# Why do AT-ATs trip so easily? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 8, 2004, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-at-ats-trip-so-easily/268264 "2004-10-08T20:45:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![The\_Long\_Road](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@The\_Long\_Road](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Long_Road)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-at-ats-trip-so-easily/268264/101 "2004-10-14T15:56:23Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Actually, number three should read, “Because your AT-ST crews are too stupid to not open the hatch when there’s an enemy standing on top of your vehicle.” Now that you mention this, I remember why he opened the hatch. The Imperials saw an Ewok in the visor and went to get it off the roof. In the movie _The Beast_, the Soviets used nerve gas to get the women off the top of their tank. That seems much more logical, simply roll out a canister of gas instead of popping out to fight teddy bears. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-at-ats-trip-so-easily/268264/102 "2004-10-14T19:03:58Z")
Where else but the Dope can you get a quote from The North Eastern Loggers’ Association Handbook (pub. 1991) in a thread about Star Wars. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-at-ats-trip-so-easily/268264/103 "2004-10-14T20:47:34Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > What!? like Earth bears are pussies or something? Well, when they’re three feet tall and filled with stuffing… Hell, _I_ could take a teddy bear. A Kodiak bear OTOH, no amount of curling into the fetal position is gonna save you. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Long\_Road](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@The\_Long\_Road](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Long_Road)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-at-ats-trip-so-easily/268264/104 "2004-10-14T21:14:13Z")
> [@Maus Magill](#): > > Well, when they’re three feet tall and filled with stuffing… > > Hell, _I_ could take a teddy bear. > > A Kodiak bear OTOH, no amount of curling into the fetal position is gonna save you. But can a Kodiac bear cut down a tree and use it to destroy an AT-ST? Didn’t think so. ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-at-ats-trip-so-easily/268264/105 "2004-10-14T23:50:48Z")
> [@The Long Road](#): > > But can a Kodiac bear cut down a tree and use it to destroy an AT-ST? Didn’t think so. But what about an intelligent, tool using bear? Oh wait, those are called Wookies. You know, the species that was supposed to be in Return of the Jedi instead of the Ewoks. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-at-ats-trip-so-easily/268264/106 "2004-10-14T23:56:14Z")
> [@Maus Magill](#): > > Well, when they’re three feet tall and filled with stuffing… Technically, they’re filled with midgets. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-at-ats-trip-so-easily/268264/107 "2004-10-15T00:18:00Z")
Actually, I’m kind of suprised nobody has mentioned the fact that Luke manages to knock out a walker with a single (what looked like a) Grenade. Is that every explained? ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-at-ats-trip-so-easily/268264/108 "2004-10-15T01:16:41Z")
> [@HPL](#): > > Actually, I’m kind of suprised nobody has mentioned the fact that Luke manages to knock out a walker with a single (what looked like a) Grenade. Is that every explained? Certainly! He used his grappling hook to fly up and hang from the belly, then he used his lightsabre to make sparks and have a door on the bottom slide open–er, I mean, to “blow a hole” in the bottom, then he threw the grenade inside, blowing it up from within. You’d think he’d then run around and use his lightsabre to cut all the others’ feet off, eh? You’d also think the Empire would hire some designers to address this “blowing up from within” problem that plagues every single ship they own. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Long\_Road](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@The\_Long\_Road](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Long_Road)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-at-ats-trip-so-easily/268264/109 "2004-10-15T04:05:15Z")
> [@sturmhauke](#): > > But what about an intelligent, tool using bear? > > Oh wait, those are called Wookies. You know, the species that was supposed to be in Return of the Jedi instead of the Ewoks. Speaking of Wookies and tools, what the bloody hell with with the crossbow blaster? Does the crossbow shape impart some special ability to the blaster or the shooter? It seems like a waste of materials and a hinderance when in a firefight. ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-at-ats-trip-so-easily/268264/110 "2004-10-15T06:47:10Z")
> [@The Long Road](#): > > Speaking of Wookies and tools, what the bloody hell with with the crossbow blaster? They had the technology to create a high energy, self contained plasma bolt for ammunition, but they couldn’t figure out how to propel it so they used a crossbow. Makes perfect sense to me, sheesh. Or maybe it’s ceremonial. The game Knights of the Old Republic suggests this, as the bolt casings are unique to each family. Just don’t ask why the damned thing needs casings… ---
**Author:** ![Blackclaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e68b1a/32.png) [@Blackclaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackclaw)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-at-ats-trip-so-easily/268264/111 "2004-10-15T12:24:39Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Technically, they’re filled with midgets. MMmmmmm midgety goodness. Want some more Ewok pie? You can really taste the midget. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-at-ats-trip-so-easily/268264/112 "2004-10-15T12:31:51Z")
> [@sturmhauke](#): > > They had the technology to create a high energy, self contained plasma bolt for ammunition, but they couldn’t figure out how to propel it so they used a crossbow. Makes perfect sense to me, sheesh. You mean like those Gungan spheres o’death they were throwing in Ep1? ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-at-ats-trip-so-easily/268264/113 "2004-10-15T15:03:57Z")
Pretty much, yeah. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-at-ats-trip-so-easily/268264.md?page=5)