Mech node
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Mech node
A self-powered mechanoid node of unknown function. Mech nodes can be deconstructed to yield valuable resources - but only if they are captured intact. The internal micro power cell will flame out and ruin the materials if the unit takes too much damage.
Base Stats
- Type
- Building – Mechanoid cluster
- Market Value
- 200
- Mass
- 9 kg
- Beauty
- -20
- HP
- 50
- Flammability
- 0%
- Path Cost
- 30 (30%)
Building
- Size
- 1 × 1
- Minifiable
- True
- Placeable
- True
- Passability
- pass through only
- Cover Effectiveness
- 75%
- Blocks Wind
- True
- Light Radius
- 1.65
Creation
- Deconstruct yield
22 + 
1- Destroy yield
- nothing
- thingCategories
- BuildingsSpecial
Mech nodes are light-emitting buildings that can be claimed from a mech cluster once it is defeated, assuming they are not destroyed in the fight.
Acquisition
Mech nodes can be claimed from a mechanoid cluster once it is defeated. Simply claim and uninstall it.
Summary
A mech node provides 50% light to tiles directly adjacent, and no further. It also provides a small amount of cover. It has a beauty value of -20, so is very ugly to look at.
Mech nodes can be deconstructed for 22 plasteel and 1 component. It cannot be sold.[Verify]
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
Mech nodes are a reward for not destroying everything in a mech cluster. If they are preserved, nodes can be deconstructed for a decent amount of resources. Whenever this is worth mostly depends on whenever it is possible to destroy the mech cluster without causing a massive explosion. This itself depends on cluster arrangement and your colony's combat prowess.
Otherwise, mech nodes aren't very useful as actual buildings. They can provide cover, but a plasteel barricade has more health. You can use them to lure raiders into (poor) cover, but stools are easier to build. They can provide emergency light for surgeries during a solar flare, but a torch lamp is easier to make, if wood is available at all.
There is also a tiny niche for emergency surgical lighting, being completely independent of fuel, power, EMI and solar flares and with light being vital for surgical success.
Version history
- 1.2.2719 - Added.
- 1.3.? - Renamed from Gloomlight to Mech node, possibly to avoid confusion with darktorches. Description changed from "A self-powered mechanoid light. Gloomlights can be deconstructed to yield valuable resources, or used as lights - but only if they are captured intact. The internal micro power cell will flame out and ruin the materials"
- 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