Difference between revisions of "Charge lance"

Latest revision as of 04:18, 29 October 2024

The charge lance is a heavy, single-shot ranged weapon which deals a high amount of damage per shot with commensurately high AP, a longer time between shots, an above-average range, and high overall accuracy.

Acquisition[edit]

Charge lances can be crafted at a fabrication bench once the pulse charged munitions research project has been completed. Each requires 60 Plasteel, 3 Advanced components, 60,000 ticks (16.67 mins) of work modified by the general labor speed of the crafter, and a crafting skill of 9.

Charge lances can also be found in ancient shrines or purchased from outlander and orbital combat suppliers, as well as outlander faction bases.

Lancers are the only enemy in the core game to use charge lances, but they aren't dropped when the lancer dies. Therefore, there is no way to acquire charge lances from raiders in the core game. With the Royalty DLC enabled, however, janissaries, cataphracts, and stellic defenders from the Empire have a possibility to spawn with a charge lance equipped.

Analysis[edit]

The charge lance deals the highest damage per shot and AP of all non-explosive ranged weapons, so has gained a reputation for dismembering and outright killing people alongside the pila and sniper rifle. It can also stagger humans and slightly larger targets like megaspiders. Range is also above average, just below the assault rifle.

But, for an endgame weapon, the charge lance's overall DPS is actually quite low. Charge rifles only have 4 tiles less range, and outdamage the charge lance against any reasonable target. As both weapons cost the same and are unlocked from the same research, the charge rifle is the preferred option.

Moreover, the lance faces heavy competition with the assault rifle. The assault rifle has more range, and greater unarmored DPS at any range. Armor is relevant; against centipedes, charge lances end up having 17% more DPS from medium range (assuming equal quality). However, the AR is much cheaper and much easier to acquire through trade or loot, with only enemies from the DLC carrying a droppable version of the weapon. The range advantage allows the AR to outrange lancers and more easily kite centipedes. And, if the assault rifle is of a higher quality, then the analysis skews heavily towards the AR; it'd be roughly equal vs. armor and much better vs. unarmored. Against unarmored targets, a normal quality charge lance has similar DPS to a masterwork greatbow.

The high damage per shot means that it can dismember pawns in a single shot. Not a great quality against human raiders, as higher DPS kills faster on average (through pain shock and/or combined consciousness loss) than organ loss. However, it is a very dangerous property when used against your colony, as raiders far outnumber colonists. A colony will kill hundreds of raiders, but a single lucky shot can permanently cripple an important colonist and the high AP makes it difficult to defend against. As a result, lance-wielding enemies should be priority targets, especially before you have easy access to artificial body parts. This also results in a noticeable uptick in survivability once an armor rating reaches 145% as it guarantees that the damage will at least be mitigated, halving the damage, and preventing the majority of one shot kills from lances.

Stats[edit]

Against a human target with 45% or lower armor on all layers, a normal-quality charge lance can kill with 2 hits to the torso, 1-2 hits to the head, or 1 hit to the neck or brain; cripple or destroy limbs with a single hit; and destroy eyes and digits with a single hit. It'll generally take around 3 hits (~14.9 seconds average) to incapacitate that human from pain shock. A legendary-quality charge lance can destroy any body part or organ in a human pawn's body with a single shot, and with an armor penetration of 67.5%, can do so against even quite heavily armored targets.

A charge lance is best paired with a trigger-happy pawn at shorter ranges and a careful shooter at longer ranges. The exact range transition depends on shooting level, being as low as 4 cells at Shooting level 5 and as high as 24 cells at Shooting level 20. At its maximum range of 30 cells, a charge lance is always better in the hands of a careful shooter than a trigger-happy pawn, or one without either trait, regardless of Shooting level.

Attack table

Ranged

Charge lance			Accuracy (Touch)	Accuracy (Short)	Accuracy (Medium)	Accuracy (Long)	DPS (Optimal)	DPS (Touch)	DPS (Short)	DPS (Medium)	DPS (Long)	Market value
Quality	Dam.	AP	Accuracy (Touch)	Accuracy (Short)	Accuracy (Medium)	Accuracy (Long)	DPS (Optimal)	DPS (Touch)	DPS (Short)	DPS (Medium)	DPS (Long)	Market value
Awful	27	40.5%	52%	68%	68%	60%	6.14	3.19	4.17	4.17	3.68	675
Poor	30	45%	58.5%	76.5%	76.5%	67.5%	6.82	4.02	5.25	5.25	4.64	1015
Normal	30	45%	65%	85%	85%	75%	6.82	4.43	5.8	5.8	5.12	1355
Good	30	45%	71.5%	93.5%	93.5%	82.5%	6.82	4.91	6.41	6.41	5.66	1695
Excellent	30	45%	78%	100%	100%	90%	6.82	5.32	6.82	6.82	6.14	2030
Masterwork	37.5	56.25%	87.75%	100%	100%	100%	8.53	7.5	8.53	8.53	8.53	3355
Legendary	45	67.5%	97.5%	100%	100%	100%	10.23	10.03	10.23	10.23	10.23	4355

^{For the full effects of qualities, see Quality. Values shown in Red indicate the weapon is out of range at the reference point for this range band.
The value is provided due to the interpolated nature of accuracy between range points.}

Melee

Feature	Toggle
Attacks

Charge lance			Stock (Blunt)					Barrel (Blunt)					Barrel (Poke)					Human: Left & rigth fist (Blunt)					HP	Value
Quality	DPS^[1]	AP^[1]	Dam.	Cool.	AP	DPS	Chance^[2]	Dam.	Cool.	AP	DPS	Chance^[2]	Dam.	Cool.	AP	DPS	Chance^[2]	Dam.	Cool.	AP	DPS	Chance^[2]	HP	Value
Awful	3.98	11.6%	7.2	2s	10.4%	3.6	8.33%	7.2	2s	10.4%	3.6	8.33%	7.2	2s	10.4%	3.6	8.33%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 37.5%	100	675
Poor	4.07	11.82%	8.1	2s	11.7%	4.05	20%	8.1	2s	11.7%	4.05	20%	8.1	2s	11.7%	4.05	20%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 20%	100	1015
Normal	4.4	12.75%	9	2s	13%	4.5	25%	9	2s	13%	4.5	25%	9	2s	13%	4.5	25%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 12.5%	100	1355
Good	4.74	13.73%	9.9	2s	14.3%	4.95	25%	9.9	2s	14.3%	4.95	25%	9.9	2s	14.3%	4.95	25%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 12.5%	100	1695
Excellent	5.08	14.7%	10.8	2s	15.6%	5.4	25%	10.8	2s	15.6%	5.4	25%	10.8	2s	15.6%	5.4	25%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 12.5%	100	2030
Masterwork	5.92	17.14%	13.05	2s	18.85%	6.53	25%	13.05	2s	18.85%	6.53	25%	13.05	2s	18.85%	6.53	25%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 12.5%	100	3355
Legendary	6.59	19.09%	14.85	2s	21.45%	7.43	25%	14.85	2s	21.45%	7.43	25%	14.85	2s	21.45%	7.43	25%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 12.5%	100	4355

^{For the full effects of qualities, see Quality.}

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Note: This is the actual base average derived from the melee verb system updated in 1.1.2610, it may sometimes disagree with the listed value in the in-game infobox.
It may also change depending on the stats and the melee verbs available to the wielder if the weapon is wielded by some other than a baseline human.
↑ Chance for attack to be selected, assuming the weapon is wielded by a baseline human. It may change depending on the melee verbs available to the wielder

Version history[edit]

Beta 19 - received a slight damage buff (27 --> 30), a slight reduction in time to aim and increase in attack cooldown, leaving fire rate more or less the same. It also received a crafting recipe, allowing humans to use them.
1.1 - range and long range accuracy was nerfed (37 --> 30; 80% --> 75%).

Original charge lance sprite

Weapons

Melee | Neolithic: Breach axe • Club • Ikwa • Knife (Jade) • Spear

Medieval: Gladius • Longsword • Mace • Axe • Warhammer

Ultra: Eltex staff • Monosword (Persona) • Plasmasword (Persona) • Zeushammer (Persona)

Improvised: Beer • Elephant tusk • Thrumbo horn • Wood

Ranged | Neolithic: Greatbow • Pila • Recurve bow • Short bow • Flamebow

Medieval: Nerve spiker

Industrial: Assault rifle • Autopistol • Bolt-action rifle • Chain shotgun • Heavy SMG • Launcher (EMP, Incendiary, Smoke, Toxbomb ) • LMG • Machine pistol • Minigun • Pump shotgun • Revolver • Sniper rifle • Hellcat rifle • Incinerator

Spacer: Charge lance • Charge rifle

Consumables: Doomsday rocket launcher • Triple rocket launcher

Throwables: EMP grenades • Frag grenades • Molotov cocktails • Tox grenades

Mechanoid: Heavy charge blaster • Inferno cannon • Needle gun • Thump cannon • Beam graser • Charge blaster turret • Hellsphere cannon • Mini-flameblaster • Mini-shotgun • Slugthrower • Spiner • Toxic needle gun

Structures: Autocannon • Mini-turret gun • Mortar (Weapon) • Uranium slug cannon • Auto-mortar • Inferno cannon (Turret) • Light charge blaster • Mini-slugger • Tactical turret gun

[Actual-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Note: This is the actual base average derived from the melee verb system updated in 1.1.2610, it may sometimes disagree with the listed value in the in-game infobox.
It may also change depending on the stats and the melee verbs available to the wielder if the weapon is wielded by some other than a baseline human.

[Chance-2] Chance for attack to be selected, assuming the weapon is wielded by a baseline human. It may change depending on the melee verbs available to the wielder

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{infobox main|weapon|
+{{Infobox main|weapon
 | name = Charge lance
-| image = ChargeLance.png|Charge lance
+| image = ChargeLance.png
 | description = A pulse-charged rail-assisted lance weapon. It fires a single shot at high velocity, charging it with unstable energy as it leaves the acceleration rail.
 | type = Equipment
 | type2 = Weapons
+| tech level = Spacer
 | class = Spacer
 | damage = 30
@@ Line 14: / Line 15: @@
 | accuracyMedium = 85
 | accuracyLong = 75
-| accuracyAvg = 79.5
 | mode = Single-Shot
 | burst = 1
@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 | stoppingPower = 1.5
 | work to make = 60000
+| work speed stat = General Labor Speed
 | meleeattack1dmg = 9
 | meleeattack1type = blunt
@@ Line 51: / Line 52: @@
 | skill 1 = Crafting
 | skill 1 level = 9
+| has quality = True
 | weaponTags = Gun, SpacerGun, MechanoidGunMedium
 | thingSetMakerTags = RewardStandardLowFreq, RewardStandardQualitySuper
-}}{{info|The '''charge lance''' is a heavy, single-shot ranged [[weapon]] which deals a high amount of damage per shot with commensurate AP, a longer time between shots, an above-average range and high overall accuracy.}}
+| tradeTags = WeaponRanged
-==Acquisition==
+}}
-Charge lances can be produced at a [[fabrication bench]] with a minimum crafting skill of 9 once the [[research#Pulse charged munitions|pulse charged munitions]] research has been completed for {{Required Resources}} and {{Ticks|{{P|Work To Make}}}} of work. Charge lances can also be purchased from [[outlander]] and orbital [[Trade#combat supplier|combat suppliers]], as well as outlander settlements.
+The '''charge lance''' is a heavy, single-shot ranged [[weapon]] which deals a high amount of damage per shot with commensurately high {{AP}}, a longer time between shots, an above-average range, and high overall accuracy.
-[[Lancer]]s are the only enemy in the core game to use charge lances, but they aren't dropped when the lancer dies. Therefore, there is no way to acquire charge lances from [[raider]]s in the core game. With the [[Royalty DLC]] enabled, however, [[Empire#Janissary|Janissaries]], [[Empire#Cataphract|Cataphracts]], and [[Empire#Stellic defender|Stellic Defenders]] from the [[Empire]] have a possibility to spawn with a charge lance equipped.
+== Acquisition ==
+{{Acquisition}}
-==Analysis==
+Charge lances can also be found in [[ancient shrine]]s or purchased from [[outlander]] and orbital [[Trade#combat supplier|combat suppliers]], as well as outlander [[faction base]]s.
-The charge lance deals the highest amount of damage per shot out of all non-explosive ranged weapons in the game, and therefore has gained quite the reputation for dismembering and outright killing people alongside the [[pila]] and [[sniper rifle]]. This is combined with the highest projectile velocity ingame, as well as decent range and accuracy. Stopping power is also good: high enough to stagger [[human]]s, as well as slightly larger creatures such as [[cougar]]s and all [[insectoids|insectoid]] variations.
-In addition to its high damage, its also has the highest armor penetration of any hand-held weapon, making the charge lance an excellent weapon against more heavily-armored opponents such as [[mechanoid]]s or late-game raiders.  Since it fires relatively slowly with very high damage per shot, it is also exceptionally good at quickly killing targets, for example by destroying vital organs or body parts like the head.  This also makes it exceptionally dangerous in the hands of hostiles, as the high damage and armor penetration make the charge lance unusually capable of one-shotting colonists.  As a result, [[lancer]]s, charge lance wielding [[mechanoid]]s and raiders should be priority targets, especially earlier in the game, lest you want your pawn dismembered or killed outright.
+[[Lancer]]s are the only enemy in the core game to use charge lances, but they aren't dropped when the lancer dies. Therefore, there is no way to acquire charge lances from [[raider]]s in the core game. With the [[Royalty DLC]] enabled, however, [[Empire#Janissary|janissaries]], [[Empire#Cataphract|cataphracts]], and [[Empire#Stellic defender|stellic defenders]] from the [[Empire]] have a possibility to spawn with a charge lance equipped.
-Rate of fire is quite slow; slower than the bolt-action rifle and significantly slower than the charge rifle, but significantly faster than the sniper rifle. DPS output is rather poor at shorter ranges and middle-of-the-road at medium range. Also, similarly to the charge rifle, the charge lance is very difficult to acquire until late-game, since it's expensive to produce and either unobtainable from raiders entirely {{RimworldIcon}} or only obtainable from difficult [[Empire]] raiders {{RoyaltyIcon}}.
+== Analysis ==
+{{Recode|section=1|reason=Ideally we'd automate the equation so it automatically updates}}
+The charge lance deals the highest damage per shot and {{AP}} of all non-explosive ranged weapons, so has gained a reputation for dismembering and outright killing people alongside the [[pila]] and [[sniper rifle]]. It can also stagger [[human]]s and slightly larger targets like [[megaspider]]s. Range is also above average, just below the [[assault rifle]].
-In terms of usage in combat, the charge lance is best suited as a medium-to-long-range support or targeted assassination weapon (especially against heavily-armored targets), or in field combat. The charge lance can also be used as a powerful hunting weapon, though its tendency to destroy entire body parts can reduce the butcher yield on the resulting corpse.
+But, for an endgame weapon, the charge lance's overall {{DPS}} is actually quite low. [[Charge rifle]]s only have 4 tiles less range, and outdamage the charge lance against any reasonable target. As both weapons cost the same and are unlocked from the same research, the charge rifle is the preferred option.
-Against a human target with 45% or lower armor on all layers, a normal-quality charge lance can kill with 2 hits to the torso, 1-2 hits to the head, or 1 hit to the neck or brain; cripple or destroy limbs with a single hit; and destroy eyes and digits with a single hit. It'll generally take around 3 hits (~16.6 seconds average) to incapacitate that human from pain shock.  A legendary-quality charge lance can 1-shot any body part or organ in a human pawn's body, and with an armor penetration of 67.5%, can do so against even quite heavily armored targets.
+Moreover, the lance faces heavy competition with the [[assault rifle]]. The assault rifle has more range, and greater unarmored DPS at any range. Armor ''is'' relevant; against [[centipede]]s, charge lances end up having {{%|(5.8 * .7975) / (7.07 * .56) - 1 round 2}} more DPS from medium range (assuming equal quality). <!-- CLance * ArmorReduct / AR * ArmorReduct = Extra DPS. ArmorReduct = 100 - .75 (Armor% - AP%). --> However, the AR is ''much'' cheaper and much easier to acquire through trade or loot, with only enemies from the DLC carrying a droppable version of the weapon. The range advantage allows the AR to outrange [[lancer]]s and more easily [[kiting|kite]] centipedes. And, if the assault rifle is of a higher [[quality]], then the analysis skews heavily towards the AR; it'd be roughly equal vs. armor and much better vs. unarmored. Against unarmored targets, a normal quality charge lance has similar DPS to a masterwork [[greatbow]].
-Regarding [[Traits#Shooting_Accuracy|shooting traits]], a charge lance is best paired with a trigger-happy pawn at shorter ranges and a careful shooter at longer ranges.  The exact range transition depends on shooting level, being as low as 4 cells at Shooting level 5 and as high as 24 cells at Shooting level 20.  At its maximum range of 30 cells, a charge lance is always better in the hands of a careful shooter than a trigger-happy pawn or one without either trait, regardless of Shooting level.
+The high damage per shot means that it can dismember pawns in a single shot. Not a great quality ''against'' human [[raider]]s, as higher DPS kills faster on average (through [[pain shock]] and/or combined [[consciousness]] loss) than organ loss. However, it is a very dangerous property when used against your colony, as raiders far outnumber colonists. A colony will kill hundreds of raiders, but a single lucky shot can permanently cripple an important colonist and the high {{AP}} makes it difficult to defend against. As a result, lance-wielding enemies should be priority targets, especially before you have easy access to [[artificial body parts]]. This also results in a noticeable uptick in survivability once an armor rating reaches 145% as it guarantees that the damage will at least be mitigated, halving the damage, and preventing the majority of one shot kills from lances.
-{{Weapon Quality Table}}
+=== Stats ===
+Against a human target with 45% or lower armor on all layers, a normal-quality charge lance can kill with 2 hits to the torso, 1-2 hits to the head, or 1 hit to the neck or brain; cripple or destroy limbs with a single hit; and destroy eyes and digits with a single hit. It'll generally take around 3 hits (~14.9 seconds average) to incapacitate that human from pain shock.  A legendary-quality charge lance can destroy any body part or organ in a human pawn's body with a single shot, and with an armor penetration of 67.5%, can do so against even quite heavily armored targets.
-==Melee Combat==
+A charge lance is best paired with a [[trigger-happy]] pawn at shorter ranges and a [[careful shooter]] at longer ranges. The exact range transition depends on shooting level, being as low as 4 cells at Shooting level 5 and as high as 24 cells at Shooting level 20.  At its maximum range of 30 cells, a charge lance is always better in the hands of a careful shooter than a trigger-happy pawn, or one without either trait, regardless of Shooting level.
-<div><li style="display: inline-table;">
-{| {{STDT| c_12 text-center}}
+{{Weapon Stats Table}}
-!Tool
-!Attack
-!Damage Type
-!Power
-!AP
-!Cooldown
-!Likelihood
-!Base DPS
-|-
-!Overall
-!-
-!-
-!9
-!13%
-!2.00s
-!-
-!4.50
-|-
-|Barrel
-|Blunt
-|Blunt
-|9
-|13%
-|2.00s
-|50.00%
-|4.50
-|- newline
-|Barrel
-|Poke
-|Blunt
-|9
-|13%
-|2.00s
-|50.00%
-|4.50
-|}
-</li><div>
 == Version history ==
+* Beta 19 - received a slight damage buff (27 --> 30), a slight reduction in time to aim and increase in attack cooldown, leaving fire rate more or less the same. It also received a crafting recipe, allowing humans to use them.
-In Beta 19 it received a slight damage buff (27 --> 30), a slight reduction in time to aim and increase in attack cooldown, leaving fire rate more or less the same. It also received a crafting recipe allowing humans to use them.
+*  1.1 - range and long range accuracy was nerfed (37 --> 30; 80% --> 75%).
-In 1.1 its range and long range accuracy was nerfed (37 --> 30; 80% --> 75%).
 <gallery>
 OldChargeLance.png|Original charge lance sprite
 </gallery>
-[[Kind::Weapons| ]]
-{{nav|weapon|wide}}
+{{Nav|weapon|wide}}
-[[Category:Weapons]]
+[[Category:Equipment]] [[Category:Weapons]] [[Category:Spacer Weapons]]
-[[Category:Equipment]]
+[[Category:Ranged Weapons]] [[Category:Single-Shot Weapons]]