Post by TH3_3RR0R in Let's create an unusual!

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I've managed to refine the Don Quixotting method of hunting with this creature here:

Nicknamed "Sledge-Hammerhead", its streamlined body houses 4 Don Quixote-Engine units (each consisting of 3 pusher-type Eater zooids and several Structure zooids) and is lined with rattler-type Swimmer zooids (as a turning mechanism and for smaller movements) and stunner-type Eater zooids (to stun any flanking enemies and to increase energy regeneration due to absurd energy consumption of the 4 aforementioned "Engines"). Its namesake comes from the biological battering ram that shields its head --- a far cry from previous Charger-type creatures that I've ~~made~~ discovered. It is significantly larger than most other charger weapon types, and boasts a unique "spring cushion" design (cushioned by more spikes?!) that acts as a sort of "insurance" for the creature in the event the front of the weapon breaks off. So far, that event has never come to fruition, as the design is thick enough to support itself on its own. Any wondering opponent in this thing's path is sure to experience a painful predicament --- provided they come out alive.

Iztacmizton5 years ago(+1)

Have you tested if 4 Don Quixote engines give more speed than 3? Or than fewer, larger ones? I'm not sure if it is reasonable to make it so big. Also, how did you stretch the first row slightly further from main zooid?

TH3_3RR0R5 years ago(+1)

I've yet to do further testing with said engines and how the number of engines affect speed, although that is on my to-do list.

As for the first row being ever-so-slightly further, that is the result of the soft-body handler glitching a little (normally extended connections like that are not possible, but would you know it, the building method for the engines can result in said glitch occurring) due to the symmetry of the creature (the devs did state that the handler hates symmetry).

TH3_3RR0R5 years ago (1 edit) (+1)

After a bit of testing, I've come to the conclusion that yes, the above creature does need that many engines. Even though its speed matches (or is slightly slower) than a smaller creature with only 2 small engines (pictured below), the greater number of pusher-type Eater zooids means that the engines are able to function for a much longer period of time (since each engine adds more energy regeneration with each Eater). The creature below can also achieve speeds equal-to-or-higher-than the above creature, but it can only do so for a much shorter period of time.

As such, it is actually recommended to build larger creatures if one wants to use the Don Quixotting method of movement, due to energy constraints and the fact that engine size/count negligibly affects the speed of the creature while Don Quixotting.

Also, as you can see, the slightly-larger-than-normal gap between zooids is present here as well. As I've said before, it emerges due to the building method for the engines seemingly screwing up the soft body handler so as to accommodate the pusher-type Eater zooids (which are slightly larger than structure zooids) in-between the structure zooids.

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