Shields on Ground Vehicles

KhyronTheBackstabber · Post by **KhyronTheBackstabber** » 2005-07-25 10:54pm

If the AT-ATs have shields, then shouldn't the shields have prevented Luke's grapple line (and the lines from the Snowspeeders) from attaching, and prevented his saber from destroying the hatch lock?

Civil War Man · Post by **Civil War Man** » 2005-07-25 11:07pm

KhyronTheBackstabber wrote:If the AT-ATs have shields, then shouldn't the shields have prevented Luke's grapple line (and the lines from the Snowspeeders) from attaching, and prevented his saber from destroying the hatch lock?

Not necessarily. Depends on the nature of the shield. Perhaps (to take an idea from SG-1) the shields were designed to defend against attacks with high kinetic energy (like blasters and missiles), since who in their right mind would use grappling hooks and lightsabers against an AT-AT?

Dangermouse · Post by **Dangermouse** » 2005-07-26 12:12am

Some of the discussed scenes from ESB:

Luke firing on an Imperial Walker:

A beam hits another Walker. Note the scoring that appears on the Walker after the hit. Althought it should be noted we see a glowing effect right after the frame the scoring initially appears in:

Before the beam hit:

After the beam hit showing the scoring along the shoulder panel:

Another Walker hit by a Rebel Dish Weapon:

A fallen Walker that is then destroyed. This occurs after the Rebels trip the walker using lines:

Another Walker hit by a Rebel Dish Weapon:

Cykeisme · Post by **Cykeisme** » 2005-07-26 06:32am

Very cool.

And what about your conlusion, sir.. your conclusion?

Ender · Post by **Ender** » 2005-07-26 10:49am

The Destiney's way ebook, Ylesia, mentions hovertanks with shields. Also, the CW era AT-XT was shielded

Dangermouse · Post by **Dangermouse** » 2005-07-26 01:20pm

Cykeisme wrote:Very cool.

And what about your conlusion, sir.. your conclusion?

I am still sitting on the fence. In some of the examples, you see white flashes that are well away from the Walkers. For example, this can be seen when Luke fires at the second Walker. However, you also see these same flashes in mid-air for a few of the frames. The hits from the Dish Weapons on the Walker's legs could be shield interactions or they could be perhaps heating effects. The one example where the beam hits and leaves a scorched mark at the Walker's shoulder makes me want to lean toward armor though.

OT: Rewatching the scene makes me appreciate more the complexity of many of the shots. There is a lot happening in the background that I have missed before.