Beam Cannon
From Command and Conquer Wiki
| Beam Cannon | |
|---|---|
| |
| Unit | |
| Affiliation | |
| Role |
Artillery |
| Armament |
Particle beam cannon |
| Protection |
Light tank plating |
| Production | |
| Cost |
1500 |
| Build time |
0:14 |
| Produced by |
War Factory |
| “ | The Beam Cannon is Nods advanced artillery vehicle! Multiple Beam Cannons can link their lasers at the same target and cook their targets within a matter of seconds. The Beam Cannon is now available to construct at the War Factory. - Nod Advisor talking about the Beam Cannon to the Legendary Insurgent | ” |
A replacement of the classic Nod artillery, the Beam Cannon is a powerful particle beam emitter mounted on a versatile six-wheel chassis, allowing the beam artillery unprecedented speed. Unfortunately, the size of the capacitors and engines required to support the weapons ruled out any possibility of equipping the unit with heavy armor, forcing commanders to place it behind their own lines.
The beam is effective against infantry, vehicles and structures alike, and has four unique properties. First, it can be used to power up Nod Obelisk of Light defense structures to increase their rate of fire and range. Second, Venom Patrol Craft can bounce the beam off mirrors mounted on their underside to allow the cannon to hit distant targets. Third, the Beam Cannon could be commandeered by the Nod Avatar as its secondary weapon. Fourth, two or more beam cannons hitting the same target will combine their beams to inflict more damage upon the desired target at a greater range as well. Nod commanders have found this a great asset on a battlefield dominated by GDI's Mammoth Tanks. Beam Cannons supplement the Specter artillery. Beam cannons lack the Specter's stealth and area of effect damage, but because they fire a beam of energy directly at a target instead of an explosive shell at a parabolic arc, they are more precise.
[edit] Assessment
| “ | Optics cleared! - Beam Cannon | ” |
Advantages:
- Can be used to upgrade Avatars-the second laser is really useful and handy for the Avatar to have.
- Relatively cheap artillery unit and now available at Tier 2 (it was at Tier 3 before).
- Very versatile with good weapon range.
- Can combine beams to drastically increase weapon damage.
- Accurate, compared to other conventional weapons (especially against infantry).
- Speedy and transportable by Carryall.
- Can charge Obelisks of Light for increased attack range, sight range and rate of fire.
- If used with Venoms, is capable of hitting targets across the map.
- Is capable of attacking pinpoint targets.
- Used by all Nod Factions including the Black Hand and Marked of Kane.
- 16 of them can easily cook a ConYard.
Disadvantages:
- Light armor.
- Only good in large numbers.
- Cannot hit targets on top of hills without assistance from Venoms (it needs a direct line-of-fire).
- Cannot suppress infantry.
- Vulnerable against all aircraft including Orcas, Hammerheads, Firehawks, Venoms, Vertigos, Devastators, PACs and Stormriders.
- Takes a while for it to begin firing
