CT How exactly does one "bullseye" a womp-rat?

Do they have particular fur markings that resemble a dart board or a target?

 

Presumably - it's hitting the womp-rat in an "instant-kill" spot (center of mass?) rather than blowing off a limb or two.

 

Oh. I knew there must be an in universe reason for using a specific term used to describe a spot or circle, resembling a startled bull's eye, often found in a wood knot or pane of imperfect glass and which has since been used to describe a reference point to aid in targeting.

 

It could be a case of "word translated into English parlance for the convenience of the audience".

 

Which word?

 

Bullseye. If bulls don't exist in the Star Wars universe as a inspiration for targets - then maybe something else does - and, in-universe, the phrase is something like 'bantha'seye".

 

If it's meant to mean the centre of a target, then Luke is saying that he can hit the centre of a two meter wide target.

 

Indeed. From a speeder, no less. Not clear if it's landspeeders (firing a slugthrower with one hand while piloting the landspeeder we see in the movie with the other, is what he did in some Legends comics) or airspeeders (that little model we see him waving about, which has a full-sized version with in-built weaponry).

 

It's harder to hit the dead-centre of a large target than a small target though, isn't it?

 

If the "tiny center circle" is the same size on both though, it's shouldn't be significantly harder.

The implication is that what Luke did on Tattooine was like what the X-wing pilots are expected to do on the Death Star - hit a small (from the point of view of a pilot in flight) target while travelling fast.

Alright, womp-rats move - but they don't shoot back, as Wedge pointed out in the old novelization:

​

​

A few of the pilots laughed humorlessly. One of them was a teenaged fighter jockey seated next to Luke who bore the unlikely name of Wedge Antilles. Artoo Detoo was there also, seated next to another Artoo unit who emitted a long whistle of hopelessness. ​

"A two-meter target at maximum speed—with a torpedo, yet," Antilles snorted. "That’s impossible even for the computer." ​

"But it’s not impossible," protested Luke. "I used to bulls-eye womp-rats in my T-16 back home. They’re not much bigger than two meters." ​

"Is that so?" the rakishly uniformed youth noted derisively. "Tell me, when you were going after your particular varmint, were there a thousand other, what did you call it, "womp-rats" armed with power rifles firing up at you?" He shook his head sadly. "With all that firepower on the station directed at us, this will take a little more than barnyard marksmanship, believe me."​

 

CHRIS/LUKE: "Well, I guess I'll go bulls-eye some womp rats in my T-16."

QUAGMIRE/SEE-THREEPIO: "My God! You shoot small animals for fun? That's the first indicator of a serial killer, you freak!"

CHRIS/LUKE: "There's two suns and no women. What the hell am I supposed to do?"

 

You throw Colin Farrell at one.

 

Very carefully.

 

"They're not much bigger than two meters".

Family Guy, it appears, tended not to pay very close attention, in favour of making cheap shots.

 

That was kinda the point. Chris/Luke talks about shooting womp rats way before going to Yavin 4. Hence Quagmire/Threepio's reaction.

 

I agree with some of the above posts. Hitting the romp rat in the torso and killing it instantly is what he meant by bullseye.

 

Either way, Luke is killing innocent animals for fun... that a sign of a psychopath.

 

Not necessarily for fun alone. Rats in general are pests. Two meter rats are big pests.

 

I'm betting womprats are like mynocks; instead of chewing on power cables, they probably chew on vaporators, which means they can destroy a moisture farm harvest, ruining livelihoods and leaving people without enough water to drink. Shooting womprats is likely no different from protecting farmland crops from wild animals.

 

If they're in your home, that's fine. Shooting at them in Beggar's Canyon, not so much. Besides, using a speeder when a slugthrower or the rifle Luke has on him is more sufficient.

 

In the EU, they'd become such a pest that a bounty had been placed on rat pelts - thus, youngsters like Luke and Biggs actively sought them out in their lairs.

 

LOL. EU is awesome.

 

Actually, he is taking care of a mutated species that had become a nuisance and health hazard to the locals, according to my first edition Star Wars: Guide to Species. It is not what you think, unless you have read the backstory and I don't think you have.

 

Oh, okay, that makes sense. I always thought it was rude and insensitive. It's funny to think of him as a psychopath, though. Beard_vs_Geek

Iron_lord

Normally, I wouldn't disagree with you about rats, but ever since I became the owner of two little girl rats, I have to say...they get a bad rap and many are beloved pets. I'm not trying to discredit what you said, and I'm not saying rats aren't sometimes pests. I'm just sayin'....you gotta love that face!

 

Sure. Womp rats are much less cute though:

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Womp_rat/Legends