around in her shiny boots, waves her blaster rifle (also quite shiny) menacingly, has a few desperately uncool lines, and that is basically as they say, it.
That's Disney for you. They don't know how to do Lieutenants or anything menacing.
That's a shame because once upon a time, they did a little movie called "Black Hole."
The movie had a Lieutenant in the form of a Robot named Maximilian and an excellent villain named Dr. Hans Reinhardt, played by Maxmillan Schell.
Disney has become lost in its "Princess" tropes and has sunk into the identity politics shit.
Unless your fictional army is just there to provide a light workout for an overpowered Main Character and cookie-cutter friends, it should be as close to real life as possible. The normal troops should have a minimum level of training. The lieutenants should inspire the normal troops to complete their tasks and care about survival. The mid-level bosses should have a more strategic overview of the tactics used and give their troops a passing level of care. The high-level boss should be even more so. In all this, everyone should grow and present more of a challenge for the MC and crew.
Unless you want to be Disney and use them as fodder.
You use these really well in your Starshatter series. I LOVE the character development of your villains, and how you show their progression and growth. Steel sharpens steel.
The most important piece of information you hit on here is that of this archetype's introduction. Follow-through obviously matters as well, but it's how they're introduced that forms the foundation of whether or not we find their competency believable later on.
Looking at your examples of Phasma and Lurtz, we can see stark differences in their introductions which help to establish key aspects of their characters. Starting with Lurtz, he's the first of his kind that we ever see dug from the pits beneath Isengard. As soon as he rips free of that placenta-like encasement he's trapped in, the very first thing he does is grab the orc who was digging him out by the throat and mercilessly strangle him. This establishes two things - firstly, Lurtz's ability to kill. The orc he slew was armored, but Lurtz reacted so quickly that he was able to grab him by the throat and grip him so tightly that not only was he incapacitated, he was strangled dead in a matter of literal seconds. Secondly, it establishes his size. Lurtz and the other Uruks are comparatively massive next to the orcs, which are roughly the same size as men. He's large, powerful, violent, and efficient, and in the second half of his introduction we're shown his loyalty as he pledges himself to "Sarumaaaaaaan!"
Phasma's introduction, by contrast, is one that looks fantastic on the surface of it. During the First Order's raid on that Jakku encampment to find the map shard, we get to see Phasma march through its smoldering remains as her Storm Troopers finish gathering up the remaining survivors before laying waste to them. She stands out for her imposing height and the unique chrome armor she wears, and an attempt to establish her authority is made when she orders FN 2187 to submit himself for an equipment check and psych eval after failing to follow orders during the massacre. However, there's a thoroughly distinct difference between Lurtz and Phasma here - Lurtz is given an introduction where he's active. We see the type of creature he is from his very first actions, and that initial introduction is supported in his portrayal throughout the remainder of Fellowship. Phasma, however, takes no active role in leading her troops. She's not shown disembarking with the Storm Troopers she commands, she leaves the ship after they're done. She's never shown giving them orders because Kylo Ren does that himself. She's never shown taking part in the fighting, but instead is shown cornering one of our would-be heroes when he breaks away from the rest of the men to issue disciplinary orders. Phasma is supposed to be a Captain in the First Order's army, a rank of high standing and much responsibility. Lurtz, likewise, is given leadership over the first Uruk pack to find the Fellowship and reclaim the ring. We're told plenty of what Phasma is supposed to be, but never shown it. We're told plenty of what Lurtz is supposed to be, too, and then explicitly shown it right down to him killing Boromir and successfully fighting against Aragorn. Lurtz is a capable leader and warrior. Phasma is a glorified disciplinarian who gets undercut at every turn.
Throughout this boring slop of a trilogy, Phasma does not display any leadership skills whatsoever, nor is she even somewhat capable a combatant. Finn (yet another terribly misused character) and Rose Tico, a maintenance worker, wipe the floor with a stormtrooper commander. Captain Phasma gets to theatrically stomp around in her shiny boots, waves her blaster rifle (also quite shiny) menacingly, has a few desperately uncool lines, and that is basically as they say, it.
That's Disney for you. They don't know how to do Lieutenants or anything menacing.
That's a shame because once upon a time, they did a little movie called "Black Hole."
The movie had a Lieutenant in the form of a Robot named Maximilian and an excellent villain named Dr. Hans Reinhardt, played by Maxmillan Schell.
Disney has become lost in its "Princess" tropes and has sunk into the identity politics shit.
Unless your fictional army is just there to provide a light workout for an overpowered Main Character and cookie-cutter friends, it should be as close to real life as possible. The normal troops should have a minimum level of training. The lieutenants should inspire the normal troops to complete their tasks and care about survival. The mid-level bosses should have a more strategic overview of the tactics used and give their troops a passing level of care. The high-level boss should be even more so. In all this, everyone should grow and present more of a challenge for the MC and crew.
Unless you want to be Disney and use them as fodder.
Nicely done.
You use these really well in your Starshatter series. I LOVE the character development of your villains, and how you show their progression and growth. Steel sharpens steel.