Difference between revisions of "Unstable power cell"
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| name = Unstable power cell | | name = Unstable power cell | ||
| image = Unstablepc.png | | image = Unstablepc.png | ||
| description = A mechanoid power generation unit. The vanometric power core will run forever, extracting energy from quantum foam fluctuations. An internal amplifier system makes it unstable. If damaged, the unit will generate a massive explosion. Some brave humans steal these from mechanoids for their own use as power plants or defensive bombs. However, an unintentional detonation can be devastating. | | description = A mechanoid power generation unit. The vanometric power core will run forever, extracting energy from quantum foam fluctuations. An internal amplifier system makes it unstable. If damaged, the unit will generate a massive explosion. Some brave humans steal these from mechanoids for their own use as power plants or defensive bombs. However, an unintentional detonation can be devastating. | ||
| type = Building | | type = Building | ||
| − | | type2 = | + | | type2 = Special |
| placeable = false | | placeable = false | ||
| path cost = 42 | | path cost = 42 | ||
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| marketvalue = 400 | | marketvalue = 400 | ||
| thingCategories = BuildingsSpecial | | thingCategories = BuildingsSpecial | ||
| − | | deconstruct yield = {{Icon | + | | deconstruct yield = {{Icon Small|Component}} 1 |
| − | | destroyyield = {{Icon | + | | destroyyield = {{Icon Small|Component}} 0.5 |
| − | }}{{Info|An '''unstable power cell''' is a power generation unit that is of [[Mechanoid]] origin. The cell has a constant output of 400W and can be placed anywhere, but if damaged can cause a massive explosion. The cell bears some similarities to the [[Vanometric power cell]] in that it will create free energy infinitely and can be placed in fortified positions.}} | + | }} |
| + | {{Info|An '''unstable power cell''' is a power generation unit that is of [[Mechanoid]] origin. The cell has a constant output of 400W and can be placed anywhere, but if damaged can cause a massive explosion. The cell bears some similarities to the [[Vanometric power cell]] in that it will create free energy infinitely and can be placed in fortified positions.}} | ||
== Acquisition == | == Acquisition == | ||
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Unstable power cells output a continuous 400W of power without fuel or any other dependence. Only an [[event]] that stops all electric devices, like a [[solar flare]], can interrupt this item. They glow with a radius of 4. | Unstable power cells output a continuous 400W of power without fuel or any other dependence. Only an [[event]] that stops all electric devices, like a [[solar flare]], can interrupt this item. They glow with a radius of 4. | ||
| − | When damaged below 50% of their HP, they have a chance to begin to "sizzle", after {{ | + | When damaged below 50% of their HP, they have a chance to begin to "sizzle", after {{Ticks|240}} they will explode. They also always explode on destruction, but not deconstruction. The explosion has a radius of 9.9 tiles and does 50 [[Damage types#Bomb|Bomb]] damage. Bomb damage is multiplied 8x against [[wall]]s, 4x against other impassable structures and plants, and 2x against passable buildings. |
Like all mech cluster buildings, they not only have a [[Flammability]] of 0%, but also take no damage from attacks with the [[Damage Types|Flame]] damage type. This is in contrast to, for example, a [[stone]] [[wall]] which will not be ignited by [[molotov cocktails]] but will take the 10 flame damage from the initial attack. | Like all mech cluster buildings, they not only have a [[Flammability]] of 0%, but also take no damage from attacks with the [[Damage Types|Flame]] damage type. This is in contrast to, for example, a [[stone]] [[wall]] which will not be ignited by [[molotov cocktails]] but will take the 10 flame damage from the initial attack. | ||
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* [[Frag grenades]] destroy turrets in one hit, preventing the low-health explosion. You may need to aim the frag grenade throws slightly ''away'' from both the turret and the cell so that you destroy the turret with a grenade that flies off-target. Destroying turrets this way takes many attempted throws. [[Smoke launcher]]s can again be used to give your colonists cover from the turrets while you work. | * [[Frag grenades]] destroy turrets in one hit, preventing the low-health explosion. You may need to aim the frag grenade throws slightly ''away'' from both the turret and the cell so that you destroy the turret with a grenade that flies off-target. Destroying turrets this way takes many attempted throws. [[Smoke launcher]]s can again be used to give your colonists cover from the turrets while you work. | ||
| − | + | {{Nav|power|wide}} | |
| − | {{ | + | {{Nav|mechanoid|wide}} |
| − | {{ | + | [[Category:Special]] |
| − | |||
[[Category:Power]] | [[Category:Power]] | ||
Revision as of 12:11, 17 December 2023
 | This article relates to content added by Royalty (DLC). Please note that it will not be present without the DLC enabled. |
Unstable power cell
A mechanoid power generation unit. The vanometric power core will run forever, extracting energy from quantum foam fluctuations. An internal amplifier system makes it unstable. If damaged, the unit will generate a massive explosion. Some brave humans steal these from mechanoids for their own use as power plants or defensive bombs. However, an unintentional detonation can be devastating.
Base Stats
- Market Value
- 400
- Mass
- 15 kg
- Beauty
- -20
- HP
- 200
- Flammability
- 0%
- Path Cost
- 42 (24%)
Building
- Size
- 1 × 1
- Minifiable
- True
- Placeable
- False
- Passability
- pass through only
- Cover Effectiveness
- 35%
- Blocks Wind
- True
- Power
- 400 W
- Light Radius
- 2.03
Creation
- Deconstruct yield
1- Destroy yield
- 0.5
- thingCategories
- BuildingsSpecial
An unstable power cell is a power generation unit that is of Mechanoid origin. The cell has a constant output of 400W and can be placed anywhere, but if damaged can cause a massive explosion. The cell bears some similarities to the Vanometric power cell in that it will create free energy infinitely and can be placed in fortified positions.
Acquisition
The UPC can be claimed and stolen from mechanoid clusters, once the cluster is defeated.
Beware of mechanoid turret explosions damaging the UPC, resulting in a chain explosion that can easily kill nearby colonists. Their presence presents a strategic choice; detonate the power cells from a distance to make the cluster easier to defeat, or carefully deal with the mechanoids to claim the cells for use in your base.
Summary
Unstable power cells output a continuous 400W of power without fuel or any other dependence. Only an event that stops all electric devices, like a solar flare, can interrupt this item. They glow with a radius of 4.
When damaged below 50% of their HP, they have a chance to begin to "sizzle", after 240 ticks (4 secs) they will explode. They also always explode on destruction, but not deconstruction. The explosion has a radius of 9.9 tiles and does 50 Bomb damage. Bomb damage is multiplied 8x against walls, 4x against other impassable structures and plants, and 2x against passable buildings.
Like all mech cluster buildings, they not only have a Flammability of 0%, but also take no damage from attacks with the Flame damage type. This is in contrast to, for example, a stone wall which will not be ignited by molotov cocktails but will take the 10 flame damage from the initial attack.
Analysis
As bomb damage is very effective against structures, an exploding unstable power cell is very effective against the mech clusters they generate with. Actually retrieving a power cell (without it triggering from turrets and the like) is difficult, and should be weighed against its explosion, but is often worth it.
While cells only give a modest 400 W, they are fairly useful for power. They are mobile, maintenance free, and perfectly consistent. For example, a single cell can power 2 isolated deep drills, without the need to run a long power conduit line. They are also helpful as "free" power, as a supplement to your main grid. Deconstructing one is almost never worth it, due to the pitiful yield.
While their explosive nature can be concerning, it is manageable. If you fully surround the cell with walls, then it will be practically safe:
- A single explosion cannot damage tiles beyond walls, even if the wall is destroyed. This means your other objects are safe if the cell is walled in.
- As mechanoid buildings, they are completely immune to fires and short circuits.
- Most raiders will not try to break walls if any other target is available.
- For sappers and breachers, place cells (remember the walls!) in an internal position, so they have to break your outside walls first.
Therefore, the only real risk comes from an unlucky mortar strike, which is able to destroy most things, anyway. For bases with overhead mountain, even this problem is resolved.
Acquisition strategies
Several methods can be used to safely acquire power cells from mechanoid clusters:
- The simplest strategy might be simply clearing the cluster. If the unstable power cells are far enough away from turrets, you may be able to recover the cell by luring mechanoids away from the cluster, and then avoiding explosive weapons and not causing more damage than needed while you destroy buildings.
- Smoke launchers can be used to give colonists cover while you construct a wall around a power cell to protect it.
- The Wallraise psycast can be used to surround turrets or cells to contain explosions or protect cells from stray bullets.
- High-quality breach axes and pawns with improved melee damage can destroy turrets in one hit, preventing the low-health explosion.
- Frag grenades destroy turrets in one hit, preventing the low-health explosion. You may need to aim the frag grenade throws slightly away from both the turret and the cell so that you destroy the turret with a grenade that flies off-target. Destroying turrets this way takes many attempted throws. Smoke launchers can again be used to give your colonists cover from the turrets while you work.
- Power
- Power conduit (Hidden, Waterproof) • Power switch • Wood-fired generator • Chemfuel powered generator • Wind turbine
- (research)
- Battery • Geothermal generator • Solar generator • Watermill generator • Toxifier generator
• Bioferrite generator
- (uncraftable)
- Vanometric power cell • Unstable power cell
- Related
- Ship reactor • Electroharvester
- Mechanoids | Core
- Centipede (Blaster, Burner, Gunner) • Lancer • Pikeman • Scyther • Termite
- Combat
- Centurion • Legionary • Militor • Scorcher • Tesseron
- Command
- Apocriton • Diabolus • War queen (War urchin )
- Labor
- Agrihand • Cleansweeper • Constructoid • Fabricor • Lifter • Paramedic • Tunneler
- Cluster | Buildings
- Condition causer • Count-down activator • Mech assembler • Mech capsule • Mech drop beacon • Mech high-shield • Mech low-shield • Mech node • Proximity activator • Unstable power cell
- Turrets
- Auto charge turret • Auto inferno turret • Auto mortar • Mini-slugger turret
- Creation | Pawn
- Mechanitor
- Buildings
- Mech gestator • Large mech gestator • Mechband antenna • Mechband dish