system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
[Star Wars] Who are those red guards Palpatine? How competent are they?

Those red hooded guards always interested. They seemed very intimidating and I don't remember if they had any role in the films aside from just being there at his side. 

That being said, who ARE they? Are the human or droids? If human, how do you get to that position? I'm assuming it is a great honor to be so close to the emperor himself always. Also, are their skills in protecting the emperor actually ever tested? Surely Palps wouldn't need their protection, so they come off as more of an intimidation factor to me, but still, I assume they should be his personal guards for a reason right?
gpt
They're the Royal Guards.  They're well ahead of Stormtroopers in terms of effectiveness and loyalty, but quite a ways behind Vader.  Royal Guards are expected to give their life for the Emperor and any failure in that regard is met with a swift end, often by Vader.  They're not Force Sensitive, but have an intimidating presence and combat training that is probably even better than the Death Troopers in Rogue One.