RIP Hammerbot

[Joshua]

I thought I would try an impact weapons melee run, because the idea of a rogue Cogmind coming after other bots with 6 hammers is funny.

Before starting, I wondered how all the challenges with hammers would work out: high delay, highly variable damage (even a Variable Charge Gun doesn't vary by so wide a range), the likelihood of missing on any given swing, the need for fast propulsion for positioning and a number of combat utilities and processors to be effective. Force Boosters may be powerful but it's rare that I even see them on a run. Melee Analysis and Micro/nanoactuators are easier to come by.

I thought (for some reason) that impact damage caused corruption directly, like EM, but the manual and context help only mention it happening when a component is crushed. And that would seem to explain why some bots (green bots) were easily corrupted, while others with more durable components stood up against many swings.

Starting off I did the usual combat start, with treads actually (unusual for me) until I found a cache of hover units in Factory. I upgraded to three weapon slots at -9 because I knew I would want them eventually and the extra weapon increases survivability by so much. I also took an extra power slot pretty early on -- I got in a bad habit of taking only 1 from seeing MTF's combat hacker win very early when I started playing Cogmind, but at least two is really helpful for anything besides a pure stealth build.

On -6 I found a cache of Shock Mauls and decided to go for it. They worked pretty well on -6 and -5 for a still mostly-stealth run (I had an Adv. Sensor Array and Transmission Jammer most of the time and used them to avoid aggroing large groups of enemies, until I didn't) but became less and less effective as I progressed. When they started to break all I found to replace them was a set of Powered Hammers.

I had upgraded to 4 weapon slots at some point but I'm not sure it was worth it since the chance of followup attacks is so low without utilities to improve it.

Hammerbot met its end on -2, after getting mobbed by 3-4 patrols (a group of grunts, programmers and terminators) in a busy hallway. It held out in a nearby room when it probably should have rammed through and tried to escape before losing all the hammers.

Final thoughts: to do this I need to figure out a more reliable way to destroy combat bots. A Core Analyzer,  Armor Integrity Analyzer and a couple Melee Analysis Suites don't seem to be enough. Sentries seemed to drop very little armor when I did engage them, and there doesn't seem to be any way to increase salvage potential with a given melee weapon (unlike with guns where you can use a salvage targeting computer). I considered alternating between a plasma cutter and hammers when fighting a robot I'd like to salvage but went for pure melee once I found the shock mauls.

Force Boosters and Actuator Arrays seem to be quite rare as far as random caches. Maybe hacking and fabrication would work to get them more reliably, but that pushes a build more towards the stealth-hacking side which I find fairly easy to win at now -- the point was to use melee for a more combat oriented bot.

Of course being willing and able to adapt in Cogmind instead of sticking with a set build increases the chances of winning considerably

Tips for a better melee build are welcome.

Scoresheet:

Spoiler

Cogmind - Beta 5 @@@ ROGUELIKE MODE

Name: Joshua

---[ CORE DESTROYED ]---

Performance
-------------
Evolutions (             4000
Robots Destroyed (139)     695
Value Destroyed (4671)     4671
Prototype IDs (12)         240
Alien Tech Used (0)        0
Bonus (374)                374
              TOTAL SCORE: 9980

Cogmind
---------
Core Integrity             0/1450
Matter                     300/300
Energy                     100/100
System Corruption          2%
Temperature                Cool (9)
Location                   -2/Research

Parts
-------
Power (3)
  (None)
Propulsion (6)
  (None)
Utility (10)
  Improved Melee Analysis Suite
  Advanced Melee Analysis Suite
  Advanced Core Analyzer
  Advanced Transmission Jammer
Weapon (4)
  (None)
Inventory (4)
  Antigrav System
  Improved Maneuvering Thrusters
  Improved Component Analysis Suite
  Advanced Remote Datajack

Peak State
------------
Power
  Micro Fission Core
  Micro Fission Core
  Micro Fission Core
Propulsion
  Myomer Leg
  Antigrav System
  Antigrav System
  Antigrav System
  Antigrav System
  Cooled Gravmag System
Utility
  Large Storage Unit
  Large Storage Unit
  Melee Analysis Suite
  Improved Melee Analysis Suite
  Advanced Melee Analysis Suite
  Advanced Core Analyzer
  Armor Integrity Analyzer
  Improved Medium Armor Plating
  Advanced Thermal Shield
  Advanced Shield Generator
Weapon
  Powered Hammer
  Powered Hammer
  Powered Hammer
  Shock Maul
Inventory
  Micro Nuclear Core
  Antigrav System
  Cooled Antigrav System
  Advanced Sensor Array
  Stasis Canceller
  Advanced Transmission Jammer
  Improved Maneuvering Thrusters
  Improved Weapon Shielding
  Improved Light Armor Plating
  Improved Focal Shield
  Improved Component Analysis Suite
  Heavy Rocket Launcher
[Rating: 121]

Favorites
-----------
Power                      Micro Fission Core
  Engine                   Improved Deuterium Engine
  Power Core               Micro Fission Core
Propulsion                 Cooled Aerolev Unit
  Treads                   Light Treads
  Wheel                    Compact Wheel
  Leg                      Myomer Leg
  Hover Unit               Cooled Aerolev Unit
Utility                    Large Storage Unit
  Device                   Cooling System
  Storage                  Large Storage Unit
  Processor                Armor Integrity Analyzer
  Protection               Improved Light Armor Plating
Weapon                     Shock Maul
  Energy Gun               Medium Laser
  Energy Cannon            EM Pulse Cannon
  Ballistic Gun            Heavy Assault Rifle
  Ballistic Cannon         Advanced Assault Cannon
  Launcher                 EMP Blaster
  Impact Weapon            Shock Maul

Stats
-------
Bonus Breakdown            374
  High Alert Combat Kills  221
  Follower Combat Kills    153
Classes Destroyed          14
  Worker                   10
  Builder                  6
  Tunneler                 2
  Hauler                   4
  Recycler                 11
  Operator                 6
  Watcher                  7
  Swarmer                  17
  Grunt                    48
  Brawler                  3
  Duelist                  1
  Sentry                   16
  Hunter                   3
  Programmer               5
Major NPCs Destroyed       0
Best Kill Streak           11
  Combat Bots Only         9
Best States                0
  Heat Dissipation         75
  Energy Generation        44
  Energy Capacity          490
  Matter Stores            300
  Matter Capacity          300
  Sight Range              16
  Robot Scan Range         16
  Terrain Scan Density     10
  Jamming Range            16
  Armor Coverage           375
  Resistance: KI           25
  Resistance: TH           30
  Weapon Shielding         66
  Phase Shifting           5
  Evasion (%)              58
  Melee Accuracy           19
  Core Analysis            10
  Armor Integrity Analysis 33
  Recoil Reduction         4
Matter Collected           2619
  Salvage Created          6487
Parts Attached             185
  Power                    16
  Propulsion               41
  Utility                  83
  Weapon                   45
Parts Lost                 74
  Power                    12
  Propulsion               22
  Utility                  17
  Weapon                   23
Average Slot Usage (%)     93
  Naked Turns              0
Spaces Moved               4539
  Fastest Speed (%)        294
  Average Speed (%)        162
  Slowest Speed (%)        40
  Overloaded Moves         0
  Propulsion Burnouts      0
  Targets Rammed           3
  Targets Kicked           0
  Targets Crushed          0
  Cave-ins Triggered       0
Heaviest Build             89
  Greatest Support         96
  Greatest Overweight (x)  20
  Average Overweight (x)   0
Largest Inventory          22
  Average Capacity         16
  Most Carried             20
  Average Carried          15
  Final Capacity           4
  Final Carried            4
Damage Taken               11194
  Core                     2537
  Absorbed by Shields      248
Average Core Remaining (%) 81
  Depth 11 Exit            100
  Depth 10 Exit            97
  Depth 9 Exit             21
  Depth 8 Exit             96
  Depth 7 Exit             73
  Depth 6 Exit             86
  Depth 5 Exit             83
  Depth 4 Exit             87
  Depth 3 Exit             89
Volleys Fired              216
  Largest                  3
  Hottest                  201
Shots Fired                572
  Gun                      374
  Cannon                   187
  Launcher                 11
  Special                  0
  Kinetic                  264
  Thermal                  154
  Explosive                1
  Electromagnetic          153
  Secondary Targets        4
  Max Gunslinging Chain    1
Shots Hit Robots           564
  Core Hits                199
  Critical Hits            8
  Critical Kills           3
  Critical Parts Destroyed 5
Overload Shots             0
  Energy Bleed             0
  Heat Surge               0
  Short Circuit            0
  Meltdown                 0
Melee Attacks              275
  Impact                   275
  Slashing                 0
  Piercing                 0
  Sneak Attacks            31
  Follow-up Attacks        63
Damage Inflicted           15832
  Projectiles              6164
  Explosions               1102
  Melee                    8561
  Ramming                  5
  Kinetic                  2384
  Thermal                  2560
  Explosive                0
  Electromagnetic          2322
  Impact                   8561
  Slashing                 0
  Piercing                 0
Overflow Damage            3
  Projectiles              0
  Explosions               3
  Melee                    0
Self-Inflicted Damage      65
  Shots                    2
  Rammed                   3
Highest Temperature        414
  Average Temperature      83
  Received Heat Transfer   2586
  Shutdowns                2
  Damage (minor)           1
Highest Corruption         6
  Average Corruption       4
  Corruption Purged        0
  Message Errors           12
  Matter Fused             9
  Heat Flow Error          7
  Energy Discharge         4
  Data loss (database)     8
  Targeting Errors         6
  Depth 7 End              6
  Depth 6 End              5
  Depth 4 End              3
  Impact Corruptions       0
Haulers Intercepted        4
Robots Corrupted           6
  Parts Fried              58
  Impact Corruptions       86
Robots Melted              0
  Parts Melted             6
  Heat Transferred         4606
Parts Sabotaged            0
Parts Stolen               0
Parts Stripped             0
Parts Self-Destructed      0
  Prevented                0
Power Chain Reactions      8
Communications Jammed      0
Times Spotted              167
  Peak Tracking Total      18
  Tactical Retreats        10
Parts Field Recycled       0
  Retrieved Matter         0
Parts Merge Repaired       0
Drone Launches             0
  Drone Recoveries         0
Traps Triggered            10
  Indirectly               0
Trap Hack Attempts         0
  Triggered                0
  Disarmed                 0
  Reprogrammed             0
  Reused                   1
Traps Extracted            0
  Installed                0
  Triggered                1
Machines Disabled          14
Machines Sabotaged         0
Data Cores Recovered       0
  Used                     0
Machines Hacked            37
  Terminals                27
  Fabricators              6
  Repair Stations          0
  Recycling Units          1
  Scanalyzers              1
  Garrison Access          2
Total Hacks                88
  Successful               37
  Failed                   51
  Catastrophic             12
  Database Lockouts        0
  Manual                   51
  Unauthorized             46
  Terminals                63
  Fabricators              14
  Repair Stations          0
  Recycling Units          2
  Scanalyzers              5
  Garrison Access          4
Terminal Hacks             11
  Robot Analysis           1
  Level Access Points      1
  Branch Access Points     1
  Terminal Index           2
  Alert Level              3
  Unreport Threat          2
  Locate Traps             1
Hacking Detections         35
  Full Trace Events        2
  Feedback Events          0
  Feedback Corruption      0
  Feedback Hackware Fried  0
  Feedback Blocked         0
Trojans Installed          18
  Terminals                15
  Fabricators              3
  Repair Stations          0
  Recycling Units          0
  Scanalyzers              0
  Garrison Access          0
Fabricators Overloaded     0
Fabricator Schematic DLs   0
Garrisons Disabled         0
Garrisons Compromised      0
Fab Network Shutdowns      0
Robot Schematics Acquired  0
  Robots Built             2
  Total Robot Build Rating 10
  Robot Fabrication Matter 285
  Robot Fabrication Time   76
Part Schematics Acquired   2
  Parts Built              3
  Total Part Build Rating  19
  Part Fabrication Matter  446
  Part Fabrication Time    111
Parts Repaired             0
  Part Repair Time         0
Parts Recycled             0
  Recycled Matter          0
  Retrieved Matter         0
  Retrieved Components     0
Parts Scanalyzed           3
  Part Schematics Acquired 2
  Parts Damaged            0
Robot Analysis Total       1
Robots Rewired             0
Robots Hacked              0
  Non-combat               0
  Combat                   0
Robot Hack Failures        0
Allies Hacked              0
Hacks Repelled             0
Total Allies               2
  Largest Group            2
  Highest-Rated Group      82
  Highest-Rated Ally       41
Total Orders               0
Terraforming Orders        0
  Walls Tunneled           0
Ally Attacks               35
  Total Damage             1301
  Kills                    9
Allies Corrupted           0
Allies Melted              0
Peak Influence             760
  Average Influence        216
  Final Influence          5
Maximum Alert Level        3
  Low Security (%)         56
  Level 1                  25
  Level 2                  16
  Level 3                  0
  Level 4                  0
  Level 5                  0
Triggered High Security    0
  Turns                    0
Squads Dispatched          28
  Investigation            5
  Extermination            4
  Reinforcement            12
  Assault                  0
  Garrison                 7
  Intercept                0
Derelict Logs Recovered    0
Scrap Searched             0
Exploration Rate (%)       19
  Regions Visited          10
  Pre-discovered Areas     0
Garrisons Visited          0
  Relays Disabled          0
  Generators Disabled      0
Network Hubs Disabled      0
Actions Taken              5628
Turns Passed               6044
  Depth 11                 3
  Depth 10                 127
  Depth 9                  1258
  Depth 8                  436
  Depth 7                  1679
  Depth 6                  517
  Depth 5                  876
  Depth 4                  489
  Depth 3                  342
  Depth 2                  317
  Scrapyard                3
  Materials                1821
  Factory                  3561
  Research                 659

Prototype IDs
---------------
Enhanced Nuclear Core
Improved Airjet
Cooled Aerolev Unit
Cooled Gravmag System
Cooled Antigrav System
Experimental Heat Sink
Advanced Matter Compressor
Experimental Optical Array
Spectral Analyzer
Advanced Beam Cannon
Guided EMP Blaster
Shock Maul

Fabricated
------------
2x H-66 Slayer (-5/Factory)
1x Force Lance (-5/Factory)
2x Antigrav System (-3/Research)

Alien Tech Used
-----------------
None

Route
-------
-11/Scrapyard
-10/Materials
-9/Materials (discovered 2 exits: *Mat x2)
-8/Materials
-7/Factory (discovered 2 exits: *Fac / *Low)
-6/Factory
-5/Factory (discovered 6 exits: *Fac x4 / Upp x2)
-4/Factory
-3/Research
-2/Research

Challenges
------------
None

Game
------
Seed: XenonKineticBlaster
  Manual?: 0
Play Time: 102 min
  Cumulative: 15108 min
Sessions: 5
Easy Mode: 0
Game No.: 166
  Easier: 0
  Easiest: 0
Win Type: -
  Total: 21
  Types: 16/0/2/3/0/0/0
Lore%: 89
Gallery%: 88

Options
---------
ASCII: 0
Keyboard: 1
Movement: Vi
Kebinds: 0
Fullscreen: 1
Font: 12/Smallcaps
Map View: 83x54
FOV Handling: Fade In
Map Filters: NONE
Filters: NONE
Steam: 0

U=405710321
R=172923984

[close]

[Kyzrati]

That's a pretty decent performance, one that might befall any number of builds, really (being in the wrong place--a busy intersection, and overcome by patrols). I've heard some players saying impact weapons are "probably OP" with the corruption changes, but perhaps it isn't so. This is the first time anyone seems to have tried to focus on it!

Force Boosters and Actuator Arrays are definitely on the rare side compared to other items, so you can't rely on finding them... I don't have any good suggestions myself, but maybe some of the players who've experimented with melee builds do.

[Laida]

I tried to play with impact weapons, too... the most noticeable problem was that my Cogmind killed some type of enemies very slowly. For example, programmers... So, they managed to corrupt me a lot (30-40% corruption at the late Factory). I even didn't reach Research in this run.
I think you totally need some item which cuts your chance to be corrupted by EM damage in this kind of build.