Its not really a dumb design really, thats really its only glaring weakness. Well that and its neck, but if you don't have snowspeeders to trip up an AT-AT or high powered weapons then your pretty much SOL when facing an AT-AT.

 

 

If you knew how hard it was to make 'walkers' of any kind the design loses a lot of merit strategically. There is no good way mechanically to create the proper amount of tension/freedom of movement artificially, that organic joints and ligaments provide naturally for even objects of normal size. A device such as the huge AT-AT with its' ridiculous mass and such a high center of gravity would only compound the problem

 

Even with the 'Well it is science fiction, lay off the pedantic science a bit' excuse, the primitive Ewoks in Episode VI basically exploited those same design flaws that were present in the two-leggers.

 

The simple fact is the form of quadrupedal movement AT-AT employ would been beyond useless on Hoth where their immense weight would have sunk them into the Snow and where any slightly uneven ground underneath would have either snapped the joints or thrown off their center of mass so they toppled.

Edited December 12, 2012 by FROIDBUSTER

If you knew how hard it was to make 'walkers' of any kind the design loses a lot of merit strategically. There is no good way mechanically to create the proper amount of tension/freedom of movement artificially, that organic joints and ligaments provide naturally for even objects of normal size. A device such as the huge AT-AT with its' ridiculous mass and such a high center of gravity would only compound the problem

 

Even with the 'Well it is science fiction, lay off the pedantic science a bit' excuse, the primitive Ewoks in Episode VI basically exploited those same design flaws that were present in the two-leggers.

 

The simple fact is the form of quadrupedal movement AT-AT employ would been beyond useless on Hoth where their immense weight would have sunk them into the Snow and where any slightly uneven ground underneath would have either snapped the joints or thrown off their center of mass so they toppled.

 

Except there was no uneven ground during the battle so...I don't see where your going with this post here. Before the battle however, they did lose 3 walkers to an ice flow. Just during the battle...there was none of that.

 

Also the AT-ST's feet weren't built the same way as the AT-AT's so of course they could be toppled easily. The AT-AT's feet are designed to crush anything, so toppling it over with logs won't work here as either

 

1. The logs would just bump into the walker

 

Or

 

2. The logs get under the walker's feet as its moving but are crushed due to the weight.

Edited December 12, 2012 by Wolfninjajedi

yes when George wrote it he thought that they would need legs because the repulsors wouldn't go through shields. He was actually inspired by HG Wells War of the Worlds and the Tripods. He wanted imagery that was similar.

 

pssst Star Wars isn't real. They made the At-Ats with legs because of the limitations of special effects.

 

I would be more scared if a fast moving Droid Tank was coming towards me then a large slow moving camel with a high center of gravity.

 

If I can walk faster then it then i'm not afraid of it. You take out even one leg and you stopped it dead in it's tracks.

 

oh and if you want to get really techinical your "theory" is wrong. Viper Probe droids were present at the battle and they use repulsors

 

My theory is not wrong, repulsors can not go through planetary shields, it is said so in the essential guide to warfare. The droid tanks that were on repulsors are limited to how high they could go, the droids that did sit high were on tall legs. The AT-AT goes 60 km/hr so your not going to out run the thing. Just because of reasons here on earth say that we can't have nice things doesn't mean that the star wars galaxy can't accommodate, like the blood in the cantina caused by obi-wan's saber and how that is pretty much the only instance of blood coming from a saber in all of star wars. and as for the viper droids, it is possible that they were already on hoth before the empire got there.

 

About the leg, good luck removing it, and if you did, you only made it stop, it can unload all the troops it is transporting.

All walker designs are flawed simply because they have a high profile. This makes them useless for anything other than heavy assaults. They are for heavy assaults through all terrain. You only really see them in harsh environments, and in one case there is an AT-AT guarding the shield generator for the death star. The reason Lucas used one here is to explain that the shield generator is protected by a force that is adapting to the environment, rather than dug in. The Galactic Empire has designs for other tasks, although the thick jungle makes it impossible for other vehicles to operative as effectively as these designs. Edited December 13, 2012 by EnsignSorrow

All walker designs are flawed simply because they have a high profile. This makes them useless for anything other than heavy assaults. They are for heavy assaults through all terrain. You only really see them in harsh environments, and in one case there is an AT-AT guarding the shield generator for the death star. The reason Lucas used one here is to explain that the shield generator is protected by a force that is adapting to the environment, rather than dug in. The Galactic Empire has designs for other tasks, although the thick jungle makes it impossible for other vehicles to operative as effectively as these designs.

 

Not all walker designs had this flaw, the AT-PT, was apparently significantly more stable than and AT-ST.

 

Anyways, what bugs me is the fact the Rebels didn't simply haul out their X-Wings and just light up the walkers with proton torpedos and the more powerful laser canons.

Not all walker designs had this flaw, the AT-PT, was apparently significantly more stable than and AT-ST.

 

Anyways, what bugs me is the fact the Rebels didn't simply haul out their X-Wings and just light up the walkers with proton torpedos and the more powerful laser canons.

 

AT-AP was the same way, though had to use a third leg to become more stable...still was though. <3 The AT-AP, soo sexy lol(no ****) but that big mass driver cannon on it! BAM those things pack a punch!

Holy ****... Remind me never to mess with a die-hard SW fan... You all take this WAY too seriously... And here I thought I adore Star Wars more than the average person....

Not all walker designs had this flaw, the AT-PT, was apparently significantly more stable than and AT-ST.

 

Anyways, what bugs me is the fact the Rebels didn't simply haul out their X-Wings and just light up the walkers with proton torpedos and the more powerful laser canons.

Point, but fighters are built for space, so I can only assume they would not be as effective in the atmosphere - but hey I'm no expert, can anyone clarify on this? Wolfninjajedi?

Point, but fighters are built for space, so I can only assume they would not be as effective in the atmosphere - but hey I'm no expert, can anyone clarify on this? Wolfninjajedi?

 

don't see how. They might not have the maneuverability but the weapons would more then make up for that. Also once the shiled was down they sent tie bombers in to finish off the base.

 

Of course in the games like Rogue Squadron you did planet missions but don't think that would count.

Point, but fighters are built for space, so I can only assume they would not be as effective in the atmosphere - but hey I'm no expert, can anyone clarify on this? Wolfninjajedi?

 

Time constraints and the fact that they needed the X-wings to transport...the transports. It would take time to try and adapt fighters to the extreme cold conditions, they already had trouble with adapting the Snowspeeders. More to that, with being a bigger fighter it more then likely would take more resources in doing so rather then a smaller one which makes for a smaller target.

Edited December 13, 2012 by Wolfninjajedi

Time constraints and the fact that they needed the X-wings to transport...the transports. It would take time to try and adapt fighters to the extreme cold conditions, they already had trouble with adapting the Snowspeeders. More to that, with being a bigger fighter it more then likely would take more resources in doing so rather then a smaller one which makes for a smaller target.

True, the X-Wings were escorting the transports and getting the rebels outta there. What's more X-Wings are not only unsuited to atmosphere conditions, but also to the harsh weather - so I don't they would be very effective. But lets say it did happen, the Empire would counter it with their TIE-fighters etc

I have a question, why weren't the Xwing repulsor lifts damaged by the shields, like people described earlier:rak_03:

 

Edit: I mean someone asked about instead of legs it ATAT could have repulsor lifts, but someone countered about the shields damaging the repulsors/

Edited December 13, 2012 by darthnamel
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I have a question, why weren't the Xwing repulsor lifts damaged by the shields, like people described earlier:rak_03:

 

Edit: I mean someone asked about instead of legs it ATAT could have repulsor lifts, but someone countered about the shields damaging the repulsors/

 

Damaged by what shields?

The rebels briefly dropped the shield in one section to let them fly through. It was mentioned in the movie.

Point, but fighters are built for space, so I can only assume they would not be as effective in the atmosphere - but hey I'm no expert, can anyone clarify on this? Wolfninjajedi?

 

Then you just admitted the cold wouldn't have been a problem. The X-Wings were built for Space, that means they could take colder conditions than Hoth.

 

Furthermore, the X-Wing was based off of the Z-95 Headhunter, and actually could fight in atmosphere.

 

As far as the TIE Fighters, I don't see them being a factor, they're in danger of ripping themselves apart in atmosphere plus the shield being up (the X-wings didn't have to worry as long as they didn't run into the shield since they were already inside the shield).

 

It has been demonstrated in an X-Wing book (I think Isard's Revenge) that X-wings can pretty much shred AT-ATs with their laser canons and they would be capable of atmospheric flight due to them being based off the Z-95 Headhunters..

Then you just admitted the cold wouldn't have been a problem. The X-Wings were built for Space, that means they could take colder conditions than Hoth.

 

Furthermore, the X-Wing was based off of the Z-95 Headhunter, and actually could fight in atmosphere.

 

As far as the TIE Fighters, I don't see them being a factor, they're in danger of ripping themselves apart in atmosphere plus the shield being up (the X-wings didn't have to worry as long as they didn't run into the shield since they were already inside the shield).

 

It has been demonstrated in an X-Wing book (I think Isard's Revenge) that X-wings can pretty much shred AT-ATs with their laser canons and they would be capable of atmospheric flight due to them being based off the Z-95 Headhunters..

 

Except again the X-wings were needed to guard the transports, not fight the AT-ATs.

Then you just admitted the cold wouldn't have been a problem. The X-Wings were built for Space, that means they could take colder conditions than Hoth.

 

Furthermore, the X-Wing was based off of the Z-95 Headhunter, and actually could fight in atmosphere.

 

As far as the TIE Fighters, I don't see them being a factor, they're in danger of ripping themselves apart in atmosphere plus the shield being up (the X-wings didn't have to worry as long as they didn't run into the shield since they were already inside the shield).

 

It has been demonstrated in an X-Wing book (I think Isard's Revenge) that X-wings can pretty much shred AT-ATs with their laser canons and they would be capable of atmospheric flight due to them being based off the Z-95 Headhunters..

Is the vacuum of space cold? I guess it must be. But I was more thinking about the wind/snow etc which would affect manoervebilty and speed and probably damage its internal parts. I also expect there must have been a reason the Rebels used snowspeeders specially adapted for these conditions, seems to imply X-Wings would have difficulties.

 

But I suspect the main reason is that the X-Wings were A. Getting the rebel pilots out of Echo Base and B. Escorting the transports - after all it was an evacuation situation, they weren't fighting to win were they?

Is the vacuum of space cold? I guess it must be. But I was more thinking about the wind/snow etc which would affect manoervebilty and speed and probably damage its internal parts. I also expect there must have been a reason the Rebels used snowspeeders specially adapted for these conditions, seems to imply X-Wings would have difficulties.

 

But I suspect the main reason is that the X-Wings were A. Getting the rebel pilots out of Echo Base and B. Escorting the transports - after all it was an evacuation situation, they weren't fighting to win were they?

 

They could have vaped the AT-ATs and then they'd have plenty of time to evacuate considering the Imperials couldn't take down the Rebel Base's shields.

They could have vaped the AT-ATs and then they'd have plenty of time to evacuate considering the Imperials couldn't take down the Rebel Base's shields.

 

Except the Empire, would just send down more units and possibly AA guns. More to that, its a waste of time and your possibly going to be losing X-wings as they would be a much bigger target to hit then a Snowspeeder.

Edited December 16, 2012 by Wolfninjajedi

Except the Empire, would just send down more units and possibly AA guns. More to that, its a waste of time and your possibly going to be losing X-wings as they would be a much bigger target to hit then a Snowspeeder.

 

You mean AA guns that they would have to haul inside the shield, which would have taken a long time to do, remember the AT-ATs had to come from transports that landed outside of the shield, while sure they could have hauled in AA guns, they'd have to haul them inside the shield to do anything with them, and unlike the Snowspeeders, X-Wings had shields and their laser canons could blast right through an AT-AT's armor.

 

It took the AT-ATs at least an hour to get inside the shield to where they could fight. X-Wings could probably destroy the AT-ATs in 5 to 10 minutes tops.

You mean AA guns that they would have to haul inside the shield, which would have taken a long time to do, remember the AT-ATs had to come from transports that landed outside of the shield, while sure they could have hauled in AA guns, they'd have to haul them inside the shield to do anything with them, and unlike the Snowspeeders, X-Wings had shields and their laser canons could blast right through an AT-AT's armor.

 

It took the AT-ATs at least an hour to get inside the shield to where they could fight. X-Wings could probably destroy the AT-ATs in 5 to 10 minutes tops.

 

It would be a waste of time. If the Rebels had stayed there any longer, they would have been done for because more then likely the Empire would have sent in far more starships to blockade the planet thus cutting off any supplies and any escape that the Rebels would need to do. Eventually then the X-wings would have been destroyed, the base overrun and everyone killed.

Edited December 16, 2012 by Wolfninjajedi

People, we are forgetting that the Rebels weren't trying to win, but escape. They lost the battle as soon as the Imperials discovered them and Death Squadron dropped out of hyperspace. The snowspeeders were just buying time for the Rebels to get away in their X-Wings and Transports.

 

Even if somehow the Rebels had destroyed the AT-AT's in doesn't matter. The Empire have already found their base. We forget that this is a rebellion, and the Empire outnumber then a million to one. The Rebels depend on guerilla tactics, the element of surprise and being invisible. Once their base is found the Empire can just keep sending in troops and ships to blow them to hell. Retreat was the only option.

The whole Ewok bit was crap. I mean seriously, that is the part of the movie where it went from science-fiction, to science-crap.

The whole Ewok bit was crap. I mean seriously, that is the part of the movie where it went from science-fiction, to science-crap.

 

Have to agree with this.

The whole Ewok bit was crap. I mean seriously, that is the part of the movie where it went from science-fiction, to science-crap.

The Ewoks represent the fact that no matter how much technological might you may possess, the will of the people will always triumph.