The NPC's will be there... but they won't really be any threats or big factors of the RP. The empire can bring a small group of storm troopers, and the rebels and stuff will easily take them out haha. But yeah, all will have soldiers, but the main focus are the actual characters. Kota would be a cool person to add as well! just to reference him, or sometimes see his actions and stuff like that (Until someone wants to be him hahaha) 

There will be many starts of rebellion too, and so Jedis will try to recruit them, and just try to make the empire get out of their comfort zone... and for the Jedi's, its going to be we are trying to make a difference, but we are also extremely wanted by the empire... and i think its safe to say that Obi-Wan is the most wanted man in the galaxy thanks to Vader hahaha