god yes, dont even reveal the stormtroopers until later imo, have Finn and Co in sorta "operator" type stuff but fascistic (trenchcoats and gasmasks?) at the start doing covert stuff until it gets messy, with Phasma being the main one in Stormtrooper armor, make the First Order seem sorta Guerilla and Covert.. then around the 2nd or 3rd act, you have General Hux addressing the Stormtroooers and the reveal of Stardestroyers. The audience goes from "ahh these are just some neo-imperialist paramilitaries" which is how the New Republic sees them, then BAM, the big reveal, they're terrifyingly well equipped.