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The Laser Defense Turret was an advanced replacement for the Patriot missile system developed for and solely used by General Townes.

Background[]

You've tripped our outer perimeter warning lasers general... We know you're there now!
- Townes

Pioneering the use of deployable laser weapons in the USA military, Townes proceeded to develop the laser defense turret. Like the standard Patriot, the Laser Defense Turret (LDT) could target ground and air targets within range, and relay the position of enemies to nearby turrets that might otherwise be out of range. However, the LDT's high-energy laser pulse cannot be intercepted or evaded, and is far more deadly than the Patriot's missiles.

The advantages of such a defense arguably make it one of the best base defenses fielded in the entire conflict. A solid network of these would stop almost anything dead in its tracks.

Game Structure[]

Laser Defense Turrets inherited many traits of the standard Patriot Missile - their relatively low cost, minimal build requirements, targeting assist capabilities and damage made them just as effective and easy to field as their mainline counterparts. However, their laser weapon was far more deadly than the missiles - they dealt higher damage per blast, had no delay between launch and impact, and were, most notably, completely unable to be blocked by any defensive system. This meant that units that were usually untouchable, such as the Avenger and most of General Granger's aircraft, would fall apart just like any other unit.

Counters[]

Although not particularly expensive to construct, the LDT cost a lot in terms of base power resources, and had a slightly higher power cost than the standard missile system. Destroying Towne's power grid would also disable all of his laser turrets.

LDTs also remained vulnerable to artillery units. Though they could handle ballistics to a certain extent - being able to shoot and destroy SCUD and Tomahawk missiles - it was still possible to attack with more missiles than the defenses could handle. Additionally, units using unguided projectiles, such as Nuke cannons, could not be shot down.

The LDT can also be mobbed by infantry - the LDT's cannon can kill infantry effectively, but is forced to target one infantryman at a time.

In the worst of situations, General's abilities and superweapons can be used to eliminate these turrets without losses.

Glitches[]

When two or more laser turrets are near each other, if a target comes into range the nearest turret will open fire and usually annihilate the target. The ones further along that received the ability to assist fire can attack another unit twice as far as the normal range, even more than standard range-assisted Patriot batteries. This can easily destroy even artillery units if they should engage a battery of laser turrets.

Changelog[]

  • Zero Hour patch 1.03:
    • now spawns the correct number of Rangers when destroyed
    • tooltip changed to show correct power requirement
    • fixed related unfinished building exploit

See also[]

Gen USA Logo United States of America War against the GLA Arsenal Gen USA Logo
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