Smokepop
 |
This article relates to content added by Royalty (DLC). Please note that it will not be present without the DLC enabled. |
Smokepop
Skip dust particles up from under the ground surface to form a thick cloud. This reduces the accuracy of any shot fired through it, and prevents turrets from locking on entirely.
Base Stats
- Type
- Psycast
Ability
- Psylink Level
- 4
- Psyfocus Cost
- 2%
- Neural Heat Gain
- 30
- Casting Time
- 60 ticks (1 sec)
- Range
- 24.9 tiles
- Effect Radius
- 3.5 tiles
- Caster Must Be Capable of Violence
- False
Smokepop is a level 4 psycast that creates a cloud of blind smoke.
Acquisition[edit]
There are two ways to acquire the smokepop psycast:
- Upon reaching psylink level 4, a random psycast of level 4 is granted regardless of how this level up is achieved. This won't apply if the psycaster already knew one or more level 4 psycast.
- Smokepop can also be acquired from a psytrainer naming it. See the psytrainer page for further details.
Summary[edit]
Upon casting, Smokepop creates a cloud of blind smoke for approximately 60 seconds within a circle of 3 tile radius, centered on the target tile. Valid targets include any tile within a 25 tile radius of the caster, respecting line of sight. While it persists, blind smoke multiplies the accuracy of all projectile attacks pathing through it by ×70%, reducing their chance to hit their target by roughly one-third. Note that neither the shooter nor the target need to be within the smoke for this penalty to apply - as long as it exists between the shooter and target, the accuracy penalty will be applied. Additionally, blind smoke prevents turrets from targeting pawns within or behind it.
Analysis[edit]
Unfortunately, Smokepop is noticeably less useful than psycasts of a equal or even lower level: blind smoke is relatively limited in uses, and the psycast competes with the smokepop pack and smoke launcher, which serve a similar role. However, it can still see some use in combat, and can even prove invaluable in some encounters.
The most obvious use case for Smokepop is as a defensive measure against ranged pawns, but blind smoke reduces the accuracy of all pawns, not just the enemies. It can help support melee pawns or weapons with a Forced Miss Radius, such as frag grenades or incendiary launchers, which both do not care about ranged accuracy. The incinerator
deserves special mention, as it is far more accurate, making it a standout option for smoekpop. In addition, the smoke can help reposition or to help rescue downed pawns.
Smokepop is especially useful against mech clusters, as their turrets cannot target enemies through smoke. However, the above penalties still apply, so it is best used alongside melee or (if only turrets are left) grenades.
In both of these roles, smokepop occupies a near-identical role to the smokepop pack and the smoke launcher. Unlike the latter two items, the smokepop psycast does not take any equipment slots, making it best for repositioning, although it still requires psyfocus that could be used for other psycasts like Skip.
- The smoke launcher takes a pawn's weapon slot, is inaccurate, and requires a staggering 210 ticks (3.5 secs) Aiming Time and 270 ticks (4.5 secs) Ranged Cooldown. The psycast only requires 60 ticks (1 sec) to deploy, is always accurate, and covers a 3-tile radius of smoke (1 tile more than the launcher). However, the launcher can still be great against mech clusters, where turrets are a known threat and smoke can be pre-fired. In addition, smoke launchers can make smoke indefinitely while the psycast is limited by heat and psyfocus. This makes the smoke launcher a strong substitute for fighting mech clusters.
- The smokepop pack has an instant deployment time, and a larger radius, but can only deploy on the user's tile and takes the valuable utility slot.
In addition, the launcher and pack are more consistent to obtain, only requiring one to research Gunsmithing and Smokepop packs, respectively. Additionally, Pirate and Outlander raiders can carry both. In contrast, smokepop requires a level 4 psycaster, and either obtaining it randomly or with a (relatively uncommon) psytrainer. However, the main advantage of the psycast - that it does not take any slots - makes it much more flexible, especially since blind smoke is a niche mechanic.
Version history[edit]
- Royalty DLC Release - Added.
- 1.1.2571 - Range reduced from 25 to 20, cost reduced from 35 to 30.
- ??? - Range increased from 20 to 25.