# Why would Luke carry a rope and grappel? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 20, 2016, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-luke-carry-a-rope-and-grappel/743645 "2016-01-20T01:26:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2016, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-luke-carry-a-rope-and-grappel/743645/21 "2016-01-20T10:34:41Z")
> [@Balance](#): > > (Mainly, I wanted to try to justify using something called a “vaporator” in moisture farming while I was at it. :p) Note that they’re not called “evaporators” - maybe they’re devaporators 🙂 Yes, “devaporate” is a [real word](http://findwords.info/term/devaporate). ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2016, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-luke-carry-a-rope-and-grappel/743645/22 "2016-01-20T13:49:00Z")
> [@Push\_You\_Down](#): > > I like: > OSHA dweeb: I find your lack of guardrails disturbing, Lord Vader. > > Darth Vader: _heavy breathing_ > > ::ignites light saber. slices off OSHA dweeb’s face:: > > Darth Vader: I find your lack of face disturbing. That sounds more like Kylo Ren’s style. ---
**Author:** ![Gothic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Gothic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gothic)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2016, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-luke-carry-a-rope-and-grappel/743645/23 "2016-01-20T14:55:47Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > That sounds more like Kylo Ren’s style. Hi, I’m Matt. SNL Kylo skit, sorry if it's been posted before. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2016, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-luke-carry-a-rope-and-grappel/743645/24 "2016-01-20T15:10:15Z")
> [@Balance](#): > > It makes perfect sense that Luke would know how to use a grapnel, and it’s thanks to his Uncle Owen. > > It’s established in the film that he’s a moisture farmer, an occupation devoted to gathering water from the harsh environment of Tatooine. > [@](#): > > Luke often has to engage in a bit of rock climbing to get at them–hence his facility with a grapnel. > [@](#): > > As to why the stormtrooper had one…think about those vertical shafts all over the place and put the pieces together. The shafts, grapnels, and lines enable rapid deployment, enabling troopers to hook on and rappel down to lower levels quickly in the event of an emergency that cut off normal routes. He may well have had a power ascender in his kit, too, but Luke probably didn’t recognize it. You make a big fine case for Luke knowing from grapnels, and then you stop short. _Not recognize a power ascender_, you say. Not recognize a power ascender? He was going to go to Tosche Station _to pick up some power converters!_ ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2016, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-luke-carry-a-rope-and-grappel/743645/25 "2016-01-20T15:21:31Z")
No, he wasn’t, that was just an excuse to go hang out with his friends. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2016, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-luke-carry-a-rope-and-grappel/743645/26 "2016-01-20T15:24:11Z")
You don’t know that, man! You’re not my real dad! And I hate this blue milk! ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2016, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-luke-carry-a-rope-and-grappel/743645/27 "2016-01-20T15:45:08Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > No, he wasn’t, that was just an excuse to go hang out with his friends. [Indeed.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpUkokRx3-k) ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2016, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-luke-carry-a-rope-and-grappel/743645/28 "2016-01-20T15:51:40Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Note that they’re not called “evaporators” - maybe they’re devaporators 🙂 > > Yes, “devaporate” is a [real word](http://findwords.info/term/devaporate). And a perfectly crumlent word at that. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2016, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-luke-carry-a-rope-and-grappel/743645/29 "2016-01-20T16:34:08Z")
The Emperor’s nephew buys a failing grappling hook business and suddenly all the Stormtrooper’s “need” one on their utility belt. Plus ça change… ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2016, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-luke-carry-a-rope-and-grappel/743645/30 "2016-01-20T17:27:14Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > And a perfectly crumlent word at that. I REALLY want to correct this to “cromulent”, but I’m afraid the universe would collapse on itself. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2016, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-luke-carry-a-rope-and-grappel/743645/31 "2016-01-20T19:21:45Z")
I can see a recreational application for tow cables. Water skiing. But, you know, across the snowpack. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2016, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-luke-carry-a-rope-and-grappel/743645/32 "2016-01-20T19:40:46Z")
He’s Batman. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2016, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-luke-carry-a-rope-and-grappel/743645/33 "2016-01-20T20:07:14Z")
New Theory: It’s a safety device. Given the Empire’s propensity for high open shafts crossed by walkways **with no handrails** , they had to do something. My belief is this originated with the “Stealth Strike” episode of Star Wars Rebels. The surviving imperials reported that once the internal gravity was turned off, they were helpless to stop Ezra Bridger from sabotaging the ship. If only they’d have had some way to tie off… ---
**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2016, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-luke-carry-a-rope-and-grappel/743645/34 "2016-01-20T20:15:06Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > He’s Batman. I understand there’s a deleted Death Star scene in which Luke is slowly walking up the side of a vertical shaft with his rope, and Jerry Lewis leans out of a hatch and delivers a one-liner. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2016, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-luke-carry-a-rope-and-grappel/743645/35 "2016-01-20T20:35:30Z")
Well why didnt Luke just carry a whip to use as a grappel? ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2016, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-luke-carry-a-rope-and-grappel/743645/36 "2016-01-20T21:09:33Z")
msmith537: > [@](#): > > What about the grappling hooks and tow cables on the snowspeeders? Now maybe they are too small to have a tractor beam, but what were those ships designed to “tow” across the ice at several hundred mph? Tauntaun and Wampa carcasses, for food. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2016, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-luke-carry-a-rope-and-grappel/743645/37 "2016-01-20T21:33:10Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Well why didnt Luke just carry a whip to use as a grappel? Whips only come as part of a combo pack with a fedora, and Luke knew he wasn’t even close to cool enough to wear a fedora. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2016, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-luke-carry-a-rope-and-grappel/743645/38 "2016-01-20T21:49:57Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > The full nerd answer? > > During the initial trials of the new AT-AT Walker design, an Imperial officer figured out that the walkers were vulnerable to being tripped by a cable, and filed a report that would have basically shut the entire project down. Turns out, his commanding officer was on the take from the military contractor designing the walkers, and he buried the report and shipped the officer who wrote it off to some dead-end position on the ass of nowhere. Soured on the Empire, that officer began passing information to the Rebellion - including a copy of his report on the flaws in the walker design. The Rebels were able to use this information to outfit their airspeeders with tow cables specifically as an anti-walker defense. > > That was canon, at least for a while. Came from a source book for the Star Wars role-playing game, around the late '80s/early '90s. In fact, the full nerd answer according to EU novels is that it was General Veers himself who buried that weakness. (General Veers being the ground commander at Hoth. Haha! Irony. God I hate the Star Wars EU with a burning passion. :smack: ) From [Wookiepedia](http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Maximilian_Veers): > [@](#): > > during one of the training courses on Carida, a promising Cadet named Davin Felth lowered his walker to its knees in order to prevent the opposing force from exploiting the weakness its long legs presented. The weakness threatened Veers’s career, as it was so closely tied to the success of the walkers. Veers buried the incident by reassigning Felth to the infantry. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2016, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-luke-carry-a-rope-and-grappel/743645/39 "2016-01-24T00:24:01Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > What about the grappling hooks and tow cables on the snowspeeders? Now maybe they are too small to have a tractor beam, but what were those ships designed to “tow” across the ice at several hundred mph? Maybe the hooks and cables are there to keep them in place when docked, like the First Order’s TIE fighters. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2016, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-luke-carry-a-rope-and-grappel/743645/40 "2016-01-24T01:37:44Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > Luke knew he wasn’t even close to cool enough to wear a fedora. No shit. Check out his [hat and ski goggles](https://youtu.be/f00IkrWvur4?t=37s) combo that he is sporting here. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-luke-carry-a-rope-and-grappel/743645.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-luke-carry-a-rope-and-grappel/743645.md?page=3)